By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County football players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.
Coy Barta, Seaman [File photo/TSN]
COY BARTA, Seaman
A senior wide receiver, Barta earned second-team TopSports.News All-Shawnee County and second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season for the 3-6 Vikings. Barta caught 38 passes for 642 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
JADYN BAUM, Washburn Rural
A senior running back, Baum helped lead Washburn Rural to a 6-4 record and the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs last fall, earning TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League first-team recognition after carrying the ball 139 times for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. Baum also won a 6A state wrestling championship at 215 pounds.
Mason Becker, Hayden [File photo/TSN]
MASON BECKER, Hayden
A first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick, Becker, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior, was a perfect 100 percent on extra-point kicks last season, was two of two on field goals, carried the ball 32 times for 438 yards, caught 13 passes for 224 yards, had nine kickoff returns for 121 yards, scored nine touchdowns and was in on 30 tackles with five pass interceptions for the 12-1 Wildcats, the Class 3A runnerup. Becker is also a basketball and baseball standout for the Wildcats.
Josh Brown, Seaman [File photo/TSN]
JOSH BROWN, Seaman
Brown, a junior wide receiver, was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection for the 3-6 Vikings last season. Brown caught 40 passes for 627 yards and eight touchdowns over the 2025 season.
STEVEN CANTRELL, Washburn Rural
A senior defensive end, Cantrell is a top returner for Washburn Rural after earning first-team All-Centennial League recognition as a junior for the 6-4 Junior Blues. Cantrell also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
CHARLIE CHANCE, Rossville
A senior offensive/defensive lineman, Chance was named the Shawnee County defensive newcomer of the year last season for the Bulldawgs, who posted an 11-2 record and finished second in Class 1A. Chance was in on 54 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks, earning second-team all-county and All-Big East honors.
CADE DANIELSON, Washburn Rural
Danielson, a senior outside linebacker, will be counted on to be a team leader for the Junior Blues this fall after helping Washburn Rural post a 6-4 record and reach the second round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2025.
Ricardo Dowd, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]
RICARDO DOWD, Topeka High
Dowd, a junior running back, was a second-team All-Centennial League selection last season for the 3-6 Trojans as a sophomore while also receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
MYLES FISHER, Silver Lake
A senior offensive/defensive lineman, Fisher received second-team All-Shawnee County honors and All-Big East League honorable mention last season after helping Silver Lake post a 7-3 record. Fisher was in on 73 tackles for the Eagles.
Chase Hastert, Cair Paravel [Photo by Barry Benteman/Special to TSN]
CHASE HASTERT, Cair Paravel Latin
Hastert, a junior quarterback/linebacker/defensive back, is a top returner for Cair Paravel after taking over as the Lions' starting quarterback last fall. The Lions, coming off a 2-6 season, return to the Eight-Man ranks this fall after playing 11-man the past two seasons. Hastert is also a basketball and golf standout for the Lions, earning first-team All-County honors in golf.
COLE HAUBAULD, Cair Paravel Latin
Haubauld, a senior running back/linebacker, earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention as well as All-Flint Hills League recognition as an offensive guard and linebacker last season for the 2-6 Lions and is expected to play running back on offense for CPLS this fall. Cair Paravel returns to Eight-Man Division I competition this season.
CALE HORAK, Rossville
Horak, a junior, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season as Rossville posted an 11-2 record and finished second in Class 1A. Horak caught 15 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore while also registering 21 tackles (16 solo).
CAEL HORGAN, Rossville
A senior, Horgan earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season as Rossville posted an 11-2 record and finished second in Class 1A. Horgan caught seven passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore while also registering 37 tackles (21 solo) with three interceptions.
EVAN HUNTLEY, Hayden
A 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior fullback/inside linebacker, is a top returner on both sides of the ball for a Hayden team that posted a 12-1 record and finished second in Class 3A for the third straight season last fall.
ALEX HUSTON, Seaman
A senior linebacker, Huston received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season for the 3-6 Vikings. Huston was in on 106 tackles as a junior, including 61 solo stops.
AMIR JONES, Washburn Rural
Jones, a senior linebacker, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping Washburn Rural post a 6-4 record and advance to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Cale Ketter, Seaman [File photo/TSN[
CALE KETTER, Seaman
Ketter, a senior quarterback, was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection last season for the 3-6 Vikings. Ketter completed 136 of 231 pass attempts for 2,013 yards and 23 touchdowns in eight games.
JoJo Kingcannon, Highland Park [File photo/TSN]
JOJO KINGCANNON, Highland Park
A 6-foot, 190-pound senior quarterback/defensive back, Kingcannon played receiver, running back and quarterback as a junior, scoring from all three positions. Kingcannon received All-Shawnee County honorable mention for the Scots, who went 5-1 on the field, catching 10 passes for 338 yards and rushing for 408 yards on 32 attempts. Kingcannon earned second-team all-county recognition in basketball.
Kipton Kruger, Silver Lake [File photo/TSN]
KIPTON KRUGER, Silver Lake
A 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore quarterback, Kruger was named the Shawnee County offensive newcomer of the year last fall after completing 178 of 252 passes for 2,158 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Eagles. Kruger was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick and received All-Big East honorable mention. Kruger is also a basketball and baseball standout for the Eagles.
PRINCE LASSITER, Topeka West
The 6-foot-6 tight end/defensive end is best known as a basketball player, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors and helping lead the Chargers to a fourth-place finish in Class 5A. But Lassiter has also received considerable recruiting interest from Division I and Division II schools in football.
LANDEN LEWIS, Rossville
Lewis, a junior, is expected to challenge for Rossville's starting quarterback job this fall after earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season as the Bulldawgs went 11-2 and finished second in Class 1A. Lewis rushed for 437 yards and five touchdowns on 54 carries, completed 2 of 4 passes for 20 yards, caught nine passes for 166 yards and two TDs and was in on 43 tackles (27 solo). Lewis won the Class 2A state title in the javelin in track and field.
TREY LUTZ, Topeka High
A 6-foot-3, 355-pound senior defensive lineman, Lutz received All-Shawnee County honorable mention for the second straight season for and also received All-Centennial League honorable mention last season for the 3-6 Trojans.
DOM MONHOLLON, Silver Lake
Monhollon, a junior, is poised for a breakout season at running back for Silver Lake, which is coming off a 7-3 season. As a sophomore Monhollon carried the ball 83 times for 444 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Monhollon was in on tackles.
G'Honi Montgomery, Highland Park
G'HONI MONTGOMERY, Highland Park
A 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior running back, Montgomery helped lead Highland Park to a 5-1 record on the field and a Meadowlark Conference championship last fall, earning All-Shawnee County and all-conference first-team honors at running back and returner. Montgomery carried the ball 69 times for 704 yards (10.2 yards per carry), caught 10 passes for 128 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns while compiling 1,761 all-purpose yards.
Quentin Moravec, Seaman [File photo/TSN]
QUENTIN MORAVEC, Seaman
Moravec, a junior running back, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the 3-6 Vikings after carrying the ball 161 times for 879 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt.
DALLAS OWENS, Shawnee Heights
A senior wide receiver/defensive back, Owens caught 48 passes for 619 yards and four touchdowns last season for the 4-5 T-Birds, earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Owens was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in track and field, helping Shawnee Heights post a fourth-place finish in the Class 5A 4x400-meter relay.
LOGAN POWER, Hayden
A 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior wide receiver/defensive back, Power received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in 2025 and is a top returner for the Wildcats, who have finished second in Class 3A the past three seasons, including a 12-1 record last fall.
HENRY REICHERT, Seaman
A senior, Reichert is a standout left offensive tackle for the Vikings, who return a key nucleus from last season's 3-6 team. Reichert is also a standout wrestler, winning the United Kansas Conference 285-pound title as a junior
COURTNEY SANDERS, Topeka High
Sanders, a senior wide receiver, was a second-team All-Centennial League selection for the second straight season and received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the 3-6 Trojans.
WILL SKAGGS, Shawnee Heights
A 6-foot-3, 270-pound senior offensive lineman, Skaggs was a second-team All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference selection last season for the 4-5 T-Birds.
JAIRUS TODWONG, Hayden
Todwong, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophomore free safety, is expected to play a key role for the Wildcats' defense, which has to replace eight starters from last season's 12-1 team that advanced to the Class 3A title game for the third straight year.
KENDRICK VANDEVELDE, Silver Lake
VandeVelde, a 5-foot-11, 260-pound junior offensive lineman, earned All-Shawnee County second-team recognition last season and was an All-Big East League first-team pick after helping Silver Lake post a 7-3 record.
DAMON WEBB, Topeka West
Webb enters his fourth season as a varsity running back for Topeka West, which will be looking to improve on last season's 1-8 record. Webb carried the ball 88 times for 372 yards and two touchdowns in seven games last fall.
EASTON WEBB, Rossville
A senior, Webb earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season while helping Rossville post an 11-2 record and a second-place finish in Class 1A. Webb was in on 33 tackles, including 20 solo stops.
ISAIAH WHITESIDE, Washburn Rural
Whiteside, a junior outside linebacker, earned playing time for the 6-4 Junior Blues last season as a sophomore last fall, earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
JAVON WILLIAMS, Shawnee Heights
A senior tight end/defensive back, Williams received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season for the 4-5 T-Birds, recording 29 receptions for 332 yards and registering 28 tackles with 18 solo stops.
NAS WILLIAMS-BROWN, Topeka West
A 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior running back/linebacker, Williams-Brown was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference honoree last fall as an all-purpose player and was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick. Williams-Brown rushed for 647 yards on 66 attempts and scored six touchdowns.
JACE WOLFF, Hayden
Wolff, a 6-foot, 195-pound running back/inside linebacker, is a key returner for a Hayden team that is coming off a 12-1 season and a third straight runnerup state finish in Class 3A.
Rural: Ryan Austin, jr.; Gavin Vantuyl, jr.
