25 EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION I FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2022
 

AIDEN AMREIN, QB-LB, HILL CITY 

After seeing his freshman season derailed by injury, Amrein enjoyed a huge sophomore campaign for the Ringnecks. Amrein threw for 1,689 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,558 yards and 24 scores, leading Hill City to the Eight-Player Division I semifinals and a 10-2 record. He recorded 69 tackles and three sacks on defense. He was first-team all-state in Eight-Man Division I by KSHSAA Covered. He was first-team all-league on offense.
 

KALEB ATKINS, DB-RB, HILL CITY 

Atkins rushed for 834 yards and 13 touchdowns last year as a junior.  He was also a weapon as a receiver for the Ringnecks, catching 44 passes for 558 yards and eight touchdowns. At linebacker, Atkins notched 102 tackles with seven tackles for loss for the 10-2 Ringnecks. Atkins was honorable mention in Eight-Player Division I on KSHSAA Covered’s All-State team. He was first-team all-league on offense and second team on defense.

 

MITCH BUDKE, QB-LB, CHASE COUNTY
 
Budke has been one of the most productive performers in eight-player football over the past three seasons – on both sides of the ball. Last season, Budke led the Bulldogs to an 8-2 record and accounted for 49 touchdowns on offense. Budke ran for 2,005 yards and 40 touchdowns and also threw for 679 yards and nine more scores, completing 52% of his passes. Defensively, he’s a two-time first-team All-Eight-Player I selection at linebacker, last year racking up 137 tackles. As a sophomore, Budke amassed more than 2,000 yards of total offense and 31 touchdowns and in his career, he’s rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 66 touchdowns and thrown for more than 1,700 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s logged more than 130 tackles each of the last two years and has 332 in his career.

 

BRANDON CHVATAL, TE-DL, ATWOOD-RAWLINS COUNTY 

Chvatal was the Buffaloes leading receiver and second leading tackler last year as a junior. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound tight end had 403 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Chvatal, listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, logged 64 tackles and notched five sacks. He also handled punting duties. Chvatal was a first-team pick on the All-Northwest Kansas League team on offense and defense. The Buffaloes went 4-5 last year. Rawlins County coach Aaron Sramek says Chvatal is interested in playing college football.




OWEN DAY, QB-LB, WAKEENEY-TREGO

Day threw for 1,048 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 496 yards and nine touchdowns for the Golden Eagles, who went 8-2 last year following a one-win season in 2020. Day notched 65 tackles on defense. Day, listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, has 163 career tackles despite playing only one game his sophomore year. He was honorable mention in Eight-Player Division I on the KSHSAA Covered All-State team. Day earned first-team all-league honors on defense.

 

CONNER DINKEL, OL-LB, HILL CITY 

Dinkel put up a team-high 119 tackles for the Ringnecks last year. He added two sacks and 14 hurries. He had five games where he recorded double-digit tackles including 13 against Hoxie. Dinkel was named honorable mention in Eight-Man Division I on KSHSAA Covered’s All-State team. He was a first-team all-league pick on defense for the Ringnecks, who finished 10-2 and reached the state semifinals.

 

ERHIK HERMOSILLO, QB-DB, WICHITA COUNTY

Hermosillo put up prolific numbers in his first year at quarterback for the Indians. He threw for 1,771 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,450 yards with 25 touchdowns. Hermosillo was honorable mention in Eight-Player Division I on KSHSAA Covered’s All-State team last year.  Hermosillo was second-team All-Hi Plains League at quarterback. Wichita County went 6-3 last year.
 

MIGUEL HERNANDEZ, QB-DB, SUBLETTE 

The 5-10, 165-pound senior quarterback is coming off a season in which he rushed for 869 yards and seven touchdowns and threw for 507 yards and three scores in seven games played. Hernandez’s best offensive game was against Elkhart, rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. At free safety, he recorded 107 tackles and had two interceptions last season. He was a first-team Hi-Plains League pick in the secondary. For his career, Hernandez has  2235 passing yards with 17 touchdowns, 1838 rushing yards with 14 TDs. He’s recorded 184 career tackles. Hernandez earned all-league honors and made the state finals in long jump and the 100-meter dash.

 

BRADY JONES, WR-DB, HOXIE

Jones was a big threat in the passing game for the Indians last year as a junior, making 45 receptions for 741 yards and 17 touchdowns. His best game was against Trego, when he made 15 grabs for 183 yards with five touchdowns. As a defensive back, he snagged five interceptions and made 61 tackles. Jones received honorable mention in Eight-Player Division I on KSHSAA Covered’s All-State team. He was second-team all-league on offense. 

CREYO KOOP, RB-LB, WEST ELK
 
Koop made a big first impression as a freshman last season for the Patriots, rushing for 1,272 yards and 24 touchdowns on 155 attempts as West Elk posted an 8-2 record. Koop, who added a receiving touchdown, also had 68 tackles with a fumble recovery, interception and sack at linebacker. The 145-pound runner-up in Class 3-2-1A wrestling, Koop earned All-South Central Border League first team and KSHSAA Covered honorable mention football honors.


 

JAMES KRIEGH, RB-LB, WAKEENEY-TREGO 

Kriegh turned in a monster junior season on the ground, rushing for 1,449 yards and 24 touchdowns. He averaged 8.8 yards per carry. KrIegh, listed at 6-foot, 175 pounds, ran for a career-high 307 yards and four touchdowns against Rawlins County. He's rushed for over 2,000 yards in his career. On defense, the linebacker logged 55 tackles with two interceptions. Kriegh was a first-team pick in Eight-Player Division I on KSHSAA Covered’s All-State team and was first-team all-league on offense and as a returner.

 

RYAN KUCKELMAN, QB-LB, MACKSVILLE 

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior quarterback is coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,464 yards and 21 touchdowns and threw for 614 yards and nine scores. Kuckelman turned in a monster game against Pratt-Skyline, rushing for 362 yards and seven touchdowns on 23 carries. He had 92 tackles on defense last season. He’s closing in on 3,000 yards rushing for his career, entering this season with 2,932 yards and 45 touchdowns on the ground. He’s thrown for 2,082 yards with 24 touchdowns in his career, and has recorded 199 tackles. He was honorable mention in Eight-Player Division I on the KSHSAA Covered All-State team. Kuckelman was first-team All-Central Prairie League on offense, defense and special teams. Kuckelman has offers from Highland Community College and Bethel.
 
BRAXTON LAFFERTY, RB-LB, LITTLE RIVER
 
One of Little River’s top defensive players on its 2020 state championship team, Lafferty emerged as its top offensive player last year. The 6-0, 195-pounder transitioned from a receiver role to the backfield workhorse and averaged 9 yards per carry last year, finishing the season with 1,435 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns. He was at his best in big games, rushing for 309 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 60-52 regular-season win over Canton-Galva and the rushing for 193 yards and 5 TDs and throwing for 194 yards and 3 TDs in a 76-68 playoff win over the Eagles. He ranked second on the team in tackles and was a first-team All-Eight-Player selection at linebacker.
 

 
SETH LECLAIR, OG-DE, CLIFTON-CLYDE
 
A three-year starter on the line for the Eagles, LeClair helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 42.8 points per game as Clifton-Clyde finished the 2021 season with a 7-2 mark. He earned first-team All-Twin Valley League honors both ways and from his defensive end position, LeClair was in on 51 tackles and added 3 sacks and a fumble recovery, helping him to first-team All-Eight-Player I honors. With line play a strength for the Eagles this season, LeClair might see some time at tight end this year and play a bigger role in the offense.
 

COLBY MIDDLETON, QB-LB, BURLINGAME
 
Moving from running back to take over at quarterback for the Bearcats last year, Middleton made the transition a seamless one and had a big season in leading Burlingame to a 6-4 record. Middleton still relied heavily on his legs, rushing for 1,171 yards and 23 touchdowns, topping his totals from his freshman and sophomore years combined. Middleton also threw for 647 yards and 10 touchdowns, completing 64.4% of his passes. Defensively, he was in on 50 tackles with 2 for loss and coming off a big offseason in the weight room could have an even bigger season on that side of the ball. Middleton was a second-team All-Lyon County League pick at quarterback last year in a league loaded with stellar signal callers.

 

BRAYDEN NORRIS, LB, MEADE

Norris helped lead the Meade defense last year in the Buffaloes' undefeated season. He came up with a key defensive play late to help Meade hold off Little River in the Eight-Player Division I state championship game. The linebacker notched a team-high 128 tackles with 11 tackles for loss. He has 233 tackles for his career. Norris was a first-team all-state pick by KSHSAA Covered in Eight-Player Division I as a linebacker. He was first-team All-SPIAA on defense. Another player to keep an eye on for the Buffaloes is 6-foot-4, 280-pound lineman Brady Papas. Meade coach Clint Kuhns said Papas helped play a significant role in Norris’ success last season. 

 

WYATT PETERSON, RB-LB, ARGONIA-ATTICA
 
Argonia-Attica took some big graduation losses at key positions, but Peterson figures to be a steadying presence after registering 88 tackles, four sacks and an interception last season at linebacker. Peterson will be without his graduated linebacking mate, Adam Blanchat, this season, but he and defensive back Colter McDaniel give Attica-Argonia a pair of returning All-Heart of the Plains League performers on the defensive side.

 

BRADEN POLIFKA, OL-DL, QUINTER 

Polifka helped anchor the Bulldogs’ offensive line at center, and also had a standout season at defensive end. Polifka, 6-foot-1, 265 pounds, notched eight sacks and 68 tackles in 2021. He forced two fumbles and had one recovery. Polifka was a first-team All-Northwest Kansas League pick on offense and defense. The Bulldogs went 8-2 last year. Polifka has offers from Bethel, Ottawa and Grinnell College (Iowa).

 

JACKSON RISLEY, TE-LB, SOUTH SUMNER
 
Risley, a junior, helped Caldwell hold five of its opponents to 14 points or less with a team-leading 113 tackles. He brings big-play ability to the South Sumner defense for its maiden season, intercepting three passes and adding three fumble recoveries a year ago. Risley, an All-South Central Border League linebacker, also got into the act with Caldwell’s high-powered offense last season, averaging 16.4 yards per reception with three touchdowns.

 

MAISON SLATER, DB-WR, CLIFTON-CLYDE
 
Slater took ball hawking to a different level for the Clifton-Clyde defense last year, setting a school record for interceptions in a season with a whopping 12 picks. That far and away led the state as well as Slater earned first-team All-Twin Valley League and All-Eight-Player Division I honors. Slater also was in on 50 tackles. He had a nose for the ball on offense as well, catching 22 passes for 345 yards and 7 TDs in the Eagles’ run-dominant offense.

 

KEIONDRE SMITH, QB-DB, SOUTH SUMNER
 
South Sumner has a proven playmaker for its first football season with the consolidation of Caldwell and South Haven. Smith, a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback, ran for 2,027 yards and passed for 899 last season to lead Caldwell to an 8-2 record. The senior accounted for 48 touchdowns, earning KSHSAA Covered All-State honors in Eight-Player Division II. An All-South Central Border League quarterback, Smith also recorded 59 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
 

GRAYDEN STAPLETON, WR-DB, MEADE 

Stapleton was the leading receiver on the Buffaloes’ state championship team last year as a junior. He caught 34 passes for 664 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had three straight 100-yard receiving games in the playoffs. Stapleton will move to quarterback this year after the graduation of Torren Haynes. The 6-foot, 160-pounder also recorded four interceptions on defense. Stapleton was honorable mention in Eight-Player Division I on KSHSAA Covered’s All-State team. He was first-team All-SPIAA on defense. Stapleton was the Class 1A 110 hurdles champion at the state track and field meet last spring.
 

GRANT STEPHENS, LB-TE, LITTLE RIVER
 
Stephens was the top tackler for Little River’s Eight-Player Division I state runner-up team, making 99 total stops to edge out classmate Braxton Lafferty for top honors. Stephens also had 75 tackles as a sophomore on the Redskins’ 2020 state championship team. He took on a bigger role offensively last year and from his tight end spot caught 15 passes for 312 yards and 5 touchdowns and also ran for 369 yards and 8 scores. Stephens is part of a Little River skill corps that returns in tact from last year and will team with Lafferty to give the Redskins arguably the top linebacker duo in Eight-Player Division I.
 

 
BRYSON TURNER, RB-DB, MADISON
 
One of the fastest players in the state – Turner is a two-time Class 1A state champion in the 100 – Turner’s speed has made him an electric weapon in Madison’s offense the past two seasons. More of a complementary back/returner as a sophomore on Madison’s senior-laden 2020 team, Turner became the focal point of the Bulldog offense last year and flourished. He ran for 1,402 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging an eye-popping 18.2 yards per carry. Turner also caught 26 passes for 698 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Eight-Player Division I honors as a flex pick. He also was a first-team All-Lyon County League pick at running back, defensive back and returner.
 

JAKE WIENS, DB, GOESSEL

After a solid sophomore season that saw him earn honorable mention All-Wheat State League honors, Wiens nearly doubled his production in 2021. He finished the season with 1,227 yards rushing, averaging just over 10 yards per carry, and scored 20 touchdowns. He also threw for 105 yards and two scores and moved up to first-team all-league honors. Wiens also added 64 tackles and picked off five passes., returning one for a touchdown. He’s been a first-team all-district player two straight years and last season helped lead Goessel to an 8-3 record and the state quarterfinals.