Players Off To A Fast Start

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of the top players who have been on fire this season from the start of their seasons through their first four games. These players will likely be in contention for player of the year the who way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='849688' first='Rocco' last='Marriott'], QB Platte County<br>The returning Class 5 state championship signal caller has not only picked up where he left off from last season but has elevated his game. At 6'4" 212 with great speed, overall athletic and quarterback skills, Marriott has put up some video game type numbers in the first for game. He's completed 80% of his passes going 82 of 108 for 1,255 yards and 16 touchdowns so for. This while not playing entire games in a couple. The James Madison commit has renewed interest from colleges and recently picked up an offer from West Virginia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='284043' first='Nick' last='McClellan'], QB CBC <br>One of the top athletes at 6'0" 185, and overall top football players in the 2026 class has made himself into a D1 caliber dual threat quarterback prospect. Although Kansas State who he's committed to loves him as a defensive back. His fast start has his Cadets off to a 4-0 start with three of the games being blowouts against quality opponents. Their closest game was a 34-12 win. Nick has completed 70% of his passes for 825 yards with 10 touchdowns verses 0 interceptions. He's also rushed the ball for 388 yards and 6 touchdowns averaging 17.6 yards per carry. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='849700' first='Jayden' last='McCaster'], RB Nixa<br>This transfer from 2024 Class 6 state champs De Smet has not only fit in with his new team, whom the Spartans beat from the championship, but has really thrived running behind it's monster offensive line, which includes top player in the 2026 class [player_tooltip player_id='392779' first='Jackson' last='Cantwell']. In his first game he ran for 4 touchdowns alone right out of the gate. In a win last night he ran for 5 touchdowns against Lebanon. McCaster has a great center of gravity and is a quick twitch athlete with speed and strength. He can run over you, around you or past you on his way to the end zone. He's averaging 10.2 yards per carry and has rushed for 844 yards and 15 touchdowns so on 84 carries through 5 games helping his team be unbeaten so far.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1128436' first='AJ' last='Smith'], RB Warrensburg <br>Smith 5'8" 180 is a compact and powerful runner with deceptive speed and elusiveness who has really taken off to the races this season through the first four games averaging 214 yards rushing per game. The talented back has a total of 856 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns while averaging 9.6 yards per carry on 89 carries. He's a complete back who can also catch the ball and blocks well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1128410' first='Manny' last='Ellis'], RB Cardinal Ritter<br>The 5'7" 167 Indiana State verbal commit has speed for days and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. In his first four games he has done a pretty good job of that when he has his opportunities. The big play running back has averaged 10.3 yards per carry for 730 yards on 70 carries with 7 touchdowns. Last week he ran the ball 22 times for 272 yards in his team's cross state win against Kansas City St. Pius. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->