Show-Me Recruiting Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recruiting has heated up in the month of July as players look to make commitments or camp in search of offers before their pre-season camps begun and they focus of the upcoming season. Here is a look at some of the top happening with recruiting in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illinois has landed a verbal commitment from the number three player in the PRZ pre-season 2026 recruiting rankings as Kirkwood ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1130114' first='Jacob' last='Eberhart'] 6'3" 210 made his announcement recently to play at the same college that his father did. Eberhart tells me that the Illini plan to play him at safety. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana picks up a verbal commitment from Blue Springs 6'3" 265 DE [player_tooltip player_id='284045' first='Ronelle' last='Johnson'] who chose the Hoosiers over home state Missouri, Kansas State and Ole Miss. Johnson is the 4th ranked player in the PRZ Missouri pres-season 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rice University has added a verbal commitment from Blue Springs South 2026 6'1" 175 QB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1127268' first='Ayden' last='Wilhelm']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Smet 2026 RB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='849700' first='Jayden' last='McCaster'] 5'9" 190 pulled the trigger with his verbal commitment to Southern Illinois. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Smet 2026 OL prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1129720' first='Santiago' last='Castillo'] 6'7" 300 has made the decision to stay home and has verbally committed to Missouri State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindenwood University picked up a verbal commitment from another top local player in Lindbergh 2026 TE prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1591093' first='Jack' last='Hessler'] 6'6" 240 who has a high ceiling heading into his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Florida State is the latest offer for Francis Howell Central 2027 6'5" 215 TE prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1130985' first='Jack' last='Brown'], who had picked up an offer from Michigan State just last week. These latest offers give Brown 33 total D1 offers to date. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwestern has offered 2027 KC St. Pius X OL [player_tooltip player_id='652849' first='Kyler' last='Kuhn'] 6'4" 285 who is among the best in his class in state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Purdue and Sacramento State both offered Ladue 2027 CB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1325176' first='Evan' last='Via'] 5'11" 175 who is also part of the talented junior to be class in Missouri </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northern Iowa is the college destination for Kirkwood 2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1250673' first='Jamiir' last='Sloan'] 5'9" 165 who just announced his verbal commitment to the Panthers. Sloan is a talented slot prospect who is a real playmaker in space. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illinois State picked up a verbal commitment from Staley 2026 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1705994' first='Draivyn' last='Colvin'] 6'2" 220.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana State has landed a verbal commitment from Lutheran North 2026 OL prospect Devion Johnson 6'7" 290 who has impressed colleges this offseason with his size and potential. He's still raw but has the tools to become a quality college player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cornell University picked up a verbal commitment from SLUH 2026 OL prospect Albert Reinberg 6'3" 270 who is a quality interior OL prospect that can play OG or C on the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southeast Missouri has offered Liberty North 2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1585603' first='Trashundon' last='Neal'] 6'2" 180 who has really had an impressive camp season since June and been picking up offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northern Iowa has offered Parkway North 2026 TE/DE prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1709128' first='Benton' last='Mohrmann'] 6'5" 210 following an outstanding showing by Benton at a UNI prospect camp last week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Troy Buchanan 2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1125456' first='Carter' last='Dowell'] 6'0" 200 picked up an offer from Lindenwood University this week. Dowell ran for over 1,900 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mehlville 2026 6'8" 300 OL [player_tooltip player_id='849731' first='Khan' last='Hoormann'] landed his first D1 offer from Central Arkansas this week following an outstanding camp workout there. Hoormann has great size and strength and moves very well. His best football is still ahead of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Connecticut State is the first D1 offer for Wentzville Liberty 2026 RB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1250672' first='Jaylen' last='Mack'] 5'9" 195 who is one of the top returning running backs in the St. Louis area for the 2025 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cape Girardeau Central 2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1112573' first='Keyshawn' last='Boyd'] 6'0" 205 received an offer from the Coffeyville (KS) Community College Red Ravens. Boyd ran over over 2,000 yards and over 30 touchdowns as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chaminade 2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1703705' first='Will' last='Strothmann'] 6'4" 270 has had a flurry of offers this summer with Morningside University being his latest he has added to his list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ladue 2026 ATH Maddox Wolf 5'10" 175 had received an offer from the University of Chicago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minot State has offered Lee's Summit North 2026 DL prospect [player_tooltip player_id='849682' first='Marcel' last='Reed'] 6'1" 300 who has had a great offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rolla 2026 ATH Ethan Smith 6'3" 225 received his latest offer from Emporia State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->