The Little Hawks took a step back in 2025 with a young group of new starters takin over, but there was a lot of promise from this group, with one of the immediate stars emerging from the group being Chayse Newton Chayse Newton 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Iowa City | 2027 State IA . Newton continued to grow as the team’s most reliable No. 1 WR, finishing with 728 receiving yards on 60 receptions and 6 TDs. Not a big WR that stands out for his frame, but he’s been a reliable go-to target for the Little Hawks, being able to twist and change direction on the dime, proving shifty and difficult to tackle after the catch, and uses his frame to full potential, not being afraid to catch through contact or create a blocking lane on the run. Newton will look to guide the Little Hawks’ back in the right direction as he enters his senior season.

I’ve scout Newton in person during the last couple of seasons. This past fall, that occurred when City High played host to a talented Norwalk team. While he’s not a guy that will stand out getting off of the bus, Newton makes plays between the lines. He led the Little Hawks in receptions in each of the last two seasons, totaling 96 grabs for 1,154 yards and nine touchdowns. Last fall, he hauled in 60 balls for 728 yards and six scores, all of the which led the team. Newton is adept at making defenders miss in space. Sharp cuts and burst lead to a lot of yards after the catch. We see that when watching his 11th-grade highlight video. The first clip shows him taking a short screen pass and turning it upfield for a 41-yard touchdown. He put his foot in a ground a time or two and hit the jets. Newton is a get-the-ball-in-his-hands-and-watch-him-go type player. He averaged 20.9 yards on 11 kick returns in 2025 and would be an asset for a college program in the return game.

A small, but speedy slot receiver, Newton is looking to build off a productive sophomore year where he led the Little Hawks in receiving, as he posted 36 catches for 426 yards and three touchdowns. Despite his lack of size, Newton is a fast-twitch receiver that can turn a short catch into a long gain with his ability to navigate space and run away from defenders. His speed stood out amongst his teammates, and that should allow the rising junior to be used in the run game, as well as as a returner.

As a sophomore operating on a playoff team in the state’s largest classification of schools, Newton more than showed he belonged. He led the Little Hawks in receptions (36) and receiving yardage (426), adding three touchdowns. Newton works well out of the slot, as his frame would portend. He runs crisp underneath routes and can make defenders miss in space. Newton also beats opponents from the outside, utilizing speed and quickness. The set of skills he shows on his sophomore highlight video would play on defense and special teams, too.