As we head towards a new football season, IdahoSports.com is once again getting fans ready by unveiling the Top 10 players at each position.  These lists feature players from all corners of the state, and from all six classification levels.  Each week, we'll publish a new list of Top 10 players.  Here's the schedule:

July 6 (Offensive Linemen)

July 14 (Defensive Linemen)

July 17 (Special Teams)

July 20 (Running Backs)

July 27 (Linebackers)

August 3 (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends)

August 10 (Defensive Backs)

August 17 (Quarterbacks)

These selections are listed in alphabetical order by school.  These opinions are my own, and I made these selections based on a number of factors, including: returning All-State or All-Conference pedigree, college recruiting hype, and the good old-fashioned eye test.

Disagree?  Send me an email at brandon@idahosports.com.

Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Special Teamers to watch out for in 2026.  

Cadden Hathaway, 12, Camas County

In eight-man football, players rarely contribute in just one phase of the game, and that’s certainly true for Hathaway.  The senior is expected to lead the Mushers’ wide receivers and defensive secondary, but it was his punting prowess that lead to All-State honors a year ago.  Hathaway averaged 42 yards per punt in 2025, with a long of 48 yards.

Quincey Clay, 11, Capital

Clay could have easily qualified for our Top 10 Wide Receivers/Tight Ends list after compiling more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage a season ago.  But there’s no better indicator of Clay’s explosiveness with the ball than his numbers on kick returns: 559 total yards, an average of 37.3 yards per return, and two house calls that went all the way for touchdowns.

Conner Christensen, 12, Clearwater Valley

Christensen was a true defensive weapon for the Rams in 2025.  When he wasn’t terrorizing opposing quarterbacks as a pass rusher, he was uncorking incredible punts that continuously put the opposition in less-than-ideal territory.  The 1st Team All-Whitepine League punter enjoyed a long of 55 yards, and had three punts land inside the 20-yard line.

Cougar Stockham, 12, Gooding

Gooding coach Jon Helmandollar got the ultimate amount of mileage from Stockham last year.  Stockham quarterbacked the offense, anchored the secondary on defense, and handled kicking and punting duties.  The 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior nailed 21-of-26 point after tries, and was 4-of-5 on field goals, with a long of 45 yards.

Jonah Knapp, 12, Hagerman

Eight-man football teams rarely attempt PATs, so the only chance to really showcase your kicking abilities is to see how far you can boot the ball on kickoffs and punts.  No one did that better in eight-man football last year than Knapp.  The 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior led all eight-man players in total kickoff yardage (2,356 yards), and had season-long kicks of 74 yards (on kickoff) and 56 yards (on punt).

Cedric Mitchell, 12, Highland (Pocatello)

Most fans know about Mitchell’s exploits as Highland’s bell-cow running back the past two seasons, but as he enters his senior season, don’t sleep on his punting abilities, either.  The 6-foot, 190-pounder averaged 40.7 yards per punt last year, with a long of 66 yards.  He also landed nine punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.  Mitchell has fielded a bevy of offers to play at the next level, including two from the Division I ranks (Idaho State and Utah Tech).

Drew Haines, 12, Lewiston

When most fans in north Idaho hear the name Drew Haines, the first place their mind takes them is the basketball court.  And while it’s true that the 6-foot-5, 190-pound senior was a key member of last year’s 5A state runner-up basketball team, he is also quietly gaining momentum on the gridiron as Idaho’s top-rated long snapper.  Haines is currently ranked 39th nationally by Rubio Long Snapping, the pre-eminent program for developing long snappers, and has been rated as a 4.5 star prospect (out of 5 stars total).

Benson Morris, 12, Ridgevue

Ridgevue qualified for the playoffs for the first time in school history last season, with several nail-biters along the way.  Most of those close-shave contests went the Warhawks’ way, thanks in part to Morris, who missed one PAT all season (29-of-30 overall).  He also drilled 5-of-7 field goals with a long of 37 yards, and averaged 51.7 yards per kickoff.

Brock Yarbrough, 12, Sandpoint

The most versatile player in Idaho high school football resides in Sandpoint.  The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior burst onto the scene last year, earning 1st Team All-State honors at both wide receiver and linebacker.  But wait, there’s more…Yarbrough also shined on special teams.  He was a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals, with a long of 38 yards, and only missed one PAT (40-of-41).  But wait, there’s more…Yarbrough also averaged 38.6 yards per punt.  But wait, there’s more…He also had nine touchbacks while kicking off.  But wait, there’s more…Yarbrough also handled kickoff return duties for the Bulldogs, and averaged 22.3 yards per return.  But wait, there’s more...Actually, that’s it.  But what more could you possibly want?

Latrell Markle, 12, Sugar-Salem

Markle led the entire state of Idaho in kickoff yardage, finishing with 3,227 total yards.  Certainly some of that was a product of Sugar-Salem’s explosive offense, which led to more kickoff opportunities.  But also consider: 37 of Markle’s 58 kickoffs (nearly 64%) were touchbacks.  And the senior also connected on 19-of-24 PATs.