Before he became the most dynamic athlete in Manhattan High’s football history, before the title-game heroics, before the Miami pledge and the All-State recognition, JJ Dunnigan was simply a kid recovering from foot surgery, wondering where football would take him.
Two years later, it has taken him everywhere.
The senior wide receiver and defensive back powered Manhattan to a state championship, delivered the most dominant postseason stretch of his career and cemented himself as the most naturally gifted player head coach Joe Schartz has ever coached.
For all of it, Dunnigan is The Mercury’s Fall All-Flint Hills Male Athlete of the Year.
“First off, it’s a blessing, and I couldn’t do it without God,” he said of earning the honor. “It reminds me of the work I put in from a young age.”
Schartz has coached multiple state champions and Division I players, but when he’s asked where Dunnigan ranks, the answer is immediate.
“I’ve never coached anybody as talented as him at a young age,” Schartz said. “He’s still just 17…He’s reached a high level very early on.”
Then comes the line that frames Dunnigan’s place in Manhattan football history.
“He’s the best that I’ve ever coached,” Schartz said. “We’ve had a lot of good football players come through here, but the things he can do and how dominant he was — he’s the best.”
Schartz points to two plays that sealed it: Dunnigan’s 68-yard shake-and-bake sprint before halftime and his 50-yard tipped-pass touchdown in the third quarter of the 6A state championship.
“The two catches he made in the state championship game this year were very memorable,” Schartz said. “The catch before halftime gave us breathing room, and the circus catch for the second touchdown — I’ll never forget that.”
One year ago, Dunnigan walked off the field at Emporia State’s Welch Stadium with what was likely the most painful memory of his high school career — a potential game-winning pass deflected out of his hands in the state championship loss to Gardner Edgerton.
Manhattan High’s JJ Dunnigan drives on a punt return against Wichita Southeast linebacker Marcus Johnson during the Indians’ 45-6 regional round playoff win over the Golden Buffaloes Nov. 7 at Bishop Stadium. On special teams, Dunnigan returned six kicks for touchdowns — three punts and three kickoffs — and amassed 854 return yards, averaging 40 yards per touch.
This year, he refused to let that be the story. With Dunnigan on both sides, Manhattan dominated Olathe Northwest 27-0 for the 6A state title.
“It meant a lot, not only to me but to my teammates who were with me when we lost that game,” Dunnigan said. “We worked hard in the summer and throughout the season, even taking a couple of losses. But we knew that we were still going to get the win.”
His performance in the 2025 postseason became the stamp of Manhattan’s late-season rise. His touchdowns flipped games. His defensive presence locked down opponents. His leadership in the secondary anchored the state’s best unit.
And when the Indians needed him most in the state championship, he delivered one of his greatest games. And yet it felt like Dunnigan just being Dunnigan.
When you ask Dunnigan what drives him, and he begins somewhere deeper than football. He says his relationship with God strengthened significantly in high school.
“Ever since I started going to church and growing that relationship, a lot of things have been going well,” he said. “God has done a lot for me — not just in football, but in growing as a person.”
Football has been in his blood for as long as he can remember. His father, former Kansas State defensive back James Dunnigan, played and trained him from the time he was four years old. But there was a moment he nearly went another direction.
A foot injury in his sophomore year forced him to miss the entire basketball season — but it became a turning point.
“I hurt my foot and had to get surgery, so I couldn’t play the whole basketball season,” Dunnigan said. “After that, I stopped playing basketball and focused on football. It was a hard time — being out for three months when I wanted to get offers and looks from coaches — but putting all my eggs in one basket (football) turned out good for me.”
Dunnigan stayed involved beyond the field, too — running track, joining Black Student Union and eventually winning homecoming king.
“I want to be remembered as not only a great player, but someone on the team that won the state championship, someone who was in the hallways, had fun with other people, and was always good to be around,” Dunnigan said.
Dunnigan finished his Manhattan career with two Class 6A state championship rings — one as a freshman and one as a senior — along with a state runner-up finish as a junior. In his two seasons as a varsity two-way starter, he totaled 1,010 receiving yards, averaging 21.5 yards per catch with 14 touchdowns.
On defense, he recorded 151 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four interceptions and 15 pass breakups, despite opponents rarely throwing in his direction. On special teams, he returned six kicks for touchdowns — three punts and three kickoffs — and amassed 854 return yards, averaging 40 yards per touch when opponents dared to kick to him.
“It doesn’t matter offensively or defensively — that’s a matchup you know you’re going to win,” Schartz said. “I’ve coached guys you were pretty sure would win, but there was always a question. With JJ, you knew you were going to win that matchup. It’s a benefit offensively, defensively, and on special teams.”
Manhattan High’s JJ Dunnigan runs along the Olathe Northwest sideline during the Indians’ 27-0 6A state championship win against the Ravens Nov. 29 at Welch Stadium in Emporia. In his two seasons as a varsity two-way starter, Dunnigan accumulated 1,010 receiving yards, averaging 21.5 yards per catch with 14 touchdowns.
And now, Miami gets him next.
“It’s going to be exciting to watch,” Schartz said. “They’re getting a player who can help them win, and I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of him on the field for Miami.”
Dunnigan feels it, too. When Miami earned a College Football Playoff berth last week, he felt a jolt of what his future may hold.
“I was excited when I saw them make it,” he said. “I’m proud of the players and coaches and the development I’m seeing. It’s exciting for me.”
Before he leaves for Coral Gables as an early enrollee this spring, Dunnigan carries one final message about the place that shaped him.
“I learned a lot in my four years at Manhattan,” Dunnigan said. “I grew as a player and a person, and God doesn’t make mistakes. Everything happens for a reason, so I’m blessed.”
Schartz feels the same.
“He has had a great career here at Manhattan. We wish him all the best. Hopefully, he always remembers that he was a Manhattan High Indian — this is his home.”
From the weight room to the biggest moments on Kansas’ brightest stage, JJ Dunnigan bookmarked one of the most remarkable individual careers the program has ever seen, during one of the most dominant stretches in program history.
And now, he carries that legacy — and a state championship — with him into the next chapter.
THE MERCURY’S ALL-FLINT HILLS SELECTIONS
How we made our selections: We chose the teams from athletes who we felt represented the top level of the sport this past season. We considered coaches’ recommendations, statistics, class size and postseason success.
FOOTBALL
Player of the Year
JJ Dunnigan, senior, Manhattan
FIRST TEAM
Quarterback
Logan Fulton, junior, Wamego
Running back
Zion Bell, senior, Rock Creek
Cole Frank, senior, Wabaunsee
Wide receiver
Dominic Falco, senior, Wamego
Luke Skinner, junior, Rock Creek
Tight end
Mason Samuels, junior, Council Grove
Offensive line
Garrison Vikander, senior, Manhattan
Ben Ridder, senior, Manhattan
Carter Payne, senior, Manhattan
Cordae Kirksey, senior, Rock Creek
Ryan Heald, senior, Wamego
Defensive line
Evan Middleton, senior, Manhattan
Garrison Vikander, senior, Manhattan
Wade Rottinghaus, senior, Rock Creek
Brody Drogemeier, senior, Wabaunsee
Linebacker
Max Evans-Pryor, junior, Manhattan
Ezra Spiller, senior, Rock Creek
Mason Isch, junior, Wamego
Defensive back
JJ Dunnigan, senior, Manhattan
Nisbyc Johnson, senior, Manhattan
Arden Sylvester, junior, Wamego
Karson Toburen, senior, Rock Creek
Kicker
Jaxon Pendell, junior, Rock Creek
Punter
Garrison Vikander, senior, Manhattan
All-Purpose
Reid Buttrey, junior, Council Grove
SECOND TEAM
Quarterback
Finn Watson, senior, Manhattan
Running back
Kha’Mario Davis, senior, Manhattan
Rielyn Wurtz, senior, Riley County
Wide receiver
Reed McDiffett, junior, Wamego
JJ Dunnigan, senior, Manhattan
Tight end
Brendon Woodard, junior, Riley County
Offensive line
Wade Rottinghaus, senior, Rock Creek
Brock Henningson, senior, Manhattan
Grant Watkins, sophomore, Manhattan
Gunner Gleason, senior, Council Grove
Brody Drogemeier, senior, Wabaunsee
Defensive line
Cordae Kirksey, senior, Rock Creek
Tyler Hutchinson, senior, Council Grove
Kadin Dibbini, junior, Manhattan
Javaris Buchanan, sophomore, Manhattan
Linebacker
Nick Allen, senior, Rock Creek
Liam Nider, sophomore, Manhattan
Bradley Doornbos, junior, Council Grove
Defensive back
Joseph Mortensen, junior, Manhattan
Jacob DeRouchey, senior, Wamego
Noah Valburg, junior, Rock Creek
David McDiffett, junior, Council Grove
Kicker
Prescott Balderson, senior, Manhattan
Punter
Reid Buttrey, junior, Council Grove
All-Purpose
Joseph Mortensen, junior, Manhattan
HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterback
Tate Smith, sophomore, Rock Creek
Kadrick Woodard, junior, Riley County
Luke Stewart, junior, Council Grove
Running back
EJ Massenburg, junior, Manhattan
Cash Threet, junior, Wamego
Wide receiver
Wyatt Gehrt, senior, Wabaunsee
Ja’Marcus Vornes, senior, Manhattan
Tight end
Greyson Wassenburg, senior, Manhattan
Evan Middleton, senior, Manhattan
Karson Toburen, senior, Rock Creek
Karsyn Schoffner, senior, Wabaunsee
Offensive line
Grady Hastert, senior, Rock Creek
Nathaniel Hammond, senior, Riley County
Martin Loecker, junior, Riley County
Matthew Keller, senior, Wabaunsee
Tyler Poovey, junior, Wabaunsee
Defensive line
Roman Eveland, senior, Wamego
Jaran Vega, senior, Riley County
Karsyn Schoffner, senior, Wabaunsee
Linebacker
Brady Durtschi, senior, Manhattan
Talon Conrad, senior, Wamego
Evan Widman, junior, Riley County
Nathaniel Hammond, senior, Riley County
Brendon Woodard, junior, Riley County
Nate Irvin, senior, Blue Valley
Cole Frank, senior, Wabaunsee
Daylan Mzhickteno, senior, Wabaunsee
Defensive back
Michael Hamm, junior, Manhattan
Kody Kemp, senior, Manhattan
Jaxon Pendell, junior, Rock Creek
Rielyn Wurtz, senior, Riley County
Kadrick Woodard, junior, Riley County
Blaise French, senior, Council Grove
Wyatt Gehrt, senior, Wabaunsee
Maddux Weishaar, sophomore, Wabaunsee
CROSS COUNTRY
Wilson Wesch, senior, Manhattan
Patrick Huser, senior, Manhattan
Benjamin Huser, junior, Manhattan
Jaxon Wheeler, freshman, Manhattan
Kyler Grogg, sophomore, Manhattan
Levi Gurgel, freshman, Manhattan
Will Richards, senior, Manhattan
Peyton Parker, senior, Wamego
Logyn Evans, junior, Wamego
Braxton Williams, sophomore, Wamego
Emil Wolfe, senior, Wamego
Luke Ault, senior, Wamego
Isaac Ibendahl, senior, Wamego
James Bearman, senior, Wamego
Liam Johnston, sophomore, Rock Creek
Coltrane Johnston, freshman, Rock Creek
Mason Berggren, senior, Rock Creek
Dylan Nelson, senior, Rock Creek
Colton Davis, freshman, Rock Creek
Cooper Mowry, senior, Rock Creek
Simeon Bohlen, senior, Rock Creek
Jeter Adams, junior, Riley County
Dash Hancock, sophomore, Riley County
Tanner Rhoton, junior, Riley County
Cyrus England, senior, Riley County
Cooper Merriam, sophomore, Riley County
Sam Frese, junior, Riley County
Layton Wilson, freshman, Riley County
Jadyn Picolet, junior, Council Grove
Titus Cobb, junior, Blue Valley
Parker Montgomery, sophomore, Manhattan
SOCCER
Colby Taylor, junior, Manhattan
Mateo Sanchez, freshman, Manhattan
Skylard Buffington, senior, Manhattan
Ian Wassom, senior, Manhattan
Giovanni Espinoza, sophomore, Manhattan