Valley’s Jayden McGregory scores two touchdowns in win over Waukee
Hear from Valley’s Jayden McGregory and how he blocked a field goal in the Tigers’ 20-7 win.
Defense wins championships. No block, no rock. Playing smash-mouth football.
Every football cliche in the world is getting thrown around this month as Iowa high school football begins practices. Every team has a blank slate entering the new season.
One thing does hold true across the years, that being that big-time players tend to make big-time plays. So ahead of this season, we’re identifying who those players are at each position in the state of Iowa.
Here are Iowa’s best players by position ahead of the 2024 IHSAA season.
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Best Iowa high school football players by position for 2024QB – Algona’s Alex Manske
The future Iowa State Cyclones signal-caller is heading into his senior year with high expectations. Manske led his team to a 6-4 record and a first-round exit in the playoffs, throwing for 17 touchdowns, 1,787 yards and just three interceptions. He has the highest quarterback rating among Class 3A returners.
Honorable mentions: Ankeny’s Luke Anderson, Iowa City High’s Bobby Bacon, Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Vinny Gianforte and Lewis Central’s Brady Hetzel
RB – Dowling Catholic’s Ra’Shawd Davis
Davis had a breakout season as a junior, rushing for 1,418 yards and 27 touchdowns. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry despite his longest rush of the season being just 24 yards. Each time he touched the ball, it was a easy five, six, seven yards or more as he bounced off tackles and ran through defenders.
Honorable mentions: Ankeny Centennial’s Braeden Jackson, PCM’s Adrien Robbins, Des Moines Lincoln’s Javon Sanders and Clear Lake’s Titan Schmitt
WR – Valley’s Zay Robinson
Robinson missed all of last season with an injury, but the Iowa State commit’s talent is hard to miss. As a sophomore, Robinson tallied 409 receiving yards and two touchdowns. At 6-foot tall alongside uber-talented Jayden McGregory in the passing game, this Valley offense will be hard to stop.
Honorable mentions: Sioux City East’s Louden Grimsley, Iowa City Liberty’s Dallas Miller, Norwalk’s Eli Robbins, Southeast Polk’s Sam Zelenovich
TE – Clear Lake’s Thomas Meyer
Meyer is the next great tight end to come through Iowa. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Meyer is a fluid athlete for his size. He recorded eight touchdown catches and 407 receiving yards in addition to three sacks and 38.5 tackles on defense.
Honorable mentions: Norwalk’s Luke Brewer, Waukee’s Evan Jacobson, Iowa City High’s Parker Sutherland, Bettendorf’s Amari Washington
OL – Cedar Falls’ Will Tompkins
Tompkins is one of many great offensive lineman in this Cedar Falls program right now. Last season, the Iowa State commit helped the Tigers run for 2,250 yards and throw for 1,206. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, not many defensive linemen are beating this guy one-on-one in high school.
Honorable mention: Central Decatur’s Tariq Miller, Waterloo West’s Carson Nielson, Iowa City High’s Tyler Rindels, Iowa City West’s Colin Whitters
DL – Algona’s Jack Limbaugh
Algona has all the top-end talent, as the 6-foot-4 defensive end is one of the most fearsome in the state. The Iowa State commit had three sacks despite drawing all the attention from offensive lines a year ago.
Honorable mention: Sioux City’s Manasse Kasongo, Urbandale’s Axel Ramazani, Pleasant Valley’s Joey VanWetzinga, Mount Vernon’s Ethan Wood
LB – Gilbert’s Will Hawthorne
The newly minted Cyclone commit leads the Gilbert defense. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker had 63 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a junior as the team finished 6-3.
Honorable mention: Ankeny Centennial’s Malachi Curvey, Cedar Falls’ Jarrett Kies, Bishop Heelan’s Kason Thomas, Ballard’s Jackson Wacha
DB – Spirit Lake’s Ethan Stecker
Stop us if you heard this before: Stecker is an Iowa State commit. He is a force for Spirit Lake at safety. Spirit Lake rolled to the state semifinals as Stecker tallied a pair of interceptions and 15 solo tackles.
Honorable mention: Central Decatur’s Nash Dykes, Urbandale’s Elijah Hoyt, Dallas Center-Grimes Tate Perrin, Iowa City West’s Julian Manson
ATH – Valley’s Jayden McGregory
McGregory could have been the top wide receiver or defensive back on this list. He’s one of the state’s elite players.
Holding offers from several college football powers, including reigning champion Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin and many more. He carried Valley to victory against Waukee in the playoffs with a huge touchdown catch and by blocking and returning a field-goal attempt for a touchdown after returning from injury.
Honorable mentions: Ankeny Centennial’s Malachi Curvey, OABCIG’s Jaxx DeJean, Iowa City West’s Julian Manson, Iowa City West’s Mason Woods
K/P – Bettendorf’s Caden Buhr
Buhr is a five-star kicker via Kohl’s Kicking Camps, making seven of nine field goals last season, one of which was from 52 yards out. He also made 40 of 43 point-after attempts, along with taking punting duties.
Honorable mentions: Ankeny Centennial Ryan Bendezu, Ankeny’s Ryan Harrington, Van Meter’s Adlai Lounsbury, Ames’ Austin McIntire
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Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23
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Publish date : 2024-08-19 16:59:00
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