Seniors Ready for the Spotlight: Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're at that point in the calendar when the ranking updates begin to slow down, and season previews are in full swing. Folks across Kansas are likely now caught up on a majority of the top players from the Class of '24. However, there are still so many prospects from the upcoming senior class that folks need to remember this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Class 6A down to the smaller schools in the state, there are a number of prospects with next-level size and athleticism patiently waiting to put folks on notice during the '23 campaign. Over the rest of this week, we'll be previewing a few of these players to truly give them the recognition they deserve. This first group of seniors is a nice mix of offensive and defensive talent hailing from Class 5A down to Class 2A. </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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1112069' first='Vinny' last='Jones']","_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":"Paola","_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThere were several unranked prospects from the Class of '24 that used the summer to bolster their resumes. One that comes to mind is [player_tooltip player_id='1112069' first='Vinny' last='Jones'] of Paola. Jones is a physically gifted athlete with a solid frame; standing at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. He made quite the statement before the end of July, as he turned several heads at the u003cemu003eSharp Top Prospectu003c/emu003e combine on July 17. The Paola product posted an impressive 4.52 40-yard dash time, as well as an explosive 39-inch vertical. He's a player the Panthers are likely to use in a variety of ways this season.u003c/pu003e","_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":"Thomas Mclntyre","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Wamego","_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAdvancing to the state title game in back-to-back years is never an easy task. Especially after graduating the offensive talent Wamego had from the 2022 season. The Red Raiders are a team likely figuring out what their identity will be this fall. Luckily for Wamego, they'll be able to rely on returning starter, Thomas Mclntyre. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound back ended his junior year as one of the leading rushers for Wamego, as he accumulated over 800 yards on the ground and hit pay dirt eight times. He's a shifty runner with good vision, and possesses all the tools necessary to be the focal point of Wamego's offense.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1103612' first='Declan' last='Battle']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Louisburg","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe end of the '22 campaign wasn't what the Louisburg Wildcats envisioned. Still yet, they're a program that finished with eight wins last season, and should be a tough squad once again during the '23 campaign. Especially with [player_tooltip player_id='1103612' first='Declan' last='Battle'] leading the way. Battle's play at quarterback helped elevate the Wildcats' offense in 2022, as they averaged more points per game and increased their win total by four games. His dual-threat ability helped produce over 1,700 yards of total offense and 18 total touchdowns. The senior should be considered a pre-season candidate for u003cemu003e4A Offensive Player of the Year.u003c/emu003eu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1103610' first='Jake' last='Jasnoski']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Goddard","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIt's not very often in Kansas that a graduating class contains multiple tight ends that are 6-foot-3 or taller. The Class of '24 rankings currently has eight listed, and there are still more on the outside looking in. [player_tooltip player_id='1103610' first='Jake' last='Jasnoski'] of Goddard is the latest unranked tight end to grab our attention. He's a bit more slender compared to the rest of the tight ends in the class, but he's just as athletic and has shown glimpses of being a solid pass-catcher. Jasnoski is also an underrated blocker, and has even shown promise on defense as an outside linebacker.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1103590' first='Kaleb' last='Scott']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Basehor-Linwood","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eCertain families just have football embedded in their DNA. The state of Kansas has produced quite a few football families over the years, and it appears the Scott family out of Basehor-Linwood is one of the latest. Folks who follow Bobcat football and Butler Community College likely know of [player_tooltip player_id='1103590' first='Kaleb' last='Scott']'s older brother Eric. But this season, fans and recruiters will quickly find out about Kaleb. The senior heads into the '23 campaign as one of the most dangerous kickoff returners from Class 4A, and he's a safety with tremendous upside as well. Scott racked up 52 total tackles, four pass breakups and one interception on defense as a junior, and he averaged 29 yards per kick return.u003c/pu003e","_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='1109205' first='Christian' last='McAfee']","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Sabetha","_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":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAs the game of football continues to evolve, so do the athletes at every level. Freakishly large-athletic prospects are sprouting up on the daily. Even from smaller schools such as Sabetha. Their senior class is headlined by quite a few prospects with Division-I level size. One of these prospects is [player_tooltip player_id='1109205' first='Christian' last='McAfee']. He's a 6-foot-4, 215-pound two-way player that fits the mold of the modern H-back and hybrid defender. Offensively, he's shown a willingness to lead block at tight end and fullback, and he presents a big target in the passing game. Defensively, McAfee is a solid run defender off the edge, and he possesses the range to play in coverage.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d2e7071e2e3"} /-->