Kansas high school football preview: Player rankings for Wichita-area 8-man, 6-man teams

The Kansas high school football season kicks off this week, and the Wichita area features several of the best small-classification programs in the state.

To recognize that talent, The Eagle has created a list to highlight 40 of the top 8-man and 6-man football players for local teams entering the 2023 season.

Below the list is a complete guide to Wichita-area teams in 8-man and 6-man divisions.

List of 50 top 8-man and 6-man Kansas high school football players

Luke Albers, Cunningham junior wide receiver

Ruxton Birdsong, Little River junior offensive lineman

Gage Bowers, Pretty Prairie senior quarterback

Christian Chandler, Pretty Prairie junior linebacker

Wyatt Collins, Canton-Galva senior defensive lineman

CT Fahring, Argonia-Attica senior offensive lineman

Cade Goossen, Peabody-Burns junior running back

Trent Haag, West Elk junior quarterback

Jenson Harness, Udall senior linebacker

Devonte Harris, Cedar Vale-Dexter senior defensive lineman

Henry Hecox, Moundridge junior quarterback

Gentri Holub, Centre senior defensive lineman

Joaquin Huff, Moundridge senior running back

Piercen Huff, Hutchinson Central Christian sophomore defensive back

Grayson Jensen, Wichita Independent senior defensive lineman

Santiago Knepp, Centre senior running back

Ry Kooiman, Hutchinson Central Christian junior running back

Creyo Koop, West Elk junior running back

Isom Marston, Canton-Galva senior offensive lineman

Luke McGuire, Cunningham senior linebacker

Lane McMannis, Canton-Galva senior linebacker

Kaden Miller, Burden-Central senior defensive lineman

Barrett Moddlemog, Moundridge junior linebacker

Maddex Moreno, West Elk junior linebacker

Dalton Morrison, Argonia-Attica senior running back

Miles Newell, South Sumner County senior offensive lineman

Noble Phillips, Burrton junior linebacker

Alvin Richard, Wichita Independent senior linebacker

Jackson Risley, South Sumner County senior tight end

Jack Ruckle, Cunningham senior defensive lineman

Trent Schnittker, Cunningham junior defensive lineman

Noah Schrag, Goessel senior quarterback

Alex Smith, South Sumner County senior quarterback

Andrew Smith, Little River senior tight end

Carter Stansbury, Little River senior offensive lineman

Cole Theurer, South Sumner County senior linebacker

Layton Wiens, Moundridge junior offensive lineman

Cody Williams, Flinthills senior offensive lineman

Xander Woods, Burden-Central senior defensive back

Jace Wunderlich, Burden-Central senior quarterback

Kansas high school small-class team season previews

Argonia-Attica Titans

Coach: Luke Greenwood and Wyatt Williams, 11th season, 76-29

2022 record: 5-4, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-3

Schedule: Sept. 1, Norwich; Sept. 8, at Cedar Vale-Dexter; Sept. 15, at Pratt Skyline; Sept. 22, Burden-Central; Sept. 29, at Wichita Independent; Oct. 6, Udall; Oct. 13, at South Sumner County; Oct. 20, Oxford.

Top players: Dalton Morrison, sr., 6-0, 180, RB-LB; CT Fahring, sr., 6-1, 275, OL-DL; Thomas DeViney, sr., 5-10, 145, RB-DB; Carson Vineyard, so., 5-9, 155, RB-LB; Mac Harnden, jr., 6-0, 115, WR-DB.

Burden-Central Raiders

Coach: Jeff Savage, second season, 5-4

2022 record: 5-4, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-3

Schedule: Sept. 1, Sedan; Sept. 8, at Flinthills; Sept. 15, West Elk; Sept. 22, at Argonia-Attica; Sept. 29, at Udall; Oct. 6, Oxford; Oct. 13, at Wichita Independent; Oct. 20, South Sumner County.

Top players: Jace Wunderlich, sr., 5-8, 165, QB-DB; Xander Woods, sr., 5-10, 205, RB-DB; Hunter O’Neil, sr., 6-2, 235, OL-DL; Boston Norris, sr., 6-0, 190, OL-LB; Kaden Miller, sr., 5-10, 165, OL-DL; Miles Easley, sr., 5-10, 175, TE-DL; Brandon Johnson, sr., 5-6, 165, WR-DL; Ethan Boucher, jr., 6-1, 155, WR-DB; Russ Smith, sr., 6-0, 190, WR-DB; Ramon Lopez, jr., 6-1, 250, OL-DL.

Burrton Chargers

Coach: Eric Cole, first season

2022 record: 6-4, lost in second round

Class and district: 6-man-2

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Centre; Sept. 8, at Southern Cloud; Sept. 15, Peabody-Burns; Sept. 22, at Chase; Sept. 29, Tescott; Oct. 6, at Pawnee Heights; Oct. 13, Cunningham; Oct. 20, Altoona-Midway.

Top players: Noble Phillips, jr., 5-7, 130, RB-LB; Jude Barnes, sr., 5-8, 130, WR-DB; Levi Durner, sr.; Leyton Graves, jr.

Canton-Galva Eagles

Coach: Shelby Hoppes, sixth season, 58-11

2022 record: 11-1, lost in semifinals

Class and district: 8-man Div. 2-2

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Little River; Sept. 8, Goessel; Sept. 15, Solomon; Sept. 22, Norwich; Sept. 29, at Fairfield; Oct. 6, Hutchinson Central Christian; Oct. 13, at Beloit St. Johns-Tipton; Oct. 19, at Rural Vista.

Top players: Lane McMannis, sr., 6-0, 160, RB-DB; Wyatt Collins, sr., 6-2, 215, OL-DL; Isom Marston, sr., 5-10, 230, OL-DL; Noah Collins, jr., 6-3, 220, OL-DL; Jaden Ediger, sr., 5-8, 150, WR-DB; Leyton Witte, sr., 5-9, 175, WR-LB; Jory Ratzlaff, sr., 6-0, 175, OL-LB; Jaxon Chrislip, fr., 5-9, 160, WR-LB; Jaxon Nightingale, fr., 5-10, 185, OL-DL; Custom Schamp, fr., 5-10, 150, WR-DB.

Cedar Vale-Dexter Spartans

Coach: Cody Kahrs, second season, 0-8

2022 record: 0-8, did not qualify

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-1

Schedule: Sept. 1, at South Sumner County; Sept. 8, Argonia-Attica; Sept. 15, at Oxford; Sept. 22, Flinthills; Sept. 29, at Yates Center; Oct. 6, West Elk; Oct. 13, at Sedan; Oct. 20, Oswego.

Top players: Devonte Harris, sr., OL-DL; Brayden Henderson, sr., QB-LB; Royce Potter, so., RB-DL; Wyatt Martin, so., RB-LB; Logan Becker, so., OL-LB; Jaylen Harris, so., WR-DB; Staton Harrod, jr., WR-DB.

Centre Cougars

Coach: Kelly Steiner, 14th season, 62-52

2022 record: 3-6, lost in first round

Class and district: 6-man-1

Schedule: Sept. 1, Burrton; Sept. 8, Southern Coffey County; Sept. 15, at Altoona-Midway; Sept. 21, Waverly; Sept. 29, Open; Oct. 6, at Chetopa; Oct. 13, at Chase; Oct. 20, at Peabody-Burns.

Top players: Santiago Knepp, sr., 5-9, 160, RB-LB; Gentri Holub, sr., 6-1, 230, OL-DL; Riley Janow, sr., 5-9, 285, OL-DL; Nick Krch, sr., 6-0, 160, WR-DB; Koltin Steiner, so., 6-0, 180, QB-DB; Kolby Steiner, so., 6-0, 185, RB-LB; Kagan Brewer, sr., 5-9, 170, RB-LB.

Cunningham Wildcats

Coach: Lance McGuire, 18th season

2022 record: 12-0, state champions

Class and district: 6-man-2

Schedule: Sept. 1, Ashland; Sept. 8, at Moscow; Sept. 15, at Chase; Sept. 22, Tescott; Sept. 29, Pawnee Heights; Oct. 6, at Southern Coffey County; Oct. 13, at Burrton; Oct. 20, Southern Cloud.

Top players: Luke McGuire, sr., 6-0, 150, QB-DB; Jack Ruckle, sr., RB-DB; Luke Albers, jr., 5-11, 155, WR-DB; Trent Schnittker, jr., 6-0, 260, OL-DL; Dagim Reed, jr., 5-10, 140, RB-LB; Will Wegerer, jr., QB-DB.

Flinthills Mustangs

Coach: Chase Casteel, third season, 5-13

2022 record: 2-7, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-1

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Oxford; Sept. 8, Burden-Central; Sept. 15, Udall; Sept. 22, at Cedar Vale-Dexter; Sept. 29, at West Elk; Oct. 6, Oswego; Oct. 13, at Yates Center; Oct. 20, Sedan.

Top players: Cody Williams, sr., 6-0, 270, OL-DL; Conner Sigg, sr., 6-0, 180, RB-DB; Wyatt Osborne, sr., 5-8, 125, RB-DB; Tate Leslie, sr., 6-0, 185, QB-DB; Austin Liggett, sr., 6-2, 215, OL-DL; Javin Weis, sr., 5-7, 205, RB-LB; Charles Farris, fr., 5-10, 150, QB-DB; Levi Beard, so., 6-0, 190, OL-DL; Tripp Carney, fr., 5-9, 150, RB-LB; Brock Donner, so., 5-7, 135, WR-DB; Mason Randall, so., 6-2, 250, OL-DL; Jaxon Swafford, so., 6-0, 200, TE-LB.

Goessel Bluebirds

Coach: Garrett Hiebert, 12th season, 45-57

2022 record: 4-5, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-4

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Bennington; Sept. 8, at Canton-Galva; Sept.. 15, Chase County; Sept. 22, Herington; Sept. 29, at Solomon; Oct. 6, Pretty Prairie; Oct. 13, at Moundridge; Oct. 20, Little River.

Top players: Kyle Valdois, sr., 5-8, 225, OL-DL; Noah Schrag, sr., 5-7, 140, QB-DB; Jake Flaming, sr., 5-8, 150, RB-DB; Eli Boden, sr., 5-9, 160, OL-LB; Klay Willis, sr., 5-6, 155, TE-LB; Luke Stucky, jr., 6-1, 235, OL-DL; Adam Wonser, jr., 6-2, 330, OL-DL.

Hutchinson Central Christian Cougars

Coach: Matt Barnett, first season

2022 record: 4-6, lost in second round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 2-2

Schedule: Sept. 1, Pretty Prairie; Sept. 8, at Sunrise Christian; Sept. 15, at Stafford; Sept. 22, Fairfield; Sept. 29, Kinsley; Oct. 6, at Canton-Galva; Oct. 13, Rural Vista; Oct. 20, at Norwich.

Top players: Justus Huff, sr., 6-0, 185, TE-LB; Ry Kooiman, jr., 5-7, 165, RB-DB; Keaton Miller, jr., 5-10, 220, OL-LB; Piercen Huff, so., 5-10, 160, WR-DB; Nathan Reed, jr., 5-10, 165, QB-DB; Jaden Linsheid, jr., 6-1, 185, OL-LB.

Little River Redskins

Coach: Kevin Ayers, fifth season, 43-7

2022 record: 11-2, lost in state championship

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-4

Schedule: Sept. 1, Canton-Galva; Sept. 8, at Rural Vista; Sept. 15, at Ell-Saline; Sept. 22, at Solomon; Sept. 29, Moundridge; Oct. 6, at Herington; Oct. 13, Pretty Prairie; Oct. 20, at Goessel.

Top players: Andrew Smith, sr., 6-2, 175, TE-DB; Carter Stansbury, sr., 5-10, 180, OL-DL; Ruxton Birdsong, jr., 6-0, 175, OL-DL; Kyler Bergkamp, jr., 5-8, 150, RB-DB; Hayden Eck, jr., 5-11, 155, OL-LB; Hunter Sneath, jr., 6-2, 165, OL-DL.

Moundridge Wildcats

Coach: Tyler O’Connor, first season

2022 record: 6-4, lost in second round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-4

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Ell-Saline; Sept. 8, Bennington; Sept. 15, at Wichita Independent; Sept. 22, Pretty Prairie; Sept. 29, at Little River; Oct. 6, Solomon; Oct. 13, Goessel; Oct. 20, at Herington.

Top players: Joaquin Huff, sr., 5-9, 195, RB-LB; Barrett Moddlemog, jr., 6-3, 190, TE-LB; Layton Wiens, jr., 5-9, 230, OL-DL; Lane Durst, jr., 6-0, 145, WR-DB; Henry Hecox, jr., 6-2, 175, QB-DB; Braden Den-Hartog, jr., 6-1, 210, OL-DL; Kreighton Kanitz, sr., 6-1, 180, RB-LB; Kaizer Kanitz, so., 6-0, 145, WR-DB.

Norwich Eagles

Coach: Brian Payne, first season

2022 record: 3-6, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 2-2

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Argonia-Attica; Sept. 8, South Sumner County; Sept. 15, at Pretty Prairie; Sept. 22, at Canton-Galva; Sept. 29, Rural Vista; Oct. 6, Stafford; Oct. 13, at Fairfield; Oct. 20, Hutchinson Central Christian.

Top players: Jace Benge, sr., 5-9, 165, WR-LB; Kyler Murphy, jr., QB-DB; Brayden Pauly, jr., 5-9, 155, WR-DB.

Oxford Wildcats

Coach: Shawn Burkes, 18th season

2022 record: 4-5, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-3

Schedule: Sept. 1, Flinthills; Sept. 8, at West Elk; Sept. 15, Cedar Vale-Dexter; Sept. 22, at Wichita Independent; Sept. 29, South Sumner County; Oct. 6, at Burden-Central; Oct. 13, Udall; Oct. 20, at Argonia-Attica.

Top players: Cordell Jordan, jr., 6-0, 155, RB-LB; Connor Commerford, jr., 5-7, 145, RB-DB; Anthony Williams, jr., 5-11, 180, OL-DL; Karter Hiten, jr., 5-9, 170, OL-LB; Wyatt Gaither, so., 5-9, 160, RB-LB; Johnathon Schroeder, jr., 6-0, 160, QB-DB; Hunter Plummer, jr., 6-0, 165, TE-DB; Sam Wheeler, jr., 5-8, 145, TE-LB.

Peabody-Burns Warriors

Coach: Eric Dutton, first season

2022 record: 6-4, lost in second round

Class and district: 6-man-1

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Tescott; Sept. 8, Chetopa; Sept. 15, at Burrton; Sept. 22, Pawnee Heights; Sept. 29, at Southern Coffey County; Oct. 5, Altoona-Midway; Oct. 13, at Waverly; Oct. 20, Centre.

Top players: Cade Goossen, jr., RB-DB; Chris Spencer, jr., RB-LB; Joey Addelott, so., OL-DL; Aiden Hurst, fr., QB-LB; Collin Groff, fr., TE-LB; Ashton Talkington, fr., OL-DL; Dalton Philpott, fr., RB-LB; Max Turner, fr., OL-DL; Jameson Miles, fr., TE-DL.

Pretty Prairie Bulldogs

Coach: Blake Lee, second season, 4-5

2022 record: 4-5, did not qualify

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-4

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Hutchinson Central Christian; Sept. 8, South Barber; Sept. 15, Norwich; Sept. 22, at Moundridge; Sept. 29, Herington; Oct. 6, at Goessel; Oct. 13, at Little River; Oct. 20, Solomon.

Top players: Gage Bowers, sr., 5-7, 170, QB-LB; Blaine Rogers, sr., 5-10, 325, OL-DL; Christian Chandler, jr., 6-0, 180, OL-LB; Brogan Stucky, sr., 6-0, 210, OL-DL; Carter Stucky, so., 5-7, 155, RB-DB; Matthew Rogers, jr., 6-0, 225, OL-DL.

South Sumner County Outlaws

Coach: Sean Blosser, second season, 9-1

2022 record: 9-1, lost in second round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-3

Schedule: Sept. 1, Cedar Vale-Dexter; Sept. 8, at Norwich; Sept. 15, at Sedan; Sept. 22, Udall; Sept. 29, at Oxford; Oct. 6, Wichita Independent; Oct. 13, Argonia-Attica; Oct. 20, at Burden-Central.

Top players: Jackson Risley, sr., 6-2, 185, TE-LB; Alex Shore, jr., 6-3, 170, WR-DB; Alex Smith, sr., 5-10, 175, QB-DB; Colby Irey, jr., 5-8, 160, RB-DB; Miles Newell, sr., 6-1, 290, OL-DL; Cole Theurer, sr., 5-10, 190, OL-LB; Tanner Kelly, jr., 6-0, 220, OL-DL.

Udall Eagles

Coach: Caleb Howell, first season

2022 record: 1-8, did not qualify

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-3

Schedule: Sept. 1, at West Elk; Sept. 8, Sedan; Sept. 15, at Flinthills; Sept. 22, at South Sumner County; Sept. 29, Burden-Central; Oct. 6, at Argonia-Attica; Oct. 13, at Oxford; Oct. 20, Wichita Independent.

Top players: Jenson Harness, sr., 6-2, 200, QB-LB; Isaac Johnson, jr., 6-0, 155, WR-DB; Duane Ault, sr., 6-0, 185, WR-DB; Brent Burley, sr., 5-11, 170, RB-LB; James Webb, jr., 5-10, 160, TE-DL.

West Elk Patriots

Coach: Chris Haag, 23rd season, 113-96

2022 record: 8-1, lost in first round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-1

Schedule: Sept. 1, Udall; Sept. 8, Oxford; Sept. 15, at Burden-Central; Sept. 22, at Sedan; Sept. 29, Flinthills; Oct. 6, at Cedar Vale-Dexter; Oct. 13, at Oswego; Oct. 20, Yates Center.

Top players: Creyo Koop, jr., 5-9, 180, RB-LB; Trent Haag, jr., 6-1, 170, QB-DB; Maddex Moreno, jr., 5-11, 190, RB-LB; Holton McLean, sr., 6-2, 285, OL-DL; Tyler Moore, sr., 5-11, 200, OL-DL; Uriah Tillapaugh, sr., 6-3, 210, TE-DL; Christian Winter, sr., 5-11, 195, OL-DL; Evan Coble, sr., 5-7, 150, WR-DB; Martin Shipley, sr., 5-7, 155, WR-DB.

Wichita Independent Panthers

Coach: Leterius Ray, third season, 9-8

2022 record: 8-2, lost in second round

Class and district: 8-man Div. 1-3

Schedule: Sept. 1, at Life Prep; Sept. 8, at Fairfield; Sept. 15, Moundridge; Sept. 22, Oxford; Sept. 29, Argonia-Attica; Oct. 6, at South Sumner County; Oct. 13, Burden-Central; Oct. 20, at Udall.

Top players: Alvin Richard, sr., 6-1, 180, RB-LB; Grayson Jensen, sr., 6-6, 170, TE-DL; Tatym Stalnaker, jr., 6-1, 175, QB-DB; Mason Lipsey, jr., 5-10, 170, WR-DB; Ripley Cole, sr., 5-11, 150, K.