Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

High school football is back.

The season officially kicks off this week in the Your Prep Sports area with all seven area teams opening the season on Friday night.

Over the last several weeks Your Prep Sports has highlighted some of the top returning players in the area with the eight-part YPS Top 40 series.

As opening night of the season approaches Your Prep Sports takes a look at 11 area players that are ready to take that step into stardom.

Here are 11 area players that are poised for breakout seasons this fall.

Blaine Heick

Junior, City High

Heick played well last season as a sophomore racking up 14 tackles including seven solo stops and a tackle for loss.

Look for Heick to take his game to an entirely different level this fall.

A rangy linebacker that can run from sideline to sideline the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Heick has impressed coaches with his ability to get to the ball carrier.

City High must replace four of its top five tacklers from last season, a list that includes a pair of starting linebackers that were lost to graduation.

Look for Heick to step up his game and rack up tackles this season.

Conner Capper

Junior, West Branch

West Branch has holes to fill on both sides of the ball this season and Capper is one of the players the Bears will ask to step up on offense and defense.

Capper has all the makings of a two-way star for the Bears.

The 6-foot, 170-pound junior ranked seventh on the team with 26.5 tackles, including two for loss, picked of a pass and recovered a fumble from his linebacker spot last season last season as a sophomore.

A versatile athlete, Capper can line up all over the field on offense.

Capper caught five passes for 33 yards and rushed three times for 30 yards last season.

All of those numbers should skyrocket for Capper this season as he takes on a larger role on both sides of the ball.

Oliver Owens

Senior, Solon

Owens had a potential breakthrough season derailed by injury last season but is in line to make a huge impact on both sides of the ball this fall.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Owens made 18.5 tackles including 3.5 for loss from his inside linebacker position a year ago.

A physical presence at linebacker, Owens does his best work on defense and should be among the leading tacklers for the Spartans this season.

Owens is also a capable pass catcher from his tight end spot and hauled in three passes for 24 yards and a touchdown last season.

Aren Schlemme

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

Schlemme made his mark last season during an impressive sophomore campaign and should be even better this season on both sides of the ball.

An impressive athlete, Schlemme is a big play waiting to happen on either side of the football.

The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Schlemme caught two passes for 82 yards last season as a wide receiver, numbers that should increase this fall.

Defense is where Schlemme did his best work last season ranking seventh on the team with 20 tackles and tying for the team lead with two interceptions from his safety spot.

Look for the explosive Schlemme to carve out a bigger role on both sides of the ball this fall.

Leren Fernandez

Senior, Regina

Fernandez isn’t a typical breakthrough candidate after making 64.5 tackles over the past two seasons as a regular in the Regina linebacker corps.

Even with his past success that includes ranking second on the team with 45 tackles last season Fernandez should be in for a huge senior season as a leader on the Regina defense.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Fernandez had the best season of his career last fall making 28 solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss while recovering a fumble and grabbing an interception.

Regina needs to replace five of its top six tacklers from last season and Fernandez should take on a larger leadership role as well as racking up more tackles.

Sterling Warren

Senior, West High

West High returns a lot of talent on defense this season.

The Trojans bring back eight starters on defense and five of their top eight tacklers from last season.

The most notable departures on defense came at linebacker with the graduation of seniors Santana Miller and Ashton Honore who ranked first and third in tackles a year ago.

Enter Warren.

A tough, physical inside backer, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Warren should be in for a massive senior season after making 1.5 tackles a year ago.

Nathan Burnett

Senior, Liberty High

Burnett was a definitely good enough to play a larger role last season but found himself behind a pair of senior standouts at linebacker on the Liberty High depth chart.

With last year’s leading tacklers Gavin Benton and Devin Anderson both gone look for a big-time breakthrough from Burnett in his final season.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Burnett had 12.5 tackles including two 2.5 for loss in limited playing time last season and should soar past those numbers this season.

Burnett is physical against the run and can move well in space and appears to be next in the line of what has been a growing string of strong Lightning linebackers.

KP Estremera

Junior, City High

There may not be an athlete on the City High roster with more potential than Estremera.

An impressive athlete, Estremera displayed big play ability lats season as a sophomore with 4.5 of his 11 total tackles going for loss including 2.5 sacks.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Estremera has all the physical characteristics you are looking for in an outside linebacker playing on the edge.

Estremera has an explosive first step and excellent speed to go with a long wing span and should be a key playmaker for the Little Hawks.

Gabe Egeland

Senior, City High

At 5-foot-6 Egeland can be tough for opponents to find behind a big City High offensive line.

It’s also easy to overlook the senior running back on a roster filled with playmakers.

Make no mistake, Egeland is going to be a key part of the City High offense this season as he looks to help ease the loss of graduated running back Miles Parlet.

Parlet ranked second in 5A in carries (221) and third in rushing yards last season (1,388) and while the 163-pound Egeland likely won’t put up those types of number he should explode past the 213 yards he put up last season.

Egeland is shifty and runs with surprising power for his size and has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (3 receptions for 38 yards last season) which makes him perfect for the City High offense.

Korbin Howard

Senior, Liberty High

With most of its defensive starters from a season ago lost to graduation Liberty High is looking for defensive playmakers to emerge at all three levels.

That is where Howard comes in.

The 5-foot-10, 210-poud Howard had 3.5 tackles for loss among his 20.5 tackles from his defensive end spot last season.

With the top seven tacklers from last season gone, look for Howard to play an even bigger role this season while emerging as a disruptive force on the defensive line.

Savion Miller

Sophomore, Regina

Regina will be young but talented at the skill positions this season and Miller is one of the top up and comers in the Regal backfield.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Miller flashed impressive potential in limited action last season rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns and catching three passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

An explosive running back, Miller averaged 8.6 yards per touch on offense last season and could also be a factor in the return game for Regina.

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