Shawnee County's football legends: Cast your vote for the best

The best football player to come out of Shawnee County is always a healthy debate. There have some outstanding players from the area and now is your time to vote.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time.

Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities.

Below are 15 players who performed at a high level in the Topeka area. Vote from this group of players or write in your own answer for the best football player from Shawnee County.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 31: Corey Ballentine #35 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with teammates after an interception during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Corey Ballentine, Shawnee Heights

The 2014 Shawnee Heights grad has only improved since his time in Tecumseh as a defensive back. Ballentine shined at Washburn, as he was named the Cliff Harris Award winner for the best small college defensive player. Ballentine has enjoyed a seven-year NFL career, and he recently signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

Dan Davis, Hayden

Davis led the Wildcats to the 1998 Class 4A State Championship. At the time, Davis rushed for 5,598 yards, which was the all-time rushing mark for most yards in city history. That mark stood for nearly 20 years. He also played collegiately at Missouri.

Tom Dinkel starred at Shawnee Heights and the University of Kansas before going on to an eight-year NFL career. (File photo/The Capital-Journal)

Tom Dinkel, Shawnee Heights

The linebacker helped the Cincinnati Bengals reach the Super Bowl in 1981. He played eight seasons with the Bengals and served as a team captain. The Shawnee Heights product played collegiately for Kansas before being drafted by the Bengals in the fifth round in 1978. He was an all-Big Eight second-team selection with the Jayhawks in 1977.

Will Geary, Topeka High

The 2013 Topeka High graduate was a first-team all-Class 6A selection and was named the defensive player of the year in his final season. Geary went on to Kansas State, where he was a first-team All-American in 2017. He was the first Kansas State interior defensive lineman in over 30 years to receive first-team all-conference honors in three straight seasons.

In this file photo, Rossville's Tucker Horak gets set for a pass against Scott City in Saturday's 3A state championship game. Horak will play in Saturday’s 7 p.m. Kansas Shrine Bowl in Emporia.

Tucker Horak, Rossville

The quarterback led the Bulldawgs to state championship victories in 2014 and 2015. He held a 40-1 record as Rossville’s signal caller. Horak was also the first quarterback in Kansas history to pass for 2,000 and rush for 2,000 yards. Horak, who moved to running back, played six years at Pittsburg State, ending his career in 2021.

Wyatt Hubert, Shawnee Heights

The defensive end was an all-state pick during his senior season in 2016. Hubert ended his high school career with 124 career tackles, 43.0 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks. He was the Centennial League Defensive Player of the Year. In college, Hubert dominated for Kansas State, earning first-team all-Big 12 honors in 2020. He ended his college career with the eighth-most sacks in K-State history. Hubert was drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Browns OG Teven Jenkins re-signs in NFL free agency (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Teven Jenkins, Topeka High

Jenkins is a former Topeka High standout who played for the Trojans from 2012 to 15. He was a two-time all-state selection. He was a second-round selection in 2021 by the Chicago Bears after a five-year career at Oklahoma State. With the Cowboys, Jenkins was a first-team all-Big 12 selection in his senior season. Jenkins re-signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason after playing in all 17 games for Cleveland last year.

Tony Leiker, Silver Lake

A 1983 graduate of Silver Lake, Leiker was an all-state player before attending Coffeyville Community College. Leiker helped the Ravens win the national title during his freshman season. Leiker moved on to Stanford, where he was a first-team all-Pac 10 pick in 1986. Leiker was a seventh-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Trey Lewis, Washburn Rural

The defensive lineman graduated from Washburn Rural in 2003, earning all-city honors. He played at Washburn from 2003-06 and is now inducted into the Washburn Athletics Hall of Fame. Lewis was the first Washburn player to be named to the Associated Press Little All-American team in over 40 years. Lewis was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Kyle McNorton 1982

Kyle McNorton, Seaman

The 1978 Seaman graduate is one of the top defensive players from the area. He ended his high school career with 356 tackles and was also named the Shrine Bowl’s Most Valuable Player. McNorton led Kansas’ defense in tackles in 1980 and 1981. McNorton’s 381 tackles rank sixth-most in KU history. McNorton played two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dec 26, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Desmond Purnell (32) against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Desmond Purnell, Hayden

The 2021 Hayden graduate was a first-team all-state selection staring on offense and defense in his final season. Purnell finished his college football career last fall with Kansas State. He played in 52 games for the Wildcats, ranking 11th in school history. The linebacker was a two-time all-Big 12 honorable mention pick.

Warren Seitz, Topeka West

The quarterback was an all-city selection with Topeka West in 1980. He was a three-year letterman with Missouri. Seitz was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 10th round of the 1986 NFL Draft. After one year with the Steelers, Seitz played a season for the New York Giants, too.

Troy Wilson, Shawnee Heights

The defensive lineman is best known for helping the San Francisco 49ers win the 1995 Super Bowl. After a great career with Shawnee Heights —which featured state title victories in shot put and discus — Wilson won the NCAA Division II National Championship with Pittsburg State in 1992. Wilson ranks No. 1 in Pitt State history for most sacks in a season with 23. He also owns the second-most career sacks in school history with 45. Wilson was drafted in the seventh round by the 49ers before enjoying a nine-year NFL career.

Washburn senior running back Ky Thomas (8) poses during media day at Yager Stadium on Aug. 15, 2025.

Ky Thomas, Topeka High

The best running back in Shawnee County history. Thomas rushed for 7,703 yards in his high school career, which is the most in city history. This mark also ranks second-most in Kansas high school football history, too. He was the Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year in 2019. Thomas started his college career at Minnesota and followed it with a season at KU. Thomas played two more seasons at Kent State before wrapping up his career at Washburn last fall.

The Seahawks will rely more on Michael Wilhoite if fellow linebackers Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright can't play this weekend against the Rams.

Michael Wilhoite, Highland Park

As a high schooler, Wilhoite played quarterback for Highland Park in his lone season in Topeka. The 2005 Highland Park graduate played defense for Washburn in college. He was known for his versatility, playing multiple different positions. Wilhoite was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He played for the 49ers from 2011 to 2016, where he helped them reach the 2013 Super Bowl. Wilhoite ended his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 after playing six years in the NFL.

Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Vote for Shawnee County's all-time football player