Sports in Kansas has announced its 2023 Top 11 Football Team. Over 40 media members in Kansas vote on this award and votes are counted by Chet Kuplen of Sports in Kansas. To see individual photos of players visit our social media platforms that led you here.
Top 11 Capsules
DaeOnte Mitchell, Wichita East, Sr. QB
DaeOnte Mitchell had an incredible career for Wichita East at QB and showed they belonged with everyone this season in 6A. 11,168 total yards in his career combined passing and rushing. He broke the GWAL career passing yards with 7,848 previously held by Blake Bell 5,992 (2009). He finished 2023 season with completion % of 82.4 and for a career with 77.6% – both of which should be state records once confirmed by the KSHOF. Mitchell had 93 touchdown passes in his career and also scored another 40 on the ground as he rushed for over 3,000+ in his career as a dual threat. He also broke GWAL total yards in a career with 11,168 total yards of offense (2023). Congrats on an amazing career at East and a big s/o to HC Ene Akpan for the East turnaround.
Mark Debiak, Gardner Edgerton, Sr. DE
Debiak, a 6’3.5″ 235 pounder, was the standout on a loaded GE defense this season in which produced their first ever state title under head coach Jesse Owen. The defense allowed only eight points per game this season. He had 59 tackles on the season, caused five fumbles, had 13 sacks and an incredible 27 tackles for loss this season, playing in one of the best conferences in the state. His defensive coordinator, Bryan McCall, also earned honors this season from Sports in Kansas as the 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year in the Large Classes (4A, 5A, 6A).
J.C. Heim, Washburn Rural, Sr. LB/RB
Heim, a 6’3” 225-pound senior, had a school record 173 stops along with eight sacks, three forces fumbles, 17 tackles for loss and one defensive TD. He also had two interceptions, two blocked PATs and field goals, a blocked punt and gtwo fumble recoveries.. On offense he also added 12 total touchdowns and over 600 combined yards. Along with his twin brother, Jaren, who was named Co-6A DPOY with J.C., helped Washburn Rural to their best season in years, finishing 11-1, losing by a field goal in heartbreaker to Derby. The Rural defense allowed 15.2 points per game, it was their best season defensively since 1993, under HC Steve Buhler. They also finished with 11 wins which is second most wins in school history. Heim was the best two-way player in 6A this season in leading his team to the state semifinals. Heim also has 11.0 100-meter dash speed at 6’3” 225 pounds with a 4.6 40 yard dash and 33” vertical.
Omari Elias, Kapaun, Sr. RB
Omari Elias, a 5-10 192-pound senior, rushed for 3,100 yards this season on 392 carries for an average of 7.9 yards per carry. Elias had 40 rushing touchdowns in leading the Crusaders to their first state championship appearance since 1987. He also became the all-time leader in city league for rushing yards. After making the second 11 last year, Elias made the Top 11 this year and also was named the All-Classes Offensive Player of the Year from SIK. Last season he was the non-senior POY. He has committed to Air Force.
Jayden Woods, Mill Valley, Jr. DE
Woods, a four-star recruit nationally in the class of 2025, also proves the part on the field. The Sunflower League Defensive Player of the Year helped lead his team to another state title as they 5-peated in 5A under Joel Applebee. Woods, a 6-3.5 230-pound edge, had 71 tackles, 7 tackles, 10 TFLS, 8 pass deflections and two forced fumbles for the Jaguars. He was the non-senior DPOY last year and this season. Woods also set the school record in the discus last year, winning a state title as a sophomore despite it being his first year in track and field. Woods now has five Sports in Kansas major awards over two years: Back to Back Non-Senior DPOY, 5A DPOY, Top 11 and All-Classes DPOY. And he has a season left.
Congratulations Jayden and the Mill Valley Jaguars!!! Sports in Kansas All-Classes Defensive Player of the Year, Top 11, Back-2-Back Non-Senior DPOY! We are so proud of you!!! – Dad, Mema and Papaw
Jackson Voth, Cheney, Sr WR/ATH
Voth had an incredible year for the Cardinals as he led them to their first ever state title and also earns a Top 11 selection in addition to the SIK 3A OPOY. He was a swiss-army knife on the offense with 1,030 yards receiving on 77 receptions with 10 touchdowns along with 359 yards rushing for another 11 Touchdowns, on just 39 carries. He’s also an all-state linebacker on defense. He has committed to play football at New Mexico State University at the next level, who is coached by Cheney native Jerry Kill. Voth’s older brother, Harrison, was the Sports in Kansas 3A Player of the Year in 2021.
Congratulations Josh, Jackson, Coach Wehrman and the Cheney Cardinal football team on an outstanding season! Go Cardinals! J.Rae’s Bakery is a proud supporter of Cheney High School Athletics, visit us at jraeswichita.com
Congratulations to Josh Burdick, Jack Voth and coach Shelby Wherman for their Sports in Kansas Coach and Player of the Year Awards. Citizens State Bank is a proud supporter of Cheney cardinal athletics.
Congratulations Josh, Jack and Coach Wehrman on your Sports in Kansas Coach and Player of the Year Awards! – The Burdick Family
Dylan Dunn, Blue Valley Southwest, Sr. QB
Dunn, a 6’4” and 200 pound senior, led the Timberwolves (10-2) to the best season in school history on the way to passing for 3,777 yards (47 TDs/5 INTs) which is statistically one of the best seasons in Kansas history. Dunn narrowly missed 5A and all-classes POY in one of the tightest races we’ve ever had since 2012, just being edged out by Omari Elias and his 3,100 rushing yards of 5A Kapaun to finish second overall in Top 11 voting and second overall in 5A OPOY voting. In his career he threw for 9,148 yards along with 94 passing touchdowns to just 23 total interceptions, 98 total touchdowns in career. He led all-classes of Kansas in passing yardage for 2023 and finished first in 5A for three consecutive seasons. His highest total in a game is 601 yards along with eight touchdown passes. He’s also a 6’6” high jumper in track and field, taking fourth in 5A last season. When Dunn isn’t succeeding on the field, he helps take care of his brother who has special needs. He also plays the piano and lists his father, Marc (former player at KSU), as his role model. We feel like Dunn may be one of the biggest recruiting sleepers we’ve covered. This kid is the real deal, on and off the field.
Congratulations to Dylan Dunn and the Blue Valley Southwest football team. Thank you coaches, parents and fans for making this such a great season and experience! – Marc and Elizabeth Dunn
Congratulations Dylan Dunn on your Sports in Kansas Top 11 Award, All Classes of Kansas, you are the best of the best! The Blue Valley Southwest WolfPack Booster Club and the Southwest Community are incredibly proud of you and your accomplishments.
Holden Bass, Nemaha Central, Sr. DL
Bass, 6’3.5” 280, is likely the best two-way player in Kansas along with Jackson Voth (Cheney) and J.C. Heim (Washburn Rural). All three voted to the Sports in Kansas Top 11 team this season. He’s certainly the top two-way lineman in the state. Bass had over 110 tackles this season from his defensive tackle spot and was also a part of one of the best small school offensive liens in 2A history over the last two seasons. The Nemaha defense allowed just five points per game being anchored by Bass up front. He is a three-time 2A all-state pick from Sports in Kansas and has verbally committed to D2 powerhouse Northwest Missouri. One random fact that he told us nobody would know about him is that he is a published poet.
Your family is proud of you very much! Roll Thunder Roll!
Congrats to Holden Bass on Top 11 and 2A Plyer of the Year from Sports in Kansas. Spring Creek Golf Course has enjoyed watching you grow both on and off the football field. Congrats!
Congrats to Holden Bass of the Nemaha Central Thunder on 2A defensive player of the year and Top 11. The Friday Nighters, and whole community are proud of your accomplishments!
Brayden Kunz, Conway Springs, RB
Kunz, a 6’2” 205-pound senior, is one of the best running backs in the state as he rushed for 2,806 yards this season along with 107 tackles on defense in leading the Cardinals (10-2) to a state title for the first time since 2011 under HC Matt Biehler. His rushing total broke the school single season record of former KSU Wildcat Tanner Wood. Kunz, last season’s SIK 1A DPOY, was also a Top 11 selection this season. He had 6,322 rushing yards in his career with 83 total touchdowns. Kunz also had 271 career tackles with four interceptions. The “Conway Springs Cowboy” as noted by Chet Kuplen of Sports in Kansas is also one of the top calf ropers in the world for his age, ranking 17th world-wide and taking third nationally. His cowboy post from Kuplen of Sports in Kansas went viral a few weeks back for over two million views on Facebook. His role model is his father, Shaun, and his favorite food to eat is steak.
Tanner Heckel, Lyndon, QB
Heckel had one of the best 8-man seasons in the history of the sport in Kansas. He had 2,313 yards rushing for 50 touchdowns along with 1,062 passing for 19 more scores. Along with seven interceptions, three that went for pick sixes to give him 72 total touchdowns this season for the 8M-I champion Tigers (13-0). Heckel, who transferred in the off-season from Inman where he led them to back to back 1A runner-up finishes, had 4,138 career rushing yards and 2,198 career passing along 2ith 477 career receiving. He has been honored all-state (honorable mention all the way to Top 11 all classes) in some capacity four consecutive years. He also has a 42” inch vertical, 45+ foot triple jump, 24-foot long jump, 10.9 100 meter dash and throws the javelin 180 plus. He’s also a three-time all state pick in basketball and two-time state champion in track with five runner-up finishes. You are reading about one of Kansas’ best overall athletes in any class. Heckel has a Division I track offer from KSU and could blow up in football this month.
AJ Construction & Remodeling would like to congratulate Tanner Heckel for 8M-I Offensive Player of the Year and Top 11!
Wildcat Feeds would like to congratulate Tanner Heckel and Lyndon Tigers on a perfect season. GO TIGERS!!
Gus Hawkins, Mill Valley, OL
Hawkins is a 6’7” 275-pound senior that has committed to Kansas State. The top 11 selection helped Mill Valley to their fifth straight state title. Hawkins, a former standout basketball player at Scott City, is in his second year with the MV program. He also used to play Tight End before moving to tackle. He is ranked as a four star recruit and was a non-senior pick as a junior last year in also helping MV to a state title. Hawkins also had an Ole Miss offer. His favorite HS memory in football is winning sub-state on a walk-off touchdown this season.
Sports in Kansas Top 33 (Top 11, Second 11, Third 11)
Sports in Kansas Top 11
Omari Elias, Kapaun, Sr. RB
Dylan Dunn, BV Southwest, Sr. QB
Jayden Woods, Mill Valley, Jr. DE
Tanner Heckel, Lyndon, Sr. QB/DB
Holden Bass, N. Central, Sr. DL/OL
J.C. Heim, Wash Rural, Sr. LB/RB
Brayden Kunz, Con. Springs, Sr. RB/LB
Jackson Voth, Cheney, Sr. WR/ATH/LB
Dae’Onte Mitchell, Wichita East, Sr. QB
Gus Hawkins, Mill Valley, Sr. OL
Mark Debiak, Gardner Edgerton, Sr. DL
Coach: Shelby Wehrman, Cheney
Second 11
Michael Boganowski, Junction City, Sr. LB/DB
Kaedin Massey, Lyndon, Sr. OL/DL
Jaren Heim, Washburn Rural, Sr. LB
Mason Hopper, Derby, Sr. DL
Bryce Noernberg, Olathe South, Sr. QB
Callen Barta, Seaman, Sr. WR/DB
Justyce Betts, Bishop Miege, Sr. LB
Kian Payne, Aquinas, Sr. DL
Braden Hales, Olathe North, Sr. OL
Alex Parks, BV Southwest, Sr. WR
Tate McNew, Maize South, Jr. QB
Dasaahn Brame, Derby, Jr. TE
Carter Hajek, N. Central, Soph. RB/LB
-more listed due to tie in voting
Third 11
Sammy Dresie, Maize South, Sr. WR
Josh Burdick, Cheney, Jr. QB
Brody Hayes, Clay Center, Sr. ATH
Lucas Dickman, Eisenhower, Sr. RB
Brett Carroll, Olathe East, Sr. OL/DL
Bravin Powell, Gardner Edgerton, Jr. QB
Declan Battle, Louisburg, Sr. QB/ATH
Colton Brusven, Tonganoxie, Sr. RB/LB
Teegan Haines, McPherson, Sr. LB
Caiden Hoffman, Hoisington, Sr. OL/DL
Rayvelle Leak, Wichita East, Sr. RB
