Waukee Northwest experienced growing pains early this season. The Wolves were adjusting to key graduation losses from a 2025 team that reached the UNI-Dome for the first time in school history. Heitland has been a steady hand through it all and helped tremendously in Northwest kicking it into gear in winning four of the last five games. The lone loss was against unbeaten Southeast Polk by four points last week. Heitland had thrown for 1,262 yards and 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions through the season’s first seven games. A dual-threat behind center, the Western Illinois pledge had rushed for 429 yards (8.8 YPC) and 12 scores on the ground. Heitland carves teams up by making all the throws and gashing them on the ground.

Fresh off receiving his first Division I offer from Western Illinois, Mack Heitland Mack Heitland 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Waukee Northwest | 2027 State IA will be a prospect that has a chance to increase his stock in a major capacity at camps this summer. Not quite at the forefront in terms of being a Division I prospect because of his 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, Heitlant has proved what he needs to prove on the football field. The 5A leader in passing yards (2,962) and touchdowns (28) without throwing a single interception, Heitland is a cerebral QB that makes good decisions on the field.

He loses several key pieces on the offensive side of the ball, but if he puts up some big numbers again this fall, an FCS program seeking a late add at quarterback — or a Group of 5/Power 4 school in need of a walk-on — could get a high-floor QB with upside that will benefit any culture he’s a part of.

It will be difficult for Mack Heitland Mack Heitland 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Waukee Northwest | 2027 State IA to match the ridiculous heights he achieved in 2025, though he has a great opportunity to further prove himself as a premium QB prospect for the class of 2027. Heitland completed just less than 80% of his total passes for 2962 yards with a perfect 28 TDs to 0 INTs, while adding 164 rushing yards (4.7 YPC) and 4 rushing TDs. Heitland’s performance and numbers were absurd, and while his size may not shine among the metrics, his accuracy, strong ball placement, and natural progressions more than make up his size, helping propel the Wolves to their best season in program history. Heitland will look to round out his time with the Wolves by leading them to their first ever football state championship.

An all-state gunslinger that led 5A in passing yards, passing touchdowns passer rating and threw zero interceptions, Mack Heitland Mack Heitland 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Waukee Northwest | 2027 State IA has been almost criminally under-recruited to this point. Green’s quarterback that threw him all those passes, Heitland is one of the most efficient passers in recent memory.

He may not be the physical specimen some Division I programs are looking for under center, but Heitland effectively uses the weapons at his disposal, is an excellent decision maker, has great touch on his throws, can take off and run, and he has helped make Waukee Northwest a legitimate title contender.