SSI Football: Things I am looking forward to this 2026 HS Football Season! Things I think I know...Part 1

I am excited about the start of high school football camp here in the Siouxland area. We are blessed with some outstanding players, competitive teams and good coaching staffs that bring it all together.

Over the next two weeks, I will take a close look at key returning players and kids that I think will breakout this fall for their respective teams. Thank you to Bob Roe's Point After and North End-Zone for supporting Siouxland Sports Insider media coverage.

I am certain that Sioux City East has a team capable of competing for a state title. It is rare to have so many college prospects on one high school roster in our backyard. The Black Raiders are home to junior WR Isaiah Grant 6-2 (190) the #20 ranked WR by 247sports. Grant is the #1 ranked WR in the state of Iowa and is elite enough to take over a game by himself. Senior Kason Clayborne 6-3 (225) linebacker is a Minnesota Gopher commitment.

Clayborne comes from great bloodlines with two brothers who also played college football. Clayborne will impact the game on offense from the TE position and will be a nice security blanket for new junior starting QB Callan Koch 6-3 (205). Even special teams will be dynamite with returning KR/PR Chris Ford 5-10 (175) a University of South Dakota commitment. My breakout player on the roster is senior RB Amos Collins 6-0 (190) who has a shot at rushing for over (800) yards if he stays healthy.

The Sergeant Bluff-Luton offense under head coach Justin Smith will be difficult to slow down on the ground where they rushed for (3,739) yards last fall. The Warriors will insert junior athlete Justin Ehlers 6-0 (190) at QB. Ehlers is track athlete and also has the ability to add a passing dimension to the offense that will prove to be a game changer by November.

Senior RB Beckett Verros returns to follow up on a (1,450) yard season that included (16) touchdowns. The Warriors also regain the services of senior RB Ryan Husen who was sidelined early last season due to injury. First team all-state offensive lineman Alex Brodersen 6-1 (225) returns up front to anchor the offensive line. Defensive standout senior linebacker Xavier Jones 6-2 (215) a South Dakota commit will have an impactful season. My breakout player pick on the roster is sophomore wing/slot is Jacobi Cofield.

The Huskies of head coach Jake Terry return plenty of fire power to reach the state title game once again. Senior QB Levi Hanson returns behind center. Junior Aiden Hammitt 6-2 (195) returns at RB after posting (882) yards and (8) touchdowns last fall. Junior OL Addison Peterson 6-3 (290) returns after earning all-conference honors a season ago. Senior Brody Van Roekel 5-8 (180) returns at RB where he posted (592) yards and (10) scores in 2025. Senior LB Caleb Heuertz 6-1 (200) returns at linebacker where he earned all-conference honors by racking up (57.5) tackles and (4.5) TFL. My breakout player on defense is senior defensive back Luke Swatek 5-10 (165) who also owns over (100) wrestling victories.

The Dakota Valley Panthers under first year head coach Shane LaDage have some key returning starters that give the Panthers a chance to be a tough out on the schedule. Senior OL/DT Seth Reinhardt 6-4 (285) SDSU commit is the leader of both the offensive and defensive lines. Junior QB Tye DeGeorgia 6-2 (175) returns to the huddle after starting his sophomore year and completing (71.5%) of is passes for (1,167) yards and (11) scores. DeGeorgia has put in an active off-season developing his skill-set. Junior WR Tyler Kloucek 5-10 (165) is looking to improve upon a solid sophomore season which saw him haul in (43) receptions for (470) yards. My breakout player on offense is senior TE Tyce Emrich 6-3 (210).