#VK17FB Deep threats: The Top 10 receivers for 2017
1. Jaxson Reynolds, Northwest senior
- 6-foot, 180 pounds
- 6A honorable mention pick in 2016
Reynolds led Northwest in receptions with 42 last season, averaging 17 yards per catch and amassing 715 yards to go along with five touchdowns. Northwest plays at possibly the quickest tempo in the state and returns its quarterback in Austin Anderson. Look for Reynolds to make another leap in production this season now that No. 1 target Martese Mullens has graduated. Reynolds will be the go-to receiver now, but keep an eye on teammate Jalen Smith, also a senior, for a nice breakout season this year.
2. Dalton Smyres, Buhler senior
- 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
- 4A I honorable mention pick in 2016
Buhler is known for its line play and its ability to run the ball, but Smyres has given the Crusaders a new dymanic to their offense. The 6-foot-5 senior is an automatic mismatch on the outside with his size and came up with several highlight-reel catches last season. Smyres averaged more than 24 yards per catch, reeling in 35 balls for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns on a run-first offense that reached the Class 4A I championship game. Buhler graduated its quarterback, but coach Steve Warner believes there won’t be a drop-off with first-year starter Ben Epp taking over the job.
3. Michael Littleton, Derby senior
- 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
- 6A honorable mention pick in 2016
Last season Derby’s offense thrived when it isolated the tight end position. When Kenyon Tabor, who is playing for KU now, was split wide at receiver, Littleton thrived in the middle of the field. He caught 36 passes for 577 yards (more than 16 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns during Derby’s undefeated championship season. The Panthers must replace their quarterback, but regardless of who wins that job Littleton will be the first target they look to. Also look for Jack Taylor and transfer Tyler Brown to make Derby’s receiving corps another standout unit.
4. Brayden Francis, Sedgwick senior
- 5-foot-9, 155 pounds
- All-3A selection in 2016
Francis is coming off a monster season, earning All-3A honors at receiver after catching 47 balls for 808 yards and 15 touchdowns. Yes, Francis plays in 2-1A, but the Heart of America is a difficult league and putting up that kind of production speaks to the kind of talent Francis has. Sedgwick returns virtually its entire offense from last season and should be even more explosive this season, as Francis will once again be quarterback Hooper Schroeder’s go-to target in the offense.
5. Owen Beason, Goddard senior
- 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
- All-AV-CTL II selection in 2016
Goddard loses more than 70 percent of its receiving production last season, which means Beason will be Blake Sullivan’s top target this year. In a three-way split in looks last season, Beason scored eight touchdowns at tight end and finished with 28 receptions for 456 yards. Look for Goddard to move Beason all over the field to try to exploit him as the offense’s top weapon when Sullivan decides to go to the air.
6. Clay Cundiff, Carroll junior
- 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
- All-City League selection in 2016
Cundiff picked up a Division I offer from KU over the summer and has the size to be a mismatch at the tight end position in Carroll’s spread offense. Cundiff already made an impact as a sophomore, grabbing five touchdowns and 20 catches for 272 yards. Carroll returns quarterback Braden Howell, who will have two big targets in Cundiff and Thomas Helten at his exposal. Look for Carroll’s passing production to go up and for coach Dusty Trail to find a way to make Cundiff more of a factor this season.
7. Trent Scheer, Cheney senior
- 5-foot-8, 160 pounds
- Honorable mention 3A pick in 2016
Cheney found a way to make the most of Scheer’s quickness in open space last season, targeting him the most out of any receiver. Scheer responded with a quality year, leading Cheney with 41 receptions for 646 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cheney returns its quarterback in Micah Grover and first-year coach Shelby Wehrman has promised to bring Derby’s spread offense with him to Cheney. Don’t be surprised if Cheney finds several different ways to get Scheer the ball in open space, whether that’s on sweeps or short passes.
8. Tanner King, Eisenhower senior
- 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
- Honorable mention 5A pick in 2016
The flexbone offense isn’t exactly known to produce much passing stats, but King gave Eisenhower a dynamic threat on the outside last season. When Eisenhower did pass it, more than likely it was going King’s way and defenses still couldn’t stop him. King produced 29 receptions for 497 yards and eight touchdowns his junior season. While Eisenhower will be starting a first-year starter at quarterback, King remains one of the top two-way players (also a standout linebacker) in all of Class 5A.
9. Andrew Brautman, Arkansas City senior
- 6-foot-2, 180 pounds
- Honorable mention 5A pick in 2016
Brautman became a reliable deep threat for Arkansas City last season, hauling in 33 balls for 658 yards (nearly 20 yards per catch) and five touchdowns. He earned second team all-league and honorable mention all-5A honors in the process. Ark City must replace its quarterback, but there’s no doubt Brautman will remain the No. 1 target for the Bulldogs with his size and reliable hands.
10. Bradyn Wiens, Maize South senior
- 5-foot-10, 165 pounds
- Second team All-AV-CTL III pick in 2016
Maize South had a good offense last season, but it spread out its production to so many different weapons that it was hard for any one player to have a standout season. The Mavericks have a pair of quality receivers coming back in Wiens and Corey Minks, who combined for 64 catches, 757 yards, and six touchdowns last season. Wiens led the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns, but the Mavericks lost quarterback Ethan Richardson to graduation. Regardless of who wins the quarterback job, Wiens remains the team’s top target when it goes to the air.
Next Five: Devon Anderson, Douglass senior; Parker Bruce, Andale senior; Thomas Diggs, McPherson senior; Ben Smith, Andover senior; Caden Williams, Trinity senior.
This story was originally published August 28, 2017 at 1:53 PM with the headline "#VK17FB Deep threats: The Top 10 receivers for 2017."