Salina South quarterback Izzy Telles enters the 2026 season with unfinished business after helping the Cougars make a late-season playoff push a year ago. Now, with experience under his belt and lofty expectations for both himself and his team, the junior signal-caller is focused on taking the next step.
For Telles, few games on the schedule generate more excitement than Salina South’s annual showdown with crosstown rival Salina Central in the Mayor’s Cup.
“The thing I’m most excited for is the Mayor’s Cup (South vs. Central) and building on the playoff run we had late season last year,” Telles said.
The postseason appearance gave the Cougars valuable momentum entering the offseason, and Telles has spent the past several months making sure he’s ready to lead the offense even further this fall.
His offseason included a mix of college camps, 7-on-7 competitions and the team’s summer strength program, all designed to sharpen his skills and prepare him for another demanding campaign.
“This offseason I have been going to college camps, going to 7-on-7 and we’ve had summer weights,” Telles said.
While his production last season earned statewide recognition, Telles isn’t satisfied. He identified pocket movement and footwork as the areas that could elevate his game from one of the state’s best to an even higher level.
“One area I’m wanting to improve is pocket movement and footwork,” he said. “I’ve been doing footwork drills and training like an athlete.”
The numbers from last season suggest Telles is already among Kansas’ top quarterbacks. He earned first-team All-League honors and was named first-team All-State Non-Senior after accounting for 2,269 total yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 153 passes.
Those accomplishments have only fueled bigger goals heading into the new season.
“Some goals I have are winning first-team All-League, reaching 3,000 yards,” Telles said. “Some team goals I have are to have a winning record and make a deep run in the playoffs.”
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