Below is a look at 810 Varsity's listing for the Player of the Year race for big class (Class 6, Class 5) for 2021.

QB, Senior

Stats
1,374 passing yards, 19 TDs
663 rushing yards, 9 TDs
Team Record: 8-1

Pauley is equally as dangerous afoot as with his arm, as evidenced with 161 rushing yards and two scores in a 35-21 win over Blue Valley. One of the area’s top recruited quarterbacks, Pauley averaged 202 passing yards and 83 rushing yards in 2020.

What’s needed: Pauley needs to get the Huskies to the Class 6A semifinals. With this likely a best-player, on best-team type of year, Pauley and BV Northwest will need to continue to stack up against LS North and Liberty North's success.

QB, Junior

Stats
1,448 passing yards, 15 TDs
Team record: 8-1

Top player on the top team theory applies, like Conrad Hawley last year with Raymore-Peculiar. Liberty North did lose a game of stats due to a COVID cancellation by Staley, but Van Dyne will be there in the end.

What’s needed: Van Dyne to pull a Conrad Hawley of 2020 and help the Eagles to the Class 6 title game with a solid season at the helm.

QB, Senior

Stats
1,770 passing yards, 25 TDs
234 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Team Record: 9-1

The Broncos are arguably the second-best team in the Metro, and even that by a smidge, losing by just a field goal to No. 1 Liberty North. Baker has  paced the offense with eight games with multiple touchdown passes, including a stat-stuffing 6 TDs in LS North's playoff win over Ozark.

What's needed: Broncos win their district title, which would include a second win over defending Class 6 champ Ray-Pec. Keep putting up solid numbers along the way.

QB, Senior

Stats
1,292 passing yards, 15 TDs
1,219 rushing yards, 14 TDs
Team record: 8-1

Dineen has done it with his legs and arm, posting 147 passing yard per game with 135 rushing yards per contest. Beating Mill Valley puts Dineen ahead of Jay, and more big games like his 316 passing yards in the playoff opener won't hurt.

What’s needed: Probably leading a stunning win over umpteen-time defending Class 6A champ Derby.

QB, Junior

Stats
1,618 passing yards, 16 TDs
282 rushing yards, 5 TDs
Team record: 8-1

Jay has been solid all year both throwing the ball and afoot. Liekly a strong candidate for next year as well. 

What’s needed: Return to the Kansas Class 5A state title game with big playoff numbers en route.

Greyson Holbert, Blue valley

QB, Senior

Stats
1,346 passing yards, 12 TDs
889 rushing yards, 16 TDs
Team record: 8-1

Holbert likely will eclipse 1,000 on the ground as well as solid passing numbers. Blue Valley has endured a few late game heroics, including Holbert eluding half the Aquinas team to score a two-point conversion for an OT win.

What’s needed: Continue the dual threat numbers and Blue Valley onto the Class 6A semifinals - or title game.

Blake Reeder, SM NOrthwest

QB, Senior

Stats
2,036 passing yards, 20 TDs
293 rushing yards, 6 TDs
Team record: 6-3

Reeder has flourished in the Cougars offense, going over 200 yards and 2+ TDs in 5 games.  

What’s needed: Some big wins over Olathe West and BV/BV West and getting the Cougars to the Class 6A semifinal ... and beyond.

WR, Senior

Stats
859 receiving yards, 12 TDs
Team record: 10-0

Park Hill South continues to remain undefeated, and Reuben is a centerpiece why. In the last eight games, Reuben has hauled in a TD in each (12 total) with 5 games over 100 yards.

What’s needed: Win the district, including a win over Liberty North. Otherwise, Reuben will fall back into the receiver awards category. 

RB, Senior

Stats
1,408 rushing yards, 20 TDs
Team record: 7-3

Wentric was right there as a preseason favorite. He has posted seven 100+ yard games, but three games of 37, 8 and 33 yards has hurt as well - two of those in losses.

What’s needed: If Blue Jays beat Liberty North this Friday with a big WWIII game, he'll skyrocket up and then if win district title, be right there in the final four.

QB, Senior

Stats
2,862 passing yards, 30 TDs
Team record: 3-6

Martin put up some video game numbers all year, averaging over 350 passing yards per game. But losing six straight to finish the year and exiting in the first round hurt ... a lot.

What’s needed: Needing to get the final season stats at time of this written, but assuming Martin eclipsed 3,000 yards - the numbers may still stick and be impressive compared to everyone else.

QB, Junior

Stats
1,245 passing yards, 11 TDs
1,105 rushing yards, 13 TDs
Team record: 7-2

For an Owl to be on the list isn’t surprise, but perhaps McGavran instead of RB Anthony Favrow is. McGavran has rushed for over 150 yards in four games, as well as solid passing numbers

What’s needed: Continue big numbers that are hard to ignore and Olathe West to get to the Class 6A semifinal ... and probably beyond.

QB, Senior

Stats
1,299 passing yards, 19 TDs
425 rushing yards, 9 TDs
Team record: 7-2

Palmer has been at the helm on offense, and also as a defensive back for the Eagles. Drawing two losses with just 6 and 14 points scored in the two losses doesn't help the cause.

What’s needed: Have some big games down the stretch, and lead Olathe North to the Class 6A title game.

Kendrick Bell, Park Hill
Grant Stubblefield, BV Northwest
Jared Parsons, Platte County
Truman Juelsgaard, Lawrence
Anthony Favrow, Olathe West
Tyler Schultze, De Soto
Gage Roach, BV West
Zhamari Gray, Raytown
Greg Lyles, Belton
Zander Dombrowski, Raymore-Peculiar