Top Sunflower League Tight Ends since 2000

Travis Tannahill's last catch as an

Olathe East Hawk came above in a
Sectional Round game at Olathe So-
th.  Photo courtesy the Kansas City
Star.

1. Travis Tannahill, Olathe East, 2005-2007

Tannahill played quarterback up until his junior season, but his best year in the league came when he was the Hawks' starting tight end as a senior.  He's gone on to play at K-State where he's been a two-year starter at tight end.

2. Drew Goodger, SM Northwest, 2008-2010

Goodger was a first team all-league selection at both tight end and defensive end as a senior, so there was some question as to what he would play in college at Minnesota.  He was immediately slotted to the tight end position for the Golden Gophers, and he even earned playing time as a freshman.

3. Kyle Swartz, Olathe North, 2008-2010

Swartz earned first team all-league honors as a tight end as a junior in 2009, then received second team all-league honors, behind Gooder, as a senior.  While he was most recognized for his efforts as a linebacker, he was an animal when it came to blocking and he had a knack for making big catches.

4. Tanner Gentry, Olathe North, 2009-2011

I slotted Gentry as a tight end because the way Olathe North used him the past few years reminded me of how Missouri used tight end Chase Coffman back in the day, splitting him out wide to create a height advantage.  Gentry was a tremendous pass catcher and the Eagle's top threat through the air the past two years.

5. Andrew Patch, SM West, 2002-2004

Nick Williams was the focal point
of Olathe Northwest's passing game
in 2007.  Photo courtesy Jeff Phillippi.

Patch spent the majority of his time blocking, but he was the favorite target of quarterback Tyler Lawrence during the 2005 season.  Patch's most memorable moment came when he caught a 45-yard touchdown pass on SM West's opening drive against Olathe East in the Sectional Round of the 2004 playoffs--a touchdown which set the tone for one of the greater upsets of the past 10 years.

6. Nick Williams, Olathe Northwest, 2005-2007

Williams, like Swartz, was more known for his efforts on the defensive side of the ball, but he put up great numbers as a tight end as well.  As a senior in 2007 he caught 38 passes for 513 yards.

7. Stephen Underwood, SM West, 2003-2005

Underwood, in the form of most SM West tight ends, spent the majority of his time blocking and almost played the role of a third offensive tackle.  He did, however, pose a solid threat as a receiver and he was a First Team All-Sunflower League selection as a tight end and defensive end in 2005.

8. Bryce Murray, SM Northwest, 2005-2007

Murray excelled in SM Northwest's quarterback friendly offense of the mid-2000s, catching passes from quarterback Alex Carder and making bone-crushing hits whenever he could.  He was a Second Team All-Sunflower League selection at tight end in 2007, behind Tannahill.

9. Christian Ballard, Lawrence Free State, 2004-2006

Ballard plays in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive end, but during his high school days he was more well-known for his efforts on the offensive side of the ball.  He was a First Team All-Sunflower League selection as a tight end in 2006.

10. Nick DeBiasse, Lawrence, 2004-2006

DeBiasse was a would have put up better offensive numbers, but he played back when the Chesty Lions still used their traditional old school offensive approach.  He was still an all-league performer as a tight end in 2006 despite the limiting offense.

Top Sunflower League Offensive Lineman since 2000

Josh Carroll.  Photo courtesy
the Olathe News.

1. Josh Carroll, Olathe North, 1999-2001

Carroll joins Darren Sproles as one of only two players to have been named a Top 11 player in Kansas in both their junior and senior seasons.  Carroll was ruthless on the football field, using his skills developed on the wrestling mat to dominate defenders.  Olathe North compiled over 10,000 rushing yards in Carroll's three years on the offensive line.

2. Travis Greer, Olathe North, 2002-2004

Greer was a legit 300-pound player, and he used every bit of his weight to dominate on the offensive line.  During his senior year in 2004, he spearheaded and offensive attack than recorded over 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards passing.  He was named a Top 11 player following that season.

3. Todd Haselhorst, Olathe East, 2001-2003

While many of the players on this list were tremendous talents that projected at the D2 level, it was Haselhorst who received more FBS offers than anyone.  He chose to play at Kansas over offers from Kansas State, Arizona, Michigan State and Minnesota, among others.  He was the top offensive lineman on Olathe East's explosive offensive attack in 2003 that featured players like Anthony Parks, Andre Jones and Derek Miller, and following the season he was awarded the Buch Buchanan Award as the metro's top lineman.

4. Adam Venegas, Olathe North, 2000-2002

I can rememer seeing Venegas in a game in 2002 and wondering how the heck a guy that size was still in high school. Venegas blocked for Darren Sproles, Maurice Mack and Jim Bouknight during his time with the Eagles, and as a senior he was named to the Kansas Top 11 team.

5. Michael Lisher, Free State, 2007-2009

At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Lisher was much larger than the typical center in the Sunflower League and he used the size advantage to lead one of the league's most exciting offensive attacks ever.  The quarterback/running back duo of Camren Torneden and Chucky Hunter found much of their success running behind the talented head coach's son.

6. Brent Jepson, Olathe East, 2003-2005

If there was a prototype for what an offensive lineman should look like, it was Jepson.  He stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 285 pounds, with shoulders that even the largest shoulder pads could barely contain.  He was all-everything as a senior for the Hawks in 2005, clearing out defenders for Dee Bell while also pass blocking for Derek Miller.

7. Clint Benge, SM West, 2003-2005

Benge played his best football when his buttons were pushed.  It was a quick temper on the football field that made him one of the best offensive lineman of the mid-2000s, and helped SM West to rush for over 2,500 yards in both 2004 and 2005.  He was an all-state selection as a senior.

8. Jake Woten, Olathe East, 2006-2008

Darion Hillman.  Photo
courtesy the Shawnee
Dispatch.

Woten didn't carry a ton of weight, but he used his tall frame to his advantage, moving defensive lineman at will and helping Olathe East to consecutive 9-win seasons as a junior and a senior.  Following the 2008 season he was named to the Kansas Top 11 team for his efforts as as both an offensive and defensive lineman.

9. Darion Hillman, SM Northwest, 2006-2008

I think Hillman was the oldest looking 17-year-old I've ever seen, and his abilities on the football field only further fueled this idea in my mind.  An extremely talented athlete, Hillman clocked a legit 4.9 electronic forty time before his senior year, which, at the 290 pounds he weighed at the combine, was pretty impressive.  SM Northwest's stellar offensive attack of the late 2000s wouldn't have been possible without Hillman's efforts up front.

10. Scott Gourley, Olathe South, 2009-2011

Being the coach's son generally translates into success on the gridiron.  From Brandon Wier in the mid-1990s, to Michael Lisher, and many others, Gourley slips in at the ten spot as yet another coach's son who did great work.  This past year as a senior Gourley helped lead and explosive Olathe South rushing attack that accumulated 4,094 rushing yards en route to the 6A state title.

Top Sunflower League Linebackers since 2000

Mike Rivera.  Photo courtesy
Rivals.com

1. Mike Rivera, SM Northwest, 2001-2003

I am considering changing my annual Defensive Player of the Year Award to the "Rivera Award," to honor Rivera, who is arguably one of the best defensive players to ever play in the league.  As a junior Rivera tallied 125 tackles and took home first team all-state honors.  He improved as a senior collecting 149 tackles and once again taking home first team all-state honors.  To this day I haven't seen as good of a linebacker in the league, or state for that matter, as what I witnessed from Rivera in 2003.  Check out his highlights from his days at SM Northwest if you aren't convinced.

2. Royal Whitaker, Olathe North, 1999-2001

Whitaker is sometimes overlooked when the legends from Olathe North are brought up, but that won't happen here.  The heart and soul of the Eagles defense in 2001, Whitaker totaled 125 tackles (63 solo) for a defensive unit that gave up a mere 5.4 points a game and recorded five shutouts en route to winning the 6A state championship.

3. Justin Dyer, Olathe South, 1999-2001

Dyer was a physical freak to say the least.  On the wrestling mat he was a three-time state champion and he went on to wrestle in college at Oklahoma.  On the football field he was one of the best linebackers in the league's history and he put up incredible numbers.  As a sophomore he racked up 173 tackles, then he followed that up by making 117 tackles as a junior.  He added 62 tackles as a senior, but much of the drop off was because he was promoted to quarterback midway through the season and it took away from his time on defense.

4. Blake Lawrence, SM West, 2004-2006

Lawrence made quite a name for himself with his torpedo-like hits that he dished out in his two primary seasons as a starter (2005-2006).  In those two years he accumulated 150 tackles, six sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions.  He was also a stellar quarterback and he was a Simone Award finalist in 2006.  Lawrence went on to play linebacker at Nebraska, but his collegiate career was cut short after a series of concussions.  In his senior year at SM West he was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" with this accompanying highlight video.

5. Brandon McAnderson, Lawrence, 2000-2002

While McAnderson went on to be a solid running back at the University of Kansas, many figured he'd play linebacker at the collegiate level following an outstanding high school career as a middle linebacker.  McAnderson was a First Team All-Sunflower League performer as a linebacker and a running back in both his junior and senior seasons.  As a senior he also garnered first team all-state honors as a linebacker after posting 132 tackles and leading Lawrence to a 8-3 record.


Tony Ritzman.  Photo courtesy the
Shawnee Disptach.

6. Tony Ritzman, SM West, 2005-2007

Ritzman was one of the few players since 2000 to have accumulated over 300 tackles during his high school career.  He earned a starting spot as SM West's "Mike" linebacker in the early part of the 2005 season and he held the title for the rest of his career with the Vikings.  During that time period he helped SM West to a 26-7 record.  All told he racked up 324 tackles, caused four fumbles, made three sacks and snagged three interceptions in his three seasons as a starter.

7. Scott Penny, Lawrence, 2003-2005

Quite a few members of Lawrence High's class of 2006 football team are remembered following the team's 10-2 campaign, but it is Penny who is most remembered as the standout on the defensive side of the football.  During the Chesty Lions' 12-game 2005 season, Penny recorded 144 tackles to lead the league.  His efforts earned him first team all-state honors.

8. Kyle Swartz, Olathe North, 2008-2010

Swartz helped lead Olathe North to state title appearances in 2009 and 2010.  As a senior in 2010 he totaled 148 tackles with three fumble recoveries, two sacks and an interception from his middle linebacker position.  His interception came against Olathe South in the Sectional Round of the playoffs and it enabled Olathe North to score a quick touchdown and advance to the Sub-State game that year.  He was named first team all-state following the conclusion of the season.

Tre Walker.

9. Tre Walker, Olathe North, 2007-2009

Walker is developing into one of the best linebacker in the Big XII at Kansas State, but before his time as a Wildcat he was a great linebacker for Olathe North.  As a senior he teamed up with Kyle Swartz to create one of the most formidable linebacker units in the state.  Walker used his size and speed in coverage where he recorded five interceptions while also supporting the run from his outside linebacker position.  He was a first team all-state selection as a senior.

10. Justin Scott, SM West, 2006-2008

Scott was a three-year starter for SM West, spending his first two seasons at the "Will" position before moving over to the "Mike" slot as a senior to fill the void left by Ritzman.  In his final two seasons as a starter he posted 153 tackles, five sacks and one interception.  His efforts as a senior were good enough to earn him first team all-state honors and offers from several of the FBS service academies.

All-State and All-Metro Honors

Lawrence High's Brad Strauss.

Thus far, the Wichita-Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal have released their all-state teams in addition to their Top 11 units.  The Kansas City Star released their all-metro teams on Sunday.  Unfortunately it doesn't appear as though KC Metro Sports is going to continue to release an all-metro team.  They didn't release one last season and there is no new update for this year.

Class 6A All-State

Wichita Eagle

Willie Cauley, Wide Receiver, Olathe Northwest

*Scott Gourley, Offensive Line, Olathe South
Jordan Ward, Running Back, Olathe South
Matthew Baltimore, Defensive Line, Olathe East
Braden Smith, Defensive Line, Olathe South
Kyle McFarland, Defensive Back, Free State
Brad Strauss, Defensive Back, Lawrence
Anthony Rosen, Kicker, Lawrence

*Named to the Wichita-Eagle Top 11 Team

Topeka Capital-Journal
Willie Cauley, Wide Receiver, Olathe Northwest
Tanner Gentry, Wide Receiver, Olathe North
*Scott Gourley, Offensive Line, Olathe South
Gabe Guild, Running Back, SM South
Jordan Ward, Running Back, Olathe South
Anthony Rosen, Kicker, Lawrence
Matthew Baltimore, Defensive Line, Olathe East
Braden Smith, Defensive Line, Olathe South
Austin Jackson, Linebacker, Leavenworth
Brad Strauss, Defensive Back, Lawrence
Junior Williams, Defensive Back, Olathe East
Mason Perez, Returner, SM North

* Named to the Capital Journal Top 11 Team

Kansas City Star's 2011 All-Metro Football Team
Willie Cauley, Wide Receiver, Olathe Northwest
Scott Gourley, Offensive Line, Olathe South
Braden Smith, Defensive Line, Olathe South
Remington Whitley, Linebacker, Olathe South
Brad Strauss, Defensive Back, Lawrence
Anthony Rosen, Kicker, Lawrence
Fritz Wilbur, Punter, Olathe South