The state-leader in touchdowns scored last season (without an appearance in the UNI-Dome), Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA was the most prolific offensve player in the state last fall. A quarterback/defensive back hybrid for Iowa Valley, Kriegel scored in every way possible and leading the Tigers to double-digit wins in every game until an upset loss in the quarterfinals to Audubon.

In total, Kriegel finished the year completing 35-of-55 passes (63.6%) for 788 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one pick, but on the ground is where he really shined. Taking 182 carries for 1,944 yards, Kriegel scored a whopping 43 rushing touchdowns in 11 last season, the most in all classes. He added three catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, just for good measure. Defensively, he put together 28 tackles, 12 TFLs and one 20-yard pick-six. As a returner, he brought back four kicks for 152 yards and two scores.

A player that simply has a knack for reaching the endzone, Kriegel’s numbers are reminiscent of what DeJean was able to do at OABCIG back in the day. If he and the Tigers can capture a state tile in his final year of high school ball, that will only help his case.

Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA ‘s feat in 2025 of 61 total touchdowns will be tough to match, and coming off back-to-back seasons with 60+ total touchdowns, Kriegel has proven that his talent outweighs his status of the level of competition playing in the 8-man league, but rather a legitimate stud who has been the face of the Iowa Valley Tigers over the last 2 seasons. Kriegel is a dog; a talented athlete who’s difficult to tackle in the open field and is capable of running defenders over with his frame and lower-body strength, while being just as easily able to break away and outrun defenders all the way to the pylon. Kriegel’s talent is nearly unmatched, and is on pace to finish his high school career as the all-time scoring leader in Iowa’s 8-man league.

Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA has received more recognition across the state for his outstanding rushing ability. Kriegel finished as the state’s leader in rushing TDs (43) while also ranking 7th in the state in rushing yards (1944). Kriegel also was efficient on the air despite a lighter workload, completing just under 64% of his passes for 788 yards, 13 TDs, and only 1 INT. He also caught 3 passes for 87 yards and 2 TDs. Kriegel is dangerous whenever he takes off with the ball, using his bigger frame to shed off defenders and boasts impressive breakaway speed when he gets to the second level. As a passer, Kriegel shows solid ball placement and velocity on his medium-to-deep throws, making some nice passes in stride, and this ability shouldn’t be overlooked despite his prowess on the run. Kriegel is an interest prospect, with his versatility and dominance on the field could make him a legitimate WR/LB prospect at the next level, though Kriegel could also make a push to keep playing QB in college. Kriegel will look to cap his high school career by bringing the Tigers a state championship title.

The most productive football player in the state this fall, it almost feels like a travesty that Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA hasn’t earned a single Division 1 offer at this point in his career. Posting a state-leading 61 touchdowns at quarterback this fall for Iowa Valley (yes, it’s 8-Man, but still, those are crazy numbers), Kriegel led the state in scores without even making it to the state semifinals in Cedar Falls.

An elusive runner that can out-athlete just about anyone in his native 8-Man class, Kriegel doesn’t project to QB at the next level, but he shows the traits to earn him a spot on defense, potentially as a linebacker or defensive back. Either way, he’s a legitimate athlete that deserves more shine.

Iowa’s breakout player of 2025 has to be Nolan Kriegel of Iowa Valley. An 8-Man quarterback — if you could call him that — that does everything for the Tigers.

Kriegel is tied for the most total touchdowns in the state this season, putting up 48 scores in eight games. Those gargantuan numbers include ten passing scores (with zero interceptions), 121 carries for 1,407 yards and 33 touchdowns, three receptions for 87 yards and two scores, two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a 20-yard pick-six.

A man amongst boys on the field in Marengo, Iowa, Kriegel plays with a violence, speed, strength, and vision that isn’t often seen at the smallest-sized competition in the Hawkeye State. The 6’3″ and 180-pound athlete plows through opposing defenders, weaves his way through traffic in the open field and bursts through holes developed by his offensive line. Known to break a bevy of ankles on any given run or to smash through arm-tackles with ease, Kriegel has the makings of a small-town legend in Iowa.

He may not be the next NFL second-round draft pick like Cooper DeJean out of OABCIG, but he’ll be talked about as such through small communities in the eastern part of the state. And he’s only a junior.

The most productive player in the state so far this season, junior quarterback for Iowa Valley Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA is on track to blow his 2024 numbers — which were ridiculous in their own right — out of the water. Over ten games as a sophomore, Kriegel completed 47-of-86 passes for 1,119 yards passing along with 18 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,991 and 40 touchdowns on 233 carries.

In four games for his 8-man squad, Kriegel has already completed 16-of-23 passes for 301 yards and four scores. On the ground, he’s taken 82 carries for 899 yards and 21 touchdowns. He leads all classes in all-purpose yards with 1,050, and he’s the only player in the state to have eclipsed 1,000 all-purpose yards.

Kriegel doesn’t play at the highest level of high school football in Iowa, but his ability to put up some stupid numbers has to be recognized.

The top returning rusher in 8-man, quarterback for Iowa Valley, Nolan Kriegel Nolan Kriegel 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Iowa Valley | 2027 State IA came up just shy of 2,000 yards last season, taking 233 carries for 1,991 yards and a whopping 40 rushing touchdowns last fall. Daul threat for the Tigers, Kriegel also passed for 1,119 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air in 2024.

Kicking off the 2025 campaign last Friday, Kriegel led Iowa Valley to a 45-9 win over Springville last week, rushing for 212 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries, averaging 11.8 yards per rush. If he keeps up those numbers, he’ll have rushed for just shy of 1,700 yards before the postseason beings.

When the really good ones stand out in the eight-player game, it definitely can have a Gulliver’s Travels vibe to it. As you can see when watching his sophomore highlight video, Kriegel is bigger and faster than the competition, by a lot. It made sense to just start offensive plays with the ball in his hands at quarterback. Kriegel ran for 40 scores with 1,991 yards rushing, caught two TDs and threw for 18 touchdowns. He delivered 23 solo tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. If that weren’t enough, he shined in the return game. Kriegel is more than a guy stacking statistics in the state’s smallest classification. He’s a legit prospect.

The competition couldn’t contain Kriegel last season. The sophomore tossed 18 touchdown passes, ran for 40 scores with 1,991 yards rushing, caught two TDs, had 23 solo tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, and intercepted a throw. Kriegel also stood out on returns. It looks like he’s playing a few speeds faster than his opponents when watching his 10th-grade highlight video. Kriegel adds physicality to the equation on both sides of the ball. He runs over would-be tacklers on the regular. On defense, Kriegel runs well sideline to sideline and does a nice job separating from blocks. He’s a technically sound tackler and quickly diagnoses what’s coming his way.