Top Players on the 2025 Watchlist

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Colorado consistently produces top-tier athletes, many of whom have earned their places among the best in the nation. This year's freshmen have proven to be no different after a class-wide showing of premier talent this past season.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The <a href="https://prepredzone.com/colorado/rankings/2025-rankings/">class of 2025 watchlist</a> is loaded with players who have bright futures ahead of them, making them must-know prospects early in their careers. Many of the names featured in this article finished their debut seasons as top players in the state, while others earned national recognition. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">At this point, Fairview's starting quarterback </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="165130" first="Bekkem" last="Kritza"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">needs no introduction. The 6-foot-4 pro-style QB finished his first year as the number-one freshman QB in the nation. His 3,192 regular-season passing yards were the most thrown by any QB in the class.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/stretch2025/status/1461482673227157504?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-weight: 400;">Fellow Fairview freshman </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="230322" first="Jordan" last="Rechel"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ended the year as the state's leading freshman receiver – 845 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns – and the sixth-leading freshman nationally in total receiving yards.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Kritza and Rechel helped to lead a very young team to a spot in the postseason, but the Knights were unable to participate in the playoffs due to COVID-19 protocols. The University of Colorado has offered both players in hopes of keeping the young superstars right at home.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/RechelJordan/status/1462828165135585281?s=20[/embed] <span style="font-weight: 400;">5A state champion </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="232189" first="Aiden" last="Knapke"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">has earned himself prime real estate in the conversation about the top free safeties in the state. He is a ball-hawking defensive back who finished the year with five interceptions. His five picks are the most among freshmen in the state, with only seven freshmen in the nation who recorded more interceptions during the year.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">4A state champion </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="251310" first="Brock" last="Narva"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a highly talented two-way player with a ton of potential. He has three interceptions from his DB position – second in the state behind Knapke – and a total of 1,191 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns as a rusher, receiver, and returner.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/PlaymakerCorner/status/1477658354931716098?s=20[/embed] <b>[player_tooltip player_id="216827" first="Andrew" last="Heidel"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">found himself at the helm of Ponderosa's offense in his first year as a high school player, ending with a trip to the second round of the playoffs. </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="232153" first="Austyn" last="Modrzewski"] <span style="font-weight: 400;">started off splitting reps with a senior until getting the nod to be the main man under center for the Mountain Vista Golden Eagles, leading them to a second-round playoff appearance. </span></b><b>[player_tooltip player_id="232155" first="Alex" last="Birch"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> entered the season as the starting QB for the Horizon Hawks and finished with very impressive numbers, throwing for over 2,100 yards and 16 touchdowns.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Smoky Hill offensive lineman </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="218868" first="Bailey" last="Bujanda"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has started to make a serious reputation for himself from his guard position. His ability to move defenders against their will with great technique and bad intentions is extremely impressive, explaining why he already has interest from schools like UNLV.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/BaileyBujanda/status/1449572276777586689?s=20[/embed] <b>[player_tooltip player_id="232187" first="Kafui" last="Fiadonu"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">is D'Evlyn's 6-foot-3, 230lbs defensive tackle who ended the year with seven sacks, the most among freshmen in the state. There were only 23 freshmen in the nation to record more sacks than him, making Fiadonu a player worth getting to know.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Palmer Ridge kicker </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="211920" first="Rhett" last="Armstrong"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is considered to be one of the top freshmen kickers in the nation with the expectations of being a top recruit as his career progresses. He made 57 of his 63 points after attempts and is one for two on field goal tries.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/ArmstrongRhett/status/1471678248698458115?s=20[/embed] &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;">Other freshmen to keep an eye out for</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="251320" first="Elijah" last="Melendez"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> | Thompson Valley | RB</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="152282" first="Cameron" last="Cooper"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> | Pine Creek | QB</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="232179" first="Ryder" last="Villarreal"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> | Fairview | LB</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="232186" first="Brock" last="Kolstad"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> | Fairview | DL</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="251312" first="MJ" last="Hayes"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> | Grandview | DB</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="251308" first="Xavier" last="Neto"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> | Grandview | ATH</span>