Heartland
Nobody will debate that five-star running back Bryce Brown is the top player in Kansas, but there is plenty debate when it comes to who would rank behind the star from Wichita East.

One player that hasn't been talked about yet in that discussion, Girard, Kan., tight end/athlete Tanner Poppe, needs to have his hat throw in the ring.

To say that Poppe is something special would be an understatement.

He's 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, and has clocked a 4.7-second time in the 40-yard dash. He also has a 255-pound bench press, a 33-inch vertical leap and a 4.0 grade-point average. As a junior he had 29 receptions for 554 yards and six scores.

That's getting it done. But when you consider that Poppe is also a basketball and baseball star, his resume is even more impressive.

He averaged 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in hoops this past season, earning first-team all-state honors. Then in baseball he's been clocked with an 88 mph fastball.

Need more proof.

How about this fact?

Poppe is one of only a small group of players to have scholarship offers from both Kansas and Kansas State. He's also getting plenty of looks from Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and other schools.

"Basketball is my favorite sport, but … I'm still leaving all options open, especially since I have offers in football from both K-State and KU,” Poppe said. “I went up there to both schools about a month ago and got offers. I talk to Brandon Blaney from KU and Mo Latimore for K-State. They send me letters and they call the school every once in a while."

"I've also talked to Kevin Wilson from Oklahoma, and I'm not sure about the guy from Missouri."

Even though he's not sure about if he's ready to commit fully to football, there's one school that already sticks out in his mind.

"I like KU because I like their basketball and my mom went to college there," he said. "I really like Coach Blaney and Mark Mangino. Coach Blaney is real outgoing and stuff. "I would like to probably make my decision after this summer before my senior season. They definitely have influence on where I go. It would be nice to stick close to home."

Poppe said he's also keeping the baseball option on the table.

"A couple of scouts from the MLB talk to my coach," he said. "I'll have to see what develops on that front."

Mid-Atlantic
Berlin (Md.) Stephen Decatur quarterback Tim Donnelly comes from good genes. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is a cousin to former four-star quarterbacks Sean Glennon and Mike Glennon. After a big season last year in which he threw for 1,465-yards and 19 touchdowns, Donnelly is making a name for himself.

"I was first team all-conference last year," he said. "Last year our school moved up to AAA from AA and it was difficult for us, but it definitely helped me a lot.

"I got comfortable with the position and progressed. I still need to work on my arm strength, so I can make every throw on the field."

Donnelly originally is from Hawaii, but moved back east as a fifth grader to be closer to family.

On the recruiting front, schools are showing interest.

"I've gotten letters from Maryland, NC State, JMU and Delaware," he said. "I visited UConn a few weeks ago. It was a really good visit. I got to see spring practice and sit down with the quarterbacks in a meeting."

Donnelly is looking for a few things in a school.

"I'm looking for a drop-back passing offense, that is more my style," he said. "Academics are up there … and then it just has to have the right feel."

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