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A year ago, Lee’s Summit was trying to figure out where the pieces to the puzzle would fit. Now, they are back and locked and loaded into place.

The Tiger return a great number of their starters from 2018, in which they went 6-4, but finished by winning four of their last five regular-season games.

Lee’s Summit returns their lineup of skill players, starting with senior quarterback Darrias Pearsall (6-foot-1, 195). The Missouri State commit - the fourth Division I quarterback commit for Lee’s Summit – threw for 1,238 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pearsall also ran for 405 yards and three scores.

“He’s really athletic and a perfect blend with great arm strength but great running the ball,” said Lee’s Summit head coach Eric Thomas. “He’s developed into a great leader for our team.”

Pearsall will hand off to a committee of running backs, including Kaia Tupinio (5-foot-11, 215). The versatile senior threw for 268 yards and four scores last year, rushed for 542 yards and a touchdown, and caught a touchdown pass too.

Senior Landen Willis (5-foot-8, 155) combined for 233 yards and two touchdowns a year ago, while Micah Manning (541 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and junior Lejuan Miller (5-foot-10, 200) also will be solid weapons out of the backfield.

On the outside, Manning (256 receiving yards, four touchdowns) will be at receiver too. The 5-foot-8, 175 senior posted a 4.45 time in the 40 – the best at the 810 Varsity Combine in May – and second in state in the 100. Senior Ryan Belt (6-foot-2, 190) returns as the leading receiver from a year ago with 532 yards and seven scores. Junior Nate Morse (5-foot-7, 155) and senior Jacob Mrachek (6-0, 185) also will snag passes.

A big weapon in the passing game will be emerging stud tight end Max Whisner. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound sophomore snagged 184 receiving yards and three scores as a freshman. Sophomore Landen Shepard (6-0, 240) also will see time at tight end.

“We have guys who Darrias can go to, and it’ll be a matter of him making quick decision,” Thomas said.

Up front, the Tiger return two starters in senior guard Preston Six (6-0, 225) and senior center Tyler Terrance (5-foot-11, 235). Also on the offensive front will be junior Marion Thomas (5-foot-11, 295) junior Zachary Karim (6-0, 245), senior Jonas Dittmer (6-foot-3, 270) and senior Ethan Mitchell (6-foot-2, 225).

“The potential is there to be a good unit,” Thomas said. “We won’t have a big-time college football player there, but guys who can work together and do anything we ask them to do.”

Defensively, Lee’s Summit will feature one of the top bookend duos on the city with senior Felix Anudike (6-foot-3, 225). As a junior, Anudike registered 77 tackles, with 20 for a loss and five sacks.  The 810 Varsity preseason first-teamer holds offers from Western Illinois, Northern Iowa, Tulsa and others.

On the other side, Whisner will line up at defensive end, while senior Tre Wheat (6-foot-1, 270) anchors the middle at nose guard.

“We’ll be really athletic up front with Max and Felix, who has more experience and explosive,” Thomas said.

At linebacker, Terrance, Miller and Tupinio will join returning starter Michael Garozzo. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior notched 67 tackles – including three sacks – as LSHS returns its top two tacklers in Anudike and Garozzo.

The secondary will return Willis at free safety (28 tackles, 2 interceptions) along with senior strong safety Alexander Barnett (6-0, 190). Cornerbacks will include another speedster in junior Thomas Smith (6-foot-1, 160), senior Jackson Fry (6-0, 180), junior Caleb Manning (6-foot-1, 175) along with Micah Manning and Ryan Belt.

“Overall, we’ll have a really fast defensive unit,” touted Thomas. “We will need to figure out how to get more depth on the line and get Max and Felix off the field for a bit. But overall, we’re pretty excited about both sides of the ball, and what this team can become.”