MO 2025s to Watch in Week 1: Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The time is finally here, the 2024 high school football season kicks off in the state of Missouri this week! With that in mind, I wanted to focus on the upcoming senior class with some players to watch in the opening week of their final season of high school football. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are some 2025 prospects on the defensive side of the ball to watch in Week 1 in Missouri.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["830880"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b29f7ac49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='830880' first='Triston' last='Abram'] is one of the top overall players in the state in his class. He is coming off a very impressive junior year at defensive end where he was very disruptive against the run, finishing the season with 66 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. Abram has also proven to be a force off the edge as a pass rusher as he is able to use his speed and quick pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease. He finished last season with eight sacks. Triston is committed to Indiana where I can see him becoming a key piece of their defense once he gets there. Abram will be looking to help guide CBC to a 1-0 start against Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL) on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1123367"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b29f7acae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1123367' first='Quincy' last='Byas'] is another high-caliber 2025 defensive end to watch this week. He is coming off a strong junior year in which he finished with 51 tackles and 20 tackles for loss. Byas is very explosive out of his stance and is able to use his speed to burst into the backfield and make the tackle before the ball carrier can get going. He also has shown the ability to make plays against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage. Byas finished last season with 14 sacks and three interceptions. Quincy is committed to Eastern Michigan where I can see him making an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. Byas will be looking to help lead De Smet to a Week 1 victory over Creighton Prep (NE) on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["915864"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b29f7acf1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='915864' first='Theodore' last='Grace'] is coming off a strong junior year in which he helped lead Kearney to a Class 4 State Championship. Grace lines up at inside linebacker where he has shown the ability to read his keys then flow downhill in a hurry to get to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he finishes the tackle with a ton of physicality. Theodore finished last season with 124 tackles, earning his First Team All-State honors. He is committed to North Dakota where I can see him being a very productive linebacker at the next level. Grace will be looking to start off his senior year strong in a Week 1 matchup against Fort Osage on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["328601"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b29f7ad2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another 2025 linebacker to keep an eye on this week is [player_tooltip player_id='328601' first='Chase' last='Pearsall']. Pearsall is an outside linebacker who has shown the versatility to play both off the edge and off the ball. He has an explosive first step out of his stance off the edge which he is able to convert into speed to get into the backfield and disrupt the play before it can get going. When the play is away from him, he has shown the ability to run sideline to sideline to get to the ball carrier in a hurry and make the tackle in the open field. Pearsall currently holds several Power 4/Division I offers and I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a high-caliber linebacker prospect. Chase will be looking to help guide Lee's Summit North to a Week 1 victory over Raymore-Peculiar on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["727703"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d0b29f7ad66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">My final 2025 defensive prospect to keep an eye on in Week 1 in Missouri is [player_tooltip player_id='727703' first='Gionni' last='McBride']. McBride lines up mainly in the nickel where he is very impressive in man coverage. He does a great job of opening up and running with receivers to mirror their routes, staying in their hip pocket the whole way. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown the ability to break on the ball with perfect time to come away with the interception and then use his speed to return the ball the other way for a big play. Gionni currently holds offers from Kansas, Akron, Army, Missouri State, UT Martin, and Northern Iowa, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Power 4 caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->