Sports in Kansas 25 Quarterbacks To Watch List for 2021 –
25 to Watch for 2021 – Sports in Kansas (List is not ranked or in order)
Henry Martin, Blue Valley North Sr.
Martin helped BV North to a runner-up finish last season and enters his senior year with 5,671 yards passing (72 TD/12 INT). He has the opportunity to be one of the best in Kansas once again this season. The play at Blue Valley North over the last several years has been about as good as you can ask for with Martin, Graham Mertz and Joey Dolan.
Torrey Horak, Rossville Sr.
Horak helped Rossville to the 2A state title last season in earning SIK 2A Player of the Year honors. Rossville is looking for its fifth state title since 2014. Horak is a dual threat that passed for 1,447 yards (25 TD/4 INT) and rushed for 1,628 more yards on the ground w/ 30 touchdowns. Derick Hammes has something special going in Rossville.
Mikey Pauley, Blue Valley Northwest Sr.
Pauley led BV Northwest to a turnaround last season under head coach Clint Rider. He has major Division I offers in both baseball and football. Pauley will be one of the best quarterbacks in the state this season. Pauley threw for 1,369 yards (16 TD/7 INT) and rushed for 571 more (9 TD) on the way to leading BVNW To a 5-2 record. Things are going in the right direction for the Huskies.
Avery Johnson, Maize Jr.
Johnson is one of the most heavily recruited high school quarterbacks in the country for the class of 2023. Johnson is a standout multiple sport athlete that starred in both baseball and basketball last season as well, including a state championship in basketball. Look for Johnson to be one of the best in the state in all three sports this coming school year.
Lance Hoffsommer, Sedgwick Jr.
Hoffsommer will once again be one of the top 1A quarterbacks in Kansas after starting each of the last two seasons. He passed for 1,915 yards (21 TD) last season. He also helped Sedgwick to a 2-1A state baseball title this spring.
Wesley Fair, Collegiate, Jr.
Fair is an athletic playmaker at the quarterback position and will be one of the top juniors in Wichita for the class of 2023. Fair earned second-team non-senior honors from SIK last season.
Kade Harris, TMP, Jr.
Harris passed for 1,212 yards and rushed for 865 yards last season for the Monarchs. TMP was one of the surprise teams out West last season with a 7-2 record. He also had 98 tackles on defense. Expect Harris to be one of the best two-way players in 2A this season. A lot of talent in Hays, Kansas this season for football.
Geremiah Moore, Wichita Northwest, Sr.
Moore is an athlete at the quarterback position and will be one of the best players in 5A for 2021. Northwest has played in the title game in each of the last three seasons, coming up short as state runner -up. Could this be the Grizzlies year to bring home a state title under HC Steve Martin?
Gabe Welch, Arkansas City Jr.
Welch led Ark City to a state runner-up finish in 4A last season as he passed for 2,679 yards. Ark City finished the season at 6-7 under head coach Jon Wiemers.
Deonte Mitchell, Wichita East, Soph
Mitchell earned second team All-Non Senior honors from Sports in Kansas last season after a breakout freshman campaign for the Blue Aces in 2020. Wichita East opened the eyes of many in the city in 2020 with their high power offense.
Zac Kramer, Nemaha Central, Sr.
Kramer had a breakout season last year for the Thunder passing for 1,649 yards (11 TD) along with rushing for 1,035 more (21 TD). Look for him to be one of the best in a loaded 2A classification of returning quarterbacks.
Kaden Johnson, Holcomb, Sr.
Johnson passed for over 1,700 yards in Kent Teeters passing attack a year ago as a junior. He earned second team non-senior honors as a junior and also was an all-state pick in 3A baseball as a pitcher. Expect him to be one of the top playmakers in Western Kansas for 2021.
Daigan Kruger, Silver Lake, Sr.
The Kruger name is well known in sports for the state of Kansas and especially at the quarterback position over the years at SL. Kruger passed for 1,589 yards and rushed for 586 more last season with 36 combined TDs.
Harrison Voth, Cheney, Sr.
Voth had a huge junior season for the Cardinals last year and will be one of the top 3A quarterbacks to follow this season. He was also an all-state pick in baseball last season.
Jace Doerksen, Inman, Sr.
Doereksen passed for 1,550 yards last season for Inman along with 290 rushing yards. He had 24 total TDs as the Teutons will look to be a team to watch in 1A once again.
Hayden Oviatt, Wamego, Jr.
Oviatt is one of the top multiple sport athletes in the state of Kansas. Oviatt took third in state wrestling and was all-state in baseball last season as a sophomore. He was also a non-senior pick at QB for the Red Raiders last season under Weston Moody.
Landon Boss, Osage City, Jr.
Boss had a big-time sophomore year for Osage City in 2020 as he passed for 1,517 yards (24 TD) along with 1,001 rushing (11 TD). He is also a very talented thrower in track and field. Expect Boss to be one of the best small school players in the state this season.
Jet Dineen, Free State, Jr.
Dineen will look to be a breakout player this year for Free State. He comes from a football family that has seen a lot of success at both Free State and the collegiate levels in Kansas.
Cade Oliver, Wabaunsee Sr.
Oliver may be one of the more unknown names on this list but he was a breakout small school player last season. Oliver returns after passing for over 2,000 yards as a junior and 19 touchdowns.
Damon Redeker, Olpe, Sr.
Redeker led the Olpe Eagles to the 1A state championship last fall as a quarterback and defensive back. He will be one of the top returning 1A two-way players in the state of Kansas as the Eagles look to repeat under HC Chris Schmidt.
Noah Palmer, Olathe North, Sr.
Palmer is a two-way player for the Eagles that return a lot of talent at several skill spots. Expect Palmer to be one of the top players in the Sunflower League.
Caden Crawford, Lansing Sr.
Crawford is more known for his talents as an all-state defensive player going to Iowa at the next level but should be a factor once again at the quarterback position for Lansing. He has great size at 6’4” and 240 pounds. Crawford will look to be one of the best two-way players in the state this season.
Jordan Dale, Hays, Sr.
Dale was the WAC offensive Player of the Year as a junior last season. A solid all-state cast returns for Hays with Gavin Meyers at linebacker and Clemson commit Jaren Kanak as an athlete. Dylan Dreiling, a Tennessee baseball commit, earned all-league at running back last season while Dale took home all-league honors at Quarterback, with both being able to play the QB position.
Weston Fries, Salina South Jr.
Fries will look to turn around a Salina South program that has struggled in recent memory with his experience at the QB position. Freis threw for 1,569 last season (16 TD/9 NT) under HC Sam Sellers. Look for Salina South to be improved from 2020.
Parker Kavanagh, Salina Central, Sr.
Kavanagh threw for 1,700 plus yards last season for Salina Central. He has great size at 6’3” and 195-pounds. His brother is a former Shrine Bowl QB for the Mustangs and his father was once the starting QB at Kansas State. Should be very good QB play in Salina this season between Kavanagh and Fries.
Collin McCartney, Frontenac, Sr.
McCartney is more known on the defensive side of the ball but should be one of the best two-way players in 3A this season. The 6’3” 200-pound senior lefty has great size and gets it done with both arm/legs. Frontenac is expected to be a team to make a deep run in 3A. McCartney was also a first team all-state pick in baseball at pitcher for the 3A third place Raiders. Mark Smith has done a great job in coaching QB’s to success at Frontenac so we expect McCartney with a huge senior season. We expect good play out of the QB position in the CNC this year with McCartney, Brett Sarwinski (Galena) and Luke Niggamen (Girard)
Brett Sarwinski, Galena, Sr.
Sarwinski is likely the top multiple sport athlete in 3A starring in four sports for the Bulldogs. He was the Sports in Kansas 3A basketball player of the year last season after leading Galena to a second-place finish with his 19 points in the title game. He was also a first team all-state pick in baseball last season and has an offer from an MIAA program. Sarwinski also qualified for state in track and field last season. We expect him to be one of the best quarterbacks and defensive backs in 3A this season for his father and HC Beau Sarwinski.
Greyson Holbert, Blue Valley Sr.
Holbert earned second team All-Blue Valley last season for the Tigers. In a year where he wasn’t expected to be the starter, until Jake Wolff transferred, he ended up with a breakout season for BV. Blue Valley always has solid play at the position and we don’t expect it to be any different this season.
Kai Kunz, Andover Central
Transfer quarterback Kai Kunz is expected to have a huge season for the Jaguars and features great speed at 4.53 (laser) in the 40-yard dash. He also has great size at 6’3” and 187-pounds. Andover Central is one of the more underrated teams in 4A that nobody seems to be talking about. The Jaguars have made two recent title appearances in recent memory.
Braxton Harrison, Cimarron Sr.
Harrison passed for over 900 yards and rushed for over 800 more last season. We expect him to be one of the top small school Western Kansas players in 2021. He can do a little of everything and also had 55 tackles (5 interceptions) on defense.
8-Man QBs – Grant Schoenrock, Victoria Sr., Casey Helm, Madison Sr., Garrett Maltbie – Canton-Galva Jr, Trey Vincent – Wheatland Grinnell Sr., Mitch Budke – Chase County, Isaac Detweiler – Axtell Jr., Ashton Dowell – Hoxie, Logan McCarty – Cheylin,
The 8-man classes are loaded full of talented QB’s as well as Logan McCarty in the 6-man ranks for Cheylin. The list may be headlined by Isaac Detweiler who threw for over 1,900 yards last season. Garrett Maltbie returns with Tyson Struber to form one of the best connections in 8-man. Casey Helm, a Division I track and field recruit, has great size at 6’4” 235 and a great arm for Madison. Mitch Budke is expected to be one of the best two-way players in 8-man this season for Chase County as a junior, he threw for over 1,000 and rushed for over 1,000 more. Ashton Dowell threw for over 1,600 yards last season for Hoxie. Logan McCarty is expected to fill the shoes of his brother, Colton, the top 6-man player in the United States last season. Trey Vincent returns after throwing for over 1,700 yards and has his brother Jett back at the receiver position along with an all-state RB back. Grant Schoenrock looks to lead Victoria, a team always in contention to make a deep run.
Programs hit by graduation/Question mark quarterbacks?
McPherson always has solid play at the quarterback position as does Miege, Derby and Mill Valley. DeSoto also lost one of the best quarterbacks in the state in Jackson Miller but the program expects Tyler Schultze to step in for a big year. Lawrence graduates Jackson Dooley but Truman Juelgaard is expected to step in at the position. Mill Valley lost Cooper Marsh so MV will have big shoes to fill after a state title. Who will be the breakout stars for their programs this fall?
Others to Watch:
D.J. Dingle – Heights, T. J Neal – Wichita South, Malachi Rogers – Wichita West, Brady Strausz – Andover, Bradley Neill – Buhler, Gannon White – El Dorado, Cooper Hayden – Pittsburg, Luke McGinnis – Circle, Nolan Freund – Kingman, Matthew Potucek – Hillsboro, Keiondre Smith – Caldwell, Zander Newberry – Attica Argonia, Gatlin Jewell – South Barber, Gage Roach – BV West, Kobe Davis – Riverside, Eric Erbe – Chanute, Luke Niggamen – Girard, Servando Gonzalez – Lakin, Ali Smith – Hartford, Drew Caudle – MHMA, Kylan Cunningham – Lakeside, Dylan Bice – Thunder Ridge, Damien Kline – Prairie View, Easton Ewing – Independence, Dale Gillisipe – Pleasanton, Eddie McLaughlin – Leavenworth, Cayde Welsh – Triplains/Brewster, Dylan VanLaeys – Logan/Palco, Jay Gould – Syracuse, Tony Detwiler – Central Heights, Blake Fowler – Jefferson County North, Darian Massey – Lyndon, Ashton Dowell – Hoxie, Trent Spiker – Doniphan West, Ryan Kuckelman – Macksville, Nathan Bowman – Bucklin, Dylan Gantz – Stafford, Cole Lacey – MDCV, Kaden Foust – Otis Bison, Jaret Eitzman – St. Johns/Tipton, Dylan McCarty – Wellsville, Logan Meier – Lincoln, Rook Williams – Marysville
Several return after having big seasons in 2020. Check out who to watch in 2021 from the most complete list in Kansas by the most trusted source in sports information in Kansas. This lists main purpose is to represent the entire state from every class. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we will do this position by position. Chet Kuplen, CEO/Founder of Sports in Kansas, evaluates players every year based on performance from prior year, our all-state lists from last year and events (camps/combines) he sees players across the state with input from several coaches and media members. This is not a recruiting list or prospect list and players are not ranked or in any special order. This list is powered by Seatbelts Are For Everyone, Nex-Tech Wireless, American Implement and Mammoth Sports Construction. Be on the lookout for our postseason honors after the 2021 season on who will be the Top 100 seniors in Kansas and who will make the Sports in Kansas All Non-Senior Team, Player of the Year honors etc. While its impossible for us to check out every player in the state, we have a pretty good track record at going into detail like no other outlet in the state and don’t rank players just to sell a subscription to an online service that cost, WE ARE FREE and a trusted source. If you ever have a player that you think we should take a look at be sure to DM @sportsinkansas or sportsinkansas@gmail.com as tips coming in can always help out on who we should check out! If you are interested in a premium player evaluation contact Chet Kuplen by TEXT at 620-719-0283 or email sportsinkansas@gmail.com. Several player evaluations landed major offers over the last ten football seasons.
