Regional Young Football Players to Watch in 2024

By Jordan Burton (for OzarksSportsZone.com)

In our coverage area of ​​more than 60 teams, many players are poised to have breakout seasons. Below are some of the players we believe will have breakout seasons. This list is organized alphabetically.

NOTE: Some worthy players may appear on any of our SEVEN other soccer watchlists. In order to highlight as many players as possible, A PLAYER CAN ONLY APPEAR ON ONE LIST.

The football watch lists we publish include: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Receivers/Tight Ends, Offensive Linemen, Defensive Linemen, Linebackers, Defensive Backs and Breakout Players.

Bryden Baxter, Fair Grove

It would have been easy for Baxter to transfer and start at quarterback somewhere else. Instead, the selfless senior has developed into a wide receiver and a really good one at that. Fair Grove has an explosive offense and Baxter will play a key role in the passing game. Great player, great teammate.

Rex Deters, Smart

Deters was great as a junior at Glendale, but now moves to a Clever program hungry for success on the field. Deters is also a baseball talent and is one of those quarterbacks who can make plays on the ground or in the air and really turn the ball over. He was great at Glendale, he’s going to be a star at Clever.

Sam Frieze & Kasimir Manczuk, Logan-Rogersville

Logan-Rogersville head coach Mark Talbert has a problem every program would love to have: He has two starting quality quarterbacks in Frieze and Manczuk, both of whom are good enough to help the Cats win. Frieze has more experience, having played in juniors last year. He was great at 7-on-7 and has a good feel for the offense and what Talbert wants. He’s ready to take the reins of the program. It’s a little unfair to put a freshman on this list before he’s ever taken a snap on the first team, but that’s how special Manczuk is. Eventually, you’ll see him take snaps in Rogersville, and when that happens, you’ll see the next great quarterback prospect from the area. Older players will be reminded of Rafe Peavey with his ability to stop the run in both directions, his compact shot and his ability to run two offenses at once. He was a smash hitter at both the national and local level in 7-on-7 play, was the Ozarks Youth League MVP and has a poise well beyond his years. Both quarterbacks have all the makings of a bright future.

Tamarcus Holmes, Forsyth

He was a game-changer as a sophomore, but that doesn’t even begin to reflect his potential. Holmes is a dynamic defensive back and a weapon that can line up all over the field on offense; he’s a home run threat whenever he has the ball in his hands. He had four interceptions as a sophomore and is quickly becoming one of the best cover corners in the area.

Slade Hurd, Webb City

Hurd has battled injury after injury in his young career, but now the junior back is healthy, which isn’t great news for everyone else. He’s great at making a cut and going, which bodes well for his speed and ability to run through arm tackles. The Cardinals will have several players in the backfield, Hurd will excel over the next two seasons.

Adam McKnight, Nixa

There’s a lot of pressure involved in being the starting quarterback in a program that produces D1 players…as well as being the starting point guard for a basketball program that’s one of the most successful in the state. McKnight has done both before, and his physical attributes are rare. He has an elite throwing arm, is supremely athletic, and has a calmness that must be respected. McKnight joins that elite class of multi-sport athletes that Nixa has been able to develop better than most into someone who will draw D1 interest in three sports.

Aiden Lane, Ava

As a sophomore, Lane’s job was to be reliable and not make mistakes as a quarterback. He won 11 games, throwing and running for nearly 500 yards each and scoring 15 total touchdowns. As a third-year sophomore, he will play an even bigger role on offense with the confidence and ability to decide games on the ground or in the air. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the SCA coming back.

Marcus Lopez-Durman, Carl Junction

Some of his runs as a sophomore gave a taste of what his opponents will see in the next few years. He helped CJ win a COC wrestling title, which explains why he’s such a tenacious runner. Todd Hafner will establish the run, but he’s also not afraid to move guys around and get them touches in space. Lopez-Durman will see a lot of touches in 2024.

Kyler Reece, Ash Grove

Reese is no longer a secret in the Southwest Conference after rushing for 808 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also made 55 tackles and three interceptions from his linebacker position, establishing himself as one of the best two-way players in the league. Now it’s time for everyone else to know who he is. Reese has the potential to rush for 1,000 yards and make over 100 tackles as a linebacker in each of the next two seasons.

Gabe Smith, Nevada

Few coaches have mastered the art of stifling the opposition better than Wes Beachler, and he’s doing it well at Nevada. Smith had a phenomenal junior season as the backup to Jack Cheaney, rushing for 406 yards and seven touchdowns on 63 carries. He’s a big, physical running back who runs behind a physical offensive line in a smashmouth system. His name will be heard a lot this fall.

Cade Spiva, Neosho

For the Wildcats, it’s a match made in heaven. Spiva is a big, athletic quarterback who has been extremely productive at other positions. Now he’s back in the quarterback role in a system that gives dynamic dual-threat players a chance to shine. Brandon Taute is the quarterback whisperer, and Spiva is one of the most physically gifted players he’s ever had.

Dylan Washick, Monett

If you follow Monett Sports at all, then you know that the Cubs have hired Ben Mauk as their head coach. Mauk will likely bring in his prolific passing offense, which means his quarterback will soon be flirting with national records. And that’s where Washick comes in. He should be the starter and has proven as a freshman that he has serious throwing ability both on and off the field. He’s only a sophomore, but expect him to put in some great performances this fall.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Neil Barstow, Joplin
Devin Bloom, Osceola
Hunter Conway, Mount Vernon
Braylon Haywood, Cabool
DJ Riley, Houston
Matt Skinner, Buffalo
Gavin Thomason, Fair Grove
Harrison Thompson, Ash Grove
Isaiah Young, Buffalo