The 2024 high school football season kicks off Aug. 6 when teams are allowed to practice for the first time. The first games of the season will be played Aug. 22.
Here are 39 players to watch this upcoming season from the Post-Crescent coverage area.
Carter Appl, sr., Xavier
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Appl was honorable mention on the Associated Press all-state team at defensive line, Wisconsin Football Coaches Association all-state (Large schools), unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and the league’s defensive lineman of the year. Finished with 68 total tackles, including 16 for loss. He had 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Logan Arft, sr., Kaukauna
Second-team all-Fox Valley Association at defensive line. The 6-1, 221-pound Arft finished with 30 total tackles, including two for loss, and a sack.
Grant Dean, sr., Neenah
The 6-foot, 180-pound Dean was unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association at running back. He was also first-team Wisconsin Football Coaches Association all-state (Large) and second-team Associated Press all-state at running back. Led all players in Division 1 with 1,774 yards rushing on 244 carries (7.3 average) with 25 touchdowns. Also had 20 catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Unanimous all-FVA at returner and had a kickoff and punt return for a score. Second-team all-FVA at defensive back and finished with 59 total tackles and two interceptions. Has verbally committed to play in college for Wisconsin.
Marcus Doucette, sr., Kimberly
The 5-11, 200-pound Doucette ran for 720 yards on 134 carries and seven touchdowns in a rotational role last season for the Papermakers. Expected to be the lead back in the Kimberly rushing attack this season.
Braedon Ellefson, sr., Kimberly
The 6-3, 215-pound Ellefson was first-team all-Fox Valley Association at linebacker. Led the Papermakers in total tackles (75), with five for loss. Will also play quarterback this season.
Tommy Fields, sr., New London
The 6-1, 200-pound Fields was unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference at running back and linebacker. Ran for 1,015 yards on 242 carries (4.2 average). Also had 47 total tackles with eight for loss, two interceptions and a sack at linebacker.
Blake Fish, sr., Neenah
The 6-foot, 215-pound Fish was an honorable-mention all-Fox Valley Association selection at offensive line for the Rockets last season.
Brock Gardner, sr., Little Chute
The 5-10, 200-pound Gardner was a second-team all-North Eastern Conference pick at linebacker and led the Mustangs in total tackles (83). He also had five tackles for loss and two sacks.
Elijah Gigl, sr., Menasha
The 5-11, 185-pound Gigl was first-team all-Fox River Classic Conference South at running back. Finished with 948 yards on 145 carries (6.5 average) with nine touchdowns.
Sawyer Hanlon, sr., Kimberly
The 6-2, 250-pound Hanlon was first-team all-Fox Valley Association on the defensive line. Finished with 46 total tackles and had seven sacks.
Sean Hansen, sr., Appleton North
First-team all-Fox Valley Association at cornerback. The 6-1, 180-pound Hansen finished with 22 tackles, including two for loss, and one interception.
Daniel Harness, sr., St. Mary Catholic
The 6-1, 200-pound Harness was a first-team all-Trailways Conference selection at defensive end. He totaled 73 tackles with five for loss, including 4.5 sacks. Also led the team in receiving yards (528) on 51 catches with four touchdowns.
Jack Hawkins, sr., Appleton North
The 6-2, 255-pound Hawkins was a second-team all-Fox Valley Association pick on the offensive line.
Cole Hietpas, sr., Xavier
The 6-2, 215-pound Hietpas was a unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference pick at outside linebacker. Finished with 47 total tackles, with four for loss, and had two interceptions. Also plays tight end for the Hawks. Has verbally committed to play in college at Winona State.
Eddie Heuring, sr., Xavier
The 6-2, 265-pound Heuring was unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference at offensive line. Anchored a line that helped the Hawks rush for 3,137 yards and 47 touchdowns.
Aiden Humphreys, sr., Wrightstown
The 6-1, 190-pound Humphreys was a unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference pick at running back and linebacker. Helped lead the Tigers to the Division 5 state title game. Finished with 1,566 yards rushing on 240 carries (6.5 average) with 17 touchdowns. Had 97 total tackles, including nine for loss, and two sacks on defense.
Reggie Kloehn, sr., Hortonville
The 6-1, 275-pound Kloehn was first-team all-Valley Football Association on defensive line and the league’s co-defensive player of the year with Ben Smith. He finished with 70 total tackles, including 12 for loss. He had two sacks and a forced fumble.
Braeden Jansen, sr., Kaukauna
The 6-4, 280-pound Jansen will anchor the Ghosts’ offensive line and was an honorable-mention selection on the all-Fox Valley Association team last season. Will play collegiately at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Luke Jung, sr., Neenah
The 6-1, 185-pound Jung was second-team all-Fox Valley Association at safety. He had 95 total tackles on defense with a tackle for loss. Also finished with 27 catches for 251 yards at tight end. Will play collegiately at Minnesota-Duluth.
Drew Kortz, sr.,…
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