I first wrote about Kramer way back in January of last year following a productive freshman season at Beckman Catholic. He followed up that performance with a sophomore campaign that saw him impact the action on both sides of the ball. As a running back, he rushed for 814 yards (9.6 YPC) and 15 touchdowns, and caught 19 balls for 167 yards and two scores. Defensively, Kramer posted 11.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, an interception he returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovery. Whew, that’s a lot. Prep Redzone has him as the No. 4-ranked linebacker in Iowa on its latest update. The speed and athleticism play well there. His agility and versatility also give him a path to a future at other positions on the next level.

The lone sophomore on this list, Jude Kramer Jude Kramer 5'10" | 170 lbs | LB/ATH Beckman Catholic | 2028 State IA has stepped up in a big way this year for Beckman Catholic, and probably earned himself a spot on the Surprise Standouts list, too.

Going from just three carries for 20 yards and a score as a freshman for the Trailblazers, Kramer led BC in rushing this season, taking 81 carries for 803 yards (9.9 yards per carry) and 15 touchdowns. Senior tail back Mack Wolfe took the majority of the carries (110) and scored 17 touchdowns, but Kramer was just as, if not more important for the Trailblazer offense in his second year of high school football. He’s currently second on the team in receptions, too, grabbing 15 passes for 164 yards and two scores.

Defensively, the second-year star has registered 20 tackles and been a menace to opposing ball-carriers, registering 11.5 TFLs and a team-leading 8.5 sacks. He also returned a pick-six 26 yards for a score.

Kramer is fun to watch. Beckman stands him up on the edge and lets him rip. Kramer racked up 17 solo tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks as a freshman in 2024. He displays excellent burst and short-to-medium area quickness. Kramer’s aggression is controlled, allowing him to stay in the play until the tackle is made. He also includes a 22-yard touchdown jaunt on his freshman highlight video.