Editors note: This is the third article in the eight-part “YPS Top 50” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 50 of the top returning football players for the 2025 season.

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The YPS Top 50 is an eight-story series that highlights 50 of the top returning football players in the Your Prep Sports area by position group.

The first two editions of the series have taken a look at the top returning quarterbacks and running backs in the area for the upcoming season.

Next in the series is a look at eight of the best returning pass catchers in the area.

In the coming days five other position groups – offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back and special teams – will all be featured.

Here is a look at some of the best returning wide receivers and tight ends in the area.

Julian Manson

Senior, West High

One of the best overall players and highest ranked recruits in the state, Manson is coming off a stellar junior season in which he starred on both sides of the ball when helping West High reach the Class 5A quarterfinals.

An Iowa recruit, Manson is ranked as the fourth best prospect in the state in the 2026 class by 247 Sports and choose Iowa over a long list of offers that included Kansas State, Arizona, Minnesota and Miami.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Manson has an impressive combination of size, speed and athleticism that makes him a big-time playmaker on both sides of the ball.

Manson was a first team Class 5A all-state pick last season as a linebacker and could just as easily highlight the linebacker list in this series after ranking fifth in 5A with 86.5 tackles last season.

However, Manson lands on the wide receiver list after establishing himself as one of the top pass catchers in the state last fall.

With the program’s all-time leading passer Jack Wallace lost to graduation West High will have a new quarterback for the first time in four season making Manson’s offensive production even more important for the Trojans.

Manson is an explosive and reliable target for the first-year starting quarterback after catching 52 passes for 867 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Tate Wallace

Junior, Regina

Over the first two seasons of his prep career Wallace has already established himself as a major college recruit and one of the best players in the state.

Wallace is a four-star ranked prospect and is the second ranked recruit in Iowa in the 2027 class by 247 Sports and holds offers from Tennessee, Minnesota, Miami (Ohio) and Eastern Michigan.

A two-way standout, Wallace is another player that could easily fit on number of position groups on this list.

The future may be on defense for Wallace who made 27.5 tackles with four tackles for loss and a sack from his linebacker spot last season.

However, Wallace lands on the pass catcher list due to his ability to dominate the game offensively as a prep.

Wallace proved to be a nearly impossible matchup for defenders last season catching 51 passes for 752 yards and eight touchdowns.

The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Wallace can line up at tight end, out wide or in the backfield and rushed for a touchdown last season.

Wallace as the speed and strength combination that make him a mismatch as a receiver but has showed impressive ball skills and the ability to go over defenders to make contested catches.

Chayse Newton

Junior, City High

Newton has quickly risen up the board of top pass catchers in the state with a stellar sophomore season in which he led City High in receptions.

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Newton caught a team-high 36 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns last season on his way to earning second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors.

Newton showed strong hands last season as a sophomore along with an explosive burst off the line of scrimmage.

The shifty Newton is at his best in space but made tough catches in traffic last season while averaging 11.8 yards per reception.

Jordan Schroeder

Senior, Liberty High

Looking for a receiver poised for a breakout season?

Look no further than Schroeder who is one of the top candidates to replace a mountain of production in the Liberty High receiving corps that was lost to graduation.

Liberty High must replace its top three receivers from a season ago, in Dallas Miller, Sutton Koller and Collin Decker who combined for 150 receptions. 2,432 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.

Look for Schroeder to be one of the players that steps up in the absence of those departed seniors.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Schroeder was an honorable mention all-district pick last season after making eight catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Schroeder already has a strong rapport with returning starting quarterback Reece Rettig and should be in line for a breakout season.

Maddox Kelley

Junior, Solon

Kelley burst onto the scene last season leading Solon in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in an impressive debut season in which he earned all-state honors.

A Class 3A second team all-state pick at wide receiver, Kelley caught 54 passes for 675 yards and seven touchdowns last season while helping Solon to an 8-3 record and a spot in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Kelley did a little bit of everything for the Spartans last season but was at his best with the ball in his hands

Kelley rushed for 56 yards and was dynamic on special teams averaging 14.3 yards on 11 punt returns and 24.5 yards on 12 kick off returns.

A two-way starter, Kelley ranked second on the team with 50 tackles, recovered two fumbles and led Solon with four interceptions.

Tay Seals

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

Another player ready to breakthrough this season, Seals flashed impressive potential last season while ranking fifth on the team in receiving yards and second in yards per catch.

The speedy Seals put his dynamic athleticism on display last May at the state track and field meet when he claimed four top-four finishes highlighted by a state title in the 100 hurdles and a fourth-place finish in the 100.

Seals will look to transition that success over to the football field this fall while building on a strong sophomore season.

The 5-foot-10, 145-pound Seals caught 12 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns last season and should see those numbers soar this season in an expanded role.

A two-way standout, Seals had 13 tackles and picked off a pass from his corner back spot last season and will be a big-time contributor for the Clippers on both sides of the ball this fall.

Henry Elser

Senior, West High

Elser was easily overlooked last season in a West High receiver group that featured two of the top four receiving yards leaders in Class 5A in Manson and current Iowa freshman Mason Woods.

Even playing alongside Manson and Woods who combined for 106 receptions Else managed to put up strong numbers on his way to earning first team all-district and second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors.

Elser caught 25 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns last season and was also key player for the Trojans on defense and on special teams.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Elser showed explosive speed and good hands last season as well as elusiveness in the open field.

Elser averaged 11.4 yards per punt return and was the main kick returner for West High averaging 21.7 yards per return on 18 returns.

On defense Elser had 17.5 tackles and an interception from his defensive back spot.

Cody Milliman

Junior, Solon

The receiving stats from last season don’t stand out but Milliman appears poised for a big-time breakout on offense after an impressive debut season on the defensive side of the ball last fall.

In his first varsity season Milliman made 24 tackles including 3.5 for loss with a sack and an interception.

As a receiver, Milliman caught eight passes for 94 yards as a sophomore helping Solon to an 8-3 record.

Milliman will be a big part of the Solon defense as an outside linebacker but with four of the Spartans’ top four pass catchers from last season either graduated or playing a different position the opportunity is there for Milliman to make his mark on offense.

At 6-foot-2, 205-pounds Milliman is a tough matchup for defenders and would pair nicely along side Kelley to give Solon a dynamic pass catching one-two combination.

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