2020 Preseason All-Missouri Area Team (Offensive Seniors)
Marc Lillibridge
Sandwiched in between two large metropolitan areas like Kansas City and St. Louis, rural Missouri often gets dismissed for the level of football talent. Cities like Joplin, Columbia, Jackson, Hannibal, Maryville, West Plains have ballers just as proficient as the ones in the bigger cities, they just aren’t as publicized. That all changes with Prep Redzone now on the scene.
Quarterbacks
[player_tooltip player_id="37241" first="Cael" last="Welker"], Jackson (5’11, 185) Welker eats yards and touchdowns for breakfast. Watching him run around the field and make plays with his legs and arm is simply put...fun. The Jackson product is one of the elite quarterbacks in the Midwest and fits into the passing attacks of most new run and gun offenses.
[player_tooltip player_id="37278" first="Chris" last="Ruhnke"], Platte City (6’3, 180) Ruhnke has noteworthy arm strength, is tough and impeccable touch for a young athlete. The Platte City product reads through his progression well and plays under control. Ruhnke’s stock is going to rise quickly with a significant senior season.
Running Backs
[player_tooltip player_id="37224" first="Bryce" last="Jackson"], Rockbridge Columbia (5’8, 185) When first watching Jackson play, the term ’scatback’ comes to mind. But if you watch long enough and he trucks a defender, that term quickly disappears. Jackson doesn’t waste movements when he sees the hole. He sticks his foot in the ground and blasts through the gap.
[player_tooltip player_id="37312" first="Damien" last="French"], Hannibal (6’1, 200) Physical runner who smashes arm tackles and breaks defenders down in the open field. French is a one-cut runner who is not afraid of contact and has legitimate long speed. One to watch in terms of recruiting during his senior year.
[player_tooltip player_id="37316" first="Cory" last="Stoll"], Valle Catholic (6’1, 180) Stoll is a bull in a china shop as a runner. Looks for contact and finishes his runs moving the pile forward. Good college recruiters that use a fullback need to offer this tank asap. By his third year of college will be a buffed up 240 lbs. and smashing facemasks.
[player_tooltip player_id="37321" first="Quazavion" last="Jackson"], New Madrid County (6’, 220) Jackson is a man amongst boys with the football in hands. Exudes paramount vision, has significant lateral quickness and runs with a nasty disposition.
Wide Receivers
[player_tooltip player_id="37182" first="Devrin" last="Weathers"], Webb City (6’1, 195) Weathers plays with swagger, juice, and the ’it’ factor colleges look for. That doesn’t account for his work ethic, his crisp routes nor his God-given speed. Plays RB in high school and could be selected above but projected as WR in college with return ability, Weathers makes the list here.
[player_tooltip player_id="37351" first="Cooper" last="Ezard"], Camdenton (6’2, 195) Ezard is a sneaky good route runner, sets up the defensive backs very well, and looks the ball into his hands. What he lacks for in true long speed, the Camdenton product uses quickness, anticipation, and savvy.
[player_tooltip player_id="37357" first="Drew" last="Russell"], Mid-Buchanan (5’11, 160) Small school standout who catches every football thrown his way. Plays bigger than listed size and is very quick in and out of breaks. Russell sits down in routes well and uses his body to keep the defender away from the pass.
[player_tooltip player_id="37363" first="Jamen" last="Smith"], Buffalo (6’1, 180) Smith plays QB in a run-oriented offense in Buffalo. While he is not going to get recruited as a QB to college, he plays hard, runs with conviction, and has a place on a football team. As a converted WR or if he can bulk up, a bulked-up H-back, Smith is too good a football player to leave off this team.
Tight Ends
[player_tooltip player_id="37213" first="Gary" last="Clinton"], Webb City (6’4, 230) The Arkansas State commit, Clinton is a freaky athlete who plays with magnificent leverage and finishes all his blocks as if the defender stole his bike. Plucks the football out of the air and fights to gain possession at the highest point. Arkansas State got themselves an ascending player.
[player_tooltip player_id="37260" first="Abe" last="Haerr"], Palmyra (6’5, 195) Haerr lines up all over the field for Palmya and is a mismatch for the defense no matter who they put up against him. Haerr has a quick release off the line of scrimmage, finds the open seams of the defense, and makes himself available to the quarterback. Once he gets to college, adds weight, and finds his man-strength, Haerr is going to continue to be a tough matchup.
[player_tooltip player_id="37303" first="Noah" last="Copeland"], Kirksville (6’4, 200) A projection from WR to TE in college, Copeland possesses splendid body control, field awareness and toughness. The Kirksville product has sticky hands and attacks the football in the air to out-fight the defender. Another player that college coaches should envision at 6’5, 255 lbs after a few years in their program.
Offensive Line
[player_tooltip player_id="37168" first="Connor" last="Tollison"], Jackson (6’4, 265) One of the best overall players in the state of Missouri, the Tiger commit moves his feet like a ballerina but plays the position like a bouncer at the honkey tonk. Tollison has a nasty punch on contact, drops his weight with ease and move the defender all around the field. For fans of offensive line play, watch Tollison play on Friday nights then again in 2021 on Saturdays.
[caption id="attachment_40248" align="alignright" width="150"]
Photo: Jason Schoenig Dirt and Turf Photos[/caption]
[player_tooltip player_id="37170" first="Brody" last="Wisecarver"], Fort Osage (6’4, 315) The former DeSmet standout transferred to Fort Osage and instantly becomes one of the best to step on the football field there. The Illinois commit is powerful in his movements, plays with an impactful base and finishes all his blocks with anger. Already a college sized offensive lineman, Wisecarver will only get better at the next level.
[player_tooltip player_id="37231" first="Alex" last="Curry"], Joplin (6’4, 280) A left tackle in high school, Curry projects to the interior at the college level. Pancakes always seem to be on the menu for this Joplin product as he consistently fights to gain inside hands and control the rusher. Adding upper body strength will make him even better once he gets to a college program.
[player_tooltip player_id="37233" first="Aiden" last="Logan"], Carthage (6’6, 300) The Arkansas State commit walks, talks and looks like an offensive lineman you want first off the bus. Wins right now because he is simply bigger than most of the defenders he faces. Once Logan learns leverage and to play under his pads, he could very well hear his name called to play on Sundays.
[player_tooltip player_id="37261" first="Kobie" last="Breshears"], Slater (6’5, 290) Projecting high school offensive linemen to college is always tough for most coaches but Breshears passes all the tests. Athletic in all his movements, the Slater product moves laterally well in space, climbs and adjusts at the second level with poise and keeps garbage away from his legs which is an under-appreciated quality when scouting offensive linemen.
[player_tooltip player_id="37325" first="Xavier" last="Ortiz"], Knob Noster (6’5, 270) Anytime you see that an offensive line also wrestle, just assume as your baseline, they are an above-average football player. Then once you watch them play, their level of play can go up from there. Ortiz does both sports and is very good at both. But his college sport will be football. With college-level coaching and technique work, Ortiz has the body type, flexibility, and power to work with.
[player_tooltip player_id="37241" first="Cael" last="Welker"], Jackson (5’11, 185) Welker eats yards and touchdowns for breakfast. Watching him run around the field and make plays with his legs and arm is simply put...fun. The Jackson product is one of the elite quarterbacks in the Midwest and fits into the passing attacks of most new run and gun offenses.
[player_tooltip player_id="37278" first="Chris" last="Ruhnke"], Platte City (6’3, 180) Ruhnke has noteworthy arm strength, is tough and impeccable touch for a young athlete. The Platte City product reads through his progression well and plays under control. Ruhnke’s stock is going to rise quickly with a significant senior season.
Running Backs
[player_tooltip player_id="37224" first="Bryce" last="Jackson"], Rockbridge Columbia (5’8, 185) When first watching Jackson play, the term ’scatback’ comes to mind. But if you watch long enough and he trucks a defender, that term quickly disappears. Jackson doesn’t waste movements when he sees the hole. He sticks his foot in the ground and blasts through the gap.
[player_tooltip player_id="37312" first="Damien" last="French"], Hannibal (6’1, 200) Physical runner who smashes arm tackles and breaks defenders down in the open field. French is a one-cut runner who is not afraid of contact and has legitimate long speed. One to watch in terms of recruiting during his senior year.
[player_tooltip player_id="37316" first="Cory" last="Stoll"], Valle Catholic (6’1, 180) Stoll is a bull in a china shop as a runner. Looks for contact and finishes his runs moving the pile forward. Good college recruiters that use a fullback need to offer this tank asap. By his third year of college will be a buffed up 240 lbs. and smashing facemasks.
[player_tooltip player_id="37321" first="Quazavion" last="Jackson"], New Madrid County (6’, 220) Jackson is a man amongst boys with the football in hands. Exudes paramount vision, has significant lateral quickness and runs with a nasty disposition.
Wide Receivers
[player_tooltip player_id="37182" first="Devrin" last="Weathers"], Webb City (6’1, 195) Weathers plays with swagger, juice, and the ’it’ factor colleges look for. That doesn’t account for his work ethic, his crisp routes nor his God-given speed. Plays RB in high school and could be selected above but projected as WR in college with return ability, Weathers makes the list here.
[player_tooltip player_id="37351" first="Cooper" last="Ezard"], Camdenton (6’2, 195) Ezard is a sneaky good route runner, sets up the defensive backs very well, and looks the ball into his hands. What he lacks for in true long speed, the Camdenton product uses quickness, anticipation, and savvy.
[player_tooltip player_id="37357" first="Drew" last="Russell"], Mid-Buchanan (5’11, 160) Small school standout who catches every football thrown his way. Plays bigger than listed size and is very quick in and out of breaks. Russell sits down in routes well and uses his body to keep the defender away from the pass.
[player_tooltip player_id="37363" first="Jamen" last="Smith"], Buffalo (6’1, 180) Smith plays QB in a run-oriented offense in Buffalo. While he is not going to get recruited as a QB to college, he plays hard, runs with conviction, and has a place on a football team. As a converted WR or if he can bulk up, a bulked-up H-back, Smith is too good a football player to leave off this team.
Tight Ends
[player_tooltip player_id="37213" first="Gary" last="Clinton"], Webb City (6’4, 230) The Arkansas State commit, Clinton is a freaky athlete who plays with magnificent leverage and finishes all his blocks as if the defender stole his bike. Plucks the football out of the air and fights to gain possession at the highest point. Arkansas State got themselves an ascending player.
[player_tooltip player_id="37260" first="Abe" last="Haerr"], Palmyra (6’5, 195) Haerr lines up all over the field for Palmya and is a mismatch for the defense no matter who they put up against him. Haerr has a quick release off the line of scrimmage, finds the open seams of the defense, and makes himself available to the quarterback. Once he gets to college, adds weight, and finds his man-strength, Haerr is going to continue to be a tough matchup.
[player_tooltip player_id="37303" first="Noah" last="Copeland"], Kirksville (6’4, 200) A projection from WR to TE in college, Copeland possesses splendid body control, field awareness and toughness. The Kirksville product has sticky hands and attacks the football in the air to out-fight the defender. Another player that college coaches should envision at 6’5, 255 lbs after a few years in their program.
Offensive Line
[player_tooltip player_id="37168" first="Connor" last="Tollison"], Jackson (6’4, 265) One of the best overall players in the state of Missouri, the Tiger commit moves his feet like a ballerina but plays the position like a bouncer at the honkey tonk. Tollison has a nasty punch on contact, drops his weight with ease and move the defender all around the field. For fans of offensive line play, watch Tollison play on Friday nights then again in 2021 on Saturdays.
[caption id="attachment_40248" align="alignright" width="150"] Photo: Jason Schoenig Dirt and Turf Photos[/caption]
[player_tooltip player_id="37170" first="Brody" last="Wisecarver"], Fort Osage (6’4, 315) The former DeSmet standout transferred to Fort Osage and instantly becomes one of the best to step on the football field there. The Illinois commit is powerful in his movements, plays with an impactful base and finishes all his blocks with anger. Already a college sized offensive lineman, Wisecarver will only get better at the next level.
[player_tooltip player_id="37231" first="Alex" last="Curry"], Joplin (6’4, 280) A left tackle in high school, Curry projects to the interior at the college level. Pancakes always seem to be on the menu for this Joplin product as he consistently fights to gain inside hands and control the rusher. Adding upper body strength will make him even better once he gets to a college program.
[player_tooltip player_id="37233" first="Aiden" last="Logan"], Carthage (6’6, 300) The Arkansas State commit walks, talks and looks like an offensive lineman you want first off the bus. Wins right now because he is simply bigger than most of the defenders he faces. Once Logan learns leverage and to play under his pads, he could very well hear his name called to play on Sundays.
[player_tooltip player_id="37261" first="Kobie" last="Breshears"], Slater (6’5, 290) Projecting high school offensive linemen to college is always tough for most coaches but Breshears passes all the tests. Athletic in all his movements, the Slater product moves laterally well in space, climbs and adjusts at the second level with poise and keeps garbage away from his legs which is an under-appreciated quality when scouting offensive linemen.
[player_tooltip player_id="37325" first="Xavier" last="Ortiz"], Knob Noster (6’5, 270) Anytime you see that an offensive line also wrestle, just assume as your baseline, they are an above-average football player. Then once you watch them play, their level of play can go up from there. Ortiz does both sports and is very good at both. But his college sport will be football. With college-level coaching and technique work, Ortiz has the body type, flexibility, and power to work with. 
