By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Kansas Preseason All-State Team
Quarterback
Kale Pick- Dodge City (6-1, 200, Sr.)
Pick, committed to Arkansas, threw for 1,779 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior while linking up with wide receiver Mykael Thompson and adding three rushing touchdowns.
Running Backs
Bryce Brown- Wichita East (6-0, 210, Jr.)
Brown, for good reason, could eventually be one of the highest regarded players to come out of Kansas in its history. As a sophomore, Brown rushed for 2,039 yards and 26 touchdowns in just 10 games.
Gage McInnis- Hutchinson (5-8, 175, Sr.)
McInnis moved to Hutchinson from Uniontown for his senior season, which puts the Salt Hawks in a good position to win their fourth straight 6A title. As a junior, McInnis rushed for 1,455 yards and 27 touchdowns. He added 229 yards and four touchdown receptions to his impressive resume'.
Wide Receiver
Travis Croom- Kansas City Turner (5-11, 160, Sr.)
Croom led Kansas City Turner into the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs with 46 receptions for 713 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Croom also added 78 tackles and four interceptions on defense for the Golden Bears.
Mykael Thompson- Dodge City (6-1, 170, Sr.)
Thompson was sensational as a junior, hauling in 14 touchdown receptions. Thompson caught 44 passes for 1,019 yards, a 23.2 yard per catch average. Combining with Pick, Dodge City looks to be a dangerous force in 2007.
Tight End
Tanner Hawkinson- McPherson (6-6, 230, Sr.)
Hawkinson was outstanding as a red zone threat in 2006 as a junior, catching nine touchdown passes on just 24 receptions. Hawkinson committed to Kansas over the summer.
Offensive Line
Brayden Burris- Wichita Bishop Carroll (6-5, 250, Sr.)
Burris verballed to Kansas State a few games into his junior season. With a 6-foot-5 frame, the prospect of what Burris could accomplish in Big XII football is mouth-watering.
Ethan Douglas- Basehor Linwood (6-6, 285, Sr.)
Another Kansas State commitment, Douglas could turn out to be a pleasant find from the Class 4A school that went just 2-7 a year ago. With Douglas paving the way, the Bobcats will be in the thick of the playoff race.
Blaize Foltz- Rose Hill (6-4, 260, Sr.)
Foltz has some major Division I schools courting his services. On defense, Foltz led the Class 4A quarterfinalist with 68 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and five sacks.
Logan Pegram- Silver Lake (6-3, 300, Sr.)
Behind Pegram, Silver Lake went on to win the Class 3A state championship with a 14-0 record. Pegram has been offered by Colorado State thus far, and will look to expand on his options with a solid senior season.
Justin Aumen- Junction City (6-5, 265, Jr.)
Just a junior, Aumen is set to be on the radar of plenty of major colleges in the Class 0f 2009. Junction City just missed out on the Class 6A playoffs last season, but with Aumen leading the way, they could be in the discussion in 2007.
Defensive Line
Duane Zlatnik- Rossville (6-4, 260, Sr.)
Zlatik was the heavyweight wrestling champion in Class 3A for Rossville as a junior, and will look to carry over the same success onto the gridiron this fall. Zlatnik displayed his athletic ability by catching nine touchdown passes last season.
Darius Parish- Wichita North (6-3, 325, Sr.)
Parish committed to Nebraska earlier this month. Parish is a monster, checking in at 325 pounds. Parish gets it done in the classroom, sporting a 3.70 grade point average, and will fit nicely in Lincoln.
Adam Steele- Blue Valley West (6-1, 200, Sr.)
A little undersized for a defensive end at the next level, Steele is emerging as a linebacker prospect and has heard from some mid-major schools. Steele is back for Blue Valley West, who went 6-5 last season, and could play his way into some scholarship offers this season.
Tanner Turley- Dodge City (6-3, 215, Sr.)
Turley is another in a talented cast of characters for the Demons. Turley registered 13 tackles for loss as a junior and will also feature at tight end, just another weapon in Dodge City's arsenal.
Linebackers
Arthur Brown- Wichita East (6-1, 210, Sr.)
Brown is one of the most highly coveted prospects in the entire country. Last season, Brown recorded 148 tackles and eight sacks for East. Brown has over 50 scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, and Nebraska. just to name a few.
Jayden Bird- Andover Central (6-2, 215, Jr.)
Another junior, Bird has already been offered by Kansas State to stay close to home. As a sophomore, Bird led Andover Central to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. Bird could play his way into one of the top linebackers in the region for next season.
Jordan Fee- Hutchinson (5-11, 195. Sr.)
Another stellar performer for the Class 6A powerhouse, Fee might be undersized, but is a big-time talent. Fee, still without a scholarship offer despite heavy interest, will be looking to have a huge senior season for the Salt Hawks.
Kyler Reed- St. Thomas Aquinas (6-2, 215, Sr.)
Reed is one of the most highly sought after prospects in Kansas after setting the school record for receiving yards with 825 as a junior. Reed has been offered by a good percentage of Big XII schools and will look for another solid season to help solidify those offers.
Defensive Backs
Logan Dold- Garden Plain (6-1, 200, Sr.)
Dold could have been an All-State candidate on offense, too. Dold rushed for 1,538 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. As a sophomore, Dold rushed for 28 touchdowns. Dold has committed to Kansas State.
Aaron Sawyer- Shawnee Mission North (6-1, 195, Sr.)
Sawyer is a solid athlete, catching five touchdown passes as a junior for North. Sawyer also finished second in Class 6A in the 110-meter hurdles last season with a time of 14.42 seconds.
James Caraway- Topeka Highland Park (5-10, 170, Sr.)
Caraway runs a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash and could use that sort of speed to have a huge 2007 campaign for Highland Park. Caraway rushed for over 1,000 yards last season and is a big-time sleeper.
Athletes
Chris Harper- Wichita Northwest (6-3, 235, Sr.)
Harper could play a number of positions at the next level. Playing quarterback as a junior, Harper rushed for over 1,000 yards while throwing for over 500 to lead Northwest. Harper is also a basketball prospect. Harper has plenty of Big XII offers heading into his senior season, including Kansas State, Nebraska, and Missouri.
Broderick Smith- Garden City (6-3, 200, Sr.)
Smith deserves mention somewhere on this team. A multi-talented athlete, Smith will move to quarterback this season for Garden City. Smith rushed for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net