Rising Stars: Missouri’s Class of 2027

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Were slowly approaching the 2026 football season, and I know like everyone else reading this article I cannot wait. While we do wait, I decided that these upcoming seniors deserve some recognition before the season starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These 6 young talented athletes have really been creeping into many conversations as one of the best of their respected positions in the state of Missouri. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2209735,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Trenton Mccadney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Joplin High school","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a074d2eade26"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mccadney had an amazing Junior season, I expect an even better senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mccadney was an offensive Swiss army knife for the Joplin Eagles. He played wide receiver, runningback, quarterback and returned some kicks. Mccadney is a very explosive athlete with the ball in his hands, so the eagles tried to get it in his hands often. The vision that he possess is pretty special, he weaves in and out of defenders with ease and has more than enough speed to take it the distance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mccadney is still considered an underrated prospect in terms of the scouting world, but I expect him to make a big jump in his Senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1187176"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2209741,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a074d2eadea8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was a fan of [player_tooltip player_id='1187176' first='Wyatt' last='Erickson'] after his sophomore season, he followed that up with a fantastic Junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Erickson's stats on his Junior year were great, he went 221/340, 2827 passing yards, and 23 touchdowns, while adding 405 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Erickson was surgical all year long for Blue springs High. He throws a beautiful deep ball, even when he's on the run, right, left, in the pocket it doesn't matter Erickson can uncork and let off one of the most beautiful deep passes you have ever seen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Erickson has started to gain a lot of traction and deservingly so. I'm excited to see his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1681864"],"_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-6a074d2eadeed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2067652' first='Jordan' last='Sykes'] is a criminally underrated prospect out of Helias Catholic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sykes put up 51 catches, 857 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns. Sykes caught my eye when I saw him play the Nixa Eagles in the Class 6 Quarterfinals last year. He had a great outing against a very stingy defense that featured Southern Illinois commit Randy Flint. It was a great battle between the two all night long, it was impressive to see Sykes go toe to toe with Flint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sykes possesses grade A route running, he gets in and out of breaks extremely quick and fluid. Matched with good hands and YAC ability Sykes is in for a monster Senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1590205"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2209745,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a074d2eadf7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benassi was one of the best off ball linebackers in the state of Missouri. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benassi was an defensive juggernaut for the state champion Lee summit Tigers. I witnessed Benassi and the Tigers limit the power running game of the Nixa eagles led by Jayden Mccaster and a star studded offensive line of Jackson Cantwell. Mainly due to the aggressive run stopping ability of [player_tooltip player_id='1590205' first='Drew' last='Benassi']. He knows where to fit into running lanes and he reads plays extremely fast from his linebacker spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I fully expect [player_tooltip player_id='1590205' first='Drew' last='Benassi'] to build on his fantastic Junior year and have a even better Senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2209753,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jett Dalton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"195","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carthage ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a075075143f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dalton is beginning to turn some major heads in the scouting world. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logging 101 tackles, 5 TFL, 7 PBU, and 1 FF, Dalton was locked in his Junior year. He's your prototypical weak side linebacker, if he's put in position where he's allowed to just run and hit, he will do wonders for any football program. Dalton has plenty of speed and power to become an even better backer in his senior season, but what separates him from other linebackers is his overall football IQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class 5 state runner up Carthage Tigers relied on Dalton a lot last year, and I don't see that changing this coming up football season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1188450"],"_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-6a07507514467"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm a big fan of [player_tooltip player_id='1188450' first='Ethan' last='Leonard'], and he's starting to gain more fans out there as of late. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All the coaches out there that want their offensive lineman to play with a bit of a mean streak, look no further than Jefferson City high school in Jefferson City Missouri. [player_tooltip player_id='1188450' first='Ethan' last='Leonard'] can finish his blocks among the best out of any offensive lineman I have studied in the class of 2027. He loves to get his hands inside the frame of defensive lineman and control the pace of his blocks, which usually ends with defensive lineman looking up at the sky. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1188450' first='Ethan' last='Leonard'] was a great offensive tackle last season, and I know he will be an even better tackle this upcoming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->