By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football coach Zach Watkins announced a diverse 34-member high school recruiting class on Wednesday, including five city products.
Washburn football coach Zach Watkins announced a 2026 recruiting class on Wednesday that includes 34 high school players and 17 transfers who are already on campus. [File photo/TSN]
"Our staff did a tremendous job of identifying what we needed on the roster and going out and identifying the kids that fit those needs,'' said Watkins, who will be starting his second season as WU's head coach in 2026. "We've been recruiting these guys since February of '25, so to see a full year of recruiting come to fruition and the kids all signed is very satisfying.''
Watkins also confirmed that Washburn, which is coming off a 3-8 campaign, has picked up 17 transfers who are currently enrolled at WU for the spring semester.
"We got hired last year and had a month to recruit,'' Watkins said. "This year we had a year to recruit. We signed 34 high school kids and 17 transfers who are here on campus right now and they started in January. They're the most talented group of transfers we've ever brought in here at Washburn.
"Those transfers provide immediate help and immediate depth and then like I said from Day 1 when we got hired as a staff, we're going to be a high school-based recruiting program. We're going to recuit Topeka, we're going to recruit Kansas, the Midwest and branch out from there and the 34 kids we signed really filled the needs we have and the depth we needed to create, we got that done in this class.''
Washburn Rural's Jordy Heim (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) and John Hoytal (6-3, 200) signed on Wednesday along with Hayden's Kade Mitchell (5-9, 175), Shawnee Heights' Aiden Scott (6-5, 200) and Topeka West's Logan Hunninghake (6-2, 250).
John Hoytal, Washburn Rural
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Hoytal, Mitchell and Scott earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors this past fall while Heim was a Second 22 all-county honoree and Hunninghake earned all-county honorable mention.
Hoytal played quarterback for Washburn Rural but is projected as a tight end in college while Mitchell is a running back, Scott a quarterback, Heim a linebacker and Hunninghake an offensive lineman.
"The kids we got from Topeka we're really excited about,'' Watkins said.
The Washburn recruiting class includes 11 players that played at Kansas high schools along with 12 Missouri prep products, seven from Texas, three from Florida and one from Nebraska.
There's also diversity among position groups, with eight players projected as defensive backs, six defensive linemen and five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, three linebackers and running backs, two tight ends, two punter/kickers and one quarterback.
Washburn recruiting capsules:
Roland Bai | 6-3 | 245 | DT | Kansas City, Kansas | Winnetonka High School
Played prep career at Winnetonka High School … majoring in business.
Nyk Belabre | 6-2 | 290 | OL | Kearney, Missouri | Kearney High School
As a senior, he was a first-team all-league, all-district, Class 4A all-state and Sports Illustrated first-team all-state offensive lineman … went 48-4 in prep career in football … son of Richardson and Charlise Belabre … a sister, Nola … majoring in marketing.
Kalan Bomar | 6-5 | 250 | OL | Kearney, Missouri | Kearney High School
Named all-league and all-district as a senior, helping team to state championship … picked up all-league honors as a junior and was part of a state championship team as a sophomore … went 48-4 in prep career in football … majoring in criminal justice.
Javan Flash | 6-0 | 165 | DB | Cypress, Texas | Tomball Memorial High School
As a senior he was a second-team all-district selection and co-defensive back of the year leading the district in pass break ups … a two-time academic all-district selection … son of Clifford and Michelle Flash … four brothers, Jonathan, Joshua, Josiah and Jeremiah … majoring in marketing.
Jeremiah Flash | 6-1 | 175 | DB | Cypress, Texas | Tomball Memorial High School
As a senior he was a second-team all-district selection and named co-defensive back of the year … also earned academic all-district … had 20 tackles with eight pass breakups … as a junior he was an honorable mention all-district selection with 28 tackles and seven pass break ups with one interception and a tackle for loss … son of Clifford and Michelle Flash … four brothers, Jonathan, Javan, Josiah and Joshua … majoring in radiology.
Everett Grower |6-3 | 170 | P | Kansas City, Kansas | Park Hill South High School
An all-state selection named to Sports Illustrated third team squad at punter as a senior and was also first-team all-league and all-district … a second-team all-district and all-league pick in soccer … also participated in track … son of Patrick Grower and Julie Edlund … a brother, Noah … a sister, Chloe … his father golfed at Delta State … majoring in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Edmarrien Gwinn |6-4 | 185 | WR | Tampa, Florida | Tampa Bay Technical High School
Played prep ball at Tampa Bay Technical High School … son of Trekina Hall … majoring in business.
Kaiden Haynes-Collins | 6-0 | 170 | S | Pflugerville, Texas | Weiss High School
Named defensive utility player of the year after recording 87 total tackles with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two sacks, an interception and two touchdowns with two blocked punts as a senior … as a junior he was a second-team all-district selection recording 40 tackles with four interceptions scoring two touchdowns … son of Thomas and Hailey Collins … three brothers, Jalen, Thomas and Zion … majoring in sports management.
Jordy Heim | 6-1 | 220 | LB | Topeka | Washburn Rural High School
A first-team all-league and all-state selection by Sports In Kansas as a senior while earning second-team all-county from TopSports.news and HM all-state honors from the Wichita Eagle and KSHSAA after recording 70 tackles with 39 solo stops and five tackles for loss with a forced fumble and fumble recovery … a second-team all-league and honorable mention all-county and all-state pick recording 84 tackles with five tackles for loss with four sacks and two interceptions returning one for a touchdown with a forced fumble … started 12 games as sophomore along side brothers J.C. and Jaren … son of John and Jennifer Heim … two brothers, J.C. and Jaren - both members of the Ichabod football team … his mother played volleyball at Highland CC and Neosho CC … majoring in criminal justice.
Conner Holladay | 6-0 | 200 | RB | Great Bend, Kansas | Great Bend High School
As a senior he was a second-team all-league running back and second-team defensive end and was an honorable mention all-state pick … a second-team all-league and honorable mention all-state pick as a junior … son of Gannon and Mary Reichert … a brother, Creo … majoring in kinesiology.
A.J. Horace | 6-1 | 170 | DB | Arlington, Texas | Seguin High School
Earned all-district honors as a senior and was a second-team all-league selection as a sophomore … son of Arthur Horace and Ashley Hicks … two brothers, Naszae and Naszir … a sister, Kynnedi … brother Naszae played football at Texas A&M Commerce … majoring in finance.
Kace Holman | 6-3 | 240 | DE | Macon, Missouri | Macon County R-1 High School
A first-team all-league offense and second-team all-league defensive pick earning first-team all-district honors and third-team all-state offensive honors and a KMZU Dream Team selection on defense, all as a senior … first-team all-league on offense and second-team all-league on defense in football and was a KMZU Dream Team and second-team all-district selection in basketball as well as earning honorable mention all-league honors in baseball as a junior … as a sophomore he was a first-team all-league unanimous selection as well as first-team all-district in football earning honorable mention all-league honors in baseball and basketball … as a freshman he was a first-team all-league defensive pick and a second-team defensive selection … also played golf … son of James Holman and Karen Waller … two sisters, Brenna and Macyn … a brother, Talen … majoring in business management.
Jensen Honey | 6-0 | 200 | PK | Gardner, Kansas | Gardner Edgerton High School
A second-team and second-team all-league pick as a junior helping team to state championship … part of state championship team as a sophomore … also played soccer … son of Trent and Rachel Honey … majoring in business.
John Hoytal | 6-3 | 200 | TE | Topeka | Washburn Rural High School
Was a first-team all-league, all-city and all-county top 22 selection earning all-state honorable mention honors as a quarterback as a senior … an all-league, city, county and state honorable mention selection as a junior also earning all-league honors and all-city honors in basketball … was an all-league, county and city honorable mention selection as a sophomore … son of Johnny and Amy Hoytal and Brooke and Travis McKinley … three brothers, Jacob, Bowen and Baker … two sisters, Katie and Brylee … his father Johnny and his uncle Joey both played football at Washburn … majoring in kinesiology.
Logan Hunninghake | 6-2 | 250 | OL | Topeka | Topeka West HS
An all-county and all-league honorable mention selection as a senior … earned all-county honors as a junior and a sophomore … son of Chris and Amanda Hunninghake … a brother, Brody … undecided on major.
Chase Kitsmiller | 6-4 | 260 | OL | Grain Valley, Missouri | Grain Valley HS
A first-team all-league and second-team all-district selection as a senior also playing defensive end … a three-year starter at right tackle overall … son of Mark and Sonia Kitsmiller … a brother, Bradley … a sister, Lauren … majoring in business.
Jackson Leslie | 6-3 | 190 | S | McKinney, Texas | Rock Hill High School
Led team in tackles and forced fumbles as a senior … also participated in track and basketball … son of Chrstina and Jermaine Leslie … three brothers, Jahir, Journey and Jermani … a sister, Janiah … majoring in business.
Beckett Linden | 5-11 | 205 | LB | Overland Park, Kansas | Blue Valley Northwest High School
Played prep ball at Blue Valley Northwest High School … son of Barry Linden and Diane Feleciano … majoring in exercise science.
Vonte Martin | 6-5 | 270 | DL | Waynesville, Missouri | Waynesville High School
As a senior he was a second-team all-league and a first-team all-district selection as well as all-region after recording 51 tackles including four for loss with five sacks and three forced fumbles … recorded 30 tackles with 10 tackles for loss with three sacks for all-region honors … son of DaRon and LaShon Martin … two brothers, DaRon and VaShon … majoring in marketing.
Haze Middleton | 5-11 | 200 | LB | Smithville, Mo. | Smithville High School
As a senior, he was an all-state, All-Simone Team, Bobby Bell Award Finalist as well as a KMZU Dream Team selection earning first-team all-league and all-district honors … as a junior he was an all-state, All-Simone Team and a KMZU Dream Team selection as well as all-league, all-district and team defensive MVP as a junior also finishing third at the state meet in wrestling … an all-league selection at linebacker and an all-district selection as a sophomore earning all-league and all-district honors in wrestling … a first-team all-league selection and a state qualifier in wrestling as a freshman … son of Taylor and Melissa Middleton … a sister, Grace … his father Taylor, played football at Graceland … majoring in business.
Kade Mitchell | 5-9 | 175 | RB | Topeka | Hayden High School
Rushed for 1,003 yards and 14 touchdowns adding 23 receptions for 471 yards and seven touchdowns and as a returner had four punt returns for 151 yards and two scores and five kickoff returns for 251 yards and a touchdown earning first-team all-state and was named to the Shawnee County Top 22 and named the county's offensive player of the year … as a junior he was a Sports In Kansas first-team all-state pick and was named a 3A Defensive Player of the Year finalist and a county top 22 selection … as sophomore he was an honorable mention all-state selection and the Shawnee County Newcomer of the Year … a two-time, first-team all-state selection in baseball … also played basketball … son of Matthew and Nichole Mitchell … a sister, Kelbi … his dad played football at Emporia State … majoring in kinesiology.
Darius Morgan | 5-9 | 190 | RB | Blue Springs, Missouri | Blue Springs South High School
Played prep career at Blue Springs South High School … son of Angela Pohle and Derrick and Amy Morgan … majoring in business.
Drew Nelson | 6-2 | 210 | TE | Kearney, Missouri | Kearney High School
An all-state, all-district and all-league tight end as a senior helping Bulldogs to the state title … was all-league as a junior … went 50-4 in high school career with two state championships … also wrestled … son of Ann Nelson … mom played basketball at McPherson … a brother, Daniel … majoring in business.
C.J. Newman Hall | 6-0 | 185 | DB | Riverview, Fla. | Blake High School
Played prep career at Blake High School … son of Christopher Newman Hall and Rochelle Hooke … majoring in business.
Kaleb Peterson |6-2 | 235 | DE | Overland Park, Kansas | Blue Valley Northwest High School
Recorded 70 tackles as a senior … majoring in business management.
Johnhaven Polk | 5-10 | 175 | WR | Dallas, Texas | Seguin High School
A first-team all-district selection as a senior and a second-team pick as a sophomore … also competed in track … son of Aven Polk and Jessica Williams … majoring in business.
Aiden Scott | 6-5 | 200 | QB | Topeka | Shawnee Heights High School
An all-state selection as a senior after passing for 2,991 yards and 26 touchdowns adding 200 rushing yards and five scores breaking 11 school and 11 conference records … as a junior he passed for 3,103 yards and 32 touchdowns rushing for four touchdowns … passed for 397 yards as a sophomore and five touchdowns … son of TJ and Brenna Scott … a brother, Austin … a sister, Avery … his dad played football at Emporia State and his sister golfed at Fort Scott … majoring in business.
Gmanii Smith | 5-9 | 160 | WR | Arlington, Texas | Seguin High School
A second-team all-district wide receiver his junior and senior seasons … son of Justin and Sasha Jackson … his father played football at Sam Houston State … majoring in business.
Romie Still | 6-4 | 275 | OL | Kansas City, Missouri | North Kansas City High School
As a senior he was a third-team all-state selection as well as a first-team all-league and all-district selection … as a junior he was a second-team all-league and all-district selection on the offensive line also picking up honorable mention all-league honors on the defensive line … a second team all-league pick on the defensive line as a sophomore and an honorable mention all-league wrestler as a freshman … son of Afa and Jinger Still … three brothers, Finnwick, Doc and Gideon … a sister, Sunny … his grandfather, Art, played football for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills and collegiately at Kentucky and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Landon Steven | 5-11 | 185 | S | Wichita, Kansas | Bishop Carroll High School
Named first-team all-state by KSHSAA Covered, the Wichita Eagle, KFBCA and Sports In Kansas and first-team all-league and specialist and a Kansas Shrine Bowl selection after recording 79 tackles, three forced fumbles, three pass break ups, one interception, a blocked field goal and six tackles for loss … earned all-league honors as a sophomore and junior… also played basketball … son of Zach and Sara Steven … four brothers, Zachary, Grant, Cole and Beau … his father played football at Fort Hays State … majoring in finance and law.
Korey Stokes | 6-1 | 170 | DB | Tampa, Florida | Tampa Catholic High School
Played prep ball at Tampa Catholic High School … son of Sara and Kerwin Stokes … majoring in business.
Chance Taylor | 6-0 | 180 | WR | Kansas City, Missouri | Blue Springs South High School
An all-league honorable mention selection as a senior at wide receiver … had 121 receptions for his career with 1,548 total receiving yards earning second team all-league honrs and first-team all-district honors as a junior … had 62 catches as a sophomore earning first-team all-league and second team all-district honors… son of Scott and Daren Taylor … a sister Charley … majoring in business.
Miguel Torrealba | 6-4 | 230 | DL | Overland Park, Kansas | Blue Valley Northwest High School
Played high school ball at Blue Valley Northwest High School where he had 28 tackles with two for loss, tallying 52 in his prep career … son of Katherin Constantine … majoring in business.
Easton Villotta | 6-2 | 240 | DE | Omaha, Nebraska | Millard South High School
Recorded 35 tackles and three sacks helping team to state championship … as a junior, recorded 38 tackles with 3.5 sacks winning a state title … had 17 tackles and a sack as a sophomore … also competed in baseball and wrestling … son of John and Chelsea Villotta … two brothers, Callan and Enzo … majoring in physics.
