CLASS 4A FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 

NICK ANCIAUX, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
The Crusaders graduated a key piece of their I-formation running game in tight end Peyton Gosch, but the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Anciaux returns to help pave the way. One of three returning starters up front, Anciaux earned first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honors and All-Class 4A honorable mention at tackle. Recently committed to the University of Tulsa, Anciaux and his line mates will try to help junior running back Ken Huff improve on a 776-yard campaign in 2024, when the Crusaders finished 7-3.
 

COLTON BANNISTER, WELLINGTON
 
Bannister, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior, led Wellington’s defense with 116 tackles, including 12 for loss last season, as the Crusaders posted their second consecutive 8-3 season. Bannister’s older brother, Dusty, who fueled the Crusaders’ potent passing attack, has graduated, and Colton could lead a shift in Wellington’s overall team strength. The Crusaders return seven defensive starters, including a trio of linebackers that includes Bannister, senior Hank Shinliver and sophomore Fisher Elder, who started the Crusaders’ final four games in 2024. The defensive unit also has experience in the line and secondary. Bannister earned first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV honors after receiving second team as a sophomore.
 

BRODY BARNES, ATCHISON

Barnes is entering his fourth year as a starter on the Atchison line and will once again play both sides of the ball for the Phoenix this season. That familiarity on the line will certainly help new coach Jordan Malcom, who replaced long-time Atchison coach Jim Smith. Barnes will play left tackle for the Phoenix and protect returning All-Meadowlark Conference quarterback Kolton Bonnel. Barnes was a first-team all-league and honorable mention all-state selection last season. The Atchison senior will also see time at defensive tackle as well. 
 

LEIGHTON BOLDRIDGE, ATCHISON

As a junior, Boldridge decided to go out for football for the first time and it turned out to be a good decision for him and his Atchison team. Boldridge made an impact in all three phases for the Phoenix as he helped them to an 8-2 record and a Meadowlark Conference championship. As a running back, Boldridge recorded 667 yards on 65 carries as he averaged more than 10 yards per carry. He finished with nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns. As a defensive back, he had 23 solo tackles and five interceptions. Boldridge earned first team all-league and honorable mention all-state recognition. 
 

CAGE CRABILL, EUDORA

Crabill is entering his third season starting on the Eudora defensive line, but there will be a little bit of change for him in 2025. The Cardinal senior will be making the move from defensive tackle to end for the coming season and will look to create even more havoc. As junior, Crabill had 34 tackles from the middle of the Eudora line, including nine solo stops, two sacks and two forced fumbles. That earned him first team All-Frontier League honors and honorable mention all-state. It will also be his second year starting on the offensive line. 

 
JACOB DEROUCHEY, WAMEGO

Once again Wamego boasted one of the stingiest defenses in Class 4A last year, something that’s become a trademark under head coach Weston Moody. The Red Raiders allowed just 163 points in 11 games (14.8 per game) and DeRouchey was a big key to that unit’s success. Stepping in as a starting safety, DeRouchey recorded 62 tackles to rank tops among defensive backs and third on the defense overall behind linebackers Brady Oviatt and Talon Conrad. A first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection, DeRouchey is one of nine starters back on defense with Conrad also returning after being a second-team all-league selection.
 

DEONTAE FIELDS, LABETTE COUNTY

Fields is returning for his second season as one of the leaders of the Labette County defense. The junior defensive back made opposing quarterbacks pay for those who threw his way. Fields led the team with five interceptions and had 37 tackles and 15 pass deflections. That sophomore season made him a first team All-SEK selection and was named honorable mention all-state as the Grizzlies put together a 5-5 season. Fields is also a state medalist on the track as he helped the 4x100 relay to a third place finish last spring.  

 
LOGAN FULTON, WAMEGO

Wamego head coach Weston Moody took a bit of a chance turning his offense over to a sophomore quarterback last year. But Fulton entered high school with plenty of promise and certainly delivered on that promise last year in handling the job like a seasoned veteran in replacing Pruitt Nowlin. Benefitting from having All-Class 4A running back Tate Warren to shoulder the load in the ground game, Fulton complemented him in the passing attack, throwing for 1,746 yards and 19 touchdowns. Fulton will likely become more of a focal point of the offense with Warren having graduated and he’ll have to do it without last year’s leading receiver, Jackson Tupps, who also graduated. Fulton was honorable mention All-North Central Kansas League last year.
 

KELLEN GIBSON, WINFIELD
 
The strong-armed Gibson returns at quarterback for the Vikings after winning the Class 4A javelin title in May. Gibson, a 6-foot, 182-pound senior, passed for 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns last season as Winfield finished 6-4 with a second-round playoff loss to eventual state champion Andover Central. A four-year starter, Gibson also ran for 402 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while punting for a 41-yard average. He earned first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III honors at punter and second team at quarterback in 2024.
 

DYLAN HALL, MCPHERSON
 
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Hall made a big impression on Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III coaches in postseason voting last year. While the other four offensive linemen chosen to the all-league first team were seniors, Hall made it as a sophomore – one of two sophomores on the offensive unit along with teammate and wide receiver Ashton Malm. Hall also earned All-Class 4A honorable mention. His play on both sides of the ball helped the Bullpups post a 5-5 record with a Week 9 victory over Abilene. 
 

KRIS HARDING, CHANUTE

Harding returns for his third year as the Blue Comets’ signal caller after a strong junior campaign that helped Chanute to an 8-3 record before falling to eventual state runner-up Bishop Miege in the sectional round. Harding threw for 1,812 yards with a 56 percent completion percentage to go along with 18 touchdowns. He also did some damage with his feet as the All-SEK first team quarterback had seven more scores on the ground. Harding also earned honorable mention all-state honors. 
 

 
HEATH HOEKMAN, ABILENE

A four-year starter for the Cowboys, Hoekman can do a little bit of everything offensively. Lining up at either tight end or an H-back position, he’s an effective pass-catcher, having 24 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown last year and has 7 TD catches an nearly 700 yards in his career. He’s also run for five scores and has been a key blocker on the edge. Defense is where he’s really shined for the Cowboys, working from an end spot. He had 87 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 3 sacks last year. He’s 14 tackles shy of 200 in his career and also has 24 tackles for loss and 6 sacks in his career. A first-team All-North Central Kansas League pick on defense and second-teamer on offense, Hoekman is also a standout on the baseball diamond having helped the Cowboys to three straight Class 4A state tournament appearances.
 

HAYDON HULL, OTTAWA

Hull put together the best season for a Frontier League quarterback in 2024 as he guided Ottawa to a 6-4 record and put up some big numbers in the process. As a junior, Hull threw for 1,967 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also did some damage with his legs as he rushed for 360 yards and six more touchdowns. Hull earned first team all-league honors and was named to the all-state honorable mention team. He will have the opportunity to put up the same type of numbers this season as Ottawa returns a pair of all-state receivers in Nate Sims and Aiden McCullough.  
 

JAMAAL JACKSON, LABETTE COUNTY

Jackson returns for his senior season after a monster year that was one of the best in Class 4A in 2024. The Labette County running back racked up 1,822 yards rushing to go along with 19 total touchdowns, which helped him earn first team All-SEK and first team all-state honors. For his career, Jackson has totaled more than 3,100 yards rushing and has 31 touchdowns. He helped the Grizzlies to a 5-5 record last season, before falling to state runner-up Bishop Miege in the second round of the playoffs. Jackson was also 3-time state track medalist in the spring as he won the 100-meter dash with a new state record time and was a runner-up in the 400 dash.

 
ASHTON MALM, MCPHERSON
 
Malm established himself as a playmaker for the Bullpups in his first season as a starter. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior earned first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III honors after catching 49 passes for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. His numbers were the best by a sophomore in McPherson history. A two-way player for the Bullpups at safety, Malm earned All-Class 4A honorable mention after helping McPherson post a 5-5 record.
 

PAXTON MCLEOD, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Andover Central’s offense was productive throughout the 2024 season, but its signature moment came in the Class 4A championship game, when running back Maddox Archibald ran for a state title-game record 341 yards in the Jaguars’ 49-42 victory over Bishop Miege. McLeod, a three-year starter at center, was part of the unit that paved the way for Archibald’s four-touchdown performance. The 5-foot-11, 270-pound senior returns along with guard Aiden Jordan and tackle Tommy Inkelaar to help Central reload after the departure of a talented senior class. McLeod’s part in the Jaguars’ first state title set the tone for a big year. He won the Class 5A individual bowling title in March, also helping the Jags capture the team title.