Week 6 Individual Matchups to Watch in the KC Metro

[player_tooltip player_id='127724' first='Jordan' last='Allen'] (Olathe South) VS Shawnee Mission NW Running Game   [player_tooltip player_id='127724' first='Jordan' last='Allen'] – 6'4 240 PRZ Sr DL1   [player_tooltip player_id='237214' first='Malik' last='O'Atis'] – 5'10 170, PRZ Sr RB4   [player_tooltip player_id='351914' first='Jacob' last='O'Donnell'] – 6'5 275 PRZ So OL6   A strong case can be made that K-State signee [player_tooltip player_id='127724' first='Jordan' last='Allen'] is the best senior defensive prospect in the state. The senior edge rusher is a speed to power demon, with devastating explosion at the point of attack, and the upper body strength to violently shed blockers. He is a particularly effective run defender, as his core strength is a notch above most of his competition, which coupled with his length allows him to eat up contact and stack at the point of attack. Moreover, Allen has tremendous length, and the agility to chase down the los and rip down ball carriers before they can turn upfield. In the backfield for Northwest will be one of the best running backs in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='237214' first='Malik' last='O'Atis'] (pictured above). The senior running back is a shifty and creative runner, with sudden stop start ability and a dead leg in the open field that vexes opposing defenders. Along the offensive line for the Jaguars will be [player_tooltip player_id='351914' first='Jacob' last='O'Donnell'], who has the looks of a blue-chip offensive line prospect with tremendous size and reach, and natural knee bend. Only a sophomore, O'Donnell still has a ways to go in his development, and Allen's power and upper body strength will be a huge test for the young tackle. As [player_tooltip player_id='237214' first='Malik' last='O'Atis'] likes to use measured approaches at the los, which allows him to use his vision and suddenness, it will be up to his offensive line to hold the edge against the best edge run defender in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='237220' first='John' last='Niesen'] (St James) VS John Michael Pujado/[player_tooltip player_id='87679' first='Lake' last='Ryan'] (Blue Valley West)   [player_tooltip player_id='237220' first='John' last='Niesen'] – 6'3 185 PRZ Sr WR2   [player_tooltip player_id='87679' first='Lake' last='Ryan'] – 6'4 200 PRZ Sr DB2   John Michael Pujado – 5'10 180 Unranked Sr DB   Niesen is one of, if not the toughest cover in the state. He has excellent size and length, and he expertly uses it box out and stack smaller defensive backs. He can also eat up cushions on vertical routes with his long stride, and is extremely difficult to defend in jump ball situations down the field. All this, however, is only the beginning of the nightmare for opposing DBs. Niesen is an excellent route salesman, staying nice and compact going into his stem, using a series of head fakes and shoulder drops to keep defenders guessing. He can also keeps defensive backs off balance with very good speed variance, and he has the balance and footwork for a sudden stop/start that creates instant separation. While there may not be a corner in the state that can hang with Niesen for 4 quarters, Blue Valley West might have the 1-2 punch to at least limit the damage. Pujado is a smart and tenacious corner that knows how to read receivers and has the foot quickness to mirror on short and intermediate routes. Backing him up will be [player_tooltip player_id='87679' first='Lake' last='Ryan'], the top senior safety in the state, who can match Niesen's size and physicality. Ryan is fluid for a 6'4 kid, and does an excellent job reading the QB and tracking the ball. He can cover ground quickly on the back end, and has a knack for getting a jump on, and undercutting passes. He can also line up in man coverage in a pinch, and in this scenario Niesen might find it difficult to stack him to create separation.   [player_tooltip player_id='254418' first='Terrance' last='Saunders II'] (Blue Valley West) VS [player_tooltip player_id='127767' first='Wade' last='Spencer'] (St James)   Terrance Saunders – 6'4 275 PRZ Sr OL9   [player_tooltip player_id='127767' first='Wade' last='Spencer'] – 6'2 220 PRZ Sr DL3   Going back to the showdown in Stillman, with a no-brainer between these two alpha bulls. Saunders is as nasty an offensive lineman as you'll find in the state of Kansas. He uses his heavy, violent hands to win instantly, with the hip flexibility to mirror while engaged, and the power to take his assignment clean out of the rep. Saunders is also light on his feet in pass pro, and has a frame that allows for a very wide base that is difficult to get around. [player_tooltip player_id='127767' first='Wade' last='Spencer'] led the state in sacks as a junior, and did so with an impressive combination of quickness, tenacity and craft. Spencer has a devastating lateral step, which combined with quick and accurate hands, allows him to effortlessly cross the face of his blocker and burst upfield clean of any contact. Also one of the top wrestlers the KCM has to offer, Spencer plays with tremendous leverage, and can get up and under his blocker in a blink. What makes this one of the more intriguing individual matchups of the 2023 season is the cat and mouse game. Spencer doesn't have great reach, so Saunders will want to get those violent mitts on him as quickly as possible, but Spencer has the quicker hands. Saunders isn't a natural knee bender, which means James will want to use his flexibility and low center of gravity to attack before Saunders can square him up and land his jarring punch at the point of attack. This is truly the irresistible force meets the immovable object.

Jordan Allen Jordan Allen 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Olathe South | 2023 State KS (Olathe South) VS Shawnee Mission NW Running Game