The 2023 STACKED Missouri TE Class…the DEEPEST EVER?

The 2023 STACKED Missouri TE Class&#8230;the DEEPEST EVER?

Photo: Joel Baker 1 Oak Photography

Marc Lillibridge

February 18, 2021 @ 12:18 PM

If you are a college coach and need a tight end, you better be recruiting the state of Missouri HARD for the class of 2023. There are eight to ten bona fide Power Five players in the group and those guys still have TWO years of high school football left to play. Here is a handful of those players NOT named (No. 3 in the state) and (No. 6 in the state). Both are nationally ranked in the top 20 athletes. , Reeds Spring (No. 3 TE and No. 19 overall) Not only do I think Wiest is a D-1 tight end, I am sure he could be a D-1 OLB/DE if he decided to play defense. Wiest is a wrecking ball on the field and makes huge plays on both sides of the football. As a tight end, the sophomore already has college size for hybrid H-back ability. Wiest has excellent long speed, has soft hands and is a vicious blocker. If he continues to improve on his play in 2020, not only will his ranking on this site go up, but so will his college offers.

, Kickapoo (No. 4 TE and No. 32 overall) I have listed Link as a tight end because I saw him compete at a camp at the position. He has the size and route running ability to play the position and will be recruited by smart college coaches as a TE. But Link is also a warrior as an outside linebacker and will be recruited at that position as well. Link is just a really extraordinary athlete and is going to make a college program better AFTER he dominates for the next TWO years in high school. I expect his ranking to improve moving forward as well. , Marquette (No. 5 TE and No. 41 overall) Kerber has a good frame to add size and muscle but already is powerful in his lower body and uses leverage well to drive block. Built as a perfect H-back, Kerber blocks with precision on the move and can adjust his body with top-flight flexibility to sustain the block. Kerber is quick to snatch the football out of the air and has good run after the catch ability in breaking tackle. With improved speed, Kerber has a bright future at the next level. , Lafayette (No. 7 TE and No. 55 overall) Used primarily as a slot wideout, Minton uses his height and arm length to high point the football and make hard catches look easy. You can tell he has a basketball pedigree from the way he boxes out the defenders and plucks the football out of the air. Minton is still growing into his frame and with added size and strength, will make some D-1 program VERY happy. Upside Alert: , Blue Springs (No. 6 TE and No. 50 overall) Full disclosure: I like to try and base the rankings off varsity play 99% of the time. But as a scout, I also understand the importance of projecting a player and I feel as if I do this as well as anyone in the country. Youman is a projection off of junior varsity film but with his size, speed, length and leverage ability, I see the Blue Springs sophomore competing for the third spot at tight end in 2021.