2020 Preseason All-Kansas City Area Team (Offense)
The Kansas City area is loaded with football players in 2020 and have some of the major talents along the offensive and defensive lines. The following is a list of players, all from the 2021 class, that are not only dominant in the KC area but in the entire state of Missouri. For this post though, here is the preseason all-area Kansas City football team.
Quarterbacks
Conrad Hawley Conrad Hawley 6'6" | 220 lbs | QB Raymore Peculiar | 2021 State MO , Raymore-Peculiar (6’6, 180) The tall quarterback used the pandemic time to gain strength and weight. With a strong senior season as predicted, his steady climb up quarterback recruiting boards should continue.
Cole Keller Cole Keller 6'5" | 205 lbs | QB Grain Valley | 2021 State MO , Grain Valley (6’5, 205) Already looking the part of a big-time college QB, Keller plays with outstanding field awareness, toughness, and moxie. Better on the move than given credit for, Keller is an ascending player and should really see his recruiting ramp early in the season.
Running Backs
Zac Willingham Zac Willingham 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Liberty | 2021 State MO (Liberty, 6’ 205) Willingham might not be the fastest player on the field, but he is one of the best. Rarely does the Liberty star go down on the first contact and he finishes all of his runs with force. Arm tackles will not bring Willingham down. An impressive runner who is a willing blocker.
Jeremy Brown Jeremy Brown 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB North Kansas City | 2021 MO (North Kansas City, 5’9, 171) Brown has a different gear to the hole and through the gap. Once into the secondary, the NKC runner is rarely tracked down. Added value as a returner makes him an easy preseason selection.
Taylor Wilson Taylor Wilson 5'6" | 150 lbs | RB Lee's Summit West | 2021 MO (Lee’s Summit West, 5’6, 148) God-given sweet feet make Wilson dazzling to watch on tape. His appendages rarely hit the turf and his running style makes tap dancers jealous. Explosive and quick, Wilson also adds value to his game as a returner.
Wide Receivers
Jaylin Noel Jaylin Noel 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Park Hill | 2021 State MO (Park Hill, 5’10, 165) The Iowa State commit makes defensive backs look stuck in quicksand with his burst off the line of scrimmage. Once Noel hit second gear, he is past the defender and 9/10 times taking the football to the house. Impact player anytime the ball is in his hands.
Gaige Warren Gaige Warren 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Park Hill South | 2021 State MO (Park Hill South, 5’11, 165) Warren is a skillful route runner who understands how to play in the slot. Quick hands to attack the football, Warren uses his quickness and short burst to find seams and get open.
Theo Grabill Theo Grabill 6'3" | 194 lbs | WR Blue Valley North | 2021 CA (Blue Valley North, 6’3, 200) Just a giant target who continues to elevate his game as he does his body in contested situations. Highly competitive player who attacks the football in the air. Listed as a WR in high school, Grabill should be asked to add weight and play H-back/move Y in college.
Nate Morse Nate Morse 5'8" | 155 lbs | WR Lee's Summit | 2021 MO (Lee’s Summit, 5’8, 155) Morse’s speed and short-area quickness are hard to miss. The turnover rotation of his feet is fun to watch. Morse darts in and out of routes, shakes defenders, and always seems to be open. A good college team who understands how to use his skill set will get one heck of a player.
Tight Ends
Danny Joiner Danny Joiner 6'2" | 230 lbs | TE North Kansas City | 2021 State MO (North Kansas City, 6’2, 230) Joiner could probably also be considered for preseason linebacker as well. Just a really good football player who can do multiple things and does them all well. Gritty as a blocker, fluid as a pass catcher, and a hard runner after the catch, Joiner will make a few college coaches look good.
Bo Sprague Bo Sprague 6'4" | 230 lbs | TE Rockhurst | 2021 State MO (Rockhurst, 6’4, 230) Sprague plays the TE position in a way that Iron Mike Ditka would be proud of. Nasty and physical as a blocker, the Rockhurst product bullies for good. While it’s easy to get caught up raving about his blocking prowess, Sprague has velvety hands to secure the catch.
Offensive Linemen
Beau Stephens Beau Stephens 6'5" | 330 lbs | OL Blue Springs | 2021 State MO (Blue Springs, 6’5, 331) The best offensive lineman in the state is a no-brainer. The future Hawkeye makes mincemeat out of the competition and is a brick wall in pass protection. Still has room to grow in terms of overall athletism but looks like a professional in high school.
Braden Bartosh Braden Bartosh 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Park Hill South | 2021 State MO (Park Hill South, 6’3, 280) Violent off the snap, Bartosh plays hard to the whistle. His quick-twitch movements are natural and once he locks up the defender, the PHS blocker wins. With added technique work and strength, Bartosh is a D-1 OL all day.
Justin Sasser Justin Sasser 6'3" | 290 lbs | OL Raytown | 2021 MO (Raytown, 6’4, 320) A man amongst boys when Sasser steps onto the field, the humungous human is powerful with his punch and runs his feet well on contact. Though Sasser has some technical flaws, a coach that can bring out his mean streak and work a few kinks out in his mechanics will have a beast.
Jackson White Jackson White 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Oak Park | 2021 State MO (Oak Park, 6’3, 280) White will line up, fire out, and hit the defender in the face. There is nothing really fancy about his game but all he does is block his man, which is what a good OL is asked to do.
Dylan Halterman Dylan Halterman 6'4" | 265 lbs | OL Lee's Summit West | 2021 State MO (Lee’s Summit West, 6’4, 265) Halterman’s arrow as a player is pointed up and his best football is in front of him. A solid athlete with good balance and awareness, Halterman, with added weight and strength, will start a lot of games for a college program.