Meet the 2023 SBLive Iowa all-state football teams: Monticello's Preston Ries is Player of the Year

Below are the SBLive Iowa individual awards and all-state teams for the 2023 prep football season. 

SBLive Iowa Coach of the Year

Dan Anderson, MFL MarMac

The Bulldogs had one of the state's worst programs, averaging less than two wins per season from 1993 to 2018 and having no winning seasons in that 26-year span. After a four-year stint as head coach from 2005 to 2008, Anderson returned in 2018 and had a 4-5 record. The next four seasons MFL MarMac lost in the 1A quarterfinals. This year, they returned to the 1A quarters and knocked off eight-time state champion Iowa City Regina 22-7 to reach the UNI-Dome for the first time. There, they upset Underwood 41-28 before losing in the finals to Grundy Center. Anderson earns this award for his diligence in lifting the program out of obscurity to heights never before achieved.

SBLive Iowa Player of the Year

Preston Ries, Monticello

The Iowa recruit led the Panthers to their first state semifinal appearance since 1997, beating Mediapolis 34-28 in the quarterfinals. In that game, Ries completed 14 of 21 for 297 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 37 times for 279 yards and four scores. He led the state with 57 total touchdowns and 4,485 total yards. He threw for 2,559 yards and 24 scores while rushing for 1,926 yards and 33 TDs. Ries also led the Panthers in tackles this season with 97, including 27.5 for losses. Ries ends his career with 12,984 total yards, which ranks No. 1 in Iowa history.

SBLive Offensive Player of the Year

Grant Glausser, Western Dubuque

Glausser carried his team to the 4A championship game, where he literally left it on the field. Late in the first half against Lewis Central, he was hit so hard that he vomited on the field. At the time of the hit, he had 17 carries for 109 yards. After being cleared by medical staff, Glausser missed just two snaps. He rushed 16 more times for another 154 yards and three scores as the Bobcats fell short, 40-21. Glausser, who will walk on at Iowa, finished with a 4A title-game record 263 rushing yards. He ended his career with school rushing records for a game (389), season (2,908) and career (4,948), and his season rushing total is No. 6 in Iowa 11-man history.

SBLive Defensive Player of the Year

Derek Weisskopf, Williamsburg

The versatile Iowa recruit finished with a 32-6 record in three years as a varsity starter. As a sophomore, the Raiders reached the 2A semifinals, losing in overtime to West Lyon. As a junior, they dropped a 10-6 decision to Central Lyon/George-Little Rock in the 2A title game. This season, Williamsburg moved up a class and won its first state championship, beating Sioux City Heelan 20-0 in the 3A final. Weisskopf threw for 150 yards and two TDs, made 7 tackles, forced a fumble and added a pass breakup. On the season, he passed for 1,123 yards and 20 TDs, had 14 receptions for 212 yards and four scores, and made 50 solo tackles and four interceptions.

Below are this year's SBLive Iowa all-state football teams, as selected by the SBLive staff. Congratulations to all of the honorees and thanks for reading our coverage during the 2023 season.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB – Preston Ries, 6-2, 215, SR, Monticello

Iowa recruit threw for 2,559 yards and 24 scores while rushing for 1,926 yards and 33 touchdowns.

RB – Grant Glausser, 5-11, 200, SR, Western Dubuque

Carried 334 times for 2,909 yards (8.7 avg.) and 33 TDs, caught 14 passes for 227 yards and 4 TDs and is a preferred walk-on at Iowa.

RB – Ben Gordon, 6-0, 190, SR, Van Meter

Northern Iowa commit rushed for 2,182 yards and 29 scores for the 2A champs, and added 2 TDs each receiving and returning kicks.

OL – Grant Brix, 6-6, 290, SR, Logan-Magnolia

Powerful Nebraska commit regarded by some as the No. 1 recruit in Iowa's 2024 class.

OL – Cody Fox, 6-5, 295, SR, East Buchanan

Four-star recruit is headed to Iowa, and is also an accomplished wrestler and thrower in track and field.

OL – Jake Peters, 6-3, 265, SR, Cedar Falls

Three-star prospect has committed to Nebraska and is also a starter on the basketball team and a state qualifier in track as a thrower.

OL – Kyle Rakers, 6-4, 300, SR, West Des Moines Dowling

Kansas State commit anchored one of the state's top offensive lines.

OL – Garret Rutledge, 6-6, 295, SR, Lewis Central

Iowa State signee also was a standout on the defensive line for the 4A champs with 29.0 tackles, including 9.5 for losses.

TE – Jacob Simpson, 6-5, 230, SR, Johnston

Minnesota commitment was a nightmare matchup for defenses, catching 43 passes for 688 yards and 10 touchdowns.

WR – Mason Boothby, 6-1, 165, SR, Underwood

Multi-sport standout terrorized opposing defenses with 47 receptions for 1,097 yards and 17 TDs. Also intercepted 8 passes, third among all Iowa players.

WR – Cyrus Courtney, 6-2, 195, SR, Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Caught 66 passes for a Class 5A leading 1,056 yards, including 11 touchdowns, which tied for second in 5A.

ATH – Aiden Flora, 5-10, 170, SR, ADM

Preferred walk-on at Iowa State threw for 1,124 yards and 13 touchdowns while carrying 187 times for 1,932 yards (10.3 avg.) and 27 scores.

ATH – Kyler Gerardy, 6-1, 190, SR, North Scott

Iowa preferred walk-on threw for 1,380 yards and 14 touchdowns, and rushed for 843 yards and another 13 scores.

DEFENSE

DL – Drew Campbell, 6-4, 234, SR, Cedar Falls

Iowa commit and brother of Detroit Lion Jack Campbell made 64.5 tackles last season, including 21.5 for losses.

DL – Axel Ramazani, 6-4, 215, JR, Urbandale

Wreaked havoc on opposing backfields with 21 tackles for losses among his 57 stops.

DL – Draven Woods, 6-3, 225, SR, Southeast Polk

Defensive leader of the 5A champs with 63 tackles, including 25 for losses.

LB – Carver Blietz-Bentien, 6-1, 210, SR, MFL MarMac

Bulldogs had no winning seasons from 1993 to 2018, yet Blietz-Bentien led them to the 1A championship game with a team-high 86.5 tackles.

LB – Jaxon Cherry, 6-2, 225, SR, Webster City

Led Lynx with 80 tackles, including 22 for losses, and finished as the school's alltime rushing leader with more than 4,600 yards.

LB – Connor Kayser, 6-4, 215, SR, Ankeny

Northern Iowa commit led the 5A runners-up with 96.5 tackles, including 19.0 for losses.

LB – Brett White, 6-0, 210, SR, Solon

Baylor baseball recruit had a whopping 106 tackles, including 25 for losses.

DB – Quinn Olson, 6-3, 190, SR, Sioux City Heelan

Spearheaded one of the state's most surprising turnarounds with four INTs and 33.5 tackles to go with more than 1,000 passing and rushing yards for 3A runners-up.

DB – Reece Vander Zee, 6-5, 200, SR, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Iowa recruit had two INTs and 41.5 tackles to go with more than 3,000 yards of total offense for the 2A runners-up.

DB – Derek Weisskopf, 6-3, 210, SR, Williamsburg

Iowa commit led Raiders to 3A title with 58.5 tackles, 4 picks and more than 1,100 passing yards.

DB – Curtis Witte, 6-1, 185, SR, Lewis Central

Wayne State recruit had 40 tackles and 5 INTs to go with 825 receiving yards and 10 scores for the 4A champions.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Caden Buhr, 5-11, 185, JR, Bettendorf

Had 49 touchbacks on 61 kickoffs, made 7 of 9 field goals with a long of 52 and converted 40 of 43 PATs.

P – Drew Miller, 6-2, 210, SR, Mediapolis

Georgia recruit averaged 49.5 yards on 30 punts. Also had 39 touchbacks on 55 kickoffs and made 3 of 5 field goals and 40 of 42 PATs.

RET – Rayce Heitman, 6-1, 175, JR, Williamsburg

Averaged 24.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns including a 95-yard TD, and 19.9 yards on 21 punt returns and two TDs for 3A champs.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB – Connor Moberly, 6-4, 192, SR, Southeast Polk

Iowa State recruit had 25-1 record as starting QB, including two 5A state titles. Threw for 2,403 yards and 26 TDs as a senior.

RB – Brennan Hayes, 6-1, 195, SR, Creston

Wayne State commit rushed 218 times for 1,784 yards and 17 TDs for the 3A semifinalists, including 433 in one game.

RB – Elijah Porter, 5-10, 170, SR, Ankeny Centennial

Northern Illinois signee rushed for 1,166 yards on 158 carries (7.4 avg.) and 16 touchdowns for the Jaguars.

OL – Parker Getter, 6-6, 300, SR, Glenwood

Southern Illinois recruit anchored the line for an offense that averaged more than 345 yards per game.

OL – Brayden Harmon, 6-2, 260, SR, Southeast Polk

Physical presence powered the Rams to another state title by helping them average 370 yards of total offense per game.

OL – Caden Hotz, 6-3, 280, SR, Waverly-Shell Rock

South Dakota State recruit was named Offensive Player of the Year in 4A District 2, a rarity for an offensive lineman.

OL – Braylon Jenkins, 6-4, 290, SR, West Des Moines Valley

Signed with Wyoming after leading the Tigers on another late-season surge that included a five-game win streak and a trip to the 5A semifinals.

OL – Parker Thomas, 6-4, 285, SR, Sheldon

Northern Iowa commitment was the leader on the Orab offensive line and also made 21.5 tackles on defense.

TE – Chase Schutty, 6-5, 212, SR, Ankeny Centennial

Northern Illinois preferred walk-on caught 22 passes for 390 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

WR – Evan Brase, 6-4, 195, SR, Mount Vernon

Caught 60 passes for 1,042 yards and 12 touchdowns and added a pair of interceptions on defense.

WR – Dylan Stecker, 6-5, 190, JR, Spirit Lake

Hauled in 53 passes for 994 yards (18.8 avg.) and 14 touchdowns for the 2A semifinalists.

ATH – Devon Akers, 6-6, 210, SR, Ankeny

Northern Illinois recruit made 52 receptions for 959 yards and eight scores for the 5A finalists.

ATH – Titus Cram, 6-1, 210, SR, Bondurant-Farrar

Northern Iowa signee rushed for 1,238 yards and 17 scores and made 50.5 tackles before his season was cut short to injury.

DEFENSE

DL – Trent Cakerice, 6-5, 241, SR, Grundy Center

Made 56.5 tackles, including 16.5 for losses, and will join the Iowa program as a preferred walk-on.

DL – Max Chapman, 6-4, 260, SR, Creston

Playmaker for the Panthers made 26.5 of his 55.5 stops for losses.

DL – Joey VanWetzinga, 6-2, 255, JR, Pleasant Valley

Already committed to Iowa, he had 37.5 stops, including 10.0 for losses, last season for the Spartans.

LB – Porter Doggett, 6-0, 180, SR, Van Meter

Led the 2A champs in tackles with 73.5, including 7.0 for losses, and added four TD receptions on offense.

LB – Beau Goodwin, 6-4, 200, SR, Kingsley-Pierson

Iowa State signee had twice as many tackles as any teammate with 84.5, including 10.5 for losses.

LB – Mathias Knoblock, 5-10, 170, SR, West Lyon

Wildcats were one of the top teams in 2A, and Knoblock led the defensive charge with 59.5 tackles.

LB – Mitchell Smith, 6-4, 210, SR, West Hancock

Versatile leader of Class A champs had 65.5 tackles, 834 rushing yards and 12 scores along with 642 passing yards and 11 TDs.

DB – Mason Brooks, 6-3, 180, SR, Waukee

Finished with 44 tackles and 3 interceptions for a Warrior team that went 8-3 and reached the 5A quarterfinals.

DB – Colin Gordon, 6-1, 195, SR, Grundy Center

Led Spartans to state titles in Class A in 2022 and 1A in 2023. As a senior, threw for 2,013 yards and 26 TDs while rushing for 688 yards and 11 scores and picking off 2 passes on defense.

DB – Matthew Hanten, 5-10, 175, SR, West Des Moines Dowling

Ranked second on Maroons with 54.5 tackles and also intercepted 4 passes for the 5A quarterfinalists.

DB – Isaiah Pinks, 6-1, 170, SR, West Des Moines Valley

Wayne State commit made 48.5 tackles and 4 interceptions, and also returned 15 kickoffs for a 24.4-yard average and a touchdown.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Billy Moore, 6-0, 175, SR, Davenport Assumption

Had touchbacks on 34 of 66 kickoffs, made 6 of 7 field goals and 41 of 46 PATs.

P – Bradyn Cory, 6-0, 185, SR, North Polk

Averaged 41.6 yards per punt for the Class 4A semifinalists.

RET – Graham Eben, 6-3, 198, SR, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Averaged 10.6 per punt return and 18.5 per kickoff return. Also rushed for 1,415 yards and 31 scores.