Preseason Preview: Cardinal Ritter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals Ritter Lions are looking to repeat as the Class 3 state champs in 2023, and they may be even more talented in their quest to do so with a group of talented returning starters and newcomers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions are one of two teams in Missouri to return two D1 quarterbacks in 2023. Senior<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='720085' first='Antwon' last='McKay'] Jr.</strong> (6'2" 190) and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='299504' first='Carson' last='Boyd']</strong> (6'0" 185) are back to run the offense after leading their team to a state championship. McKay Jr., who is committed to Northern Iowa, threw for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air, and added another 2 on the ground. Boyd threw for over 1,500 yards and and 28 touchdowns, with only 3 interceptions, while completing over 75% of his throws. For good measure the very athletic Boyd ran for another 500 yards and 3 more scores. Carson has already picked up double-digit offers, including from Missouri, Texas A&amp;M, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa State and others. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions will have the services of national junior RB target <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='188601' first='Jamarion' last='Parker']</strong> (6'0" 200) again after the big-time back sat out last season. Parker has accumulated 25 offers despite that from schools in the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and MAC schools, along with smaller schools. Having him back will be big for Ritter. However, the Lions also return very talented junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='188604' first='Keon' last='Sloan'] </strong>(6'0" 195) who rushed for over 300 yards and a few TDs as a sophomore. Sloan is also very capable catching the ball out of the backfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite graduating their top two receivers who headed to Michigan and Missouri State, the Lions will have an even more talented group of young receivers stepping up next. Senior<strong> Aiyon Carter </strong>returns after having 350 yards and a couple touchdowns on 33 catches last year. He will be joined by junior<strong> Dejarrian Miller</strong> (6'3" 190) who transferred in from East St. Louis. Miller had 445 yards on 26 receptions and 4 touchdowns for the Flyers on their state championship run. He is a D1 prospect with multiple offers already. Junior Elijah Abdullah returns along with one of the most talented sophomore group of receivers you will find in the country in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='691330' first='Elijah' last='Lucas']</strong> (6'3" 200), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128408' first='Armaad' last='Sharp']</strong> (6'2" 190),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1128406' first='Lamarcus' last='Simmons']</strong> (5'9" 165), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128410' first='Manny' last='Ellis'] </strong>(5'6" 155) and transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='691308' first='De'Shaun' last='Stevenson'] </strong>(5'10" 160) who comes over from St. Mary's, where he had 7 catches for 116 yards as a freshman, and is already getting attention of colleges. All of them have big play ability and look like future college porpsects. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors <strong>Jayden Chambers</strong> (6'4" 330),<strong> Lionel Stockard</strong> ( 6'4" 280) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172591' first='Quentin' last='Jackson'] </strong>return to lead the offensive line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line will be talented once again with seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185475' first='Cameron' last='Clayborn']</strong> (6'1" 235) DT and DE <strong>Michael Eiland</strong> (6'3" 215), and junior DT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1305805' first='Bryce' last='Gray']</strong> (6'1" 240) They will be joined by junior D1 Edge prospect <strong>Charles Brooks</strong> III (6'4" 210), who had a great offseason and picked up his first D1 offer at Lindenwood camp because of his performance there. Clayborn had 96 tackles, Gray 78 tackles and 7 sacks and Eiland 33 tackles and a sack for the 2022 champs. DE/LB <strong>Isaiah Edwards</strong> ( 6'0" 225) is also back for his senior season after recording 89 tackles and 9 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talented senior linebacker <strong>Joseph Reed</strong> (6'1" 207) also returns after a big junior year where he contributed 88 tackles and 4 sacks with 2 fumble recoveries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ritter's defensive backfield will be very talented again and also feature multiple D1 prospects. Juniors<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='669410' first='Antonio' last='Parker']</strong> (6'0" 170) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='188605' first='Tyron' last='Steed']</strong> (6'2" 180) blew up following last season picking multiple D1 offers from schools across the country. Steed had 41 tackles and a pick as a sophomore, and Parker Jr. 19 tackles and a pick while providing lockdown coverage on receivers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->