UKC Prospects: Lansing, De Soto, Basheor-Linwood

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The United Kansas Conference is a football league that over the past five years has gotten super competitive and has been providing college-level talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I will be scouting this league heavily this fall and look forward to watching multiple games involving teams from the nine-team league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the first of multiple reports to come this fall focusing on prospects from the UKC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Howell</strong>, ATH, 5'10”, 185, Lansing, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Due to an injury in 2022, an under-the-radar senior prospect heading into the 2023 season is Lansing's Howell. This guy is a tough-nosed football player who can play multiple positions. He lists himself as a RB/LB on his Hudl account, but on the coach's preseason prospectus, he is listed as a WR/DB. No matter what position Howell lines up at he brings greasy speed to the plate on offense and he will bring the wood on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='938454' first='Ryan' last='French']</strong>, TE, 6'2”, 220, Lansing, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>French has great odds to play college sports, the question for him is whether to bet on football or basketball. He a tall physical specimen who creates match-up problems on the football field and basketball court. He finished his junior season with 13 receptions for 163 yards, so if anything, he might be underutilized in the offense. He is a solid blocker and caught four touchdowns in 2022. On the hardwood, he averaged 10 points per game as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334730' first='Sam' last='Lough']</strong>, OL/DL 6'3”, 295, Basehor-Linwood, 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lough is a physical lineman who has multiple college offers in hand. He has one Division II offer, multiple NAIA offers, and a couple of Division I preferred walk-on offers. He is a powerhouse with quick feet and will be a key cog on a young Bobcat offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='733447' first='Garrett' last='Pierce']</strong>, LB, 6'1”, 165, Basehor-Linwood, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierce is just one of nine returning defensive starters for Basehor-Linwood. He also just happens to be the defensive player returning with the most tackles. He finished with 66 total tackles as a sophomore. He is solid against the run, but can also cover against the pass.&nbsp; Pierce has three interceptions during the 2022 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442716' first='Charlie' last='Woleben']</strong>, DL, 6'5”, 215, De Soto, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woleben can create havoc against an offensive line. He is fast and can just blow by slower offensive linemen, but he is also strong enough to just bowl them over. He finished with 47 total tackles as a sophomore. Woleben also racked up six sacks and eight tackles for loss during the 22 season. He is a defensive disruptor with a high ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='442344' first='Jayden' last='Lang']</strong>, ATH, 6'0”, 170, De Soto, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lang has explosive speed and can line up anywhere in an offensive formation. He was used as a slot back and a wide receiver by the Bobcat offensive coaches. They have run plays designed for him and a quarterback who can get him the ball. I would even line him up as a tight end and just dare linebackers to cover him. Opposing defenses have to account for him so he is just as dangerous as a decoy as he is with the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->