Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Drew Stutesman

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. Kansas Pregame will provide features for each of the 16 Top 8 selections. Check out the third of those profiles below:

Drew Stutesman, FB/LB, 6-2, 190, Madison/Hamilton, 8-Man Division I

Madison senior fullback and linebacker Drew Stutesman is a football player that relies more on his instincts and less on his natural athleticism. With a knack for bringing down jump balls and tracking down ball carriers, few were able to slow his production in 2021.

Stutesman’s efforts helped his Bulldogs team to a 10-1 record, with their only loss coming in the Sectional round of the playoffs against eventual state runner-up Little River, 38-32.

In that loss, the versatile senior ran the ball 10 times for 71 yards with a touchdown and also hauled in a pass reception for another 64 yard score.

“Drew had really good instincts and had a nose for finding the football,” head coach Alex McMillian said. “He also really enjoyed contact and was very physical. Pair those strengths together and you usually have a very good football player.”

The versatile Stutesman rushed for 513 yards and 13 touchdowns on 50 carries with a 10.3 yards per carry average, along with reeling in 13 receptions for 333 yards and 5 more scores and 25.6 yards per reception.

Despite being a constant playmaking threat on offense, its defense where Stutesman truly feels at home. 

“My proudest take away from my senior season was being a Sports in Kansas tackle leader,” Stutesman said. “If I get any offers or any opportunities I would play either side, but I am probably most valuable on defense because of my ability to read and find the ball.”

Stutesman had 116 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery as a senior. This season wasn’t out of the ordinary for the talented backer, on his career he finished with 344 tackles, 10 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and 17 pass deflections.

At 6-2, 190 pounds, Stutesman has a strong build, but at this point he’s yet to receive much attention from college scouts, despite his exceptional production.

“He says he would like to give college football a shot, but still working on that,” McMillian said. “I think his fearlessness and instincts will translate over the best. He was never the biggest, strongest or fastest guy on the field but he was always around the ball making plays.”

Stutesman still has basketball and track and field seasons - both sports he also excels in - to complete before his high school athletic career comes to an end. While his future on the football field is unclear at this time, McMillan hopes the way he went about his business for Madison football is not forgotten any time soon.

“Drew can be very intense and demanded his teammates’ best every single practice and game,” McMillan said. “He can also be the goofball of the team and he did a good job of balancing out the two. He played the game the way it was supposed to be played with emotion and passion, and hopefully that works its way down to the younger teammates.”

*Editor's Note: Kansas Pregame has opted to include only seniors in our Top 8 list in an effort to reward them for their success in high school. This year, especially in Division II, there were a number of top players who were juniors. Axtell's Isaac Detweiler, Wheatland-Grinnell's Jett Vincent and Thunder Ridge's Dylan Bice are just a few of those likely among the Top 8 players in the classification. Fortunately, multiple other outlets have recognized those athletes for their contributions this season and Kansas Pregame will consider each of them for feature coverage in our 2022 Football Preview along with the many other top returning players from across the state.