Everyone is always on the lookout for the next big contributors on Friday nights in the area.
Today, we profile 10 area sophomores that people will soon be getting to know a lot more of. These could be breakout stars from the jump or players who may find their way making a big impact down the stretch of the season.
LB/OL Kalon Avery, Concordia Lutheran
Avery saw the field as a freshman last season for the Cadets, and is set to take on bigger roles on both sides of the ball this fall.
A starter at offensive guard as a ninth grader, Avery is one of three linemen that return with starting experience up front. Despite listed at just 5-foot-7, Avery is a tough and physical player who plays well above his stature.
Avery will also start at linebacker on defense, where he had 17 tackles and a tackle for loss a season ago.
S Levi Beachy, Bishop Luers
Beachy entered high school as a quarterback, but the Knights recognized over the course of his freshman season that his savviness on the field could be utilized elsewhere as well.
Beachy enters his sophomore campaign as the starting long snapper for Coach Kyle Lindsay’s squad, and will see action on the back end of the defense. That is a huge sign of respect, as the safety spot commands the entire defense in Bishop Luers’ scheme. The combination of mental acuity and physical traits that Beachy exhibits at quarterback have also made him someone to watch on the defensive side for a team that will be relying upon a lot of sophomores and juniors this year.
QB Jackson Christlieb, West Noble
With Trey Shisler having graduated, the Chargers are turning to a sophomore to take over the reins of the offense in 2026. Despite being young, Christlieb has some size at 6-foot and 160 pounds. He saw some token action behind center a season ago, but only attempted three passes. However, he did show some run prowess, an attribute that Shisler was so good at for West Noble when it needed him to be.
With a lot of returning linemen and some weaponry at the skill positions, Christlieb won’t be asked to do too much too fast, but he has the skills to make some plays when needed..
WR/DB Quentin Dickerhoff, Eastside
Even with Noah Dove back, Eastside lost five of its top six pass catchers to graduation, and Dove operates primarily out of the backfield. Enter Dickerhoff, who will start at both wide receiver and defensive back for the Blazers. At 6-foot-1, he has prototypical size for both positions, particularly on the back end of a defense.
Job Richman and Dove are the dynamic duo for Eastside, but Dickerhoff is inevitably going to get some opportunities with the ball in his hand due to defenses keying on those two.
LB Aiden Hoffer, New Haven
Thrust into a role on defense as a freshman, Hoffer had his ups and downs. But now as a sophomore, those freshman jitters should give way to more reacting and less thinking when it comes to lining up at the second level of the defense.
Hoffer at inside linebacker amassed 40 tackles and six tackles for loss as a freshman for the Bulldogs. Tall and rangy, Hoffer can creep up or drop back from his ‘backer spot with his versatility. Expect him to emerge as one of New Haven’s best defenders in 2026.
QB Jaelin Jackson, Northrop
Jackson saw some spot action in mop-up time last year behind starter David Callison as a freshman, which gave him a taste of Friday Night Lights.
The expectation for most of the offseason was that Jackson would be QB1 for Northrop this fall, but the transfer in of junior Braydon Peppler has put the sophomore in the midst of a quarterback battle, because Peppler is no slouch.
While not yet decided, the QB fight has at the very least given Jackson a reason to bear down and focus in. Instead of being handed the QB1 job, he now has to fight for it. Jackson has all the skills necessary to thrive in Northrop’s scheme, and his ability to escape trouble is a valuable commodity at any level.
Jackson still has to win the job, but if he does, he could put up some big numbers.
WR/DB Geno Morris, Wayne
It was a tough, winless season for Coach Darrion White in Year 1 at Wayne, but one positive of facing adversity is finding out who is going to fight and who is going to roll over and quit.
As a freshman, Morris took advantage of the playing time he saw at the varsity level, picking off a pass in the lone game he saw action in against Concordia.
At just 5-foot-5, Morris doesn’t have the size to overcome lack of skill or athleticism. But he puts in the work and plays well above his size, particularly at corner and in the slot on offense.
OL/DL Cole Pesek, Bishop Dwenger
Pesek ain’t small, that’s for sure. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he looks the part of your prototypical Dwenger lineman. He has a nasty streak as well, meaning he is going to finish blocks on one side of the ball or absolutely blow you up on the other side.
While the Saints may be changing a few things on offense this year, the rushing attack is still going to be their bread and butter. With Pesek up front, as well as a host of upperclassmen, Bishop Dwenger should be able to command the line of scrimmage, something it was so good at during last year’s run to state.
WR/DB Colston Pruitt, Adams Central
Pruitt saw the field sparingly as a freshman at the varsity level, which is perfectly normal at a football factory like Adams Central.
But there is a certain amount of excitement around Pruitt entering the fall, with the sophomore expected to see considerable time at defensive back and wideout for the Flying Jets. At 6-foot-1, he looks the part of a kid ready to make an impact.
And as for the future, keep an eye on Pruitt as one of the candidates to replace Jamison Roach as QB1 in the coming years.
LB Gabe Steiner, South Adams
Steiner comes from good stock. After all, his dad, South Adams defensive coordinator Scott Steiner, is the program’s all-time leader in tackles.
While Wes Summersett is a third-year starter at linebacker (yes folks, he actually played defense prior to this year, despite some describing it as a revelation) and Will Patterson is back as well, new blood is needed to restock the position. Steiner is going to start as a sophomore for the Starfires, and coaches have high expectations for the next three years for him.
Surrounded by seven returning starters, Steiner will have the luxury of easing into his role. But his innate abilities are going to shine as the season progresses.
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