20 Wayne County high school football players to watch in 2023

RICHMOND, Ind. — The 2022 high school football season saw Wayne County players reach heights they never had before, some higher than anybody ever had with record-breaking performances. Some graduated, some still have another fall or two to reach even higher.

It’s almost time to kick off the 2023 season, which means it’s time to look at which players are looking like locks to dazzle again and which are set up for a breakout year. The following is a list of 20 players from Wayne County schools to look out for this season.

Note: This list was determined by analyzing players’ statistics last season and teams’ roster makeup from last year to this year. This is not a ranking of players but rather an idea of which players might be successful. Players are grouped by team. Teams are ordered based on their overall record last year.

Blake Waters – Junior – Northeastern

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Remember how Carson Terrell led the Knights where they hadn’t gone before last year during a record-breaking senior season? After his final game, he gave high praise to the next quarterback in line, Blake Waters.

Waters didn’t take many snaps under center in 2022, completing just 4 of 11 passes for 61 yards and one touchdown. He hasn’t proven he can do it under the Friday night lights yet, but when the best quarterback to ever come through the program gives you his stamp of approval, expectations rise.

Zane Schneider – Junior – Northeastern

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Schneider’s numbers from last year don’t pop off the page either — 41 carries, 235 yards, two touchdowns — but that’s because he was playing behind Dylan Isaacs. Compared to everyone else, Schneider’s 2022 rushing stats were astronomical. Look for his offensive usage to increase.

He’s also the third-leading returning tackler (51) and forced a team-high two fumbles last season, one of the many solid two-way players in Wayne County.

Conner Archie – Senior – Northeastern

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Eli Hemmelgarn – Senior – Northeastern

Logan White – Junior – Northeastern

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These three Knight receivers had near-identical seasons a year ago. Here are the numbers:

Archie: 19 receptions, 350 yards, four touchdowns

Hemmelgarn: 21 receptions, 290 yards, four touchdowns

White: 20 receptions, 327 yards, seven touchdowns

It’ll be hard to replace Noah Ammerman, Northeastern’s first-ever 1,000-yard receiver, but it might not have to with these three spread across the field. Look for each of their numbers to increase with maybe one or two of them breaking away as Waters’ favorite target.

Colton Creech – Junior – Northeastern

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On the defensive side, Creech is returning as a Jack of all trades. He didn’t stand alone as the team leader in any major categories last year, but he’s the leading returner in tackles (65), interceptions (two), passes deflected (four) and forced fumbles (two).

Jake Tinkle – Senior – Centerville

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There were questions about Tinkle’s passing ability going into 2022 after only throwing the ball 75 times in 2021, but he answered them.

He completed 112 passes for 1,838 yards and 22 touchdowns last year, all good enough for second in the Tri-Eastern Conference and first among returning conference players. With no big losses from his receiving core, look for Tinkle to pace the quarterbacks this year.

Aiden Hoelscher – Junior – Centerville

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There were also questions at running back, most notably, “Who’s going to replace Jamari Pamplin?”

Hoelscher took on the bulk of the Bulldogs’ rushing duties last year. He wasn’t up to Pamplin’s TEC Player of the Year caliber, but he performed well, racking up 597 yards and 10 touchdowns on 100 carries. Hoelscher’s numbers should improve as he gets more reps this season.

Nate Dickenson – Senior – Centerville

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Evan Pritchard – Senior – Centerville

These two receivers had solid junior years last season. Their stats weren’t mind-blowing — 31 receptions, 505 yards and four touchdowns for Dickenson; 23 receptions, 468 yards and five touchdowns for Pritchard — but they were the leaders of a deep position group. Tinkle likes to spread the ball around, but don’t be surprised if his two favorite targets get more looks this year.

Grady Blake – Junior – Centerville

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Blake is a solid Bulldog returner on the defensive end. His four interceptions last season ranked him second in the TEC, and his 54 tackles are second among Centerville returners. Look for him to keep causing havoc.

Ethan Vecera – Sophomore – Centerville

Vecera showed he can be a good second option at quarterback, but that’s not where he shined last year. The then-freshman made an impact on defense, logging 56 tackles (more than any returner), three forced fumbles (more than any returner) and one sack (one of only three Bulldogs to get to the QB).

Kayne Ervin – Senior – Hagerstown

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Ervin vs. Tinkle will be the battle for the TEC passing crown. Last season, Ervin completed 105 passes for 1,446 yards and 16 touchdowns, all good for third in the TEC and second among returners behind Tinkle.

What sets Ervin apart is his ball security. He threw 184 passes in 2022, and only three of them found the hands of the opposing team. Losing Mason Romack will be a tough blow, but the Tigers have plenty of depth to keep Ervin’s numbers up.

Aiden Grover – Junior – Hagerstown

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Grover shared the rushing load with Romack in 2022, if you can call 132 carries, 823 yards and 14 touchdowns sharing. It’s true — Romack had 103 carries for 856 yards and 13 touchdowns. This isn’t to say Grover will double his production now that Romack is gone, but it certainly opens the door for him to put up some impressive numbers as the clear lead back. Grover also proved himself a capable receiver out of the backfield with 29 catches for 288 yards.

Collin Beaty – Senior – Hagerstown

Anthony Kelley – Junior – Hagerstown

If the Tigers decide to continue with the committee approach to their offense, these two would be the likely replacements for Romack.

Beaty was next in the rushing line, averaging 10.5 yards per carry last year. He has the potential to share the load with Grover. Kelley was the team’s leading receiver not named Romack or Grover, so he could take on a bigger role in the passing game. Kelley also led the team with seven passes deflected last year and will be a solid defensive back to look out for.

Peyton Meyer – Senior – Hagerstown

Opposing teams are praying Meyer doesn’t keep improving. As a freshman, he was second on the team with 49 tackles. As a sophomore, he was first with 98. He led the way again as a junior with an unbelievable 161 tackles. To put it in perspective, the next closest teammate had 65, and the next closest in the TEC had 115.

Meyer also recorded three forced fumbles, one-and-a-half sacks and one interception last year. If he somehow does keep improving, opponents’ only silver lining is that this is his senior year.

Roy Thornbury – Junior – Hagerstown

While Meyer tackled anyone with the ball, Thornbury had a knack for getting to the quarterback. Thornbury had four-and-a-half sacks last season, three more than anyone else on the team and good for third in the TEC. He recorded 30 yards lost on those sacks and logged 15 QB hurries.

Jayden Shipp – Senior – Richmond

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Shipp sat out 2022 with a torn meniscus. He spent the season with a headset on, relaying play calls to then-freshman backup quarterback Skylar Mullins. The disappointment of not playing was evident in Shipp, but he voiced determination to return with a strong senior year.

Shipp showed promise as a second-string quarterback and speedy receiver in 2021, and he’s shown he’s a threat to run and pass from under center. The Red Devils were a young, inexperienced team in 2022. It will be interesting to see how far Shipp’s abilities and leadership can take them.

Evan Stuckey – Junior – Lincoln

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The Golden Eagles’ struggles continued last season, and it doesn’t help that they lost Mr. Do It All Gavin Trent to graduation, but Stuckey showed promise.

Lincoln ran a unique offense that revolved around Trent. Whenever he wasn’t lined up at quarterback, Stuckey was, so he’s proven he’s at least comfortable with the ball in his hands. He’s also proven he’s a capable defensive back, someone who can contribute on both sides of the ball.

Zach Piatt is a reporter for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: IHSAA: 20 Wayne County high school football players to watch in 2023