Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Football season is officially here.

Practice started for teams around the state a week ago and the opening Friday night of the season for teams in the Your Prep Sports area is less than two weeks away.

Last week Your Prep Sports highlighted some of the top players in the area for the upcoming season in an article on players to watch.

Today Your Prep Sports takes a look area players ready to take their game to the next level and jump into that group of standout performers with breakthrough seasons.

Here are 11 Your Prep Sports area players poised for breakthrough seasons.

Jake Quillin

Senior, Solon

The top returning tackler from last year’s state quarterfinal squad Quillin will be looked upon as one of the leaders of the Solon defense this season.

Despite missing time with an injury Quillin made 25 tackles, including 23 solo stops, and picked off two passes from his cornerback spot last season.

The speedy Quillin is also a threat on special teams averaging 17.4 yards per kick off return and 10.4 yards per punt return as a junior.

Gage Freeman

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

For two consecutive seasons Freeman has been productive in a backup running back role behind now graduated Alex Figueroa rushing for 528 yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Now it is time for Freeman to carry the load as the feature back in the Clipper offense.

The 6-foot, 185-pound Freeman has already shown he’s capable, averaging 7 yards per carry on 36 attempts a year ago while also ranking third on the team with 37.5 tackles from his linebacker spot.

Ben Swails

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

Much like Freeman, Swails has already proven to be a productive varsity player over the past two seasons.

A two-year back-up quarterback and standout defensive back last season, the athletic Swails will get his shot at running the Clipper offense as a senior.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Swails picked off six passes in eight games last season as a defensive back and has completed 39-of-70 passes for 436 yards with five touchdowns and one interception over the past two seasons.

Luke Meyers

Senior, Liberty High

One of the most likely breakthrough candidates in the area Meyers appears poised for a big-time senior season.

Meyers was solid in the Liberty High secondary as a junior ranking fourth on the team in tackles with 27, including 22 solo stops, while picking off a pass and recovering a fumble.
Coming off an impressive track season in the spring Meyers has packed weight onto his frame while maintaining the speed that makes him dangerous.

Drake Berry

Senior, West Branch

With all-state two-way lineman Jeff Bowie off to the University of Iowa the Bears are in need of a new anchor up front and Berry appears to be the man to fill that spot.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Berry has the size and athleticism to be the next in a long line of strong West Branch lineman after making 15.5 tackles and recovering a fumble last season.

John Klosterman

Senior, City High

A standout baseball player, Klosterman returns to the gridiron after a year away.

Klosterman ranked seventh on the team in tackles as a sophomore in 2019 when he finished with 23.5 stops including 17 solos.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Klosterman has packed some weight onto his frame since 2019 and should be in for a strong finish to his prep football career.

Boaz Abramoff

Senior, West High

Abramoff was steady last season as a junior ranking fourth on the team in tackles while recording four tackles for loss and a sack.

With its top two tacklers gone from last season in departed senior linebackers Ian McAreavy and Kalen Haworth, Abramoff is next in line to carry on a tradition of strong linebacker player at West High.

While the production for Abramoff should climb this season what will be equally important is the leadership the 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior provides.

Sam Aitchison

Senior, Regina

Coming off a season in which he ranked second on the team in tackles on a state championship squad Aitchison isn’t exactly the prototypical breakthrough candidate.

The Regina senior defensive back/receiver falls on this list because while he was productive last season Aitchison should be even better and busier this fall.

Regina lost its top three pass catchers from a year ago leaving Aitchison with 17 receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown the most experience receiver on the roster.

On defense Aitchison should have chance to surpass the 47 tackles he made last season.

Tae Shon McDaniels

Senior, City High

The statistics from last season don’t jump off the page but McDaniels has the combination of size, speed and athleticism to turn into a game-changer for the Little Hawks up front.

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound McDaniels made 6.5 tackles with two for loss in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but is set up for a big-time breakthrough in 2021.

Blake Chambliss

Senior, Regina

Another Regal that played a key role on the 1A title team last season Chambliss should also see his work load increase as a senior.

Chambliss finished third on the team with 41 tackles from his linebacker spot and should be among the Regals top tacklers again this fall.

Like Aitchison, where Chambliss will likely be more involved is on offense where he caught six passes for 103 yards a year ago.

Carson Miller

Senior, Solon

Miller found a fit in the Solon offense as a sort of Swiss Army knife last season ranking secod on the team in receiving and fourth on the team in rushing while scoring three touchdowns.

A bigger, stronger Miller should be in for a much larger role this season.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Miller caught 17 passes for 194 yards and two scores and rushed 22 times for 97 yards and a touchdown a year ago but will be relied on heavily this season as the Spartans look to replace their top receiver and top two running backs from last season.

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