Des Moines Register’s Top 10 Iowa high school football players in 2024
Here’s a look at The Register’s Top 10 Iowa high school football players in 2024.
One question still looms large over the upcoming 2024 Iowa high school football season: Who is the best team in the entire state, regardless of class?
Coaches, players and fans want to know.
Should only programs housed in Iowa’s largest class be considered? Can 4A, 3A or even smaller classes contend with larger schools? Is one nationally recognized recruit enough to boost a team’s standing?
Enter the Des Moines Register’s IHSAA football Super 25 rankings. This preseason poll is determined with the help of coaches, first-hand observations and discussion among staff writers from the Register, Iowa City Press-Citizen and Ames Tribune.
There is still a heavy Class 5A presence in this poll. Several teams from other classes made the cut, and others could jump onto the list during the season.
Stream Iowa HS football games on the NFHS Network
1. Valley
2023 record: 6-6
Week 1: at Southeast Polk
The Tigers could not catch a break with injuries last season. With two capable quarterbacks and the return of Zay Robinson from injury – in addition to Jayden McGregory – at wide receiver, Valley possesses all the pieces. Oh, and that doesn’t even get into the Tigers’ massive offensive line or hard-hitting returners on defense.
2. Ankeny
2023 record: 9-4
Week 1: Ankeny Centennial
The Hawks finished as the 5A runners-up in 2023, with a new coaching staff and only a handful of returning starters. This season, Ankeny returns a 2,000-plus passing yards quarterback, two 1,000-yard rushers, an incredibly capable receiver, and some of its strongest pieces on defense.
3. Ankeny Centennial
2023 record: 7-5
Week 1: Ankeny
Centennial was in almost every game last season, with four of its five losses decided by 10 or fewer points. There are some questions: How will dominant defender Chase Kluver perform as quarterback, or will this be Braeden Jackson’s breakout season? But the Jaguars are a team to watch this year.
More: Best 100 Iowa high school football players for 2024: See our ranking
4. Southeast Polk
2023 record: 13-0
Week 1: Valley
Any team that wins three straight state championships – including a perfect, undefeated one in 2023 – will be on this list. The Rams graduated many impact players, but Southeast Polk has proven that the program is more than one player. Expect the Rams to churn out more success this season.
5. Dowling
2023 record: 9-2
Week 1: Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Any high school football fan who has seen Ra’Shawd Davis run understands why Dowling is listed so high, even after graduating its quarterback and key offensive linemen. He’ll be the centerpiece of this offense, backed by several top defenders returning for their senior seasons.
6. Waukee
2023 record: 8-3
Week 1: at Ames
Quarterback Beckett Bakker is in his third season as a starter, and he has 1,000-yard rusher Grant Gammell and several key receivers – including Waukee Northwest transfer Maverick Inman – alongside him. Add in guys like Carter Johnson and Nathan Deimerly on defense, and that’s a winning combination.
7. Johnston
2023 record: 5-5
Week 1: at Waukee Northwest
The Dragons took their lumps last season, but they were one of the only CIML teams to really challenge Southeast Polk during the regular season. With Will Nuss back behind center and reliable pieces on both offense and defense, Johnston could put together a redemption arc.
8. Bettendorf
2023 record: 8-3
Week 1: at Pleasant Valley
The Bulldogs are capable of being the team out east. Bettendorf graduated a lot of athletes on the offensive side, but with players like Sam Beecher and Jackson Laver returning on defense, the Bulldogs will be a tough matchup for opposing offenses.
9. Lewis Central
2023 record: 11-2
Week 1: at Harlan
Lewis Central graduated its leading receivers and most of its top tacklers. So, why are the Titans still on this list? Because there is always new talent behind those top players, and this year doesn’t look any different than in years past.
More: Is Iowa a state on the rise for college football recruiting, or is state playing catch-up?
10. Van Meter
2023 record: 13-0
Week 1: Underwood
The Bulldogs won the 2023 state title with an undefeated record, and they’re poised for similar success this season. Van Meter is regenerative, just like Lewis Central, and that should work in the Bulldogs’ favor.
11. Cedar Falls
2023 record: 7-4
Week 1: Prairie
The Tigers hail from the same city as the UNI-Dome – where the state semifinals and finals are played – and Cedar Falls wants to make it there this year. This team boasts some of the state’s best offensive linemen and several other players who will play Division I football.
12. Iowa City High
2023 record: 6-4
Week 1: at Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.)
City High will need to put a lot of pieces together to make a deep run in the postseason. But Bobby Bacon returns as one of the top quarterbacks in the state and, if the supporting cast steps up, the Little Hawks could be a tough team to play.
13. Grundy Center
2023 record: 13-0
Week 1: Dike-New Hartford
Some players – quarterback Colin Gordon and defensive lineman Trent Cakerice – will be difficult to replace from last year’s team. But athletes like Brody Zinkula, Tiernan Vokes and Ryker Thoren could make Grundy Center in for another successful season.
14. Remsen St. Mary’s
2023 record: 9-1
Week 1: Harris-Lake Park
The Hawks lost one game last season: the state championship, to Bishop Garrigan, by just three points. Expect Remsen St. Mary’s – made up of mostly seniors now – to use that as motivation.
15. North Polk
2023 record: 9-3
Week 1: Bondurant-Farrar
North Polk played hard against teams like Bondurant-Farrar, Indianola and ADM last season. The Comets return their leading rusher, BJ Tate, and several important pieces on defense.
16. Norwalk
2023 record: 5-5
Week 1: Carlisle
The Warriors graduated quarterback Aidan Harder, who threw for over 2,400 yards in 2023. Norwalk brings back a strong receiver core: Eli Robbins, Luke Brewer, Timothy Koerselman. If the Warriors find a capable quarterback – especially with Norwalk’s strength on defense – this could be a much better team than last season.
17. Bishop Heelan
2023 record: 11-2
Week 1: at Kuemper Catholic
The Crusaders looked like the team to beat until last year’s state championship game. Bishop Heelan graduated a lot of talent, but several up-and-coming contributors – like Kasen Thomas – could be in the next group of successful Bishop Heelan players.
More: IHSAA football coaches in Iowa predict state champions
18. Clear Lake
2023 record: 8-2
Week 1: Forest City
Titan Schmitt running the ball, Thomas Meyer catching it, Sam Dodge doing a bit of everything, and a young but hungry defensive core? Sounds like a winning combination.
19. Algona
2023 record: 6-4
Week 1: at Spirit Lake
The Bulldogs’ roster boasts Alex Manske (the top quarterback in the state), Jack Limbaugh (one of the top defensive players in Iowa), and Evan Allie (Algona’s leading rusher). Add in an experienced defense, and Algona should make a large leap.
20. Bondurant-Farrar
2023 record: 9-3
Week 1: at North Polk
The Bluejays graduated some big names: Titus Cram and Reed Pfaltzgraff among them. While those will be tough gaps to fill, Bondurant-Farrar did that last season, when both those players were forced out with injuries.
21. Spirit Lake
2023 record: 10-2
Week 1: Algona
It just seems like Spirit Lake has all the pieces: Caden Lundt at quarterback, William Ditsworth and Bode Higgins running the ball, Dylan Stecker, Ethan Stecker and Tate Orpen splitting receptions. The team also has three of the top five tacklers from 2023 returning.
22. West Lyon
2023 record: 9-2
Week 1: Sioux Center
Almost all of West Lyon’s key pieces from last season are back. Pair that with a history of success and the Wildcats earned the right to be included among the top teams in the state.
More: Ranking all nine CIML high school football teams for 2024 IHSAA season
23. Madrid
2023 record: 11-1
Week 1: Woodward-Granger
The Tigers might be one of the unexpected teams on this list, but there’s a lot to like here. Preston Wicker – Madrid’s top all-around guy – is back for his final season, and there are some names to know in the pipeline.
24. Emmetsburg
2023 record: 7-3
Week 1: Central Lyon/George-Little Rock
The E-Hawks are a team that always seems to contend. Considering that Emmetsburg’s top players last year were sophomores and juniors, the program is in a good spot this year.
25. Williamsburg
2023 record: 12-1
Week 1: at West Branch
It will be difficult to replace a player like Derek Weisskopf, the Register’s Boys Athlete of the Year for the 2023-24 academic year. The Raiders graduated several other top contributors, but with athletes like Rayce Heitman and Micah Lang ready to shine, Williamsburg could be in for another good season.
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
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Publish date : 2024-08-27 00:04:00
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