Iowa high school football 2024: The Gazette’s Fab 5 area 8-Player players to watch

The Gazette’s “Fab 5” area 8-Player players to watch during the 2024 Iowa high school football season.

Brady Boulton

School: Montezuma

Grade: Junior

Positions: QB/DB

Height/weight: 5-9, 145

About the player: He earned all-district honors for the 5-5 Braves last fall. The versatile Boulton tallied 49 touchdowns and 1,676 passing yards to rank third and ninth, respectively, in 8-Player. Completed 122 of 206 passes for 31 TDs. He rushed for 754 yards and 17 TDs and averaged 16.6 per punt return with one for a score.

Beau Burns

  Buy Photo

School: BGM

Grade: Junior

Positions: QB/DB

Height/weight: 6-0, 180 pounds

About the player: Burns was named second-team all-state by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association a year ago. The dual-threat QB led all classes with 35 TD passes and recorded 8-Player bests in total touchdowns (56), passing yards (2,516) and offensive yards (3,972). Completed 182 of 296 passes, averaging 13.8 per completion for 5-4 BGM.

Dalton Mudderman

School: Lansing Kee

Grade: Senior

Positions: QB/LB

Height/weight: 6-2, 180

About the player: Mudderman was second-team all-state and was named district defensive MVP last season. The all-around athlete tied for the 8-Player lead with seven interceptions, amassing 73 total tackles and 14 for loss. Passed for 1,815 yards and rushed for 672 with 46 TDs, good for seventh in 8-Player.

Pryce Rochford

School: Edgewood-Colesburg

Grade: Senior

Positions: QB

Height/weight: 5-10, 195

About the player: Rochford was named district offensive MVP. He tied for ninth in 8-Player with 1,283 rushing yards and was 12th with 160 total points. Rochford averaged 11.4 yards per carry with 24 TDs, adding 432 yards and four scores through the air. He had 16.5 tackles with two for loss.

Nolan Kriegel

  Buy Photo

School: Iowa Valley

Grade: Sophomore

Positions: QB/DB

Height/weight: 6-3, 175

About the player: Kriegel was stellar, earning first-team all-district honors. He tied for ninth in 8-Player with 1,283 rushing yards and passed for 1,053 yards. He scored 35 TDs — 20 rushing, 13 passing and two receiving. Kriegel was a scoring machine, tying for fifth in 8-Player with 176 points, including 19 conversions.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com