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Kansas City's Top 25 Recruits

By Jeremy Crabtree, ESPN Recruitingnation, 08/23/16, 8:00PM CDT

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ESPN's Jeremy Crabtree lists KC's top 25 recruits

Defensive Players Top 2017, 2018 List


Ray-Pec's Anthony Payne ranks near the top of the list of KC Metro's top recruits for 2017, 2018.

Highlighted by Simone Award winning quarterback Skylar Thompson and Wisconsin-bound Rockhurst star A.J. Taylor, the 2016 recruiting class in Kansas City won’t be matched anytime soon. However, that doesn’t mean recruiters aren’t flocking to the metro area for prospects that can make a difference in for their programs. Here’s a look at the top 25 recruits in area for the 2017 and 2018 classes.

1. Chester Graves
DE 6-4/220
Park Hill
Class of 2017
Considering:
  Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin and others.
With nearly 20 scholarship offers before the start of his senior season, Graves is the headliner for the senior class in Kansas City. He first emerged onto the scene as a freshman and quickly generated offers from local programs, and after a dominating junior season national programs came after him. Earlier this summer, he listed Ohio State as his favorite, but the Buckeyes class is close to filling up and others like Missouri and Nebraska remain in hot pursuit.

2. Anthony Payne
DE 6-2/250
Raymore-Peculiar
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Kansas State
Payne is the perfect example of what can happen if you perform well at summer camps. Payne’s name was already well known to recruiters, as he had more than a dozen Group of 5 and FCS offers, but strong showings at a Michigan satellite camp and a K-State camp earned him offers from the Wolverines and Wildcats. Payne, who said he grew up a K-State fan, committed to the Wildcats in late July.

3. DaRon Davis
ATH 6-1/190
Lee’s Summit North
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Missouri
Davis is the most explosive offensive playmaker returning in metro area. A do-it-all type of athlete, Davis could project at running back, receiver, defensive back or even as a special teams star on the next level. That’s why Davis was an important commitment for Mizzou. Nebraska and others have not let up in their efforts to get him to make an official visit during the season.

4. Daniel Parker
DT 6-3/270
Blue Springs
Class of 2018
Considering:
Committed to Missouri
Blue Springs has a great tradition of producing talented defensive line recruits, and Parker is next in line. With a good sophomore season, Parker emerged on the scene as a top target, but he really saw his stock shoot through the roof with several impressive summer camp performances. Parker landed offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri State and Nebraska, but he committed to Mizzou at its Night at the Zou elite recruiting camp.

5. Angel Dominguez
DT 6-5/271
St. Thomas Aquinas
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Iowa State
Recruiters absolutely love Dominguez’s upside as either a big defensive end or eventually as a defensive tackle, and he has size few other prospects in the city can match. Dominguez has a chance to shoot up the rankings as a senior with more consistent play on every down, but Iowa State saw enough out of him early on to offer a scholarship and get the commitment.

6. Jafar Armstrong
ATH 6-1/185
Bishop Miege
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Missouri
Armstrong rivals Davis as one of the city’s top returning offensive weapons. As a receiver, Armstrong was a key figure in Miege’s run a state championship in 2015 and recruiters love how he could also contribute as a special teams star. He picked up offers from Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Wyoming before picking the Tigers in June.

7. Djimon Colbert
CB 6-1/186
Bishop Miege
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Iowa
Colbert starred as a junior at Winnetonka before moving to Miege, where he is expected to be one of the Stags’ top defensive stoppers. Colbert has the size and speed recruiters crave, but he came off the board early by committing to Iowa other offers from Iowa State, Kansas and Nebraska in March.

8. Devin Haney
CB 6-2/165
Park Hill
Class of 2018
Considering:
Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwest Missouri State and others
Haney has the size recruiters covet at defensive back, and his speed allows him to both project at safety or even at cornerback. Haney impressed at several major camps this summer and is still awaiting his first major scholarship offer but expect them to come soon.

9. Sammy Wheeler
QB 6-4/200
St. James Academy
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Kansas State
With little varsity experience at quarterback, Wheeler floored Wildcat coaches this summer at camp with his arm strength, accuracy and athletic ability and earned an offer he quickly accepted. Wheeler could still project at other positions, but with a solid senior season he could develop into one of the biggest steals in the city.

10. Dillon Thomas
CB 6-2/175
Park Hill South
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Northern Illinois
Overshadowed some by Davis and Colbert, Northland coaches think Thomas has all the tools to be a very good college football player. A taller defensive back, Thomas was all over the field as a junior, helping him pick up offers from Army, Navy, New Mexico, Northern Iowa and Wyoming before he committed to Northern Illinois. Thomas could emerge as a player that adds a Power 5 offer later this season.

11. Jay Dineen
LB 6-2/225
Free State
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to Kansas
One of the top linebackers in the Sunflower League since his sophomore season, Dineen grew up rooting for the Jayhawks, so once KU offered, his recruitment was essentially over. After getting an offer from Kansas, Dineen said interest picked up from Kansas State, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois. Dineen was the Jayhawks’ first in-state commit for the 2017 class.

12. Billy Maples
QB 6-2/205
Park Hill
Class of 2018
Considering:
Arkansas, Iowa, Miami, Missouri, Michigan State, Wisconsin and others
There are other underclass quarterbacks that will likely get attention, like Derek Green at Rockhurst, but Maples has the tools to develop into the city’s most heavily recruited quarterback in either the 2017 or 2018 classes. Maples threw for 2,200 yards and 19 touchdowns a junior and threw for three scores and almost 200 yards in the season opener. Maples has yet to pick up any offers, but he is already generating interest from Arkansas, Iowa, Miami, Missouri, Michigan State, Wisconsin and others. He calls Wisconsin his dream school.

13. Eli Ross
LB 6-3/230
Staley
Class of 2017
Considering:
Air Force, New Mexico, Southeast Missouri State, Missouri State and Northwest Missouri State and others
Ross has been a dominating force on defense for Staley for the past two seasons and recruiters love his combination of size and football intelligence. Ross already has a slew of solid offers but could easily move up the charts with college coaches with another repeat performance this season.

14. T.J. Kennedy
OL 6-5/336
Lee’s Summit
Class of 2018
Considering:
Missouri and other local schools
Recruiters love Kennedy’s nasty streak on the field, and if he can get in better shape throughout his junior season, he could become one of the Midlands’ most heavily recruited offensive line targets in the 2018 class. Kennedy turned the heads of Missouri’s coaches at camp this summer.

15. Peter Klug
DE 6-6/250
Blue Valley North
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to South Dakota
Klug earned all-Eastern Kansas League honors as a junior and recruiters absolutely love his frame and ability to always be near the football. Klug landed offers from Air Force, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Tulane and Wyoming before committing to South Dakota in early August.

16. Colin Grunhard
6-1/270
Bishop Miege
Class of 2017
Considering:
Air Force, Colgate, South Dakota and others
Grunhard, the son of former Kansas City Chief Tim Grunhard, is a dominating run blocker and an important part of Miege’s big-play offense. His height might scare some Power 5 programs away, but few players in the region are as technically sound as Grunhard. If somebody is willing to take a chance on him, they could be greatly rewarded down the road.

17. Tanner Taula
TE 6-6/210
Blue Springs
Class of 2017
Considering:
Columbia, Illinois State, Missouri State, North Dakota State, South Dakota, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois
With Blue Springs ranked as one of the top teams in the city, Taula will have plenty of opportunities to increase his recruiting stock. Taula is already getting attention from plenty of FCS and Group of 5 programs, but with his frame and playmaking abilities local Power 5 schools could also pay more attention.

18. Jake Springer
WR 6-1/190
Park Hill South
Class of 2017
Considering:
Army, Colgate, Illinois State, Missouri State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, Navy, Southeast Missouri State and others
Springer been a mainstay in the Park  Hill South offense since his sophomore season because of his play-making ability recruiters love. If he can improve his top-end speed and show more explosiveness this season, he could play his way into a Group of 5 or even a local Power 5 offer by signing day.

19. Travis Pickert
TE/DE 6-5/220
St. James Academy
Class of 2017
Considering:
Colgate, San Diego, Northern Colorado, Missouri Southern and other FCS and Division II schools
Pickert earned defensive line MVP honors this summer at a National Underclassmen Combine top 100 camp at Texas A&M and has around 10 scholarships from FCS and Division II schools. A lot of Power 5 and Group of 5 coaches have told him offers are on the way with a good senior season, so he’s definitely somebody to watch closely.

20. Jaron Burks
WR 6-3/175
Raytown South
Class of 2018
Considering:
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota State and others
Burks turned heads on the summer camp circuit when he wowed at Nebraska and a local recruiting camp. With a good junior season in Raytown South’s system, he could become a well-known name to Power 5 and Group of 5 recruiters. Burks definitely has a big upside that interests recruiters.

21. Julian Ross
RB 5-10/185
Staley
Class of 2017
Considering:
Southeast Missouri State, Drake, Northern Iowa, Penn, Princeton, and others
Ross is still searching for his first major offer, but he does have plenty of attention from Ivy League schools and FCS programs. The lack of attention is somewhat hard to understand because Ross is one of the most dominating performers in the metro area and a legitimate candidate for the Simone Award. Somebody will eventually take a chance on him.

22. Kirrian Kirby
OL 6-3/270
Blue Valley
Class of 2017
Considering:
Air Force, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Wyoming and others
Kirby blocked for more than 5,000 yards of total offense, which included three 900-plus yard rushers, and is one of the leaders of a Blue Valley squad that is expected to compete for another state championship this season. Kirby has an offer from Air Force but look for more schools to target him as a senior.

23. Eric Scott
S 6-2/180
Basehor-Linwood
Class of 2017
Considering:
Illinois State, Northern Iowa, Northwest Missouri State, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois and others
With a handful of offers from FCS and mid-major programs, Scott’s athleticism has generated a lot of attention that could allow him to become the highest riser on this list as a senior. Scott is a two-sport athlete with a 6-foot, 8-inch high jump in track, but recruiters like how he’s able to go up and get the football. He’s still in the sleeper category, but watch out if he has a good first few games for Basehor.

24. Cam Seck
OL 6-5/285
Paola
Class of 2017
Considering:
Committed to South Dakota
There are a number of good offensive line targets in the state of Kansas this season, so sometimes it’s easy to overlook quality players like Seck. College coaches love Seck’s motor and he is one of the better run blockers in the Sunflower State. South Dakota offered him early on, and it was an offer he accepted in July, but keep a close on the local schools like KU and K-State, plus Group of 5 programs like Wyoming, Tulsa and Colorado State. They could make a late run at him if he performs well as a senior.


25. Peyton Jones
CB 6-1/187
O’Hara
Class of 2017
Considering:
Illinois State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southeast Missouri State, Western Illinois and others
Jones was a name that was on everybody’s list at this point last year, as most observers expected him to be one of the top five prospects in the city. But the attention from Power 5 and Group of 5 programs has yet to materialize, so Jones has to continue to work hard to move up the charts. He’s got the potential to do just that, though.