2023 Senior Watch: United Kansas Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kansas City vs. Wichita: Who has the most exciting football in the state. It is a rivalry that will continue year in and year out. Every year athletes emerge from both cities and ball out before getting offers to play football on some of the biggest stages in the country. Some years might be lopsided, others are very close as to who has the better talent. In 2023, the United Kansas Conference will be displaying its fair share of athletes across the KC-metro. Here are the seniors across the conference that are looking to show out this fall, not only for their teams and recruitment, but to put to rest which city hosts the best football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jack Bloom","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Seaman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jack Bloom is a player ready to put hats to hats for 48 minutes every Friday. On defense he excels at containing running backs and keeping them towards the teeth of the defense. He stays stacked in the box at linebacker for run support most of the time and does well at what he does. Although Bloom may stay on flat on his feet at the start of plays, he is still there to keep backs from exploding out into open field. On offense is where he is most comfortable. He has good speed and balance that keep him hard to bring down from behind, as well as good trucking ability and stiff arms that make it just as hard to bring him down from the front. He will line up in the slot as well, and even though he may not have the quickness or hands to separate from a press coverage, he has been able to use his speed for large catches on the seam.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Quahyton Acquaye","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Topeka West","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Acquaye has the tools to make the biggest jump to his game in the entire conference. He does all of the little things right. He flows into running lanes, has good hands when the ball comes his way, and always positions himself to be in the right spot on both sides of the ball. The only thing keeping Quahyton from being the most dominant Linebacker/Running Back in the KC area is the velocity in which he plays the game. Several times he is seen running to opposing players instead on running through them, as well as not moving as fast as he could in order to fill running lanes. He has the size and the strength to do damage between the tackles. As soon as he is able to fully utilize these into his game, there is nothing stopping him from leading the UKC in tackles","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["334729"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"VanDonge's game reminds me of the way Trevor Lawrence plays the game of football, minus the hair. Brady has one of the best pocket presences in the state. He has great feet, stands tall, will take a hit, and still zip it across the field in a way not many athletes can do. He excels when the wide side of the field is to his left, and can deliver amazing touch to the back of the end zone. When his receivers are not able to get open, or the pocket collapses, VanDonge has the speed to outrun most of the guys on the field. Although he does not break too many tackles or show off his elusiveness, that is not his game. He will use his speed to get out and pick up first downs or touchdowns in order to keep the game alive so that he can burn you with his arm.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["335817"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Gonzales makes a case for being the most complete player in the UKC. He has good size and long arms that make it hard for O-Linemen to get hands on him. He is strong enough to rip them off of him in rush coverage, as well as bull rushing centers and closing pockets single-handedly. He is also quick and able to side step chip blocks and traps designed for him, making him even harder to game plan around. He is also a high motor guy and will run down plays taking place 10-15 yards away from him and make the tackle. Although he may get swallowed by a double team on occasion, he is still clogging up running lanes and set to anchor that Thunderbird defense in the fall.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["543073"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Henson is a linebacker that you want on your side. Running as fast as anyone else on the field, his entire purpose in hitting is to knock the soul out of the ball carrier. It is no surprise Henson had over 100 tackles last season. He has long strong arms that prevent blockers to get a good hold on him, and can bring down running backs while being blocked. Even on offense he is seen laying great blocks at fullback, while still running with the ball carriers behind him. He may get lost in space in pass coverage, but he is most comfortable off the edge or blitzing gaps in pass rush. There is nothing Henson can't do in the box, and can do everything with the best of the best.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='938454' first='Ryan' last='French']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Lansing","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"French is a big body receiver that is virtually unstoppable when utilized correctly. As a wide out, French has a massive frame. 6 foot 2 and about 200 pounds. He has great body control and can box out corners and safeties with back shoulder passes and fades. His jumping ability allows him to play over most defensive backs as well. It is no surprise that a majority of his highlights are in the red zone. He is a jump ball guy that will go up and get it. He does not have much RAC or phenomenal speed, but that is not his game. If you need a third down conversion or a touchdown, you can't ask for much more than French.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["259775"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Rounding out this list is possibly the best defensive back in the city. Tadlock's position is technically safety, but he plays all over the field. He thrives off his run coverage and will fly into the backfield to create TFLs. He has great speed that he uses for all aspect of the defense, not allowing anyone behind him and allowing himself to see the entire field. In man coverage, he owns a great plant foot that allows him to be able to jump on out routes and takes them the other way for six. He tackles very well, running through both receivers and backs alike. Tadlock has a tendency to start plays flat-footed or standing straight up, but he possesses the speed and instincts that he will rarely be caught away from a play.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63da9593653d2"} /-->