This wouldn’t be a Midwest-focused P4 feature unless the Show-Me State was involved. Carthage High School 6’4, 220 lb. DE/TE Landon Bland is representing Missouri well on the recruiting trail, so well in fact that the home state Tigers are his latest offer, coming in mid-April. With two-way versatility and a multi-sport background as a talented pitcher on the school’s baseball team, Bland presents an intriguing package off the jump. That seems to be an agreeable point, as Bland earned P4 and overall offer #1 in early March from the new Wisconsin Badgers staff, which was followed by Nebraska, Kansas, KState, and Mizzou heading into the summer camp season.

I came away from watching Bland’s sophomore tape quite impressive. He opens his tape with a good rep against the #1 OT in the class of 2026, and things only get better from there. The 225 lber. can go speed-to-power and has some pop at the contact point, is twitchy and technically sound, and owns a strong, versatile pass-rushing arsenal that showed off a variety of moves such chop/rips, long-arms, arm-overs, bullrushes, and counters. He can operate as a standup EDGE who can also put his hand in the dirt, and he’s generally a 5T but can align wider. Bland displays eye-catching pursuit speed, can start-stop and accelerate with noticeable pace, and closes more like a LB than DE and with explosive results, he has an impressive rep of him mirroring and making a 1-on-1 tackle in a huge amount of space against a jittery QB that highlighted some terrific body control and COD ability. Would have been a great rep for a LB, much less a DE of his size. The 6’4 pass-rusher also demonstrates excellent bend and can really drop his hips at the top of the arc, Bland shows off his strength in a rep where he brings down a well-built RB with one arm while a big OT is draped all over him and dragging him down. Can be physically dominant, game-changing presence from the edge of the LOS, and has a game that looks well-built for the college level.