KFBCA Top 11: Jackson Voth

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams in early December, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Cheney wide receiver and linebacker Jackson Voth's capsule below. For a look at the complete 2023 KFBCA All-State teams click here.

Cheney’s Jackson Voth was among the most versatile players in the state over the last three years of his high school career, gaining over 3,000 combined yards receiving and rushing, recording 263 tackles on defense, and setting a school record with four career kick returns touchdowns. Voth is also the Cardinals all time leader in receptions and receiving yards.

Despite the gaudy numbers, Voth first had to earn a spot on the varsity team.

“He has always worked hard and wanted to be the best,” head coach Shelby Wehrman said. “He didn't voice his feelings to me directly, but when he was a freshman, he really wanted to start varsity. We had several other other good receivers. He was young and good, but not good enough to surpass an upperclassman. I could tell it ate at him. He ended up getting to start the ninth game of the year when one of our seniors went down with an injury. Jack performed well in our final three games of that year.”

During that 2020 season, the Cardinals lost just one game, a second round playoff matchup against Wichita Collegiate that ended their season at 9-1. Voth caught four passes for 48 yards and also carried the ball twice for 19 yards.

Cheney was far from lacking in the skill position category as Jackson entered his sophomore season with seniors Luke Grace, Dayton Higgs, and Rylan Doshier as targets in the passing game, along with running back Quincy Thomas. The team’s starting QB also happened to be Jackson’s brother, Harrison, who was among the best signal-callers in the state after throwing for over 2,300 yards and 36 TDs in his junior campaign.

Despite the full cast, the younger Voth wasn’t going to be denied a role.

“His competitive drive is his biggest strength,” Wehrman said. “Jack is willing to train harder than others so he can win. He works hard.”

Voth earned a spot on both sides of the ball, recording 39 receptions for 623 yards and eight TDs offensively, and 62 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, a sack, three interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a defensive TD on the other side of the ball.

The Cardinals were again flawless in the regular season and made it one round further after getting 21-3 revenge on Collegiate in the second round, but couldn’t make it past Southeast of Saline in the quarterfinals, ending the season 10-1.

The loss of a talented senior class left Cheney with just three offensive and three defensive starters returning heading into the 2023 season, with Voth as the team’s only returning two-way player.

The newly minted upperclassman made it clear Cheney was still a force to be reckoned with, however, catching 83 passes for 1,044 yards, and 12 TDs with another 59 yards coming on seven carries offensively, and recording 118 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, three sacks, three hurries, and two forced fumbles defensively.

Cheney had what would end up being their worst record in Voth’s time as a Cardinal, finishing at a still admirable 8-3 after a quarterfinal playoff loss to Clay Center.

Voth earned All-State honors as a receiver and unanimous All-League honors as both a receiver and a linebacker.

The following spring, Voth made the decision to commit to Division I New Mexico State, then coached by Cheney native, Jerry Kill.

“His development has steadily improved all throughout high school,” Wehrman said. “He identifies areas to improve, and then immerses all of his resources to make it happen. Two years ago, he wanted to get bigger, and he did that, but he wasn't fast. This last year he wanted to get faster, so he stopped playing baseball and went out for track in the spring. Plus, he had his personal trainer gear all of his workouts toward speed. The guy gets things done.”

Circumstances had changed entering the 2023 season, with Cheney bringing back a majority of their eight-win team’s roster and incredibly high expectations.

Those expectations were met in resounding fashion. The Cardinals didn’t slow down for anyone, including reigning four-time state champs Andale, who hadn’t lost a game since the 2018 state semifinals. Cheney not only beat them in their Week 7 matchup in a 36-30 OT thriller, but also managed to knock them out of the semifinals of the 3A playoffs 28-24, handing the Indians their only two losses in the last five years.

“I mean he’s just explosive, gets great yards after the catch, great moves and everything," Andale head coach Dylan Schmidt said, “but the thing I was most impressed with that people might not mention was his conditioning level. I think from first quarter to fourth quarter, it was unbelievable all the different things he was doing. Playing offense, playing defense, and playing special teams. He’s definitely a guy that we tried to run away from when he was on defense.”

Cheney finished the season 13-0 and won the first football state title in school history. Voth posted incredible numbers on offense with  77 receptions for 1,033 yards and 11 TDs in the air and 39 carries for 366 yards and another 11 TDs on the ground, all while missing one game to injury.

Defensively, Voth recorded 76 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, two sacks, a QB hurry, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

“I really think he was the heartbeat of our state title,” Wehrnman said of Voth. “He and his teammates talked right after the season last year about putting in all the work and commitment to win a state title this year. I heard him more than any other player encouraging and driving his teammates to push harder, be tougher, and do more to realize that dream. Jack couldn't have done it alone, but he kept pumping up the team more than anyone.”

Voth was decorated in honors along with his KFBCA Top 11 selection, including Sports in Kansas 3A Offensive Player of the Year, joining his brother Harrison, who won the award in 2021.

After changes were made to the New Mexico State coaching staff immediately after the recent bowl victory, Voth reopened his recruitment and promptly received offers from Minot State, Butler, Garden City, and others, and his recruitment will extend to the February signing day. 

Wherever he lands, Voth plans to study biology with the goal of entering the field of medicine. According to his coach, the program he decides on will feel his impact.

“Jack is a leader no matter where he is,” Wehrman said. “He carries himself with energy and optimism, which is contagious and livens up a room.”