25 CLASS 5A FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2022
 

WILL ANCIAUX, TE, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
The 6-foot-6 Anciaux and his teammates were seconds away from advancing to the Class 5A title game last season when Maize rallied for a 22-21 victory. That no doubt serves as motivation for the Crusader football and basketball standout, who caught 20 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns a year ago. Kapaun attempted just 113 passes in its 10-2 campaign, but with efficient quarterback Dylan Hamilton returning for his junior season, Anciaux’s size presents an inviting target. Anciaux has committed to play football next season at Kansas State.

 

MIKEY BERGERON, DB, MILL VALLEY

Bergeron was one of the top tacklers for the Jaguars last year with 91. He helps lockdown opposing wide receivers as junior Truman Griffith and senior Grant Rutkowski lead a defensive line that wreaks havoc in the backfield. Mill Valley is seeking its fourth straight Class 5A state title.
MAXIMILLIAN BORNER, K-P, KC WASHINGTON

Washington will need to replace most of its offense due to graduation, but the team retains a lot of consistency on special teams. Borner made 9 of 10 extra point attempts and 2 of 3 field goals last season. He also averaged over 40 yards per kickoff and 33.6 yards per punt, with three punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
 

BRYCE COHOON, WR, MAIZE
 
One of the many weapons in Maize’s offensive arsenal, Cohoon is coming off a breakout season in which he caught 40 passes for 804 yards and seven touchdowns. The senior speedster had comparable totals to fellow senior wideout Justin Stephens, giving the Eagles the type of balance that made it tough for opposing defenses to identify a primary target. Cohoon, who committed to play at Syracuse over the summer, sprinted to the Class 5A 100-meter title in May, winning in 10.57 seconds.
 

MARK DEBIAK, DE, SPRING HILL
 
Debiak returns for a Spring Hill defense that held six of its 10 opponents to two touchdowns or less last season. Debiak was a big part of that by disrupting plays in the backfield and racking up 13 tackles for loss. He will have fellow juniors Keanu Tiafau and Kasey O’Neal alongside him on the defensive line.

 

  
OMARI ELIAS, RB, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL

Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach Weston Schartz is comfortable with playing keepaway, and he has the perfect back to do it in Elias. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior logged over 300 rushing attempts last season for 2,258 yards and 29 touchdowns. Hard to bring down behind the line of scrimmage, the KSHSAA Covered Second 11 pick was a master at moving the chains on short third downs. If Elias reaches the secondary, his combination of power and speed makes him tough to wrangle. Elias also earned All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team honors.

 

ANTONIO HARRISON, RB, KC SUMNER ACADEMY

Harrison hopes to propel Sumner to a winning record this season after going 4-5 a season ago. Harrison, along with fellow all-league selection Camron Johnson at quarterback, gives Sumner experienced leaders on offense. The senior running back rushed for 1,100 yards while Johnson threw for 900 yards.   

COLE HEITMAN, DB, DE SOTO

Heitman emerged as one of the top defensive players in the United Kansas Conference last year as a sophomore and was the lone sophomore to earn first-team all-league honors on either side of the ball. He recorded 43 total tackles from his secondary position, including 33 solo stops. But his real impact came as a ball-hawk defender, as he picked off three passes and also recovered a fumble. Heitman is the lone returning first-team all-league player for the Wildcats, who were 6-4 last year.
 

COLLIN HERSHBERGER, P-K, NEWTON
 
Hershberger will again serve double duty this fall for Newton’s football and soccer teams. He is handling punting and placekicking duties for new head coach Greg Slade. Hershberger earned KSHSAA Covered Class 5A honorable mention as a specialist and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II second-team honors at punter and kicker. Hershberger was perfect on extra points and made field goals from 46, 47 and 48 yards last season. A soccer team captain and All-5A second-team selection for the Railers, Hershberger set a school record with 20 goals in 2021.
 

HAYDEN JAY, QB, MILL VALLEY

Jay led the Jaguars to a 12-1 record and the Class 5A title a season ago. He used his legs as well as his arm, accruing 2,343 passing yards, 449 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns. He’ll be throwing to entirely new faces after his deep receiving corps graduated. Still, Jay and running back Tristan Baker should be able to keep Mill Valley’s ground game churning behind an experience offensive line as the passing game finds its rhythm early in the season.  

AVERY JOHNSON, QB, MAIZE
 
Johnson enters his much-anticipated senior season hoping to take the Eagles back to the Class 5A championship game and clear the final hurdle. The KSHSAA Covered Top 11 selection used his dual-threat playmaking ability to pass for 2,548 yards and 20 touchdowns, and run for 1,087 yards and 22 scores in 2021. A Kansas State commit, Johnson thrived in many big moments last season, engineering a game-winning drive and two-point conversion in the final minute of a 22-21 semifinal victory over Kapaun Mt. Carmel, and leading the Eagles to a come-from-behind victory over Bishop Carroll in an earlier playoff round. In the championship loss to Mill Valley, Johnson passed for 247 yards and rushed for 78.
 

NOAH KHOKHAR, RB, HUTCHINSON
 
Khokhar, a 5-foot-9, 168-pound senior, gives Salthawks coach Mike Vernon a plug-and-play option on offense. The versatile Khokhar rushed for 634 yards and seven touchdowns on 84 attempts, and caught 23 passes for 373 yards and three TDs. He also passed for 312 yards. Khokhar’s speed forces teams to account for him wherever he lines up. Khokhar joined former Maize South standout Evan Cantu and Derby Top 11 pick Dylan Edwards as All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team selections at running back in 2021.

 

EDDIE MCLAUGHLIN, QB, LEAVENWORTH

McLaughlin is the top returning offensive player in the United Kansas Conference after having a big junior season in 2021. A dual-threat quarterback, McLaughlin ran for 1,031 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging nearly 8 yards per carry. He also threw for 1,248 yards and 12 touchdowns, completing just under 50% of his passes. McLaughlin led Leavenworth to a 5-4 record, its best mark in recent years.
 

KENYON MCMILLAN, RB, SALINA CENTRAL
 
The speedy McMillan figures to face a bigger workload as the Mustangs break in several new offensive starters, including junior quarterback Gunnar Gross. McMillan, a 150-pound senior, averaged 11.7 yards per carry a year ago, finishing with 1,066 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as Central posted a 7-3 record. McMillan, an All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team back and All-5A honorable mention, is also Central’s returning statistical leader in receiving after collecting 19 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown.
 

CADEN MIRANDA, DL, MAIZE
 
The 6-foot, 252-pound Miranda was disruptive force on Maize’s defensive line last season, registering 130 total tackles to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team and All-5A honorable-mention honors. The Eagles return starters at each level of their defense, and Miranda provides the lion’s share of experience up front. While Maize found itself in several high-scoring contests, Miranda’s play helped the Eagles limit four opponents to 14 points or less.

 

MATT MOEDER, OL/LB, GREAT BEND 

Moeder, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior linebacker, logged a team-high 74 tackles for the Panthers last year, averaging 8.2 tackles per game. He added six tackles for loss and forced one fumble. He recorded 15 tackles against Kapaun Mt. Carmel and notched 13 stops against Garden City. Moeder will also play offensive guard this season. Moeder was a first-team pick on the All-Western Athletic Conference team. Moeder holds offers from Bethel and Sterling.

 

BLAKE NEIS, OL, MILL VALLEY

Neis heads up an offensive line that returns all five starters from a season ago. For a team looking to refill its entire receiving corps, that O-line will play a big role in allowing extra time for plays to develop down field. With Neis and Co. blocking for senior quarterback Hayden Jay, the Jaguars have a great shot of winning their fourth straight Class 5A state title.

 

CONNOR PADGETT, LB, MAIZE
 
Padgett’s persistence in trying to become a key part of Maize’s linebacking corps paid off last season, as he earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team honors after registering 70 tackles. He is one of six returning starters on defense for the Eagles, and makes up a solid trio at the position with senior Peyton Ritter and junior Ayden Flores. Padgett’s tenacity was on full display at the Class 5A wrestling championships in February, when he recorded a first-period fall to capture the 170-pound title.
 

HANK PURVIS, OL, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Purvis is one of the Greater Wichita Athletic League’s top returning linemen after earning all-state honorable mention and all-league second-team honors. At 6-foot-5 and around 300 pounds, the junior highlights the Golden Eagles’ physical presence up front. Carroll, coming off a 7-3 season that ended with a 28-21 loss to eventual 5A runner-up Maize, returns nine players with starting offensive experience. Purvis and all-league honorable mention choice Jacob Racine are among that group on Carroll's line.

 

TRE RICHARDSON, WR-RET, HIGHLAND PARK

One of the most dynamic playmakers in the state, Richardson has flourished for a Highland Park program that owns the state's longest losing streak. A threat to score any time he touches the ball, Richardson scored 19 of the Scots' 25 touchdowns last season. He caught 32 passes for 523 yards and 8 touchdowns, ran it 38 times for 674 yards and 8 touchdowns and also returned three kickoffs for touchdown. A speedster who won the Class 5A 200 at the state track meet last year, Richardson has committed to New Mexico State for football.

 

LUKE SIMPSON, LB, SALINA SOUTH
 
Simpson’s play at strongside linebacker has been a bright spot amid a tough stretch for the Cougars, who were plagued by injuries and illness in a 1-8 season a year ago. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior led South with 62 tackles, including 20 solo stops, and recovered a fumble on his way All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I second-team honors and All-5A honorable mention. Simpson’s physicality and confidence will help a defense that brings back 10 players who started at least one game. “Luke plays the game with his hair on fire,” South coach Sam Sellers said.
 

CARSON SPRAY, DL, HAYS 

Spray, a 6-foot, 265-pound defensive tackle, is a three-year starter for the Indians. He finished with 50 tackles, five tackles for loss, a safety and a forced fumble last year as a junior. Hays is coming off an 8-3 season. Spray received honorable mention on the Class 5A KSHSAA Covered All-State team and was a first-team pick on the All-Western Athletic Conference team. Senior tight end/defensive end Bryce Salmans is another player primed for a big senior season for the Indians.
 

REMY STULL, DB, HAYS 

Stull is another three-year starter for the Indians. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety recorded 61 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last year as a junior. Stull has a Division I offer from New Mexico State. He was honorable mention on the KSHSAA Covered All-State team in 5A and was first-team All-Western Athletic Conference.

JAXSON THOMAS, OL-DL, SEAMAN

A standout lineman on both sides of the ball last year for the 6-4 Vikings, Thomas will be a man on the move this fall. Defensively, he'll make the switch from end to linebacker after recording 50 tackles (29 solo) and having 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 fumbles force and 2 fumble recoveries last year. On offense, Thomas moves from guard to a running back position as the Vikings look to replace the bulk of last year's skill players. He's also an accomplished wrestler.
 

BOBBY TRUJILLO, LB, EMPORIA

Trujillo will become a four-year starter for the Spartans this fall at linebacker, where he was a first-team All-Centennial League selection last year as a junior after being honorable mention as a sophomore. Trujillo led Emporia in tackles with 111 and also had two sacks and two interceptions. He's drawn interest from several MIAA schools and is also a standout wrestler for the Spartans.