Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Dalton Garman

Kansas Pregame polled 8-Man coaches earlier this month who voted for the top four seniors they coached against this season. Kansas Pregame staffers then used those votes to develop a Top 8 list of seniors for each division. Check out several more Top 8 capsules below, and find the complete list of Top 8 selections, and the honorable mention list, here for 8-Man I and here for 8-Man II. 

Senior running back, receiver, and defensive back Dalton Garman was a linchpin for the Osborne Bulldogs, helping lead the team to a 7-4 record and a trip to the 8-Man Division II state quarterfinals. Garman earned first-team All-State honors at defensive back for his efforts in a season where Osborne dominated the second half of the year before falling to eventual state champion Axtell.

Osborne head coach Steve Tiernan praised his senior's work ethic and leadership. 

"Dalton worked hard enough he had a very positive impact on the whole team," Tiernan said. "... He stayed positive and helped develop the young guys."

Garman’s versatility was on full display throughout the season. Offensively, he passed for 633 yards and 11 touchdowns on 50 completions while rushing for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns on 110 carries. 

His ability to step up in critical moments was evident in the second round of the playoffs against Lebo when he returned the opening kickoff 50 yards, breaking multiple tackles to set the tone for a 44-8 victory.

When asked about Garman’s greatest strength on the field, Tiernan responded, “Toughness.”

Defensively, Garman tallied 48 total tackles, including six tackles for loss, and recovered three fumbles. Over his four-year career, Garman amassed 1,709 rushing yards, 1,080 passing yards, and accounted for 49 total touchdowns. On defense, he finished with 161 total tackles and eight fumble recoveries.

In addition to his football success, Garman excels in basketball. He played a pivotal role in helping the Bulldogs to a 20-2 record as a junior, averaging 13.7 points per game. Garman earned first-team All-Northern Plains League and honorable mention All-State honors for his play. On the track, Garman contributed to Osborne’s second-place finishes in the 4x800 relay at the state meet each of the past two years.

After high school, Garman plans to attend a vocational technical school.