In addition to naming potential breakout teams every year, Kpreps has also selected potential breakout players/units since 2014.
In 2018, the group included Hoxie’s Wylie Weems, Cimarron’s Tate Seabolt, and K.C. Piper’s Branden Martin. Weems and Seabolt rushed for 1,211 and 1,531 yards, respectively, and Martin paced Kansas in tackles as a sophomore. Salina South’s Ty Garrett tied the school record for receptions.
CLICK HERE to view last year’s story!
Here are the 2019 Potential Breakout Players/Units to Watch:
Eight-Man, Division II – Reece Struckhoff, Thunder Ridge; Seth Hoopingarner, Otis-Bison
Struckhoff is part of a group of highly talented players that missed some or all of last season because of injury and transfer issues, including Beloit quarterback Hudson Gray and Andover running back Peyton Henry. Struckhoff transferred from Stockton High School and had to sit out all of last season.
This fall, he will play for his cousin, head Thunder Ridge coach Joel Struckhoff. Reece has delivered impressive weight room numbers at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. He can bench 350, clean 315 and squat 445 with a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.
Joel Struckhoff led Thunder Ridge to the state title in 2011 and still holds state eight-man marks for rushing yards, points and touchdowns in a career. In his senior season, Joel rushed 238 times for 2,314 yards and 47 touchdowns.
Thunder Ridge enjoyed an improvement to 5-4 last fall and averaged 30.2 points per game. TR is just outside the top-five in the major preseason polls. The Longhorns graduated standout Brandon Grauerholz, who had 149 offensive touches for 1,286 yards and 16 offensive scores. TR has historically had one player receive the bulk of the touches and carries, and expect Reece to have a significant load this fall.
As well, Otis-Bison senior Seth Hoopingarner is 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and has played in a multi-faceted role for the Cougars. In the past, Hoopingarner has played behind standouts such as Anton Foust and Blake Bahr. When Hoopingarner has carried the ball, though, he has been highly efficient. In his career, Hoopingarner has averaged 7.7 yards per carry with 352 yards – 332 last season, along with five touchdowns. He caught 15 passes for 237 yards and five scores, and recorded 44 tackles in ’18.
Hoopingarner was highly impressive catching the ball in O-B’s jamboree last Friday at Spearville. With Foust graduating after back-to-back huge years, Hoopingarner is expected to see a significantly higher load both rushing and receiving.
Eight-Man, Division I – Central Plains’ defensive line
Coach Chris Steiner has won at least nine games every year from ’13-18 and posted undefeated state titles in ’14 and last fall. Last season, CP permitted just 34 points a game, the best eight-man scoring defense in at least 15 seasons.
Central Plains graduated its outstanding defensive line – the best Steiner said he’s ever had – of Brett Liebl, Grant Heldstab and Mason Doll. All three had at least 110 tackles, and Heldstab, who did not play football as a freshman and was a one-year starter, recorded 146 stops.
Steiner has consistently churned out great defenses and linemen in his tenure. From ’14-16, Central Plains permitted just 11.7 points per game, easily the best in eight-man football. In ’17, it was 11.1 points allowed a contest before the historic season last year.
Since ’14, Central Plains has produced the following first team all-state players at line/end: Trustin Kreft (twice), Michael Ryan, Trey Schulte and the three starters from last year.
This fall, Steiner has been very pleased with junior center/nose guard Tyler Holmes (5-10, 248), the team’s biggest player. Junior Karter Beck (5-9, 152) and senior J.J. Heredia (5-11, 167) are the smaller linemen that Steiner has usually favored. Heredia returns to football after a multi-year absence.
Those three, along with senior Juan Vasquez (5-8, 234), junior end Jacob Oberle (5-6, 145) and junior guard William Laymon (5-10, 180) have formed the offensive line.
Class 1A – Uriah Cain, Dale Gillespie, Pleasanton
Two years ago, Pleasanton finished 6-4 in Eight-Man, Division II and averaged 44.6 points per game. Last year, the Blu-Jays vaulted to Class 1A and improved to 8-2. Pleasanton’s finishes the last two seasons are its best since ’08. The Blu-Jays finished No. 14 in 1A in offense at 26.8 points a game with coach Dustin Johnson’s spread offense.
Quarterback Kaden McKee graduated but his brother, Kasen, returns after a first team all-state receiving year. Johnson is high on freshman quarterback Dale Gillespie. While freshmen quarterbacks are uncommon in Kansas, many of them post strong first seasons and go on to have great careers, including Phillipsburg’s Trey Sides, Sedgwick’s Hooper Schroeder, Goodland/Holcomb’s Trey Teeter, and current Maur Hill junior Jack Caudle. As well, junior Uriah Cain (6-3, 240) will play on the line. Cain is a first-year starter and just turned 16. He has received some interest from Iowa State, Johnson said, and is expected to be a key player. Pleasanton opened 6-0 in ‘18 and could do so again versus an expected soft schedule.
Class 2A – Austin Ahlquist, Nemaha Central; Gavin Sproul, Norton; Torrey Horak, Rossville
Last season, Nemaha Central and Norton took rare down seasons with 5-4 and 4-5 marks, respectively. Rossville finished 8-3. NC, which plays No. 1 3A Sabetha in the season opener on Friday, graduated four of its top-five rushers and its leading four receivers. Dalton Schmelzle also graduated after he passed for 1,542 yards with a 20//7 TD/INT ratio.
However, senior Austin Ahlquist had a big-play season with limited touches. He delivered nine catches for 157 yards and four receiving scores, second-most on the team. Ahlquist will likely be a big offensive threat for the new-look Thunder skill players.
Norton’s Sproul is part of a big Bluejay group that could have improvements this season. As a sophomore, Sproul enjoyed big plays with eight catches for 307 yards and three scores for 38.4 yards per catch. Senior Carter Jones and junior Jonah Ruder – who has battled injury in the past – could emerge as breakout players.
Rossville is well-known for players having big breakout seasons, and sophomore Torrey Horak could be the next one. He threw one pass attempt as the backup quarterback, and signal caller Garrett Carver has graduated.
Horak had yards rushing, receiving, kick return, punt return and interception return for 184 all-purpose yards. Defensively, he was fourth on the squad with 51 tackles as Rossville returns four of its top-five tacklers. Horak also led the team with four interceptions. Rossville plays host to Centralia in a key Week 1 matchup.
Class 3A – Jesse Whitmer, Russell; Quinn Neuenswander, Jefferson West
Russell finished 3-6 and has consistently been a sub-.500 program, though Jesse Whitmer had a highly impressive freshman year with a team-high 79 tackles. The middle linebacker, he also recorded a sack and an interception. Whitmer is expected to be a primary ball carrier after 31 carries for 256 yards and a touchdown. He was fourth on the squad in carries, and the top-three players in rushing attempts all graduated.
Jeff West is likely a team on the rise in 3A with the three Saili brothers, and Quinn Neuenswander is expected to take over at quarterback. Two-year starting quarterback Cade Ross has moved to Florida. Neuenswander has already enjoyed a great career – and is a rare all-state player switching to quarterback as a senior. In ’17, he picked off four passes, the most by a JW player in ’11.
In ’17, he had 536 receiving yards and set a school mark with 65 catches. Last year, he caught seven receiving TDs and also averaged 36.4 yards per punt, sixth-best in program history.
In spot time at quarterback in ’18, he completed 60.4 percent of his passes, third-best in school history. Ross rewrote JW’s passing record book the last two falls, and it’s possible Neuenswander could have a similar big season under center. JW plays host to Holton in a key opener.
Class 4A – Kourtney Craig/Jonah Scott, McPherson
From ’13-18, McPherson has had great success under coaches Tom Young and Jace Pavlovich and longtime assistant Chet Harlin. The Bullpups have produced 15 first team all-state KPreps players.
Not one has been an offensive lineman.
That could change this fall.
While McPherson has several highly known players, including defensive end Cody Stufflebean (K-State commit), linebacker Mason Thrash, and skill player Kaleb Hoppes (FHSU offer), the line returns senior Kourtney Craig and junior Jonah Scott up front. Last year, Craig qualified for state wrestling in 5A at 220 pounds and finished 25-18.
Craig (5-11, 212) and Scott (6-2, 226) anchor an offense that graduated its quarterback, running back and receiver, all first team all-state players. McPherson went to the Class 4A sub-state title game and collected 50.3 points per contest, best in the classification. Running back Matt Ramey cleared 1,000 yards and earned first team all-state at Inman before he transferred to McPherson this year.
Class 5A – Cooper Chard, Salina Central
This summer, Salina Central coach Mark Sandbo said SC is long known for a great running back and big offensive linemen. Last year, that trend continued in the first season with Sandbo. He ended an 18-game losing streak and helped SC to a 7-3 mark behind first team all-state running back Taylon Peters, a Washburn commit. He rushed for 1,719 yards after 1,053 as a junior. In ’15, Dalton Peters was first team all-state with 2,078 yards. Jake Sharp, one of the best running backs in state history, is a Salina Central graduate.
SC went to the KU camp in early June, and Sandbo said the Mustangs were “still kind of up in the air” on who would replace Peters. Senior Cooper Chard, a defensive player in ’17, has solidified the starting running back position with his offseason work, KU camp and summer practices.
“He had a great offseason,” Sandbo said. “He had a great winter. He had a great spring. Our kids had a great offseason.”
Sandbo said the football players averaged a 100-pound weightlifting increase, averaged about 12.5 pounds of body weight increase and cut the body fat percentage by 1.5 percent. Chard will run behind a line that features Quinton Stewart (Oklahoma State commit) and Houston Griffitts (first team all-league). A free safety, Chard is expected to see some time defensively, too.
“We felt like we were there up front, and after seeing what Cooper did, we really feel good in what we can do in the backfield, too,” Sandbo said.
Class 6A – E’monte Neal, Topeka High
Is this the year that Topeka can break through in Class 6A and make a state championship game? Topeka has never made a state final and has one semifinal appearance in ’73. The Trojans reached the quarterfinals last fall and return a bevy of key players, including FBS commits Da’Vonshai Harden and Ky Thomas at quarterback and running back, respectively. In the last two years, Topeka High has averaged 47.8 and 45.5 points a game.
This fall, senior tackle E’monte Neal is one of Kansas’ largest players at 6-4, 330 and a returning starter. Neal was in Topeka as a freshman, and then left to Oklahoma, and came back last fall.
“He got better and better and better,” 14th-year coach Walt Alexander said.
Neal has earned a Garden City offer, has improved his size and will play some both ways.
“We are excited about him,” Alexander said.
Senior T.J. Michael (6-2, 305) is a transfer within the Topeka area.
“You won’t find bigger, quicker footed linemen,” Alexander said.
As well, junior Giovanni Williams is a strong wide receiver and backup quarterback.
Sophomore J.P. Deeter (6-4, 235) will start both ways this year. Last fall, Deeter started at middle linebacker after he moved back from Texas. Offensively, he will play tight end/H-back. Deeter has already received some collegiate looks, including from Emporia State and Minnesota.
Senior outside linebacker Elias White came from Ottawa. Senior safety Janus Gilbert arrived via Wichita West. Senior outside linebacker Uciph McDaniel, also a transfer from Wichita, has earned an offer from South Dakota.
“This could be the best defense we’ve had in a long time, maybe if not the best if they all come together,” Alexander said.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
