The 2026 high school football season is quickly approaching, and we at PowerStrength are fired up to watch the West Michigan athletes compete under the lights on Friday nights again.

The Fall is an opportunity to showcase the hard work put in during the off-season. We have seen firsthand the serious commitment made by hundreds of area athletes inside our 8 facilities.

To add some excitement to the upcoming season, we have once again compiled our players-to-watch lists from the OK Conference and the River Cities Alliance. Here is how they will be released:

Quarterbacks — Tuesday, July 21

Running Backs — Tuesday, July 28

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends — Tuesday, August 4

Offensive/Defensive Linemen — Tuesday, August 11

Linebackers — Tuesday, August 18

Defensive Backs — Tuesday, August 25

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The quarterback position always draws a ton of interest, and the 2026 crop looks to be deserving of the attention. Here are the players to watch in alphabetical order:

Drew Albrecht, Zeeland West (‘27) 

Albrecht is a returning starter under center for a Dux team that averaged 32 points per game and won a district championship in 2025. Read how Albrecht and some of his teammates prepare for the season here: https://powerstrengthpro.com/next-wave-of-champions/

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Abel Anaya, West Ottawa (‘27)

Anaya started for the Panthers in 2025, showcasing his ability to both run and throw.

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Bryce Backus, Caledonia (‘27) 

Backus started 2025 as the Fighting Scots quarterback, but was limited by injuries. He has all the tools to be one of the best in the state. Learn more about how Bryce has been training in the off-season to take his game to new levels here: https://powerstrengthpro.com/division-i-dreams/

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Austin Burgess, South Christian (‘27)

Burgess began 2025 as the Sailors starter and finished it by splitting time with Brody Shilts. South will have to decide if playing 2 QBs is the answer this season, or if one of the 2 will emerge as the guy.

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Tyler Bolhuis, Spring Lake (‘27) 

Bolhuis played running back last season in the Lakers’ flex bone offense, but figures to return to his natural position of quarterback for his Senior season as part of a loaded backfield.

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Trey Currie, Rockford (‘28) 

The Rams have options to replace Brayden Daniels. Currie figures to compete with Casen Whitford for one of the premier jobs in West Michigan.

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Micah Dock, Thornapple Kellogg (‘27)

Dock will be a 3-year starter at QB for the Trojans, who reached the district championship game in 2025.

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Will Drnek, Zeeland East (‘27)

Drnek has been starting at QB for the Chix since he was a Sophomore.

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Grayson Fellows, Kenowa Hills (‘27)

Fellows is another guy who will be a 3-year starter. He has verbally committed to play at Michigan Tech next year.

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Martellis Forest, Godwin Heights (‘28)

Forest has been starting at QB for the Wolverines since he was a Freshman. Last season, he led the Wolverines to the playoffs and their best season since 2017.

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Easton Hintz, Grand Haven (‘27) 

Hintz is a returning starter for the Bucs this Fall. He will lead a very experienced skill group for head coach Andrew Biedenbender’s team.

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Ryan Holstege, Allendale (‘27)

At 6’3” 215 lbs, Holstege has the frame for the position. He can both run and throw, and does a really good job of moving in the pocket and still finding receivers downfield.

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Braylon Jefferson, Northview (‘27)

Jefferson has verbally committed to Saginaw Valley State to play next season. He returns at QB for the Wildcats after a strong 2025 season.

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Champ Kelly, Coopersville (‘29)

Kelly started at QB last Fall as a Freshman, leading the Broncos to the district championship game after an 0-3 start to the season.

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Charlie King, Grand Rapids Christian (‘27) 

King will be a 3-year starter at QB this Fall for the Eagles and has continued to improve his game each year. See how he has been preparing for this opportunity from a young age here: https://powerstrengthpro.com/charlie-king/

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Griffin Leeuw, Holland Christian (‘27)

Leeuw is a returning starter from a Maroons offense that averaged more than 31 points per game in 2025.

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Owen Ostipow, Forest Hills Northern (‘27) 

Ostipow will be a 3-year starter for the Huskies. He capped his Junior season by running for 430 yards and 5 TDs in week 9. He has committed to play at Ferris State.

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Colin O’Connor, East Kentwood (‘27)

Replacing Kayd Coffman will be tough for the Falcons. O’Connor comes to East Kentwood after playing in Southern California for the last few years.

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Kellen Paul, Forest Hills Central (‘29) 

A standout on the basketball court last Winter as a Freshman, Paul gets a chance to show what he can do at the Varsity level on the football field this Fall.

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Nick Robinson, Cedar Springs (‘27)

Robinson led an offense last Fall that scored at least 35 points in each of the first 8 games. He can not only run the ball, but throw it as well in the Red Hawks T offense.

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Sawyer Scheffler, NorthPointe Christian (‘28) 

Scheffler saw time at both the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels last Fall as a Sophomore, and is also a punter for the Mustangs.

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Brody Shilts, South Christian (‘28)

Shilts gave the Sailors offense a real boost last Fall when he started to get some time under center. South averaged 35 points over the final 6 games of last season.

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Trey Snip, Hudsonville (‘28) 

Snip was the Junior Varsity QB for the Eagles in 2025 and is ready to take over this Fall for the 2-time defending OK Red champions.

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Odin Spencer, GR Catholic Central (‘28)

Spencer will be a 3-year Varsity starter for the Cougars this Fall. He has shown steady growth since debuting as a Freshman in 2024.

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Owen Terpstra, Mona Shores (‘28)

Terpstra really came on late in 2025, giving the Sailors a lift. This Fall, the reins to Shores offense are all his.

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Casen Whitford, Rockford (‘28) 

We saw Whitford fill in for an injured Brayden Daniels in week 5 last Fall against Grandville and play very well.

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Eli Wolters, Holland (‘28) 

Wolters started for the Dutch in 2025 as a Sophomore. He set the school record by throwing for 511 yards in a single game in week 4.

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There is a lot of Varsity experience at the quarterback position this Fall in West Michigan. As is always the case, more players will emerge as the season progresses, and we are excited to watch it all play out!

Be on the lookout for our Running Backs to Watch list next Tuesday.

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