ALL-STATE TOP 11 BIOS
HOLDEN BASS, NEMAHA CENTRAL
6-4, 290, Senior Strong Guard/Defensive Noseguard
2023 STATS
- 113 tackles, 20 tackles for loss
CAREER STATS
- 231 tackles, 42 tackles for loss
WORTH NOTING
Helped Nemaha Central to second straight Class 2A state championship and undefeated season. … Top blocker for Thunder offense that racked up 3,308 yards and 55 touchdowns on the ground this year and 4,353 yards of total offense overall. … Anchored defense that posted eight straight shutouts this season and allowed just 67 total points this season (5.2 per game). … Thunder gained 3,558 yards and 66 rushing touchdowns in 2022. … Was third-leading tackler on team as interior defensive lineman with 69 of his tackles solo stops. … Had 148 solo tackles in career and was three-year starter for Thunder. … Twice had season-high 14 tackles in a game and had 6 solo tackles in this year’s title game. … Also lined up as blocking fullback for bulk of championship game, paving the way for 270 yards on the ground in the snow. … Was first-team All-Class 2A selection as junior and was unanimous All-Big Seven League selection on both sides of the ball this season. … Has 335 bench, 455 squad and 335 hang/clean in the weight room. … Has committed to Kansas State as preferred walk-on.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“He’s obviously huge, but what sets him apart is his work ethic,” Nemaha Central coach Michael Glatczak said. “Not many players, 6-4, 290 play 100 snaps a game and go full speed every play. That’s what set him apart from anybody I’ve ever coached and I think our staff would say the same thing about their past players. He went 100% every single play whether it was at noseguard shutting down A-gap or running sideline to sideline or on offense when it was third and two and we were going to run wedge right behind him. His leadership, too, helping out the other O-line guys, teaching them as we go. My first two years here, I thought he was better offensively, but this last spring and summer something flipped and he got that motor and defensively that set him apart this year.”
MARK DEBIAK, GARDNER EDGERTON
6-3, 250, Senior Defensive End
2023 STATS
- 59 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 13 sacks
CAREER STATS
- 134 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 20 sacks
WORTH NOTING
Impact transfer who helped lead Gardner Edgerton to first state title in program history with Trailblazers going 12-1 and beating Derby 22-19 in 6A championship game. … Had blocked punt and strip sack in state championship game. ... Started high school career at Spring Hill where he was two-year starter as sophomore and junior. … Also forced five fumbles this season and had a blocked kick. … Recorded 31 solo tackles this season and 85 in his career. … Also had 27 quarterback pressures this season. … Was finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top big-school lineman in the Kansas City metro area – an award his father, Jeff, won in 1996. … Jeff was teammate of Gardner coach Jesse Owen at Olathe North when the Eagles won their first state championship. … Owns a 455-pound squat, 325 bench and 315 hang clean in the weight room. … Named first-team All-Sunflower League this year after being first-team All-Frontier League pick last year for Spring Hill.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“We knew he had tons of potential but I don’t know that you can necessary forecast the type of season he had,” Gardner Edgerton coach Jesse Owen said. “He’s a great kid that has a great work ethic and was surrounded by really good teammates and I think Mark would be the first one to give credit to them. He came in and fit in extremely well with our program. He’s a very good athlete, very quick off the ball. He’s strong and he just has a good motor. He’s always working and trying to make something happen.”
DYLAN DUNN, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST
6-4, 200, Senior Quarterback
2023 STATS
- 3,777 yards passing, 47 TDs
CAREER STATS
- 9,148 yards passing, 94 TDs
WORTH NOTING
Three-year starter at quarterback who led Blue Valley Southwest to best season in program history as Timberwolves went 10-2 and reached Class 5A state semifinals. … Dunn threw for 490 yards and 5 TDs in 48-47 semifinal loss to Mill Valley. … Completed 73.1% of his passes this season. … Threw for 2,784 yards and 28 touchdowns as junior and 2,587 yards and 19 touchdowns as sophomore. … Set every school passing record, including yards in a game (601 vs. De Soto in 2022), season (3,777) and career (9.148) and passing touchdowns in a game (8 vs. De Soto), season (47) and career (94) as well as complete percentage records. … His 9,148 career passing yards rank second in state history all time to Bishop Miege’s Carter Putz, who threw for 9,295 yards from 2014-17 while his 3,777 yards this season is the fifth-best single-season total in state history. … His 94 career touchdown passes also are No. 2 all-time behind Putz’s 124. … Threw for at least 200 yards in 25 of his 36 career starts with 9 300-plus yard games (7 this season), 1 400-yard game, 1 500-yard game and 1 600-yard game. … Named offensive player of the year in the Eastern Kansas League. … His father, Marc, played quarterback at Kansas State in 2001-02. ... Was named Simone Award winner, which is given annually to the top large-school player in the Kansas City Metro area.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“He showed a lot of moxie and a lot of talent early and we knew if we could get him started as a sophomore, he was only going to grow and by the time he was a senior it would pay dividends and it did,” Blue Valley Southwest coach Anthony Orrick said. “One of the big things that really pushed him over the edge were his leadership abilities and his confidence level. I think he’s always been confident in his ability to throw the football, but maybe not as much as trusting his teammates around him that they would make plays for him. But he’s such a big-time student of the game. He and our offensive coordinator really sit down and study the game together and that really showed this year. He had such an understanding of the offense and where guys are going to be and he could predict how the defense would roll their coverage and where they would be and that was a huge benefit and key to our success.”
OMARI ELIAS, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
5-8, 205, Senior Running Back
2023 STATS
- 3,100 rushing yards, 40 TDs
CAREER STATS
- 7,726 rushing yards, 96 TDs
WORTH NOTING
Led Kapaun Mt. Carmel to runner-up finish in Class 5A this season, the Crusaders’ highest state showing since 1987. … Ran for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns in 62-37 championship game loss to Mill Valley. … Ran for more than 2,200 yards each of past three seasons, going for 2,258 yards and 29 touchdowns as a sophomore and 2,346 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior. … His 7,726 career rushing yards rank No. 1 all-time in the Greater Wichita Athletic League, breaking the record of 7,114 previously held by two-time All-State Top 11 pick Bryce Brown of Wichita East. … Also ranks No. 2 all-time in state history for career rushing yards behind only Wichita Collegiate’s DeAngelo Evans, who had 8,472 from 1992-1995. … His 3,100 yards are fourth-best single-season total in state history. … Also owns every Kapaun rushing and touchdown record. … Ran for at least 140 yards in every game this season with 11 games over 200, including 346 with 6 touchdowns against Maize South in the playoffs. … Ran for 1,319 yards and 19 TDs in 5 playoff games this season. … Averaged 7.4 yards per carry and 214.6 yards per game for his career. … Has committed to the Air Force Academy. … Also is a standout wrestler, placing fifth at 215 pounds as a junior and ranked No. 3 to start this season. … Is a three-time first-team All-Class 5A and All-Greater Wichita Athletic League selection.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“We faced nine-man boxes all year, everybody up on the line of scrimmage and he just kept plugging away,” Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach Weston Schartz said. “He would get stronger as the game would go on and most of his yards would come in the third or fourth quarter, and that’s when you need him the most. He’s going to be perfect for them. We knew if it was fourth and one, he was going to get it, or if you needed a big play, he would break it. His stamina, endurance, work habits – the guy’s a dream kid. A lot of coaches will tell you that and there’s some flaws in them, but there’s not any flaws with this kid, academically, socially – just an Air Force-type kid. He has to be mentioned (with the best backs from Wichita) just based on productivity alone. Some may have been faster, some may have been bigger, but he got it done and he elevated his team.”
GUS HAWKINS, MILL VALLEY
6-8, 277, Senior Offensive Left Tackle
2023 STATS
- Top blocker for offense that amassed 5,654 total yards, 84 TDs
CAREER STATS
- Cleared way for 10,647 yards, 156 TDs past two seasons
WORTH NOTING
Helped pave way for two straight Class 5A state championship teams after transferring in from Scott City following his sophomore season. … Mill Valley offense averaged 45.8 points per game this year and put up 62 in Class 5A state championship game against Kapaun Mt. Carmel. … Jaguars had 4,663 rushing yards and 72 rushing touchdowns this season, breaking school team records for both categories. … Mill Valley had 4,993 total yards (3,457 rushing) and averaged 38.5 points per game in 2022. … Has a 335 squat, 425 deadlift and 265 hang/clean in the weight room. … Is two-time first-team All-Sunflower League selection. … Has committed to Kansas State as one of top recruits in state this season.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“When he first got here, he wanted to play tight end and we let him play that all summer long,” Mill Valley coach Joel Applebee said. “It was pretty apparent how good he could be because he was a really good run blocker. When August hit, we approached him and said, ‘The best fit for you, if you want football in your future, is to be a tackle.’ He really bought into that pretty quickly and ran with it. It didn’t take him long. He’s a great athlete with great footwork and his hip mobility is really good. Technique-wise, he’s really good with his hands, too.”
TANNER HECKEL, LYNDON
6-0, 180, Senior Quarterback/Cornerback
2023 STATS
- 2,313 yards rushing, 50 TDs; 1,062 yards passing, 19 TDs
CAREER STATS
- 4,318 yards rushing, 82 TDs; 2,192 yards passing, 32 TDs
WORTH NOTING
Was impact addition after transferring in from Inman, helping lead Lyndon to first-ever state football state championship as Tigers beat defending champion Wichita County 34-6 in title game. … Ran for 254 yards and 4 touchdowns in championship game. … Helped Inman to two straight runner-up state finishes in Class 1A in 2022 and 2021. … Had six games of 200 yards or more rushing, including 351 against South Sumner County and 349 against Cair Paravel. … Ran for 8 touchdowns in win over Frankfort and 7 in first win over Cair Paravel. … Accounted for 125 career touchdowns, including 72 this season. … Averaged 12.4 yards per carry this season. … Completed 56% of his passes and was only picked off twice in 100 attempts. … Also had 81 tackles (56 solo) and intercepted 7 passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns, and finished career with 239 tackles and 14 interceptions. … Also is an All-State basketball performer and won state track titles in the long jump and triple jump last spring, helping Inman to the Class 2A team title.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“Obviously, he’s a fantastic athlete and tremendously skilled,” Lyndon coach Michael Massey said. “Tanner moving in was a blessing, not only because he’s a great athlete but also a great human being and leader. The guys and him acted like they’d known each other since kindergarten. It’s remarkable how well they all got along, bantered back and forth and the relationship they built that quickly showed up on the field. Nobody cared who got the accolades, all they cared about was winning. … I wish some of these FBS schools would start hitting him a little bit harder because he’s a special athlete and a special kid. He’s going to make whatever program he goes to better.”
JC HEIM, WASHBURN RURAL
6-3, 220, Senior Linebacker/Fullback
2023 STATS
- 173 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 8 sacks
CAREER STATS
- 322 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 14 sacks
WORTH NOTING
Led Rural to Class 6A state semifinals and 11-1 overall record this season, the best finish for the program since 1992. … Demolished Rural’s single-season tackle record of 132 set by Ty Weber last season and 112 of his 173 tackles were solo stops this season. … Also had 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries, one he returned for a touchdown, spearheading a Rural defense that allowed just 15.2 points per game this season. … Also became force on offense from fullback spot, rushing for 530 yards and 10 touchdowns while also catching a pair of touchdown passes. … Ran for 855 career yards and 15 touchdowns. … Has 200 career solo tackles and holds school career records for tackles for loss (40) and fumble recoveries (7). … Blocked 2 PATs this year, including a game-winning one against Wichita East in the season opener. … Blocked a combined six PATs and punts in his career. … A two-time first-team All-Centennial League selection. … Is getting Division I looks as preferred walk-on from Kansas State and Kansas as well as offers from most MIAA schools.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“The most impressive part about his season was he moved positions,” Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler said. “He was an outside linebacker last year and got to run around a little bit more. We moved him inside and anybody that knows anything about playing defense, inside linebacker is a whole different animal than the outside spot. And he worked at it all summer. To have the year he had at middle linebacker when it was really his first year doing it was really impressive. He is such an intense competitor and he does have a lot of natural instinct. He’s very football smart and savvy and has a tendency to recognize things at a pretty quick pace in the game. He’s one of our best running backs and he transfers some of that knowledge of being a running back, which really helped him. He understood blocking schemes quickly. He’s very physical and intense and he wants to succeed and is going to do whatever it takes to get there.”
BRAYDEN KUNZ, CONWAY SPRINGS
6-2, 205, Senior Running Back/Linebacker
2023 STATS
- 2,806 rushing yards, 24 TDs; 101 tackles
CAREER STATS
- 6,317 rushing yards, 70 TDs; 271 tackles
WORTH NOTING
Led Conway Springs to its first state championship since 2011 as Cardinals topped Jefferson County North 35-6 in title game. … Ran for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns in championship game. … Had at least 131 yards rushing in 12 of 13 games this season and seven games of 200 or more with two 300-yard games. … Had season-high of 322 yards against Medicine Lodge in regular season. … Set school’s single-season rushing yardage record, topping old mark of 2,709 set by former Top 11 pick Tanner Wood in 2012. … Ranks No. 2 on the career rushing yardage list behind former Top 11 pick Darrin Seiwert, who ran for 6,563 yards from 2001-04, and 13
th on the state’s all-time list. … His 271 career tackles are No. 3 all-time for Cardinals behind Eric and Nathan Pauly. … Only two pass completions this year went for touchdowns, both against Ellinwood. … 77 of 101 tackles this year were solos and he had 180 solo tackles in career. … Had 4 career interceptions and 6 career fumble recoveries. … Was Second 11 and first-team All-1A selection last year. … Is also a rodeo standout, finishing third in calf roping at the National High School Finals Rodeo last year.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“He’s got similarities and differences to the great backs we’ve had here,” Conway Springs coach Matt Biehler said. “The similarity is he can break tackles after he gets hit and gets the yards after contact, like Tanner (Wood) and Darrin (Seiwert). But he’s also got great vision to cut back and Tanner had that a little bit. There were times I was going, ‘Don’t cut back, there’s nothing there,’ and he makes something happen because he sees that little seam he needs. You throw him on the track and he never blazed people on the track but when he gets that football equipment on and sees that end zone, those guys catching him on the football field aren’t catching him then. Defensively, it was hard for him not to cover sideline to sideline from the middle of our defense. People had to really account for him and there were times they thought they could get the edge on him and he’d track them down. He’s just a tough kid.”
KIAN PAYNE, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
6-4, 260, Senior Defensive Tackle
2023 STATS
- 62 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 7 sacks
CAREER STATS
- 161 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks
WORTH NOTING
Helped Aquinas to its first state championship since 2018 as Saints won Class 4A crown with 35-7 win over Andover Central in title game. … Ranked second on team in tackles this year from the defensive line, playing both tackle and end. … Had 42 solo tackles this season and 98 in his career as three-year starter on defensive front. … Anchored defense that allowed just 49 points in five playoff games and 224 on the season (17.2 per game) playing in the toughest league in the state, and held opponents to just 84 rushing yards per game, a school record by 10 yards per game. … Had 9 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a junior. … Was finalist for the Bobby Bell Award, given annually to the top big-school lineman in the Kansas City metro area. … Is a two-time first-team All-Eastern Kansas League pick and was named the league’s Co-Defensive MVP this season along with Bishop Miege linebacker Justyce Betts. … Is getting FBS and FCS looks.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“First of all, his reach obviously helps him because he’s long,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Randy Dreiling said. “But he plays a little mean, too. He’s got a really good motor and generally speaking he’s playing pretty physical football. We had a really good run defense and he obviously anchored that. If you can’t run the ball, it’s hard to do things. We’ve had a lot of good ones and he’s right up there with them.”
JACKSON VOTH, CHENEY
5-11, 175, Senior Wide Receiver/Running Back/Linebacker
2023 STATS
- 1,033 receiving yards, 11 TDs; 76 tackles, 18 tackles for loss
CAREER STATS
- 2,748 receiving yards, 31 TDs; 263 tackles, 33 tackles for loss
WORTH NOTING
Led Cheney to 13-0 record and program’s first-ever state championship as Cardinals won Class 3A title with 34-7 win over Hayden in title game. … Had 91 combined receiving and rushing yards in title game. … Cardinals’ title run included two come-from-behind wins over Andale – the first ending the Indians’ 57-game winning streak and the other in the state semifinals halting their four-year reign in 3A. … Ran for game-winning touchdown in overtime win over Andale in first meeting. … Finished the season with 366 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing to go with his receiving stats. … Had 83 catches for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. … Also had 125 tackles as junior. … Holds school records for career receptions (203) and also receiving yards in a season (1,044) and career (2,748). … Had 148 career solo tackles. … Tied state record with 19 catches in state semifinal win over Andale. ... Added 6 career sacks, 5 interceptions and 3 fumbles forced. … Scored 43 career touchdowns. … Was first-team All-3A pick last season. … Named Offensive MVP and Special Teams MVP of Central Plains League this season. … Has accepted a preferred walk-on offer from New Mexico State.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“The excitement he brings to practice, to workouts, to games, I think that’s what sets him apart as being a leader and getting his teammates around him to raise their level of play,” Cheney coach Shelby Wehrman said. “I’ll never forget when we’re out at practice and he always has something to say before we started and he would just scream out, ‘It’s Andale week, let’s go!’ And in the weight room, ‘It’s Andale week, let’s go!’ Same thing during state week, and that energy level helps everybody around him. He’s a special athlete and we were tinkering with where to play him, even last year he was on the table to be quarterback before Josh (Burdick) stepped into that role. He was our best receiver, he was our best running back and he was our best linebacker. We knew we could play him anywhere and we knew we wanted to get him the ball in different spots and I thought he performed incredibly well no matter where he was.”
JAYDEN WOODS, MILL VALLEY
6-4, 235, Junior Defensive End
2023 STATS
- 71 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 7 sacks
CAREER STATS
- 122 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks
WORTH NOTING
Has been key defensive starter for two straight Class 5A state championship teams at defensive end. … Had 8 tackles and a tackle for loss in Mill Valley’s 62-37 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel in this year’s championship game. … Was first-team All-Class 5A and Second 11 pick last year in first year as starter after having 51 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. … Also has forced five fumbles in his career and recovered 3. … Is one of state’s top recruits in Class of 2025 and already holds 27 Division I offers from nearly every FBS power including the likes of Alabama, LSU and Notre Dame and locals Kansas State, Kansas and Missouri. … Also is standout in track and captured Class 6A state title in the discus last spring while also placing eighth in the shot put.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“First off, he’s one of the most driven, hard-working kids I’ve ever been around with that kind of talent,” Mill Valley coach Joel Applebee said. “Everything he does, there’s a purpose behind it, even down to the single rep he’s doing. There’s just a strong focus on everything he does, whether it’s in the weight room, the practice field or in a game – that’s the type of kid he is. He’s very humble and he’s a good vocal leader for us. He just puts his head down and works and is everything anybody would ever want out of a very talented athlete.”
SHELBY WEHRMAN, CHENEY
Coach of the Year
2023 STATS
- 13-0, Class 3A state champions
CAREER STATS
WORTH NOTING
Led Cheney to its first-ever state championship in football as Cardinals went 13-0 this season and won Class 3A crown with 34-7 win over Hayden in state championship game. … Championship season included two come-from-behind wins over powerhouse Andale, the first ending the Indians’ 57-game winning streak and the second coming in the state semifinals to deny Andale a shot at a fifth straight 3A state title. … Cardinals have posted at least eight wins in six of Wehrman’s seven seasons as head coach, and at least nine wins five times. … Also spent nine years as assistant coach at Derby prior to taking Cheney job and helped coach Panthers to three Class 6A state championships. … Began coaching career as assistant coach at Tabor College in 2002 and also has had assistant coaching jobs at Clearwater and Rose Hill. … In 22 years as assistant or head coach has only been experienced four losing seasons. … Was Kansas Shrine Bowl West assistant coach in 2019. ... Played linebacker for Derby's first state championship team in 1994 before walking on at Kansas State.
COACH’S COMMENTS
“I think the best way I can explain it, it’s surreal,” Wehrman said of the undefeated championship. “Your dream is out there and you work for them, but for it to actually come true – you work for it but you don’t necessarily expect it to happen. It’s incredible and makes you thankful for everybody you have around you to help you get there. I consider this coach of the year honor a team award because without the assistant coaches, players, parents and the support of the community, this doesn’t happen.”