KC Coverage Counter: Class of ‘27 Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The upcoming senior class continues to dominate headlines, with the latest news coming from a top ranked offensive lineman announcing his commitment. While the Class of ‘26 is obviously the trending topic in the state, I thought it'd be nice to shed more light on prospects from the upcoming junior class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This report will be similar to the one I posted last week, but with a small twist. Kansas City area prospects will still be the focus. However, instead of giving a progress update, this will be more of a coverage counter report.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The seven prospects featured have either yet to be mentioned, or haven't been mentioned in quite some time. They're an athletic group determined to put folks on notice during the ‘25 campaign.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Linebackers</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='934071' first='Jysir' last='Chatmon'] - St. Thomas Aquinas, 6'0”, 200 LB&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few promising young defenders from Aquinas have been mentioned this offseason. Chatmon is one we've yet to mention until now, but he'll be a prospect to remember this fall. He's a run stuffing inside backer that can quickly process plays, and does a great job of putting himself in position to stop ball carries in their tracks. He's also been a weight room warrior since the conclusion of the ‘24 campaign. Chatmon's numbers in the weight room have increased and he's added some size. He's trending in the right direction ahead of summer time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='934982' first='Blake' last='Berry'] - Blue Valley NW, 5'10”, 215, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been over a year since Berry was last featured, and the strides he's made during that time frame need to be acknowledged. After showing promise during his freshman year in 2023, he earned a role at the varsity level this past fall. Berry saw quite a bit of time as an inside backer, which is an ideal position for him given his frame and physicality. During his sophomore campaign he appeared in nearly all of Blue Valley Northwest's games and recorded over 25 total tackles. In addition, Berry put together a solid wrestling season as well. If he continues to make progress, he could be in line for a starting job as a junior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1610780' first='Aiden' last='Boulton'] - Blue Valley North, 6'0”, 205, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boulton was added to our player database in February but he hasn't received a proper welcome to the rankings. Out of this trio of linebackers Boulton arguably has the most upside. He's an athletic backer that brings some versatility to the table. Blue Valley North was able to utilize his versatility during his sophomore campaign, and his play helped lead the Mustangs to a <em>Sectional Round </em>appearance. As an inside backer he possesses the strength to fight through blockers, and as an outside backer his first step is quick enough to beat tackles off the line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Athletes</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1530367' first='Justin' last='Simms'] - Schlagle, 5'10”, 180, ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite competing for touches with multiple upperclassmen, Simms managed to finish his sophomore season with the most carries for Schlagle. Simms turned his team-high 84 carries into a respectable 4.4 yards per carry, and he accumulated over 400 all-purpose yards. Two aspects of his game I like the most is his elusiveness and patience. Whenever he seems bottled up he manages to find a crease and accelerates past defenders. Part of the reason he's able to find creases is because of his patience, which is rare for a young back. He's also capable of playing multiple positions on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='935499' first='Tyree' last='Kelley'] - Blue Valley, 5'5”, 135, ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Valley has been known to produce some dynamic skill position players over the years. Kelley is yet another example of that. Problem is, not enough folks have talked about his game. He may be undersized, but he's a scrappy corner that won't back down. What Kelley lacks in size he makes up for with his athleticism and ball skills. He's explosive and does a great job of getting his head turned  around in time to track the ball in the air. If given the opportunity, he's also more than capable of being a dangerous return man, or a slot receiver that can stretch the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Defensive Back</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='944908' first='Cade' last='Wilson'] - Blue Valley NW, 6'0”, 180, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Valley Northwest Huskies had some talented prospects in their secondary during the ‘24 campaign. One returning member from that group to be excited about is [player_tooltip player_id='944908' first='Cade' last='Wilson']. He quietly finished his sophomore season second on his team with three interceptions. Wilson's ability to see the field puts him in a great position to make a play on the ball. He has the potential to be a ball hawk at safety, and look for him to be more involved on offense this fall as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Wide Receiver</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='934700' first='Trea' last='Hayes'] - Olathe South, 6'0”, 160, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Closing out this report is a wideout capable of putting together a breakout junior season. I recently highlighted Olathe South's leading receiver from the ‘24 campaign, but folks should also know about their second leading target. [player_tooltip player_id='934700' first='Trea' last='Hayes'] primarily worked out of the slot as a sophomore, where he displayed solid route running and was used occasionally on jet sweeps. While he didn't get the ball much, Hayes' film showcased some difficult catches and he proved he could get separation. He and [player_tooltip player_id='1657876' first='Anthony' last='Harris III'] have the potential to be a dangerous receiving duo during the ‘25 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->