25 CLASS 1A FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023
 

 
ERIC ARMOUR, HUTCHINSON TRINITY

Armour enters his third year as starting quarterback for Trinity and led the Celtics to a 6-3 mark last year. A dual-threat, Armour threw for 1,082 yards and 11 touchdowns with just 4 interceptions and also ran for 605 yards and 4 more scores out of Trinity’s no-huddle look and multiple sets. Armour also starts in the secondary where he had 47 tackles and two fumble recoveries last year, one he returned for a touchdown. Armour was a first-team All-Heart of America pick on defense and second-teamer on offense and is one of seven returning starters for the Celtics this season.
 

 
MAVERYCK BECKER, CENTRALIA

Becker was a key performer in all three phases of the game last year for Centralia, helping the Panthers to an 11-1 record and Class 1A state semifinal appearance. He made his biggest mark on defense where he set a school record with 10 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and earning All-1A honors there from KSHSAA Covered. He also had a kickoff return touchdown on special teams and on offense produced more than 1,000 yards of total offense from his slotback position with 514 yards and 6 TDs receiving and 497 yards and 4 TDs rushing. He’ll move into the backfield full-time this year as the Panthers replace their leading rushers from last season.
 

 
KAISON BIGHAM, VALLEY HEIGHTS

Bighman burst onto the scene as a sophomore starter at linebacker for the Mustangs in 2021 and was a first-team All-Twin Valley League pick that season after being one of Heights’ top tacklers. He didn’t drop off a year ago and had 55 tackles with 3 for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery, earning first-team all-league honors again. Bigham also contributed 491 yards rushing from his fullback position, earning second-team all-league honors. He has 138 career tackles.
  

BRAYLON BITTEL, PLAINVILLE

Bittel is Plainville’s returning tackle and sack leader. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound senior received honorable mention All-Mid Continent League honors on both sides of the ball last year and was a second-team pick at kicker. He was honorable mention on KSHSAA Covered’s All-team. Plainville is coming off a 4-6 season. Alex McMillian takes over as head coach at Plainville after a successful seven-year run at Madison. Bittel is a two-time Class 2A state champion in discus. 
 

BENJY CARR, SMITH CENTER

Carr was a major weapon on special teams for Smith Center last year. He returned three punts for touchdowns and averaged 21.9 yards per kickoff return. Carr had 36 tackles from his defensive back spot and made one interception. He will be transitioning to linebacker this season. Carr was a first-team All-2A pick by KSHSAA Covered as a returner and was a second-team All-Mid-Continent League pick in the secondary. Longtime assistant coach Mike Rogers takes over for Darren Sasse as head coach of Smith Center, which went 8-3 last year.
 

 
COREY CRUMRINE, SEDGWICK

The quarterback position at Sedgwick has featured more than its share of prolific passers and Crumrine is the latest edition. Taking over the starting job last year as a sophomore, he improved as the season went along and finished with 2,316 yards passing with 27 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. Both marks are fifth all-time on Sedgwick’s singles-season charts. With a full season under his belt, Crumrine is a good bet to deliver even bigger numbers this season and could vault Sedgwick back among the top contenders for the 1A title.
 

 
TATE DEEVER, WABAUNSEE

Deever has been a tackling machine since his sophomore season for Wabaunsee and helped the program to one of the best seasons in program history a year ago when the Chargers went 9-2 and reached the 1A state quarterfinals. Deever broke out with a huge sophomore season, leading the Chargers with 118 tackles. Last year, he tied for the team lead with fellow linebacker Bryton Reves, each with 81 tackles as Wabaunsee’s defense gained more balance. Deever had 5 tackles for loss and was an honorable mention All-1A pick. A four-year starter, Deever, who also plays on the offensive line, has 274 career tackles to rank eighth all-time in school history and is less than 100 away from becoming the all-time leading tackler.
 

 
ZANE FARNEY, STERLING

One of five freshman starters for Sterling a year ago, Farney had the biggest impact of that group. He immediately became the Black Bears’ workhorse in the backfield, logging 204 carries for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns. Farney also started at linebacker and wound up leading the team in tackles with 62, including 35 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions. Farney was a second-team All-Heart of America pick at running back and honorable mention at linebacker. With Sterling returning every offensive starter, Farney is primed for an even bigger sophomore season and hopes to lead Sterling to an improvement over its 4-5 mark from a year ago.
 

 LUKE FRANKLIN, SMITH CENTER

Franklin will be a primary ball carrier in Smith Center’s patented wishbone offense again this season after rushing for 1,105 yards and 16 touchdowns last year as a junior. He recorded 58 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense. Franklin was a first-team All-Mid-Continent League pick at running back last year and earned honorable mention as a linebacker. He was a first-team All-2A pick on offense by KSHSAA Covered. His twin brother Eli is also a standout linebacker for Smith Center.
 

 
BRODY GROSSNICKLE, CENTRALIA

As a junior linebacker last year, Grossnickle led Centralia’s defense in tackles, recording 116 overall with 80 of those being solo stops. That earned him first-team All-Twin Valley League and honorable mention All-1A honors. Grossnickle also was a bruising blocker from his tight end spot a year ago but could move to running back as the Panthers look to replace their entire starting backfield from last year’s 11-1 team that reached the Class 1A semifinals.
 

GUS GROTE, JAYHAWK LINN

Grote returns for his senior season as the top target for a Jayhawk Linn team coming off a 8-2 record last season. He hauled in 63 catches for 844 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions. Grote earned KSHSAA Covered All-Class 1A and Three Rivers All-League first team honors last season. 
TUCKER HARRELL, ST. MARY’S COLGAN
 
In 2021, St. Mary’s Colgan had its first losing season in 24 years. The Panthers refused to let that become a habit as the team went 9-2 last season. A big reason for that turnaround was the play of Harrell. The senior quarterback threw for 508 yards with six passing touchdowns while also running for 601 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. On defense, he snagged four interceptions as a defensive back. He even returned punts, delivering a 50.5 yard average per return while taking three of his four returns to the end zone. Harrell earned KSHSAA Covered All-Class 1A and All-CNC first team honors last season.
 

 BRYAN JASKE, ELLINWOOD

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound senior played a vital role in all three facets of the game for the Eagles last year as a junior. He plays fullback and middle linebacker and also handles punting and kicking duties. Jaske rushed for 419 yards and six touchdowns on 78 carries. He recorded 65 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and also had a pick-six for last year’s 3-6 Eagles’ team. Jaske was first-team All-2A by KSHSAA Covered. He was also named first-team All-Central Prairie League as a punter and was second-team all-league as a running back and linebacker. “He has taken a leadership role with the team and owned it since day one,” Ellinwood coach Brett Stindt said of Jaske.
 

 
BRAYDEN KUNZ, CONWAY SPRINGS

Not only was Kunz one of the top two-way players in Class 1A a year ago, he was one of the top players in the state overall, earning Second 11 honors from KSHSAA Covered. Kunz had a monster junior season in which he ran for a 1A-best 2,154 yards and 26 touchdowns, earning first-team All-1A honors. He also was Conway Springs’ leading tackler with 89 total tackles, including 12 for loss with 6 sacks and 2 interceptions. He was first-team All-Central Plains on both sides of the ball and is a three-year starter.
 

 
JACK LANNING, MARION

After starting at left tackle as a freshman for Marion, Lanning has spent the last two seasons under center as the Warriors’ starting quarterback. The toughness he showed while playing line has carried over to the quarterback position as Lanning is a powerful runner who doesn’t shy from contact. Last year he ran for 844 yards and 13 touchdowns and also threw for 759 yards and 9 scores. He also is a three-year starter at linebacker and last year had 38 tackles with 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 4 pass breakups. He was first-team All-Heart of America League on defense and second-team on offense and was an honorable mention All-1A selection.
 

 
ATTICUS MARTIN, ST. MARYS

Martin was one of the top linemen on St. Marys’ Class 1A state championship team a year ago, starting both ways. He enters his fourth year as a starter up front for the Bears and at 6-2, 255 pounds is a physical presence. He earned first-team All-Mid-East League honors on defense last year where he had 41 tackles, 23 solo, with 12 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. With St. Marys losing only All-1A pick Josh Deiter off last year’s starting line, Martin and Co. will be a strength as the Bears replace Top 11 quarterback Keller Hurla and several other key skill players off last year’s title team.
 

 
DRAKE MELLIES, JACKSON HEIGHTS

Mellies stepped in as a freshman starter last year and did a little bit of everything for the Cobras. He spent the bulk of his time on offense at quarterback where he threw for 453 yards and 6 TDs and also ran for 548 yards and 6 scores. He also caught 7 passes for 134 with three of those catches going for touchdowns. Mellies stood out even more on defense, coming up with four interceptions from his secondary position to earn first-team All-Northeast Kansas League honors. He’s one of six returning starters each way as Heights looks to get back to its winning ways after a 4-5 mark last year.
 

 
GRADY NOLL, JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTH

Noll moved into a starting running back spot midway through his sophomore season in 2021 and last year eventually made his way into the starting quarterback job for the Chargers, leading them to a 6-4 record. Noll finished the season with 1,277 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing and also threw for 489 yards and 8 TDs. He earned first-team All-Northeast Kansas league honors at running back and was a first-team All-1A pick as a flex player. Noll is a three-year starter at linebacker and had 40 tackles with 5 tackles for loss and a pick-six. He’s one of 9 returning starters for North this season.
 

 
GABE RIFFEL, STERLING

Riffel was one of the top two-way linemen in not only the Heart of America League but also Class 1A last year. The 6-2, 250-pounder anchored both lines from tackle spots and offensively had 29 pancake blocks. Defensively he had 48 tackles, including 26 solos, with 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He forced a fumble and recovered 2 and was a two-way first-team all-league selection and All-Class 1A pick by KSHSAA Covered. Riffel is one of 11 returning starters on offense for the Black Bears and one of nine on defense as they look to improve on last year’s 4-5 record.
 

 
KELLEN SCHRAG, INMAN

Inman has played in each of the last two Class 1A state championship games and Schrag has been a big part of both state runner-up teams. Last year, he ranked second on the team in tackles to fellow linebacker Zach Martisko with Schrag recording 124 total tackles, including 41 solos and a whopping 29 tackles for loss from his outside linebacker spot. He also had 9 sacks and forced three fumbles. Schrag also was Inman’s second-leading rusher with 561 yards and 9 TDs. Schrag earned first-team Heart of America honors both ways and also was the all-league punter after setting a school record with a 40.95 average. Graduation and transfer hit the Teutons hard this year and Schrag will be an even bigger force for Inman this season.
 

COOPER SIMMONS, ST. MARY’S COLGAN
 
Simmons racked up 1,127 rushing and 20 rushing touchdowns last season as St. Mary’s Colgan rebounded from its first losing season in two and half decades by going 9-2. He also made 54 tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble from the linebacker position. Simmons earned KSHSAA Covered All-Class 1A and All-CNC first-team honors last season.
 

 
BLAKE SKALSKY, OLPE

An offseason injury led to a delayed start to Skalsky’s season last year with the sizable end returning for Olpe’s final five games of the season. A starter on Olpe’s 2020 and 2021 Class 1A state championship teams, Skalsky helped the Eagles get back to the state quarterfinals last year. He finished the year with 13 solo tackles and 9 tackles for loss and caught 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. A healthy Skalsky this season will be a big boost for the Eagles as he can be a force on the perimeter on both sides of the ball.
 

GUNNER WILLIAMS, CONWAY SPRINGS

Conway Springs’ run-dominated offense relies heavily on the presence of a dominant pulling guard and Williams more than fit that description a year ago, earning first-team All-Central Plains League and first-team All-1A honors. The 6-0, 260-pouder pulled, trapped and sealed and helped pave the way for an offense that churned out more than 3,400 yards on the ground, including 2,100-yard rusher Brayden Kunz, who also returns this year. Williams also plays noseguard on defense and had 33 tackles and 5 tackles for loss last year.
 

 
WYATT WURTZ, WABAUNSEE

Wurtz had the biggest shoes to fill on Wabaunsee’s team a year ago, taking over at quarterback for record-setting Cade Oliver, who was a four-year starter at the position. Safe to say, Wurtz handled the pressure more than adequately. He threw for 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns and also ran for 594 yards and 13 scores. He also starred at defensive back where he had 45 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and 5 interceptions, earning first-team All-1A honors from KSHSAA Covered. Wurtz directed Wabaunsee to one of the best seasons in program history as the Chargers went 9-2 and reached the Class 1A state semifinals.
 

BRADEN YOUNG, NORTHEAST ARMA

Young hauled in 17 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdown receptions last year for a 3-6 Northeast Arma team. He also had 240 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns as the team's third option behind senior quarterback Dawson Troth and senior running back Tayshawn Gaynore. On defense, Young finished the year with 132 tackles from the linebacker position. He earned KSHSAA Covered All-Class 1A honorable mention and Three Rivers All-League first team honors last season.