Team Preview: West Plains

On paper, West Plains football coach Matt Perkins cautions, his football team has a chance to have a very good season this fall. The coach knows he returns a strong team but also knows anything can happen and successful playoff runs don’t happen on paper. The Zizzers are coming off a 10-2 campaign that culminated with a heartbreaking six-point loss to Helias in the Class 4 quarterfinals. They lost all-state running back [player_tooltip player_id="37376" first="Titus" last="Seley"] to graduation but return 26 seniors and 18 starters, including their entire offensive line. "I think we’ve got a really good opportunity to be, hopefully, a step better than last year," the coach said. Here is a quick look at the players to watch for West Plains this fall... <strong>CLASS OF 2022</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96259" first="Connor" last="Lair"], 6-0, 220, RB-LB</strong> Lair was the Ozark Conference defensive player of the year and a first-team all-state selection as a junior after a monster season that included 126 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, two blocked punts and a forced fumble. This fall he could be even more of a problem for opponents. "He’s the real deal," Perkins said. "We’re going to move him to tailback and he’s going to take on the role that Seley had last year. ... He’s just a little bit different. He’s a playmaker." Lair, a four-year starter, has received offers from Air Force, Army, Southeast Missouri State and Southern Illinois, among others, and could attract several more with another strong season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11331485/5fbd31c8a018da03b0ecf9ec" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96199" first="Jaylon" last="James"], 6-7, 285, OL</strong> Another Division I recruit and another first-team all-state selection as a junior, James started last season at around 335 pounds and is down to 285 now, Perkins said. "He’s trimmed down," the coach said of his left tackle. "He’s moving a lot better. He’s running a lot better. ... He’s our bell cow." Like Lair, another strong season for James will open even more opportunities in recruiting. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11511729/5fee2957664b6d1450e70119" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96166" first="Dagen" last="Kenslow"], 6-2, 190, QB</strong> Kenslow turned in an all-state season a year ago after making the switch to quarterback and should be even better this fall with a bevy of outstanding weapons to work with. He passed for 1,423 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior and ran for 1,053 yards and 14 scores. "He’s just different," Perkins said. "He’s had a phenomenal summer. ... He’s as athletic as his film shows and then probably even more. He had never played quarterback before the start of last year." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11320696/5fbef89a5b3d55098c4560af" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174089" first="Blake" last="Reid"], 6-2, 305, OL</strong> Reid will line up next to James as the Zizzers’ left guard, but likely projects to center at the next level. "He’s a really good football player," Perkins said. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174090" first="Josh" last="Leazer"], 6-5, 180, WR</strong> The coach has high hopes for Leazer, who he said is an 11.2-second 100-meter dash guy and a 44-feet triple jumper. "He’s fairly new to football and he’s learning, but he’s had a phenomenal summer," Perkins said. "... I think he’s going to have a pretty big season." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12975127/5e9a7fb59677950c14bdee69" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174092" first="Aedyn" last="Holt"], 5-10, 195, OLB</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174093" first="Garrett" last="Drown"], 5-11, 190, MLB</strong> Holt and Drown, both starters since they were sophomores, are both making the move from defensive line to linebacker and have looked good this offseason. "They kind of make us go on the defensive side of things," Perkins said. Holt missed most of last season with a knee injury but returned late in the campaign and made a big impact. Perkins said Holt and Drown are similar in how they play as smart, high-motor guys. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12953989/5ff6091142102d0840add8e9" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174095" first="Jason" last="Lopez"], 5-11, 180, OLB</strong> Perkins had high praise for Lopez. "He’s the most athletic kid I’ve got and nobody knows about him," the coach said. Perkins said Lopez ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at a combine while recording a broad jump of 9 feet 10 inches and a vertical leap of 37 1/2 inches. "He plays at outside linebacker because he’s so physical but he’s a defensive back at the next level," the coach said. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13192333/60e9269f42062c1b38649b22" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>CLASS OF 2023</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172411" first="Heston" last="Miller"], 6-1, 195, WR-CB</strong> Miller had a strong sophomore season and followed that up with a good track season in the track and will be a difference maker on both sides of the ball this fall as a junior. He could emerge as a big-time prospect at safety with his speed and athletic ability. "He’s probably going to fill out in the next year or so," Perkins said. "He looks like he could put on a lot of muscle and carry it well." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12934277/5fbd9c9290f03a08201dbf3f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174096" first="Magnus" last="Sanders"], 6-0, 365, C</strong> Sanders will anchor the Zizzers’ offensive line from the center spot and is more athletic than his weighing 365 pounds may indicate. "He runs extremely well," Perkins said. "... He’s led us in pancakes this summer. He’s been really effective. He started as a sophomore last year." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13235960/5ffbcafd4ba7f70ad06c236f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174097" first="Garrett" last="Mahan"], 6-6, 235, TE</strong> Perkins said Mahan will man the H-back role that Lair excelled in last year after being a backup defensive end last season. The coach said Mahan is smart (4.13 grade-point average) and physical. <em><strong>Follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/natelatsch">@natelatsch</a>.</strong></em>