With the end of summer training drawing to a close, I will be ramping up coverage of the 2025 class coming up on their final season of high school football. I will be devoting one-to-three reports weekly which will be specifically on 2025 athletes who have been training hard this summer to be in the best shape of their short lives.
And, say what you want about the high school football players of today, but the process is not for the faint of heart. It is a ton of year-around hard work and requires a relentless focus on optimizing the tools of the trade. Things like speed development and strength conditioning that enable players to compete at an elite level.
But, in the highly-charged, rarified air of elite high school football, apex athletes start to realize everyone around them are good. Everyone has similar baseline talents. Everyone is fast. Everyone is strong. You can no longer get by on DNA alone.
From here on out, talent is a wash…
The differentiator going forward are the intangibles. Fundamental things like disciple, perseverance, honesty, etc. become the gateway to greatness. The guys getting ready for the big stage this fall know this and have been focusing on the optimum balance of mind and body to take their game and their teams to the next level.
In this report we will take a look at some of the Wichita-area and Western Kansas players who have been hitting it hard this offseason. Featured are a couple of quarterbacks as well as a handful of multi-positional players who are peaking at the right time for this fall.
So, without further adieu, I bring you, the2025 End-of-the-Week Five:
Peyton Dean Peyton Dean 6'1" | 245 lbs | LB Eisenhower | 2025 State KS , 6’1, 250, DE/LB, Eisenhower, is ranked #155. Coming off a solid junior season at Wichita Northwest, he will be transferring to Eisenhower for the 2024 season. A powerful defender who can line up at any of the linebacker positions but really excels as a dominating defensive end. He has good size, quick feet and heavy hands that he uses to maul blockers trying to get in his grill. He comes off the edge low and hard with good body lean and essentially shuts down the perimeter on his side. His size and athleticism are good but his instincts and read and react skills are even better as he always seems to be around the ball. He is going to be a standout addition to an already loaded Eisenhower defense.
Logan Taggart Logan Taggart 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Andover Central | 2025 KS , 6’3, 205, LB/TE, Andover Central, is currently not ranked. A long, rangy multi-positional player, he is coming off a good start to his high school career last year on both sides of the ball. On offense he has a standout catch radius as a tight end, with good hands and is fearless making the contested catch over the middle. On defense he can play any of the linebacker positions. As a middle linebacker he utilizes his excellent instincts to instantly read the play and fly to the football. He has good lateral quickness and closing speed and when he finds the ball carrier he brings the hammer. He also uses those instincts in pass coverage, floating in zone to bait the QB into throwing his way. Get out and see a diamond in the rough this fall.
Aden Alvarado Aden Alvarado 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Ulysses | 2025 State KS , 5’10, 170, QB, Ulysses, is ranked #215. He is coming off a good year, flying under the radar in Western Kansas somewhat, but putting on a number of dazzling displays with his feet and arm over the course of the season. He is dual-threat signal caller who runs the ball like a tailback and throws well enough that defenses can’t load the box to stop the run. Fast, with great burst and electric feet, he is a nightmare for opposing defensive linemen. When the play breaks down he is just getting started, using his elusiveness to extend plays looking for the pass or taking off on an entertaining scramble. He throws well on the move and can wing it from different platforms and launch angles. Get out and see a playmaker on the rise this fall
Zahmere Parks-Jackson Zahmere Parks-Jackson 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Wichita West | 2025 State KS , 6’0, 185, QB, Wichita West, is ranked #222. Coming off a good start a year ago, he put the rest of the city league on notice that he is getting ready to make some noise. He has good size and athleticism and stands strong in the pocket. He sets up with good footwork and doesn’t bounce around or get happy feet. He has a very compact shoulder rotation which produces a quick release. He can make all the throws, from the quick laser beam tosses in the short-to-medium passing game to the deep velocity throws and the touch pass down the sideline. He has been working hard on his own and with Coach Cagle and Midwest Passing Academy (MPA) and also trained at the Manning Passing Academy. He is getting ready to go off this fall.
Daylen Bledsoe Daylen Bledsoe 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Derby | 2025 State KS , 6’0, 175, WR/DB, Derby, is ranked #412. I reported on him a couple months ago but wanted to circle back. There has been a lot of talk about who will be getting the snaps at Derby, but there is little doubt who the receivers are. He is coming off a good start, hauling in 18 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown a year ago. An athletic, fluid wideout, he runs precise routes and is adept at generating separation right off the line of scrimmage. He has good reach and soft hands that he uses to consistently make the tough catch in traffic. He is also an excellent all-around wide receiver, taking pride in his skills as a stalk blocker and in his open-field blocking on the perimeter. Get out and see a rising star this fall.
In conclusion, get these guys on your watchlist. They are getting ready to make some serious noise this fall. And, as always, if anyone knows of players flying under the radar feel free to reach out to CoolDaddyO via DM on X.
