Missouri recruiting notebook: More 2022s make pledges

Some of the top prospects from Missouri in the Class of 2022 made announcements on their college destinations in the past few weeks. We’re going to take a quick look at breaking down those players and where they are headed for college. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96167" first="Jason" last="Essex"], WR, Winnetonka (Iowa State)</strong> The state’s No. 71 prospect in the last Class of 2022 rankings, Essex was a hot prospect on the recruiting trail and attracted several Power 5 offers from the Big 12, Southeastern Conference and Pac-12. A 6-foot-3, 200-pounder with athleticism, Essex recorded 51 receptions for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior season a year ago and was also an all-conference honoree as a basketball player. Essex committed to Iowa State on July 16 over offers from Colorado, Kentucky, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37531" first="Brian" last="Brown"], QB, Lutheran North (Southern Illinois)</strong> Brown, the No. 50 prospect in Missouri’s 2020 rankings, became the second Show Me-state quarterback from the Class of 2020 to commit to a Division I school, following [player_tooltip player_id="171825" first="Tre" last="Baker"] of Lee’s Summit North (Abilene Christian). In the past two seasons, Brown has passed for 2,495 yards, with 32 touchdowns against six interceptions. He’s also ran for 693 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brown led Lutheran North to a state championship as a sophomore and is 20-1 as the Crusaders’ starting quarterback. North coach Kyle Wagner recently said Southern Illinois and Indiana State were the leading schools recruiting his quarterback. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172240" first="Dalesean" last="Staley"], ATH, Blue Springs (Northern Iowa)</strong> A 6-1, 190-pounder, Staley is an impact player on both sides of the football as a wide receiver and a versatile defender who plays both linebacker and defensive back. He has the size, frame and athleticism that he could end up on either side of the ball in college. Staley committed to Northern Iowa on July 18 after reporting offers from Northwest Missouri State, Fort Hayes State and Northern Iowa in June. He became the third Blue Springs senior to commit to a Division I school, following defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="99750" first="Ikenna" last="Ezeogu"] and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="104345" first="Carson" last="Willich"], who have both committed to Iowa State. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99449" first="Chris" last="Brooks Jr"], WR, St. Louis University High (Yale)</strong> Brooks, a 6-3, 210-pounder, had a breakthrough junior campaign a year ago when he caught 20 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns in four games and emerged as a Division I prospect this offseason. He received offers from a variety of schools, including Miami (Ohio), Eastern Illinois, South Dakota State, Lehigh, Illinois State, Northern Colorado, Buffalo, Brown, Ball State, Penn, Bucknell and Columbia before making a verbal commitment to Yale on July 16. Brooks figures to be one of the top wide receivers in the state this fall. SLUH has a strong collect of skilled position players with Division I receivers in senior [player_tooltip player_id="37522" first="Isaac" last="Thompson"] (Missouri) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="125255" first="Ryan" last="Wingo"] as well as a prospective Division I tight end in junior [player_tooltip player_id="103409" first="Zach" last="Ortwerth"]. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37606" first="Jalen" last="Lee"], DB, Fort Zumwalt North (South Dakota State)</strong> A 6-1, 180-pound cornerback, Lee recorded 41 tackles and a fumble recovery during Zumwalt North's 11-2 campaign a year ago. Lee committed to South Dakota State on July 10 after also receiving offers from Indiana State, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood and Southern Illinois. &nbsp; <em><strong>Follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at @natelatsch.</strong></em>