KSHSAA COVERED ALL-STATE TOP 11
DREW DANIELS, ANDOVER CENTRAL
6-2, 275, sr., OG-DT
2021
• 40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss
Career
• 74 tackles, 15 tackles for loss
Worth noting
A four-year starter on the offensive line for the Jaguars, earning All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II honors three seasons including first-team honors the past two years. … Was named the league offensive player of the year as a senior. … Was a first-team All-Class 4A pick last season. … Helped lead the Jaguars to a runner-up finish in Class 4A this season. … Was injured in this year's title game, leaving with Jaguars up 14-0. … Added three sacks and forced two fumbles this season. … Paved way for offense that ran for 2,686 yards and 41 touchdowns and threw for 1,883 yards and 18 TDs, averaging 351.4 yards and 34 points per game.
Coach's comment
"He's made an impact not just this year – although he was playing better this year than ever before – but his total body of work is one that other coaches have noticed," Andover Central coach Derek Tuttle said. "With him you see a relentless motor in finishing blocks each and every play. Even when we watched film, our kids got caught up in, 'Who's Drew going to pancake this play?' It was very much an inspiration to them the way he plays."
LANDON DEAN, FRONTENAC
6-5, 245, sr., OT/DE
2021
• 75 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss
Career
• 214 tackles, 28 tackles for loss
Worth noting
Led Frontenac to a runner-up finish in Class 3A this season and was three-year starter. … Moved from tight end to offensive tackle this season after having 32 catches for 360 yards as sophomore and junior. … Had 11.5 sacks this season and 15.5 in his career. … Of his 214 career tackles, 117 were solo stops. … Is a three-time first-team All-CNC selection and a three-time first-team All-Class 3A pick. … Recovered three fumbles and blocked two kicks in his career. … Has committed to Oklahoma State.
Coach's comment
"Landon has been a huge part of our success at Frontenac over the last three seasons," Frontenac coach Mark Smith said. "The impact that he has on both sides of the ball for the Raiders has been very important to our overall success. He played tight end his sophomore and junior year and we asked him to move to offensive tackle this season to help our team up front and our running game. He is a great teammate who has worked extremely hard in the weight room to have a great senior season. He loves football, has a great football IQ, has great footwork for a big guy, and plays extremely hard. He has improved every year on the field, and he has the drive to want to continue to get better. He's a special young man that has a very bright future."
DYLAN EDWARDS, DERBY
5-9, 165, jr., RB
2021
• 2,603 yards rushing, 38 TDs
Career
• 4,526 yards rushing, 63 TDs
Worth noting
Led Derby to 2020 Class 6A state championship and runner-up finish in Class 6A this season. … Broke Derby's single-season rushing record this season, averaging 12.5 yards per carry and 216.9 yards per game. … Topped 130 yards in all 12 games and 200 six times, going for season-high 302 yards in 62-28 state semifinal win over Lawrence. … Ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns in 2021 state championship game. … Also had a receiving touchdown, returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns. … Ran for 1,833 yards and 25 touchdowns as sophomore on state title team. … Named Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I offensive player of the year for second straight year. … Already holds multiple Division I offers from Big 12 programs Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas and is three-star recruit by Rivals, ranked as the No. 10 all-purpose back prospect in the nation.
Coach's comment
"He does what he does, and he does it faster than anybody else," Derby coach Brandon Clark said. "We're an option read team, but in doing that, we quickly found out other teams were going to take the Dylan Edwards option away. We did change some things where we didn't read too much and just gave him the ball and some room to let him do his thing. He's kind of a human cheat code. We were always just trying to find ways to get him the ball and with his skill set, he's tough to bring down. He's a special player."
SAM ELLIOTT, BUHLER
5-7, 165, sr., RB-LB
2021
• 2,294 yards, 30 TDs
Career
• 5,174 yards, 68 TDs
Worth noting
Led Buhler to Class 4A state semifinals in 2021 as Crusaders finished season 10-2, both losses to 4A runner-up Andover Central. … Broke Tanner Fisher's career rushing record in state semifinal loss, finishing with 5,174 yards to Fisher's career total of 5,075 yards. … Also set school record for career rushing attempts with 743. … Was Buhler's second-leading tackler this season with 108 tackles, including 10 for loss, and had 238 career tackles with 31 tackles for loss. … Is a two-time Class 4A state champion wrestler, going 42-0 to win the 160-pound title as a junior after posting a 38-2 record and capturing the 152-pound title as a sophomore. … Has career wrestling record of 111-16 and took sixth at state as freshman. … Also is state powerlifting champion.
Coach's comment
"We knew we had to get the ball in his hands to be successful, no matter whether it was running the ball or passing it to him," Buhler coach Steve Warner said. "He was a weapon we had to use. His vision, his power and his low center of gravity were all strengths. He had that ability to put his hand on the ground and keep his feet going. He had a goal to set the all-time rushing record, and we've had some awfully good tailbacks here at Buhler. But he was a tremendous leader for us too. He cares about his team, he cares about his teammates, and he gets along with his offensive line and does a good job of patting them on the back."
AVERY JOHNSON, MAIZE
6-2, 170, jr., QB
2021
• 2,549 yards passing, 20TDs; 1,080 yards rushing, 20TDs
Career
• 4,893 yards passing, 43 TDs; 1,440 yards rushing, 32 TDs
Worth noting
Led Maize to first state championship game in program history as Eagles finished runner-up in Class 5A to three-time champion Mill Valley, falling 28-14 in title game. ... Johnson threw for 247 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 78 yards and a 68-yard touchdown that pulled the Eagles within 20-14 in the fourth quarter. ... Threw for 1,699 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 369 yards and 10 touchdowns as sophomore starter for Eagles. ... Also threw for 645 yards and 7 touchdowns as freshman. ... Is one of state's top prospects and already has multiple Division I offers.
Coach's comment
"With a guy like Avery, you feel like you're always in the game no matter the situation," Maize coach Gary Guzman said. "When you have a guy like that who has the confidence and the ability and the potential to make a big play at any point, you feel pretty confident about things. That's probably a feeling the entire team had knowing they have somebody back there with that capability. ... He's obviously been effective both running and passing, and we saw that development as the season progressed. He just kept getting better."
JAREN KANAK, HAYS
6-2, 215, sr., QB
2021
• 1,615 yards rushing, 910 yards passing, 35 TDs
Career
• 4,073 total yards, 41 TDs
Worth noting
Led Hays to 8-3 record and Class 5A state quarterfinals, one of the best seasons in program history. … Moved from hybrid running back/receiver to quarterback this season and led Indians in passing and rushing, with 23 of his 35 total touchdowns coming on the ground. … Also played some defense and had 11 tackles and a tackle for loss. … Had at least 1,000 yards rushing, passing and receiving in his career with 2,072 yards rushing and 20 TDs. … Is the No. 1 recruit in Kansas and has committed to Clemson. … Also is a track standout.
Coach's comment
"Jaren is a once in a lifetime talent, to be able to coach a player with his size that runs with world class speed," Hays coach Tony Crough said. "Jaren has had an amazing season and great career for Hays High but most importantly he is an amazing young man of character that has permeated through our program, school and whole town. Jaren's best attributes are his work ethic and determination to succeed. He is great at football because he has worked at it harder than anyone else. Jaren was asked to play a position this season that was not natural to him and not what he will be playing at the D1 level next year and never batted an eye when we told him what we needed him to do to help our team. He gladly accepted his role as a true leader would and did whatever he could to make our team successful, all the while I'm sure he would have rather been playing the position of his future. Jaren is the kind of kid that sets your program forward many many years."
ALEX KEY, DERBY
6-4, 290, sr., LT
2021
• 5,211 yards, 80 TDs
Career
• 3-year starter
Worth noting
Has been top lineman for Derby offense the past three seasons, leading Panthers to Class 6A state titles in 2019 and 2020 and runner-up finish in 2021. … Is two-time first-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I selection. … Was a consensus All-State Top 11 pick as a junior. … Is a three-star prospect by 247Sports and has a handful of Division I offers, including Air Force. … Led way for Derby to rush for 4,258 yards and 67 touchdowns (354.8 yards per game) in 2021. … Led Derby offense that amassed 4,836 yards of total offense in 2020 and 6,049 yards and 91 TDs in 2019. … Has led way for five 1,000-yard backs the past three seasons.
Coach's comment
"He's been the heart and soul of our offensive line," Derby coach Brandon Clark said. "He played left tackle for us the last three years and just has great technique and great feet. He understands technique and leverage. There's not a better offensive lineman that I've coached in terms of owning his skills and getting better each day. He's also one of the smartest guys on our team. He was a great leader on our team and in our community as well. When we'd meet as a coaching staff and review the film, it was the Alex Key highlight show. It seemed like every play he's getting his guy blocked and usually doing it 10-15 yards down the field."
MIKEY PAULEY, BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST
6-4, 200, sr., QB
2021
• 1,945 yards passing, 1,214 yards rushing, 45 TDs
Career
• 5,173 yards passing, 2,326 yards rushing, 92 TDs
Worth noting
Led Blue Valley Northwest to best season in program history as Huskies finished 12-1 and captured first state championship. … Capped stellar senior year with dominant performance in 41-21 win over three-time defending Class 6A champion Derby in title game, rushing for 157 yards and four touchdowns and throwing for 186 yards and another score. … Threw for at least 1,300 yards each of his three years as starter and completed 68 percent of his passes this season. … Had season-high of 358 yards in 49-36 win over Bishop Miege and had five games of three TD passes or more and four games of three TD runs or more. … Ran for more yards and touchdowns this year than previous three years combined. … Named offensive player of the year in the Eastern Kansas League this season and is finalist for the Simone Award given to the top player in the Kansas City Metro area. … Is a University of Nebraska baseball signee and had multiple Division I football offers. … Holds every Blue Valley Northwest passing record.
Coach's comment
"I think you saw Mikey at his most mature season as a quarterback. His ability to get us out of the wrong play, get us into the right play, adjust protections and lead this team down the field. It's just something that continued to get better throughout his high school career and his play throughout the playoffs was one of the most magical runs that a single player has had in quite a while. He means so much to our program, on and off the field. I think his leadership and his example of how to do things is something that our guys could follow for years to come."
TED SKALSKY, OLPE
6-1, 210, sr., LB-OG
2021
• 102 tackles, 15 tackles for loss
Career
• 395 tackles, 41 tackles for loss
Worth noting
Four-year starter was top defender on Olpe defense that was the best in the state the past two seasons, leading Eagles to two straight undefeated Class 1A state titles. ... Leader of defense that allowed just 35 points in 2020 and 24 points in 2021, posting nine shutouts and allowing just four touchdowns this season. ... Also was anchor for Olpe offensive line that paved way for 3,747 yards of total offense and 44.8 points per game in 2021. ... Had 112 tackles and 15 tackles for loss as junior and 83 tackles and 7 tackles for loss as sophomore. ... Blocked three kicks in his career. ... A three-time first-team All-Class 1A selection.
Coach's comment
"He's got such great instincts first of all, but he also studies it," Olpe coach Chris Schmidt said. "He gathers that stuff and the last couple of years, he's got a pretty good idea of what's going to come in whatever situation we're in. He's just a physical player and plays with a physical mean streak in him. He goes after it, on both sides of the ball. As an offensive lineman, it didn't get looked at as much, but you can ask the Inman coach and (in the title game), he clobbered a few kids. He's got good feet, moves well and he's just one of the best offensive guards we've had, and we've had some good ones. He ranks right up there at the top of the best players we've ever had here."
WADE SPENCER, ST. JAMES ACADEMY
6-2, 210, jr., OG-DE
2021
• 79 tackles, 23 tackles for loss
Career
• 128 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss
Worth noting
Was two-way starter on offensive line for St. James Academy's Class 4A state championship teams in 2020 and 2021. … Had 5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in 28-21 win over Andover Central in 2021 Class 4A state championship game. … Had 13.5 sacks this season to set a school record, recording at least one in 10 of 13 games, and has 18.5 in his career. … His 23 tackles for loss also were a school record. ... Of his 79 tackles this year, 62 were solo and he has 103 solo tackles in two seasons as a starter. ... Helped pave the way for Thunder offense that ran for 1,866 yards and 24 touchdowns and threw for 3,035 yards and 26 TDs, averaging 377 yards and 29.6 points per game. … Was first-team All-Eastern Kansas League selection this season. … Finalist for the Bobby Bell Award given to the top small-school lineman/linebacker in the Kansas City Metro area.
Coach's comment
"Wade was the motor that ran our defense," St. James Academy coach Tom Radke said. "Wade is such a great young man with an incredible work ethic. He has a deep passion for the game, and an impressive determination to be the best at what he does. He is never satisfied and has a relentless pursuit of finding the ball. Wade is a joy to coach and pushes his teammates to be better every day. He has earned any awards that he receives this year."
TYSON STRUBER, CANTON-GALVA
6-2, 200, sr., WR-LB
2021
• 1,472 yards receiving 24 TDs
Career
• 3,954 yards, 69 TDs
Worth noting
Helped lead Eagles to 2019 Eight-Player Division I state championship and a 43-5 record in four years as a starter. … Accounted for 37 touchdowns in senior season, also rushing for 379 yards and 13 touchdowns in addition to his receiving stats. … Had 72 catches this season and 208 in his career. … Struber set career Eight-Player records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, breaking the old marks of 3,347 yards set by Brewster's Kyle O'Connor from 2002-05 and 63 touchdowns by Axtell's Hunter Koch from 2016-18 and was just two receptions from tying O'Connor's career receptions record (210). … Also was standout defensive back/linebacker for Eagles recording 99 tackles, including 12 for loss this season and 292.5 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss in his career. … Owns almost every school receiving record as well as interceptions in a season (10 in 2018) and career (21). … Ran for 978 yards and 25 touchdowns in his career. … Is a four-time All-Eight-Player Division I first-team selection and is a Kansas State commit.
Coach's comment
"Tyson is one of the most dynamic athletes I've ever coached and would be one of the best players on the field no matter what team he was playing for or classification he was playing in," Canton-Galva coach Shelby Hoppes said. "But what makes Ty special is his character on and off the field. As a coach, when your best player talent-wise is also your highest character kid as well, that is when you have something special, and that is what we have had the last four years here at Canton-Galva with Tyson."
CLINT RIDER, BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST
Coach of the year
2021
• 12-1, Class 6A state champion
Career
• 64-46
Worth noting
Led Blue Valley Northwest to best season in school history and first state title in program history. .. Huskies knocked off three-time defending state champion Derby in Class 6A state championship game with a 41-21 victory. ... Huskies captured first Eastern Kansas League title and suffered only loss to St. Thomas Aquinas. ... Huskies went just 9-25 in his first four years at Northwest, including 0-9 in 2018 when senior class were freshman. ... In four-year stint at Hesston, posted 36-9 record and led Swathers to Class 3A state championship game in 2016 where they lost 48-42 in overtime to Rossville. ... Also coached two seasons at Southeast-Cherokee.
Coach's comment
"It's been an awesome feeling (to win state). I'm just really happy for our players and coaches. Everybody around our program has put so much into this thing. We've had a long road and to finally be at this point is pretty special."