PLAYERS TO WATCH

The high school football season begins Thursday. Here is our list of the Milwaukee area's top players.

JULIAN BANDA, sr., WR, Brookfield

Central: With 1,076 yards and 82 catches last season, he is the area’s top returner in both categories. AHMAD BLAKE, sr., DE, Milwaukee Obama SCTE: The reigning City Blackbourn Division defensive lineman of the year recorded 22 sacks last season.

RJ BOSSHART, sr., RB-WR, Muskego: The speedster who has been part of state championship sprint relays the past two seasons was a second-team all-area selection last year when he averaged 11.2 yards per carry and finished with 965 yards.

DA’SHAUN BROWN, sr., QB-DB, Racine

St. Catherine’s: Quarterback probably won’t be his position in college – Wisconsin has extended an offer – but he is extremely productive. He has rushed and passed for 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons.

DARIOS CRAWLEY-REID, sr., RB-DB,

Martin Luther: The three-year starter also plays safety but is best known for running the ball. He is just 41 yards away from 3,000 for his career. Last year he totaled 2,182 yards in 13 games.

JULIUS DAVIS, sr., RB, Menomonee

Falls: The Wisconsin recruit has a tough act to follow from junior year when he ran for 1,762 yards and 17 touchdowns and had five 200-yard games.

LEIF ENGSTRAND, sr., OL, Oconomowoc: The 6-8, 300-pound tackle put on, depending on who you ask, 30-60 pounds during the offseason. He committed to Northern Illinois.

AUSTIN ERTL, sr., OL-DL, Wauwatosa

West: The returning Greater Metro lineman of the year was a first-team all-area selection on the offensive line. His future in college, however, will be as a defensive lineman. He committed to Miami (Ohio).

DALTON GILLETTE, sr., TE-DE, Mukwonago: The 6-4, 240-pound player’s future lies on defense, but he’ll get plenty of chances to make plays on both side of the ball for new coach Mike Gnewuch. Gillette already has offers from Northern Iowa and North Dakota.

BEN HOITINK, sr., OL-DL Slinger: The 6-4, 300-pound will see time on both sides of the ball, but his future is on offense where he lines up at guard. He committed to Penn. TANNER KELLER, jr., RB-DB, Waterford: As a sophomore, the 5-11, 170-pound back ran for 7.2 yards per carry and led the Southern Lakes with 1,259 yards. With an experienced line paving the way, he is poised for another big year.

JOHNNY KELLIHER, jr., QB, Waukesha

North: In his first year as a starter, the 6-4, 190-pounder completed 57% of his passes for a Classic 8 record 2,193 yards and 19 touchdowns.

JACKSON KOLLATH, sr., RB-LB, Sussex Hamilton: The 6-2, 230-pounder suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in Week 4 last year, but was secondteam all-Greater Metro as a sophomore. Wisconsin recently offered him a preferred walk-on opportunity. BEN KREUL, jr., LB, Catholic Memorial: The 6-3, 221-pounder is on the radar of Division I programs. he ranked fourth in the regular season in tackles and is the team’s top returner in that category.

JC LATHAM, soph., DE, Catholic Memorial: Listed as a 6-6, 233 last year, Latham is up to 270 and looks every bit of that size. High Division I programs are already in hot pursuit.

DREW LESZCZYNSKI, sr., QB, Brookfield Central: A three-year starter, the 6-1, 180-pound QB has a career completion percentage of 62% and with 3,618 passing yards could reach 5,000 for his career this season.

JACOB LIPPE, sr., WR-DB, Port Washington: The North Dakota State recruit caught 48 passes for 591 yards and five touchdowns last season. The 6-3, 195pounder will also see time at safety. JAKE RADDATZ, sr., DE, Homestead: Raddatz (6-3, 235) is one of the anchors of a unit that allowed 11 points per game last season. He finished with 17 tackles for a loss and five sacks.

RASHAD SHABAZZ, sr., LB, Milwaukee

King: The three-year starter is recovering from an injury suffered due to a car accident, but count on him being an impact player when he returns. He led the team in tackles last year.

MARK SHIELDS, sr., OL-DL, New Berlin

Eisenhower: Shields will line up on both sides of the ball, but he is most dangerous on defense. Few linemen are as active as the 6-2, 252-pounder, who recorded 108 tackles and two sacks last season. His 23 tackles (11 solo) in the state championship game are an alldivision record for a state final.

CHRIS SYKES, sr., WR, Milwaukee Riverside:

Northern Iowa has extended an offer to the 6-1, 170-pound speedster who advanced to the state in the 100 meters this past seasons.

DANE VANCE, sr., RB-LB, Lake Country Lutheran:

The senior was a driving force behind the Lightning’s run to the Division 5 state final, rushing for 1,698 yards and 7.8 yards per carry and generating 1,911 total yards.

TREY WEDIG, jr., OL, Kettle Moraine:

The 6-7, 290 pound lineman is capable of playing any spot on the offensive line and already has scholarship offers from eight big-time programs: Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Southern California and Wisconsin.

BLAKE WILCOX, sr., Kettle Moraine:

Wilcox’s first season of football was a smashing success. He hit 10 of 15 field goals with a long of 59 yards. This summer he earned a spot in the 2019 Under Armour All-American game.