Hayes' Kansas All-Time High School Football Team

Kansas has never fallen short of producing major college football prospects. With senior running back Bryce Brown returning at Wichita East as one of the nation's hottest high school seniors, 2008 looks to be another banner year for the Sunflower State's reputation for being a hotbed of football talent. Brown, who is already verbally committed to the Miami Hurricanes, ranks as one of the greatest players in state history. Brown is in good company when you look back through the years of Kansas prepsters who have gone on to stardom at the college and pro levels: A Heisman Trophy winner is on the list; so is a Super Bowl MVP; as are many All-Americans, Hall of Famers, a couple of Olympic champions and some old-timers you may have forgotten! Here are my picks for the Kansas all-time high school football team: Coaches - Al Woolard, Lawrence High School and Ed Kriwiel, Kapaun Mount Carmel. Woolard won 154 games while losing only 12 in his 19 seasons at Lawrence, giving him a winning percentage of 91.5, including five ties. His Lions were named state champions 10 times in the 19 years before the state playoffs began in 1969. Kriwiel guided Kapaun to the Kansas record of nine state titles. His overall winning percentage of 80.9 included 297 wins, 67 losses and 8 ties. Quarterbacks - John Hadl, Lawrence; Lynn Dickey, Osawatomie; Bobby Douglass, El Dorado; Steve Grogan, Ottawa; Jack Mitchell, Arkansas City; and Ray Evans, Wyandotte. Running Backs - Barry Sanders, Wichita North; John Riggins, Centralia; Darren Sproles, Olathe North; Bryce Brown, Wichita East; Curtis McClinton, Wichita North; DeAngelo Evans, Wichita Collegiate; Jim Bausch, Wichita/Garden Plain; Dale Hall, Parsons; Linwood Sexton, Wichita East; Jeff Smith, Wichita South, Veryl Switzer, Bogue; Brian Shay, Paola; Jake Sharp, Salina Central; Ralph Graham, El Dorado; and Sam Francis, Oberlin. Receivers - Bruce Adams, Miege; Paul Coffman, Chase; Dave Jones, Goodland; John Mosier, Wichita West; Otto Schnellbacher, Sublette; Jim Moore, Garden City; Harrison Hill, Wichita Collegiate; Jerame Tuman, Liberal; and Jordy Nelson, Riley County. Linemen - John Zook, Larned; Troy Wilson, Shawnee Heights; Eldon Danenhauer, Clay Center; Peter Mehringer, Kinsley; Bill Nieder, Lawrence; Les Miller, Arkansas City; Keith Christiansen, Concordia; Damian Johnson, Great Bend; Charlie Kilgore, Miege; Brett McGraw, Garden City; Shawn Miller, El Dorado; Charles Masters, Burlingame; Chris Spachman, Miege; Ray Hahn, Clay Center; Floyd Dorsey, SM South; and Ralph Parks, Wichita East. Linebackers - Gary Spani, Manhattan; Arthur Brown, Wichita East; Brooks Barta, Smith Center; Vic Chandler, McPherson; Tom Dinkel, Shawnee Heights; Matt Gee, Arkansas City; Dan Lankas, Atwood; Mike Montgomery, Dodge City; Mark Simoneau, Smith Center; Steve Towle, SM West; Lance Lewis, Scott City; and Brett Wallerstedt, Manhattan. Defensive Backs - Nolan Cromwell, Ransom; Terrence Newman, Salina Central; Jon McGraw, Riley County; Dale Burnett, Dodge City; Elmer Hackney, Oberlin; Mark Haynes, Harmon; Barton Hundley, Clay Center; Maurice Benson, Manhattan; Derrick Jensen, Osawatomie; Thomas Randolph, Manhattan; Doug Terry, Liberal; Frank Wattelet, Abilene. Special Teams - Steve Tasker, Leoti; Steve Little, SM South; Scott Fulhage, Beloit; Elijah Davis, Junction City; James Jenkins, Derby; Bruce Kallmeyer, SM South; Mike Rogers, Smith Center; Justin Gray, Liberal; Jamie Rheem, Wichita Collegiate; Tinker Keck, Goodland; Joe Rheem, Wichita Collegiate. Utility - Jeff Simoneau, Smith Center; Mondriel Fulcher, Coffeyville; Andy Ball, Riverton; Maurice Mack, Olathe North; Dwayne Chandler, McPherson; Don Calhoun, Wichita North; Brent Venables, Salina South; Monty Beisel, Douglass; Harvey Fields, Arkansas City, Mike Ringgenberg, Manhattan; Michael Cosey, Lawrence; and Kelly Greene, Manhattan.