Preseason watch list: 31 football players primed for monster seasons in Southwest Idaho

Another Idaho high school football season quickly approaches. Many of the stars from last fall graduated and now suit up for a college program. But the Treasure Valley remains loaded with talent poised to become Friday night stars.

We surveyed coaches around the area, from 6A to 1A, to see which opposing players keep them up at night. These were the names on everyone’s lips.

Players are listed alphabetically.

Ben Avella, QB, Bishop Kelly

The Knights’ running game often took many of the headlines on their way to a state title last year. But the then-sophomore quarterback was also a ruthlessly efficient weapon, completing 66% of his passes for 1,697 yards and 24 TDs without a single interception. The 6-5, 210-pound junior can make every throw on the field and will take on a bigger role this season, including one with his legs. “He was really poised and his skill set makes him elite in the SIC,” Ridgevue coach Sean Impomeni said.

Ryan Brekke, WR/TE, Owyhee

A breakout sophomore campaign saw the 6-3, 205-pound mismatch earn second-team All-Idaho honors and pick up an offer from Idaho after hauling in 45 catches for 552 yards and six TDs. Look for the Storm to find him more often as they move him around the field this fall. “He was one of the top wide receivers in the state last year for an offense that didn’t throw the ball a lot,” Boise coach Mike Altieri said. “Now he’s making the move to tight end, where his strength and speed are going to be issues for defenses.”

Sam Buck, OL, Emmett

The reigning state heavyweight wrestling champ provides the Huskies with an edge and their identity up front. A monster blocking straight up or coming around the edge as a pulling guard, he paved the way for two 1,000-yard rushers and the classification’s second-best running game (287 yards per game) last season. He racked up 62 pancake blocks while not allowing a single sack to make the all-state first team . “He’s a savage on the field,” Vallivue coach Shea McClellin said.

Noah Burnham, RB, Eagle

Injuries forced him into a starting role late in his freshman season. He then took the state by storm last fall, making the All-Idaho first team while running for 1,148 yards and 18 touchdowns at 6.6 yards per carry. He led the SIC in rushing yards and ranked second in the state as a sophomore. The sky’s the limit entering his junior season. “He’s the most explosive offensive threat in the league,” Mountain View coach Brian Compton said.

Kolin Cook, QB/LB, Weiser

A returning force on both sides of the ball, the senior remains an efficient playmaker no matter where he gets his hands on the ball. He earned first-team all-conference honors a year ago after completing 64% of his passes for 1,399 yards with 16 TDs and just three interceptions. His patience in the pocket and deep ball both pose lethal threats to opposing defenses.

Trevor Corn, RB/LB, Garden Valley

The senior packs a punch on both sides of the ball. On offense, he delivers punishing blows as a blocker and is next to impossible to bring down (853 rushing yards, 11 TDs). On defense, he led the state’s smallest classification with 150 tackles last fall and 23 tackles-for-loss to earn second-team all-state honors . “You want to know where he is lined up on either side of the ball as he can create problems for you offensively and defensively,” Salmon River coach Ty Medley said.

Rafa Cuenca, WR/DB, Homedale

His size (6-1, 185), speed and smooth routes make him a threat for six points every time he gets his hands on the ball. He turned 41 catches into 747 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall for a spot on the all-state second team . He’s also a lockdown corner on defense. “Homedale does a nice job of moving him around with formations, shifts and motions,” Fruitland coach Jordan Gross said. “He will get a lot of touches each game.”

Shepard Fish, TE/DE, Capital

The 6-5, 230-pound senior committed to Idaho in June, choosing the Vandals over Idaho State and Montana State. The next-level pass rusher owns his side of the field at defensive end (58 tackles, 3.5 sacks). He’ll also move from tackle to tight end on offense as the Eagles find more ways to utilize his size, strength and athleticism. “He’s incredibly explosive and technically good,” Timberline coach Ian Smart said. “He will be a player that teams work very hard to stop each week.”

Rylan Frank, QB/DB, Melba

The senior did it all for the Mustangs last season as their slash weapon, taking handoffs, streaking through the secondary and even serving as the team’s wildcat quarterback to more than 1,700 total yards. He moves into the full-time quarterback spot this season and will touch the ball on every play. That spells trouble for opponents. “Rylan runs with urgency and is tough to bring down,” New Plymouth coach Tony Cade said.

Ronaldo Gomez, QB/DB, Rimrock

It’d take less time to list what Gomez doesn’t do for the Raiders. The four-year starter and nine-time all-conference pick finished his junior campaign with 2,115 yards of offense and 27 touchdowns as a dual-threat QB. He returned two kickoffs for scores. And he remains one of the 8-man classification’s best kickers, making the all-state team twice as a punter and averaging 42.1 yards per punt last year.

Dallyn Grimes, OL, Middleton

The three-year starter became Boise State’s first in-state commit July 1, choosing the Broncos over several Big Sky programs . He plans to serve a church mission, so Boise State fans better catch him this fall. The 6-5, 260-pound tackle was a second-team all-state pick last fall and remains a wrecking ball up front. “He’s a physical, run-blocking tackle that makes it tough to stop Middleton’s run game,” Capital coach Kevin Hastin said.

Gage Haws, LB, Owyhee

A two-time all-state catcher , Haws will also leave quite a legacy on the gridiron. He’s led Owyhee in tackles three years in a row, anchoring the defense as a freshman and never letting up. He posted 129 tackles and forced seven fumbles last fall for All-Idaho honors in a second sport. “The dude can cover the whole and makes plays from sideline to sideline,” Centennial coach Keelan McCaffrey said.

Drew Holman, QB/LB, Middleton

The 4.0 student owns the instincts and intelligence to diagnose plays in an instant, living in the backfield last fall as a sophomore to rack up 105 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks for first-team 6A SIC Foothills Division honors. The 6-1, 225-pound junior was already a two-way threat after playing fullback last year. But he starts fall camp in a battle for the Vikings’ starting quarterback position.

Quinn Hood, OL/MLB, Fruitland

The 5-11, 200-pound senior sets the tone for the Grizzlies’ defense, playing fast, downhill and swatting away blockers like they’re not even there. The state champion wrestler made the All-Idaho second team last fall with 115 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and three interceptions. His instincts often place him in the right place at the right time. And when they don’t, he has the athleticism to recover.

Mason Krahn, TE/LB, Skyview

The two-way all-state selection long ago wore out his welcome with opponents. The three-year starter committed to Idaho in June after going undefeated during pass-rushing drills at the Vandals’ camp. But he’s no one-trick pony. He’s also one of the state’s most feared receivers, hauling in 59 catches for 1,055 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall, the most in the old 4A classification. “He is the best player in the conference,” Columbia coach Charlie Dotson said.

Hudson Lewis, WR, Timberline

Idaho and Idaho State have already offered the 5-10 junior speedster, who finished second in the state 100-meter race last spring at 10.71 seconds. Expect more colleges to catch on soon after he hauled in 37 catches for 553 yards and six TDs last fall. “He has next-level speed and is a (defensive coordinator’s) worst nightmare,” Borah coach JQ Kenyon said. “Because anytime the ball hits his hands, there’s a good chance he can take it to the house.”

Zeke Martinez, QB, Meridian

The Warriors’ resurgence coincides with the arrival of Martinez, now a four-year starter under center with an offer from Memphis . He owns a 22-5 career record, and he completed 73% of his passes last season while racking up 2,686 total yards and 27 TDs. He regularly bends opponents to his will, and the game simply seems slower to him. “A wizard with the football,” Rocky Mountain coach Scott Criner said. “He is a gritty performer with a great skill set. He just wins.”

Jordan McDonald, WR, Boise

One-on-one matchups remain a fool’s errand against the 6-5, 190-pound senior. His hops and body control made him a state high jump champ last spring after clearing 6 feet, 8 inches. Add in his soft hands and speed, and he racked up 40 catches for 657 yards and seven TDs last fall as the No. 2 receiver in Boise’s offensive. Expect those numbers to increase as he becomes the top option.

Cash McKie, RB, Ridgevue

Speed kills on the football field, and the three-year starter possesses it in spades. He captured two state track titles last spring (4x100, 4x200) and placed in two individual events (100, 200). Add in his vision, experience and role in the Warhawks’ offense, and it’s not hard to see why he’s drawing the attention of college scouts, including a preferred walk-on offer from Boise State . “Cash runs hard and downhill, and he’s going to be hard to contain,” McClellin said.

LaGary Mitchell Jr., LB, Meridian

The 6-3, 200-pound linebacker made a quick impression last season, making the all-Foothills Division second team as a sophomore. His stock continued to skyrocket when he was named the linebacker MVP at Boise State’s camp in June, and he picked up an offer from the Broncos in July. “He’s a college-level linebacker, physical and fast,” Criner said. “You better know where he is aligned on every snap.”

Henry Nelson, QB, Mountain View

The Mavericks juggled quarterbacks much of last season. But Mountain View found another gear once Nelson took over. The sophomore started six games and finished the year completing 61% of his passes for 1,399 yards and 15 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He threw three TDs in a road playoff win at Post Falls. Now the 6-3 junior will challenge defenses down the field with a deft deep ball and strong arm as the Mavs’ unquestioned leader.

Ryker Oswald, RB/WR/DB, Vallivue

Injuries limited him to four games as a junior. But he showcased an explosive streak in those four games, erupting for 905 all-purpose yards and returning two kickoffs for touchdowns. He returns healthy and as a weapon the Falcons can use all over the field in their new air raid offense.

Markus Powers, OLB, Bishop Kelly

The 6-1, 195-pound senior made plays all over the field as part of the old 4A classification’s best defense a year ago. He made 72 tackles, tallied five sacks, picked off four interceptions, recovered two fumbles and even blocked a punt. He shifts over to BK’s rover/outside linebacker position, a high-production spot in the Knights’ defense. So he’ll impact even more plays this fall.

Austin Ramsey, QB, Eagle

The SIC caught glimpses of what Ramsey could do last fall when he served as the second option in the Mustangs’ dual-quarterback system as a sophomore. His explosive burst and quick decisions paved the way for 383 rushing yards at 6.5 yards per carry, and it kept defenses on their heels. “Now that he will be the guy, his dual-threat ability is going to be on full display,” Altieri said. “It will cause many problems for defenses trying to defend him.”

Isaiah Reed, OLB, Rocky Mountain

One of two FBS commits to start the season, the Nevada-bound senior cuts an imposing figure at 6-2, 210 pounds. He backed it up with production last year, leading the Grizzlies in tackles (68), tackles-for-loss (nine) and sacks (7.5). “He is an impressive-looking linebacker who makes a lot of plays on film,” Kuna coach Beau Smith said. “He likes to blitz but also covers receivers downfield, which makes him a difficult one to game plan for.”

Rowan Rupp, DL, Rocky Mountain

The 6-2, 245-pound junior picked up offers from Boise State and Nevada this summer after earning the defensive line MVP award at Boise State’s camp. He posted 58 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss last season as a versatile weapon along the defensive front, one able to play inside and outside, standing up or with his hand in the dirt. Offenses better find him before the snap or suffer the consequences.

Trevor Schoolfield, QB, Boise

A sophomore at quarterback led many to expect another long season for Boise. But the Brave knew they had a hidden gem, and the rest of the SIC soon learned what he could do the hard way. He completed 62% of his passes for 2,240 yards and 22 touchdowns last year, leading the state in TDs and ranking second in yards. But more impressive than the numbers were his big plays in big moments, leading Boise to its best season in decades. “Look for another season with video game numbers,” Eagle coach James Cluphf said.

Luke Steinmeyer, TE/LB, Marsing

The list of the big plays the 6-3, 205-pound senior has made in career could fill a book. That includes 99 tackles last fall and four blocked kicks (three field goals, one punt) for the second-team all-state linebacker just last fall. His large frame, sure hands and catch radius make him a matchup nightmare at tight end, too, where any ball lofted in the air is his. “He’s a big, strong kid with a nose for the football,” Parma coach Jarome Bell said.

Jax Tanner, OL/DL, Rocky Mountain

Freshmen rarely make the field at Rocky Mountain. But Tanner broke that trend two years ago, starting every game. He racked up 79 pancakes last fall for first-team All-Idaho honors . Now college recruiters are hot after the 6-4, 275-pound junior. He starts the season with offers from Boise State, Oregon, BYU and Washington State . “He’s a stud that you need to account for on both sides of the ball,” Hastin said. “He’s probably the most talented athlete in the valley.”

Hayden Thompson, S, Rocky Mountain

A returning first-team all-state selection , Thompson starts the season with four Big Sky offers as the latest in a long line of college-level safeties from Rocky Mountain. He racked up 82 tackles last fall, flying down into the box to deliver big hits and snuff out the running game. He also covered acres of space in the secondary, erasing deep balls and punishing any receiver who dared to come over the middle.

Wade Vining, OL/LB, Council

Linemen rarely post big stats. The senior and second-team all-state pick proved otherwise last season, racking up 105 tackles and 12 tackles-for-loss as he created a gaping maw in the Lumberjacks’ defensive front to swallow up opposing running backs. The team captain steps back into the linebacker ranks where he’ll perhaps do even more damage. “He can battle in the trenches like no other,” Garden Valley coach Jason Yearsley said.