Some of the state’s and region’s top up-and-coming, under the radar and unsigned prospects gathered at Mojo Up Sports Complex in Noblesville, IN to compete in the annual Indiana Preps Winter Showcase on Jan. 14.
With coaching from local position coaches and trainers and a plethora of scouts from Indiana State with eyes on every position, many athletes were competing for their first offer.
Of all the talent at the showcase, the best of them all may very well have been 2025 interior offensive lineman, Markus Hopson, who traveled all the way from Virginia. The starting Center of 15-0 Virginia power Phoebus High School, Hopson was a driving force for their 42 point per game offense.
At 6’2” 270 pounds, Hopson excelled in all of the speed and agility work before being able to dominate the competition during 1-on-1 pass rush. Taking reps all across the offensive line, Hopson has a vicious first strike that is then followed up with great footwork and savvy hand fighting. With the frame to gain weight, it would be a surprise if Hopson does not become a high caliber FCS starter at the very least one day.
Bringing it back to the in-state talent, there were plenty of high-caliber athletes from every class. However, one stuck out in particular and that was unsigned 2024 linebacker Carter Imes out of Fishers High School.
A stat sheet stuffer his senior season, Imes captained the 7-4 Tigers with 69 solo tackles, six sacks, two interceptions and a blocked field goal.
With just a lone PWO offer from Eastern Illinois, Imes does not take opportunities to compete playing the game he loves lightly.
“[This showcase] is really important for me to get exposure and to just get my name out there,” Imes said. “Being a guy that missed a year because of an injury, opportunities like these are key. Being back out there competing was great to get my mojo back for the offseason.”
Staying on the defensive side of the ball, 2026 defensive back Daveon Surry from FW Bishop Luers was as smooth as ever throughout the showcase. From warm-ups to live reps, his fluid motion on cuts and his capability to flip his hips and track the ball was incredible.
It is still early in the recruiting world for the current sophomore; however, Surry made his presence felt last season as an elite return man for the 2A champions. Expect Surry to be on an island starting next season. At 5 ‘9”, it would be hard to make it as a perimeter corner at the FBS level, but Surry has the athleticism and quick twitch that it is not outlandish to see him become a group of five slot cornerback one day.
In terms of in-state lineman, the cream of the crop was 2025 lineman Cole Kozecar out of North Judson San Pierre.
At 6 ‘3” 280 pounds, Kozecar held his own in nearly every pass rush rep and dominated most. But, on a day where the windchill was right around two degrees, an athlete needs to be motivated to come out and compete.
“Just getting better for my team,” Kozecar said. “I feel like I did pretty well and displayed my talents well and proved myself. My goal is to just get an offer, that is the end-all-be-all.”
Even with room to gain weight on his frame, Kozecar has a very solid kickstep as a guard. There were times where it was clear that Kozecar is used to run blocking as North Judson ran the ball nearly 44 times a game this past year, but with work to perfect his kickstep, Kozecar has what it takes to be a starting lineman for a FCS program.
Another linebacker that had an impressive day was 2025 backer Alexander Broshears from Evanville Memorial. At a stocky 5’10” 195, Broshears has a quick first step in pass coverage and was excellent in the open field tackling drills.
“I mean it is all the work I put in,” Broshears said. “I have a trainer, his name is Dylan Banks, its that work that pushes me to come here. If I come here without that work there will never be any offers coming, you are getting seen by everybody showing what you can do. One of my main goals is to reach 500 career tackles, if I push myself I think I can reach that mark.”
The rising senior is coming off a 125 solo tackle campaign in just 13 games with Memorial and is up to nearly 300 total tackles in his career. Not only if he pushes himself could he get that 500 career tackles, but Broshears has the aptitude and feel of a FCS level backer.
Overall, here were some of the top athletes at each position.
Quarterback:
Connor Cruz, 2026, Covenant Christian, 6’2” 185
Michael McColgan, 2026, Culver Military Academy, 6’0” 185
Oscar Frye, 2027, Brownsburg, 6’1” 160
Santana Allen, 2026, Cardinal Ritter
Running Back:
Alijah Price, 2025, Ben Davis, 5’6” 170
CJ Harris, 2025, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, 5’7” 170
Noah Boutsomsy, 2025, Saint Joseph, 5’3” 155
Josiah Gilmore, 2027, Carmel 5’10 175
Wide Receiver:
Jackson Harvey, 2026, Cathedral, 6’2” 170
Harold Mack, 2025, FW Wayne, 6’0” 160
Jerquaden Guilford, 2026, FW Northrop, 6’1” 155
Jamari Brown, 2025, Chicago, IL
Offensive Line:
Markus Hopson, 2025, Phoebus (VA), 6’2” 270
Cole Kozecar, 2025, North Judson San Pierre, 6’3” 280
James Williams, 2026, Lawrence Central, 6’3” 275
Defensive Line:
Elijah Berman, 2026, Chaminade Julienne (OH), 6’3” 270
Samuel Poriah, 2025, Westfield, 6’2” 230
Cameron Mchaney, 2026, Indy Lutheran, 6’2” 290
Linebacker:
Caleb Scott, 2026, Ben Davis
Carter Imes, 2024, Fishers, 6’0” 200
Keegan Krupp, 2025, Westfield, 6’1” 190
Alexander Broshears, 2025, Evansville Memorial, 5’10” 195
Defensive Back:
Daveon Surry, 2026, Bishop Luers, 5’9” 160
Damir Sanigan, 2025, Franklin Central, 6’3” 180