After battling through a significant knee injury during the offseason, Caleb Newell isn’t measuring success solely by statistics entering the 2026 football season. Instead, the veteran lineman is focused on helping lead a team filled with new faces.
Newell said he’s eager to see how his teammates develop after the graduation of several key seniors.
“I’m most excited to see how much our team develops this season with having several young teammates stepping up to fill varsity spots,” he said.
The offseason didn’t unfold exactly as Newell had planned. An ACL and meniscus injury suffered during basketball season in February forced him to alter his preparation for football.
“I had an ACL/meniscus injury in basketball this past February, which has limited my offseason training,” Newell said. “I have been working hard in physical therapy to get back to football for this upcoming season.”
Despite the setback, Newell has remained committed to improving every aspect of his game. While physical rehabilitation has been a priority, he has also concentrated on becoming a stronger leader and sharpening the skills that have made him one of the area’s top defensive linemen.
“I want to improve in my leadership due to having lost a lot of experienced seniors the past two years,” Newell said. “I’ve been working on my stamina and explosiveness on the D-line.”
That leadership role is one Newell embraces entering the season. Individually, he wants to build upon last year’s production while setting the tone for his teammates.
“My goal is to be a strong leader for my team and exceed my stats in tackles and sacks from the last two years,” he said.
Last season, Newell recorded 34 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, and one sack while earning recognition as one of the state’s top linemen. His list of honors includes KSHSAA first-team defense and second-team offense, Sports in Kansas senior small-class all-state honorable mention, Wichita Eagle second-team all-state defense, Wichita City League first-team defensive line, KSHSAA Covered Class 1A honorable mention at defensive and offensive line, and District VII first-team defensive line honors.
While Newell has individual aspirations, he said the team’s success remains the top priority.
“Team-wise, I want us to have a winning record and make it further in the playoffs than last year,” he said.
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