Star power: Players to watch in the upcoming high school football season

There should be no shortage of prime time players for area high school football fans to keep an eye on this fall.

The Indiana prep football season kicks off Friday, Aug. 20.

Among the players to watch as anticipated headline makers in 2021 are Justin Fisher of Mishawaka.

Fisher, a senior quarterback, earned All-Northern Lakes Conference and All-State honors in 2020. He helped lead coach Keith Kinder's Cavemen to a 7-4 overall record after a tough 0-3 start. Mishawaka shared the NLC championship with Warsaw and also won its third straight Class 5A sectional title.

Fisher directed a Flexbone offensive attack that averaged 342 yards rushing per game in 2020. He rushed for 1,444 yards on 201 carries himself and scored 21 touchdowns. Fisher also completed 23-of-50 passes for 438 yards and another six scores.

"We have high expectations for Justin," said Mishawaka coach Kinder, himself a former star quarterback at Jimtown, where he led the Jimmies to two state titles. "He's seen a lot as our starter the past two years and we will rely a lot on his experience this season."

► NIC football preview:Despite key losses, Marian expects to compete for championship

► NLC football preview:Mishawaka 'in a good place' as second year in NLC approaches

Fisher ranks eighth in career rushing yards at MHS with 2,722 and seventh in rushing touchdowns with 38.

Greg Atkinson Jr. of Marian will be another one to watch all over the field this fall for the Knights. The electric senior receiver/playmaker earned All-Northern Indiana Conference and All-State accolades as a junior.

Atkinson had 24 receptions for 411 yards and four touchdowns in 2020 as the Knights earned a share of the NIC title and finished an 11-1 season with a loss to eventual state champion Indianapolis Chatard in the Class 3A semistate game. He also had nine rushes for another 281 yards and three touchdowns.

Atkinson will especially be a big key for coach Mike Davidson's offense, which lost talented quarterback Maddix Bogunia-Bright and workhorse tailback Malcom Johnson from a unit that averaged almost 39 points per game a season ago.

For fans of the "Big" boys up front, those will need to look no farther than New Carlisle to find one of the state's best offensive linemen. Senior Hunter Whitenack of New Prairie will be a big time performer for the Cougars.

Whitenack, who has committed to Illinois, earned All-NIC and All-State honors in 2020. He also saw action as a defensive linemen as a junior. 

Whitenack, who is also a standout wrestler, will lead the way for another one to watch in Noah Mungia. The junior rushed for 1,112 yards on 184 carries with 10 touchdowns during a stellar sophomore season in 2020.

Fisher and Whitenack were both named to the 2021 Prime Time 25 for the top players in the state in this year's edition of Indiana Football Digest.

Following are just a sample of some of the top area players to keep an eye on this fall.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

♦ LaPorte: Senior RB Collin Bergquist (1,374 yards rushing with 11 TD, All-DAC)

♦ LaVille: Sophomore QB Lucas Plummer  (798 yards passing 13 total TD)

♦ Concord: Senior WR/DB Jack D'Arcy (55 receptions for 793 yards, 5 TD, All-NLC)

♦ Mishawaka: Senior QB Justin Fisher (201 carries for 1,444 yards and 21 TD, 23-50 passing for 438 yards and 6 TD, All-NLC, All-State, Senior DL Beau Brown 52 tackles, 3 sacks, All-NLC, All-State)

♦ NorthWood: Junior QB Kaden Lone (366 yards rushing with 4 TD)

♦ Adams: Senior RB Gavin Pulling (514 yards rushing with 8 TD)

♦ Bremen: Senior QB Ethan Nunemaker (56-110 passing for 762 yards and 15 TD)

♦ Elkhart: Senior WR Donovan Johnson (31 catches for 560 yards and 5 TD, All-NIC)

♦ Marian: Senior WR Greg Atkinson Jr. (24 catches for 411 yards and 4 TD, 9 carries for 281 yards and 3 TD, All-NIC, All-State)

♦ New Prairie: Senior OL Hunter Whitenack (All-NIC, All-State, Illinois commit), Junior RB Noah Mungia (184 carries for 1,112 yards and 10 TD)

♦ Penn: Senior RB Alec Hardrict (108 rushes for 579 yards and 9 TD)

♦ Washington: Senior RB Marshawn Lottie (160 carries for 660 yards and 4 TD)

♦ Jimtown: Senior RB Johntu Reed (65 carries for 344 yards and 2 TD, 11 catches for 284 yards and 4TD, All-NIC, All-State)