Pad level: area football players in the next phase of career

The 2016 high school football season is upon us, which gives us a chance to see the starts of tomorrow. Several former players in the Lake Country/Now coverage zone have already moved upward, including some familiar names and some still looking to make a mark.

Recognize any of these names? Here are the players from the coverage footprint competing in NCAA Division 1 college and the pros.

In the Pros

JJ Watt, Pewaukee (Houston Texans)

Watt joined NFL great Lawrence Taylor as the only player named league Defensive Player of the Year three times after yet another spectacular 2015. A back injury has threatened the early part of the 2016 season, but whether he’s back for Week 1 or later, he’s the most feared player in the NFL.

Joe Thomas, Brookfield Central (Cleveland Browns)

By now, the story has been written – Joe Thomas is a superstar offensive tackle (albeit one who still doesn’t get the notoriety he perhaps deserves) and will be in the Hall of Fame someday. The real question is: will he go down in history as the greatest player in NFL history to never see the playoffs? He’s in that conversation now, but the Browns can’t be this bad forever, right?

Brad Nortman, Brookfield Central (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Nortman got to enjoy the thrill of an NFC Championship and an appearance in the Super Bowl last year as punter for the Carolina Panthers. In the offseason, he signed a four-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rick Wagner, West Allis Hale (Baltimore Ravens)

He may have been one of the best right tackles in football two years ago, and while recovery from injury may have limited him last year, he's still a reliable offensive lineman for a team that's known to have some good units up front.

Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin Lutheran (Cincinnati Bengals)

The Waukesha native was part of an offensive line that was considered among the best in football in 2015, and he started all 16 games and should be due for a big pay day prior to the 2017 season. Outside of Andrew Whitworth, Zeitler could very well be the best player on that line.

Nick Hayden, Arrowhead (Cleveland Browns)

After recording a career-high in tackles in 2015, Hayden nonetheless found himself without a team until just before training camps, when he signed with the Cleveland Browns. The 30-year-old defensive lineman saw action in 16 games for a third straight year with the Cowboys last year.

Joe Schobert, Waukesha West (Cleveland Browns)

Schobert capped a great career at Wisconsin by earning Linebacker of the Year honors in the Big Ten, and Browns made Schobert the first pick of the third day of the NFL Draft in the fourth round (pick 99). Schobert earned first-team All American honors from multiple publications.

Derek Watt, Pewaukee (San Diego Chargers) 

After a solid career at fullback with the University of Wisconsin, where he led the way for a number of historic performances, Watt was taken in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Chargers.

Nick Bellore, Whitefish Bay (San Francisco 49ers)

The special teams guru continues to enjoy a solid NFL career, though he remains fairly exclusive to special teams, which could make him expendable when roster cutdowns roll around. This is the second of his two-year deal with the Niners.

Ben Gardner and Shelby Harris, Homestead (San Diego Chargers and New York Jets)

Both players have navigated similar careers. After spending time on the practice squad in Dallas and Oakland, respectively, the two Homestead grads have new homes and will look for a break to make the 53-man roster.

Joel Stave, Whitnall (Minnesota Vikings)

After finishing with more career wins than any other quarterback in University of Wisconsin history, Stave will look to latch on with the Packers’ rival to the West.

At College

Chikwe Obasih, Brookfield Central (Wisconsin)

Honorable-mention All Conference choice in the Big Ten last year who played in 27 games and racked up 62 tackles in his career on the defensive line, including 7.5 for loss. One of the anchors up front for a team that led the nation in scoring defense last year.

Jacob Maxwell, Greendale (Wisconsin)

Sophomore offensive lineman was pressed into duty last year as a redshirt freshman, seeing action in 11 games with three starts at right tackle. He was starting when the team racked up 257 rushing yards against Minnesota on Nov. 28 and also started in the Holiday Bowl.

Beau Benzschawel, Grafton (Wisconsin)

Sophomore earned his first letter as a redshirt freshman last year on the offensive line, making six starts at right tackle and two at right guard. Once he returned from injury, Badgers offensive line really stabilized, including a 257-yard rushing performance against Minnesota.

TJ Watt, Pewaukee (Wisconsin)

Figures to take a big step forward in 2016 after earning his first letter in 2015 with 13 games played.

Nate Tanguay, Mukwonago (North Dakota State)

As a sophomore, Tanguay started all 15 games and was named honorable-mention All Conference as the Bison won yet another NCAA FCS national championship.

Ryan Saeger, Arrowhead (South Dakota)

His 1,984 yards passing were the sixth-most in a single season in program history, and he threw 12 touchdowns and ran for six more. The senior also was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week when he helped snap North Dakota State’s 26-game home win streak.

Alec Kocour, Catholic Memorial (Illnois State)

Named honorable-mention All Conference in Missouri Valley after starting nine games at safety before suffering a season-ending injury. Picked off three passes and made 78 tackles.

Jackson Weber, Whitefish Bay (Cornell)

Weber led the team as a junior last year with 54 tackles and added a pair of sacks. He’s made 27 consecutive starts at linebacker, dating back to his freshman season.

Colin Downing, Whitefish Bay (Iowa State)

Averaged 40.9 yards per punt in 53 attempts and landed on the Ray Guy Award watch list.

Levon Meyers, Franklin (Northern Illinois)

Second-team All Conference choice on the offensive line in the MAC started every game last year—the only non-senior to do so at NIU. He was named the team’s co-Offensive Player of the Week one week and helped the team rack up 2,661 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Wisconsin: K Connor Allen, Fr. (Brookfield East); LB Zack Baun, Fr. (Brown Deer); TE Luke Benzschawel, Fr. (Grafton); OL Brett Connors, Soph. (New Berlin West); OL Ian Dretzka, Fr. (Kettle Moraine); WR Ricky Finco, Soph. (Arrowhead); DE Billy Hirschfeld, Soph. (Arrowhead); DE Alec James, Jr. (Brookfield East); S Blake Mielke, Fr. (Arrowhead); OL George Panos, Soph. (Arrowhead); DE David Pfaff, Fr. (Homestead); WR Jack Popp, Fr. (Homestead); WR Peter Roy, Soph. (Muskego)

Minnesota: K John Mack, Fr. (Arrowhead); OL Luke Rasmussen, Soph. (Brookfield Central); WR Brian Smith, Jr. (Brookfield East)

Michigan:  OL Ben Bredeson, Fr. (Arrowhead); TE Conner Edmonds, Fr. (Germantown)

Northwestern: TE Eric Lutzen, Soph. (Pewaukee)

Iowa: TE Peter Pekar, Jr. (Greendale)

Iowa State: OL Josh Mueller, Fr. (Homestead); DE Sam Seonbuchner, Soph. (Arrowhead)

Oregon State; QB Conor Blount, Fr. (Waukesha West)

Pittsburgh: TE Zach Poker, Jr. (Oconomowoc)

Ball State: K Steve Drida, Sr. (Waukesha West); OL Andrew Poenitsch, Soph. (Sussex Hamilton)

Butler: DB Kevin Driscoll, Soph. (Arrowhead)

Central Michigan: TE Jonathan Carson, Soph. (Messmer/Shorewood)

Columbia: RB Turner DeMuth, Jr. (Whitefish Bay)

Dartmouth: LS Graydon Peterson, Sr. (Whitefish Bay)

Drake: QB Alex Bray, Fr. (Catholic Memorial); WR Steven Doran, Soph. (Germantown); OL Ryan Lemke, Sr. (Germantown);  OL Jordan Lewinsky, Jr. (Homestead); WR Grant Menard, Sr. (Whitefish Bay); DB Terry Wallen, Jr. (Brookfield Central);

Eastern Michigan: LS Drake Sutton, Fr. (Menomonee Falls)

Florida Atlantic: OL Bryan Beck, Fr. (Franklin)

Illinois State: S Mitchell Brees, Soph. (Greendale); DE Adam Conley, Jr. (Franklin); OL Chad Kanugh, Soph. (Franklin); QB Koty Thelen, Soph. (Oconomowoc)

Morehead State: K Matt Ward, Sr. (Franklin)

New Mexico: LB Dyson Chmura, Fr. (Waukesha West)

North Dakota: OL Dan Bell, Jr. (Menomonee Falls); DB Jordan Canady, Fr. (New Berlin Eisenhower); FB Brett Finke, Fr. (Muskego); LB Jake Rastas, Fr. (New Berlin Eisenhower); OL Ryan Tobin, Fr. (Muskego)

North Dakota State: DE Cole Karcz, Fr. (Germantown); RB Demaris Purifoy, Fr. (Wauwatosa West)

Northern Illinois: S Jackson Abresch, Jr. (Arrowhead); OL Vincent Hughes, Fr. (Franklin); DL Marcus Kelly, Fr. (Waukesha West); OL Robert Kraklow, Fr. (Mukwonago); K Josh Orne, Sr. (Kettle Moraine); OL Josh Ruka, Sr. (Greenfield); OL Alex Schlee, Fr. (Geramantown); LB Alex Schwab, Jr. (West Allis Hale); OL Nathan Veloz, Fr. (Oak Creek)

Northern Iowa: RB Rashadeem Gray, Jr. (Whitefish Bay)

Princeton: WR Jordan Argue, Soph. (Arrowhead)

South Dakota: OL Sam Ruetz, Fr. (Franklin); TE Brett Samson, Fr. (Oconomowoc)

South Dakota State: DB Jarek Berg, Fr. (Oconomowoc); OL Mike Dobrenski, Fr. (Franklin); S Alex Romenesko, Soph. (Arrowhead)

Syracuse: OL Sam Heckel, Fr. (Waukesha West)

Valparaiso: OL Brady Sullivan, Fr. (Arrowhead)

Western Illinois: K Nathan Ericksen, Fr. (New Berlin Eisenhower); OL Tom Kirsch, Soph. (Arrowhead); QB Sean McGuire, Soph. (Franklin); LS Nick O’Boyle, Fr. (Whitnall); DL Jordan Veloz, Jr. (Oak Creek)

Western Michigan: OL Mike Caliendo, Fr. (Brookfield East); DL Zack Taylor, Fr. (Catholic Memorial)