5A Kansas football players to watch

Key Takeaways:

• Multiple running backs, including Calin Arndt and Reggie Reece, have surpassed 1,900 yards on the ground.
• Quarterbacks like Robert Hunter and Aiden Scott show dual-threat or high-powered passing capabilities.
• Offensive linemen such as Lamarcus Barber and Gus Corsair fortify championship-level protection.
• Defenders including Trenton Kern and Tanner Geist headline fearsome tackling and sack totals.
• Versatile athletes like Ian Premer and Dy’Vair McCray excel on both offense and special teams.

Introduction

Kansas high school football in Class 5A packs a powerful punch, featuring an array of athletes set to shape the playoff race. From the offensive backfields of Mill Valley and St. Thomas Aquinas to the defensive fortresses at Great Bend, these players have the statistics, accolades, and ambitions to dominate another season under the Friday-night lights.

Offensive Standouts

Calin Arndt (St. Thomas Aquinas, RB)

Arndt rushed for 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns during his junior campaign and earned both All-Eastern Kansas League and All-State Top 11 honors. He set the tone for Aquinas’ state championship run last season, ranking second in single-season rushing yards in school history and sixth in career rushing.

Reggie Reece (Mill Valley, RB)

Reece amassed 1,948 rushing yards on 233 carries, ending the year just one yard shy of Mill Valley’s single-season rushing record. With 25 touchdowns, the First Team All-Sunflower League running back will remain a primary offensive weapon for a Jaguars squad determined to return to the top.

Holden Lind (Hays, RB)

Lind provided more than 1,600 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns as a junior, plus seven receiving scores out of the backfield. His all-around versatility, including an honorable mention All-5A nod, makes him prime to power Hays’ offense once again.

Carson Dixon (Basehor-Linwood, QB)

Dixon sparked the Bobcats with 1,828 passing yards on 57% completion, posting 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He guided his team to an 8-2 record in his first year as a starter, also impressing in track with a record-setting 4×100 relay performance.

Aiden Scott (Shawnee Heights, QB)

Scott shattered school records by throwing for 3,103 yards and 32 touchdowns, completing 190 of his 317 passes with just six interceptions. He even logged a high of 593 yards and seven TDs in a single game, earning multiple school passing records.

Savion Stone (KC Washington, QB)

Noted as the first Kansas City Kansas Public School (KCKPS) quarterback to surpass 1,000 yards in both passing and rushing in a single season, Stone threw for 1,250 yards and rushed for 1,039 more, contributing 22 total touchdowns. He led Washington to a 6-3 record—its best since 2019.

Robert Hunter (Hutchinson, QB/DB)

After spending 2024 with Wichita East (leading the Blue Aces to a 7-4 record), the dual-threat Hunter returns to Hutchinson. His 1,605 passing yards and 18 touchdowns complement an additional 409 rushing yards. Hunter earned All-Class 6A honorable mention and heads into his senior season committed to South Dakota State.

Ian Premer (Great Bend, TE/WR)

Arguably the top athlete in the state, Notre Dame commit Premer delivered 521 receiving yards and scored eight touchdowns last season. Five of those TDs came in a single game—boosting Great Bend to a 9-1 record. Already an All-5A first-teamer, Premer’s presence forces defenses to adjust, often opening avenues for his teammates.

Tyren Parker (Shawnee Heights, WR/DB)

Sharing the field with quarterback Aiden Scott, Parker caught 50 passes for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns—both school records. Able to stand out at receiver and in the secondary, the University of Kansas commit earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors for his two-way excellence.

Nate Martin (Basehor-Linwood, WR/DB)

A four-year starter for the Bobcats, Martin leads the defensive backfield while also stepping up on offense. Last season, he recorded 54 tackles, snared two interceptions, blocked a punt, and returned a kick for a score. This year, he will be a key target in Basehor-Linwood’s receiving corps.

Dy’Vair McCray (Leavenworth, WR/DB)

McCray notched 53 tackles, three interceptions, and a defensive touchdown—alongside 344 receiving yards and six touchdowns offensively. He added three special-teams TDs as a kick returner, making him a standout among 3-year starters for the Pioneers.

Special Mentions in the Passing Game

• Blake Jay (Mill Valley, WR/DB) contributed eight catches for 234 yards offensively but shone brightest in the secondary with 43 tackles.
• G’honi Montgomery (Highland Park, RB) carried the ball 91 times for 737 yards and 9 TDs, plus four receptions, forming a potent backfield duo with returning quarterback Dontrail Fox.

Defensive Powerhouses

Cameron Brian (Seaman, LB)

In only his second year of significant playing time, Brian amassed 63 solo tackles for a total of 112 stops, surpassing Seaman’s leading tackler from 2023. He earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors and looks to anchor the middle of the defense this season.

Trenton Kern (Great Bend, LB)

Kern delivered Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year numbers in 2024: 112 tackles, 3 sacks, and 6 tackles for loss. Also a second-team All-WAC pick on the offensive line, he enters 2025 as a first-team All-5A defensive selection, supported by an experienced returning cast.

Tanner Geist (Hays, DL)

Logging 70 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks, Geist emerged as a force on the line for last year’s state runner-up. The 6-foot-2, 260-pounder garnered first-team All-Western Athletic Conference accolades and aims to cement his reputation this season.

Julian Gallegos (Eisenhower, LB)

Gallegos posted a school-record 129 tackles in 2024, powering Eisenhower to a 9-3 record and 5A semifinal appearance. With 72 solo tackles, 57 assists, and second-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II honors, he leads a defense returning seven starters.

De’Marus Partee (Pittsburg, LB)

A 3-year starter for the Purple Dragons, Partee posted 66 tackles with 34 solo stops, 20 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. He also forced three fumbles and scored a touchdown, securing first-team all-state recognition.

In the Trenches: Offensive & Defensive Linemen

Stephen Carroll (St. Thomas Aquinas, OL)

The starting right guard who helped pave 4,700 yards of total offense for Aquinas in its championship season, Carroll tallied 131 pancake blocks. As the only freshman ever to start under Coach Randy Dreiling, Carroll earned All-State Top 11 honors and is now committed to Central Arkansas.

Lamarcus Barber (Mill Valley, OL)

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 300 pounds, Barber led the Jaguars to a 9-2 finish, garnering first-team All-Sunflower League and All-Class 5A distinctions. A Kansas State commit, he remains a cornerstone of Mill Valley’s offensive line.

Gus Corsair (Hays, OL)

Already well-regarded for not allowing a single sack last year, the 6-foot-3 Corsair enters his junior season with several Division I offers. He played center in 2024 and will likely shift to guard while supplementing the defense in limited snaps.

Braxton Koller (Goddard, OL)

Koller’s unanimous All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II selection highlights his blocking in a run-heavy system that produced close to 260 rushing yards per game. Goddard transitions to a spread-option offense this season with Koller still anchoring the line.

Kaden Snyder (Salina Central, OL)

At 6-foot-5 and nearly 300 pounds, Snyder led an offensive front that helped produce a 1,141-yard rusher. A two-time all-league selection, he committed to Kansas in January and hopes to turn the Mustangs’ four-win season into a stronger campaign.

Parker Pinamonti (Pittsburg, OL/DL)

Pinamonti recorded 52 tackles, 6 sacks, and 18 TFLs last year, also recovering two fumbles. His two-way presence supported Pittsburg’s 7–3 record, earning him honorable mention all-state status.

Hunter Higgins (Maize South, DE/TE)

Committed to the University of Kansas, Higgins showcases talent on both defense and offense. He totaled 63 tackles and 13 sacks as a first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I defensive end, also forcing six career fumbles.

Versatile & Two-Way Athletes

Nate Martin (Basehor-Linwood, DB/WR)

As a primary defensive back, Martin regularly tops tackling and interception charts. He also returns kicks and will feature more prominently at wide receiver this year, making him indispensable in all phases.

Daxton Minton (Great Bend, QB)

Minton, a three-year starter, delivered 1,306 passing yards, 17 TDs, and another 412 yards plus 5 TDs on the ground. Honored as first-team All-WAC, he leads a dangerous offense also highlighting TE/WR Premer and do-it-all athlete Cooper Ohnmacht.

Cooper Ohnmacht (Great Bend, WR/S)

Ohnmacht is known for catching 35 passes (6 TDs) while also throwing four touchdown passes in gadget plays. The returning triple-jump state champion is a starting safety, earning first-team All-WAC honors as an athlete and honorable mention All-5A.

Brayden Pappas (Eisenhower, RB)

Pappas stepped into Lucas Dickman’s shoes in 2024, rushing for 1,218 yards and 7 TDs as Eisenhower powered to a 9-3 record. He will become the focal point in the Tigers’ offense this season, particularly with key departures at quarterback and receiver.

Special Teams Stars

Colin Zimbelman (Basehor-Linwood, K)

Zimbelman is in his third season as the team’s starting kicker. He hit 42-of-44 extra points and 5-of-8 field goals last season, also logging 14 touchbacks—a performance recognized by first-team All-United Kansas Conference and All-Class 5A honors.

Season Outlook

As these athletes step onto the field, each brings unique skills honed by previous success and fueled by the pursuit of state glory. Whether it’s a punishing ground attack, suffocating defense, or game-changing special teams play, Kansas 5A football is set for another extraordinary season—one defined by these elite performers determined to rise to the top.