Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

It may look and feel a little different than past seasons with new guidelines and regulations in place and a new set of challenges facing the season but football is back in Iowa.

Prep practices officially begin around the state on Monday with the first games less than three weeks away for area teams.

As always, the Your Prep Sports area promises to produce some of the top teams and most exciting players anywhere in the state.

To celebrate the start of the season we take a look at 11 players in the Your Prep Sports area that are definitely worth watching this fall.

Marcus Morgan

Senior, West High

A three-year starter for the Trojans Morgan has solidified himself as one of the most electric playmakers and top quarterbacks in the state over the past several seasons.

Morgan has accounted for better than 4,000 yards of total offense and 31 touchdowns during his prep career while directing the Trojans to a combined 13-7 the past two seasons.

A four-sport athlete that also excels in basketball and baseball Morgan completed 61 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,723 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Morgan also rushed for 143 yards and two scores and caught a touchdown pass.

Max Tafolla

Senior, Liberty High

After leading Liberty High in tackles as a sophomore Tafolla established himself as the leader of the Lightning power running game last season rushing for a team-high 1,136 yards in nine games.

The 6-0, 205-pound tailback averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns while rushing for at least 80 yards in all nine games he played in.

Tafolla had five 100-yard rushing games and still managed to make 21 tackles including six for loss from his linebacker spot.

Raph Hamilton

Senior, City High

In his third year as the starting quarterback at City High Hamilton is poised to take his game to the next level this fall.

A physically imposing threat under center at 6-foot-4 and 230-pound Hamilton passed for 766 yards and four touchdowns last season and showed off his athleticism rushing for 343 yards and four more scores.

A strong leader who has played defensive line and linebacker and received recruiting attention as a future tight end Hamilton will be a key in City High improving on a two-win season from a year ago.

TJ Bollers,

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

A four-star recruit committed to Wisconsin and one of the highest ranked defensive ends in the country Bollers is ready to put an exclamation point on his prep career.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Bollers is a four-year varsity performer that possess a rare blend of size and speed that has helped him make 90 career tackles including 20 for loss and 10 sacks.

Bollers had 29 tackles, 19 solo, to go with four tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior.

Carson Shive

Senior, Solon

In his first varsity season Shive thrived at the middle linebacker spot for Solon last season ranking second on the team and leading the Spartans in tackles twice during its run to the Class 3A state title game.

The 6-1, 200-pound Shive had 77.5 tackles, including 34 solo stops and also picked off a pass in his first varsity season.

Shive was at his best during the playoffs, making 31 tackles, 21 solo, in four postseason games.

Alec Wick

Senior, Regina

One of the best receivers in program history, Wick is coming off a breakthrough junior season that saw the 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide out elevate himself into the elite pass catchers in the state.

Wick ranked in the top five in the state in both receptions and receiving yards last season posting career-highs with 79 receptions for 1,161 yards and 14 touchdowns.

A first-team all-state pick a year ago, Wick has 167 career receptions for 2,254 yards and 18 scores.

Jeff Bowie

Senior, West Branch

An Iowa commit, Bowie has been a pain for opponents from his defensive end spot for the past three seasons.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Bowie has been among the most productive defensive lineman in the state over the past three seasons racking up 47.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks and is coming off the best season of his career last year.

Bowie had a career-highs in tackles (44.5) solo stops (31) and tackles for loss (22) as a junior to go with 6.5 sacks.

Ashton Cook

Senior, Regina

A four-year varsity performer and three-year starter at quarterback the breakthrough for Cook came last season when he directed the Regals to a 9-3 mark and a return to the Class 1A semifinals.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Cook passed for 2,446 yards and 25 touchdowns last season while completing better than 57 percent of his throws.

A strong all-around athlete, Cook also rushed for 302 yards and eight touchdowns last season and made 6.5 tackles and picked off a pass in limited time as a defensive back.

Grahm Goering

Senior, West High

Goering emerged as Morgan’s favorite target during a breakout junior season that saw the speedy receiver lead West High in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown grabs.

In his first extended varsity action Goering caught 42 passes for 599 yards and six scores and also tossed a touchdown pass.

A versatile athlete, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Goering made 15.5 tackles including eight solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss from his defensive back spot.

Gavin Hierseman

Senior, West Branch

It didn’t take Hierseman long to get comfortable under center, establishing himself as one of the most productive quarterbacks in Class 1A in his first season playing the position.

In his first season at quarterback Hierseman completed better than 62 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions.

The 6-1, 185-pound Hierseman also rushed for 447 yards and eight scores and had seven tackles and an interception as a defensive back helping the Bears to a 10-1 mark and a spot in the 1A quarterfinals.

Gable Mitchell

Junior, City High

In his varsity debut season Mitchell did a little bit of everything for City High.

A three-sport standout and gritty competitor, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Mitchell led City High with 47 tackles including a team-high 39 solo stops and picked off two passes from his safety spot.

Mitchell caught a team-high 20 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns as an inside receiver, had seven carries for 21 yards and completed a pass for 28 yards.

He also averaged 36.6 yards on 27 punts and returned two kicks.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.