Show-Me Recruiting Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heading into the start of camp season we have seen a flurry of verbal commitments come in. The biggest one coming from my top player in the state for the Class of 2027, along with the Missouri State Bears picking up multiple in-state prospects, as they seem to be focusing on bringing homegrown talent to Springfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Springs South 2027 elite caliber EDGE/OLB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1587367' first='Prince' last='Goldsby'] 6'4" 215 announced his verbal commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Goldsby used his 4.5 forty speed and explosive first step to be a terror on the field for opponents with a breakout season of 97 tackles and double digit sacks. He also showed the ability to drop into coverage and play pass defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears have been busy on the recruiting trail across the Show-Me State, which has paid off with keeping some very talented prospects home. Starting with the top QB prospect in the state for the 2027 class in local product [player_tooltip player_id='1587352' first='Adam' last='McKnight'] 6'4" 200, who is also a very talented baseball prospect. McKnight though is a great dual threat QB who is pass first, but can pick up a lot of yards when needed with his legs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Missouri State also landed verbal commitments from Vianney 6'1" 180 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1188251' first='Noah' last='Williams'], Kirkwood RB Benji Rice 6'0" 200 RB, Kirkwood 6'4" 300 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1324010' first='D'Anton' last='Berry'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arkansas State landed a verbal commitment from Blue Springs 2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1187176' first='Wyatt' last='Erickson'] 6'2" 207. Erickson is the top returning senior QB prospect in Kansas City for 2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parkway West 2027 6'4" 250 OL/DL prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1188456' first='Ethan' last='Bain'] picked up offers this week from Illinois State and Lindenwood University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fellow Parkway West Longhorn, 2028 6'5" 207 TE/WR prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1312910' first='Max' last='Jones'] continues to see the offers roll in this spring. West Virginia and Arizona are the latest to recognize his impressive talent, size and athletic ability. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kansas City Center 2028 TE prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2060010' first='Israel' last='Johnigan'] 6'5" 215 is another up and coming junior to be who has caught the attention of colleges. Arizona is his latest offer. Look for his recruitment to continue to rise over the next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Smet 2028 6'5" 235 TE prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1294184' first='Ridge' last='Janes'] added three new offers to his massive list recently from Arizona, Stanford and Virginia Tech </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Akron came into the St. Louis area this week and extended a couple of offers to Timberland 2027 6'6" 290 OL prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1556818' first='Caden' last='Ford'], and Farmington 2027 6'2" 215 LB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1590220' first='Josh' last='McCarthy']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Illinois has offered Liberty North 2027 6'6" 225 DE prospect Carlos Clark his first D1 offer. The rangy pass rusher should see his recruitment by D1 schools continue to rise this summer and early in the coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Illinois also went into Springfield and offered Glendale 2027 6'3'185 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1883278' first='Joelle' last='Rover']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Mary's 2028 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1405389' first='Darrius' last='Smiley'] 6'5" 296 has picked up and offer from Ohio University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ohio University offered a couple of SLUH Jr. Bills in 2028 6'4" 220 TE prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1742134' first='Henry' last='Fitzpatrick'], and 2029 6'6" 200 WR prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1741247' first='Tristen' last='Johnson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bobcats also offered another pair of St. Louis teammates at Cardinal Ritter in 2029 RBs [player_tooltip player_id='1741240' first='Terrance' last='Jones'] 5'9" 185 and [player_tooltip player_id='1674660' first='Dylan' last='Shell'] 5'11" 205.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana State has offered Lift For Life 2027 6'4" 240 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1667958' first='DeZaveon' last='Williams'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->