By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural
JADYN BAUM, Washburn Rural
A junior running back, Baum received All-Centennial League and TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall and has the potential to be one of the top backs in the county this season. Baum was also a first-team all-county pick in wrestling last season, posting a third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament at 190 pounds.
GRADY BERGMANN, Silver Lake
A senior, Bergmann will serve as a team captain for the Eagles this season and could be a starter on both sides of the ball for Silver Lake, which is coming off a 7-3 campaign. Bergmann received All-Big East honorable mention as a defensive back in 2024.
Xander Blasing, Hayden
XANDER BLASING, Hayden
A 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior tight end/linebacker, Blasing received All-Shawnee County Second 22 recognition last season as Hayden posted an 11-2 record and advanced to the Class 3A state championship game for the second straight season. Blasing was in on 67 tackles (39 solo) with nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a touchdown.
TOBIAS BONURA, Cair Paravel Latin
Bonura will be looking to provide senior leadership for a Cair Paravel Latin team which is coming off a 2-7 2024 season in the Lions' first season in 11-man football (Class 1A). Bonura received All-Flint Hills second-team recognition at running back last fall and also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Cameron Brian, Seaman
CAMERON BRIAN, Seaman
Brian, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior linebacker, was named to the All-Shawnee County Top 22 last season and named the county defensive newcomer of the year. Brian was also a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection after registering 112 tackles with 10 tackles for loss for the 8-3 Vikings.
BROGEN BROWN, Seaman
A 6-1, 240 senior, Brown is a returning starter at offensive guard for Seaman, earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping the Vikings go 8-3 and capture the United Kansas Conference title in 2024.
Conner Bush, Rossville
CONNER BUSH, Rossville
A 5-foot-11, 176-pound senior running back/defensive back, Bush received All-Shawnee County Top 22 recognition last fall after helping power the Bulldawgs to an 8-4 record and the Class 1A semifinals. Bush rushed for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and also was in on 120 tackles with nine tackles for loss. Bush received All-Big East honorable mention.
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
A senior wide receiver/defensive back, Donovan earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season and earned All-Big East honorable mention after helping the Bulldawgs post an 8-4 record and reach the Class 1A semifinals. Donovan is also a standout for the Bulldawgs in both golf and basketball, earning first-team All-Shawnee County recognition in both sports.
MYLES FISHER, Silver Lake
Fisher, a junior, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping Silver Lake post a 7-3 record in the Eagles' first season in the Big East League.
AJ GALLEGOS, Shawnee Heights
A 5-9, 150 senior wide receiver, Gallegos received All-Shawnee County Second 22 and All-United Kansas Conference second-team recognition last fall for the 2-7 T-Birds. Gallegos caught 51 passes for 842 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden
Hanika, a 6-5, 190 senior, is in line to take over as the Wildcats' starting quarterback this fall after backing up Jett Wahlmeier last season. Hanika helped lead Hayden to the Class 3A state final as a sophomore after an injury to Wahlmeier and Hanika, who received all-county honorable mention, caught 24 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns last season as Hayden went 11-2 and returned to the title game.
Jordy Heim, Washburn Rural
JORDY HEIM, Washburn Rural
A senior linebacker, Heim earned second-team All-Centennial League recognition for the 2-7 Junior Blues last season and received All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
John Hoytal, Washburn Rural
JOHN HOYTAL, Washburn Rural
Hoytal, a senior, took over as Washburn Rural's starting quarterback last fall, earning second-team All-Centennial League recognition and All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Hoytal was also a standout for the Rural basketball team, helping the Junior Blues reach the Class 6A state tournament.
ANDRE JOHNSON, Rossville
A 6-0, 211 senior fullback/linebacker, Johnson was a Second 22 All-Shawnee County selection last season after helping lead Rossville to an 8-4 record and the Class 1A state semifinals. Johnson received All-Big East honorable mention.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON, Silver Lake
Johnson, a 6-2, 175 senior wide receiver/defensive back, earned All-Shawnee County Top 22 recognition last season for the 7-3 Eagles and was a first-team All-Big East selection on both offense and defense. Johnson caught 51 passes for 835 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024 and also picked off six passes on defense.
Noah Kobuszewski, Seaman
NOAH KOBUSZEWSKI, Seaman
Kobuszewski, a 6-4, 240 senior tight end, received All-Shawnee County Second 22 recognition last fall for the 8-3 Vikings, who captured the United Kansas Conference championship. Kobuszewski compiled 325 receiving yards and a touchdown as a junior.
Jude Krentz, Hayden
JUDE KRENTZ, Hayden
A 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior linebacker, Krentz was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick last season after registering 132 tackles for the 11-2 Wildcats, who advanced to the Class 3A championship game for the second straight season. Krentz also rushed for 128 yards on 21 attempts.
TREY LUTZ, Topeka High
A 6-3, 355 junior defensive lineman, Lutz received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season as the Trojans finished the season 4-5, improving from 1-8.
Jackson McGivern, Hayden
JACKSON McGIVERN, Hayden
A 6-0, 200 senior running back/linebacker, McGivern received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping Hayden post an 11-2 record and advance to the Class 3A championship game for the second straight season. McGivern had 283 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 52 attempts and was in on 44 tackles (29 solo) as a junior with eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
JULIAN McGIVERN, Hayden
A 5-10, 210 senior center/defensive lineman, McGivern received All-Shawnee County Second 22 honors last season after helping Hayden post an 11-2 record and advance to the Class 3A championship game for the second straight season. McGivern was in on 46 tackles (24 solo) as a junior with four tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
Kaden McKinney, Seaman
KADEN McKINNEY, Seaman
McKinney, a 6-2, 190 senior running back, received All-Shawnee County Second 22 recognition last season after rushing for 977 yards, compiling 311 receiving yards and scoring 15 total touchdowns. McKinney helped the Vikings post an 8-3 record and win the United Kansas Conference title.
TJ Minikwu, Washburn Rural
TJ MINIKWU, Washburn Rural
A 6-foot, 210 senior running back, Minikwu earned first-team All-Centennial League recognition for the second straight season and also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the 2-7 Junior Blues.
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
KADE MITCHELL, Hayden
A 5-8, 170 senior running back/defensive back, Mitchell was a TSN All-Shawnee County Top 22 selection last season as Hayden posted an 11-2 record and advanced to the Class 3A title game for the second straight season. Mitchell carried the ball 104 times for 808 yards and caught 34 passes for 543 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns. Defensively, Mitchell was in on 72 tackles (48 solo) and picked off three passes.
G'Honi Montgomery, Highland Park
G'HONI MONTGOMERY, Highland Park
Montgomery, a 5-10, 180 junior running back, was a second-team All-Meadowlark Conference pick and received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after rushing for 737 yards on 91 attempts for the 6-3 Scots.
Gad Munganga, Topeka West
GAD MUNGANGA, Topeka West
A 6-1, 165 senior wide receiver, Munganga is a top returner for Topeka West, which will be looking to improve on last fall's 1-8 record.
MALACHI MURPH, Topeka High
Murph, a 5-11, 190 senior running back/defensive back, received All-Centennial League first-team honors on defense as a junior and also received All-Shawnee County Second 22 recognition as Topeka High posted a 4-5 record.
ANDRES OCHOA-PEREZ, Highland Park
Ochoa-Perez, a 5-10, 260 senior offensive/defensive lineman, was a first-team All-Meadowlark Conference pick last season for the 6-3 Scots and also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Ochoa-Perez was credited with 11 pancake blocks last fall.
Tyren Parker, Shawnee Heights
TYREN PARKER, Shawnee Heights
A 6-3, 187-pound senior wide receiver/defensive back, was a TSN All-Shawnee County Top 22 honoree last season after catching 50 passes for 946 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. Parker was in on 48 tackles (32 solo) and intercepted two passes. Parker, who has orally committed to Kansas, was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference pick on defense and a second-team selection on defense as a junior.
TREMAINE SAVAGE, Highland Park
A 5-11, 170 senior wide receiver/defensive back, Savage was a first-team All-Meadowlark Conference selection last season for the second straight year after helping Highland Park post a 6-3 record. Savage, who received All-Shawnee County Second 22 honors, was in on 13 tackles in the 2024 season while registering 18 pass breakups and intercepting four passes.
Aiden Scott, Shawnee Heights
AIDEN SCOTT, Shawnee Heights
A 6-5, 195-pound senior quarterback, Scott received TSN All-Shawnee County Top 22 recognition last fall and was named the offensive newcomer of the year after completing 190 of 317 passing attempts a year ago for 3,103 yards and 32 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. Scott received All-United Kansas Conference second-team honors.
Zane Smith, Topeka High
ZANE SMITH, Topeka High
Smith, a senior, quarterbacked 4-5 Topeka High to a three-win improvement last fall, earning All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
KENDRICK VANDE VELDE, Silver Lake
VandeVelde, a sophomore, earned varsity playing time for 7-3 Silver Lake as a freshman last season, earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
David Wakes, Shawnee Heights
DAVID WAKES, Shawnee Heights
Wakes, a senior running back, carried the ball 140 times for 633 yards and three touchdowns last season for the 2-7 T-Birds and caught 21 passes 254 yards and a TD. Wakes received All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a junior.
Damon Webb, Topeka West
DAMON WEBB JR., Topeka West
A junior running back, Webb had a breakout season for the 1-8 Chargers last fall as a sophomore after earning varsity time as a freshman. Webb received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season.
ROCK WILLIAMSON, Topeka High
Williamson, a senior linebacker, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping the 4-5 Trojans post a three-win improvement over 2023.
EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County football players to watch in 2025, based on performances in the 2024 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 18 and more information is received from county coaches.
