810 Varsity unveils its preseason Elite 81 list of some of the top Metro players in the area.
Running Backs
RB Aveion Bailey, Blue Springs
Senior, 5-foot-11, 205
Bailey rushed for 963 yards and seven touchdowns amid a cast of running backs last year. The senior should garner even more carries behind a veteran line in 2018.
RB Brison Cobbins, Bishop Miege
Junior, 5-foot-8, 175
As just a sophomore, Cobbins racked up 1,294 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground with 170 carries going to seniors Cameron Clark and Carter Putz. Now Cobbins will be the feature back with his speed and could eclipse 1,500 yards.
RB Cameron Jackson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Senior, 5-foot-11, 175
Jackson rolled up 1,273 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2017, and will again be a main cog in the Saints offense.
RB Clyde Price, North KC
Senior, 6-0, 210
Price enjoyed a monster year, and looks for another as the Metro's leading returning rusher after a campaign of 2,201 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. Price also is a tackle machine at linebacker for the Hornets.
RB Austin Terry, Blue Springs South
Senior, 5-foot-11, 180
Terry enjoyed a strong campaign with 1,206 rushing yards and 16 scores as a junior, and should look to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark again as a senior.
RB Tavon Tusa, Park Hill South
Senior, 5-foot-9, 200
Tusa broke out in 2017 as a starter, reeling off 1,295 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. The workload should lighten for Tusa with a full bill of health at quarterback, which created a one-dimensional offense in 2018.
ATH Christian Carter, Lee's Summit North
Senior, QB/FS
Carter has led the Broncos resurgence at quarterback, but produces more on the ground. Carter threw for 336 yards in 2017, but ran for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns. Carter and the Broncos should be hard to keep up with again in 2018.
RB Patrick Connery, Kearney
Senior, 5-foot-8, 165
Connery fell just shy of the 1,000-yard mark, notching 986 rushing yards and 12 scores as a junior. Connery will look to do so as Kearney will revitalize its offensive line this year.
RB Drew Dumas, Olathe NW
Senior, 6-0, 215
Dumas finished as a first-team all-Sunflower League selection, and for good reason after games such as 141 yards and two scores in the Ravens first-ever playoff win in 2017.
RB John Eldridge, Lee's Summit North
Senior, 5-foot-8, 175
Eldridge is one of the fastest in the city, and should add to last year's numbers of 601 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
RB Nolan Ford, Basehor-Linwood
Senior, 6-foot-1, 190
Ford notched 860 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior, while also notching 13.5 tackles for loss at linebacker. The senior will looked to be a leader for the Bobcats in 2018.
RB Isaac Miller, Smithville
Junior, 6-0, 190
As just a sophomore, Miller went bonkers with 1,450 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Miller and the Warriors should get more exposure by moving to the Suburban League this year.
RB Jaden Moss, Staley
Senior, 5-foot-10, 180
Moss finished with 553 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior behind two 1,000-yard rushers. Now Moss will be the lead carrier in the Staley offense and enjoy a big year.
RB/LB Austin Moore, Louisburg
Senior, 6-foot-1, 215
Moore racked up over 1,200 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns at Louisburg, while also piling up 135 tackles at linebacker over the last two years. Moore will be a leading force for Louisburg in the Frontier League.
RB Ontario Russell, LS North
Senior, 6-0, 195
Russell shared duties with John Eldridge and Christian Carter, running for 590 yards and five scores as a junior. The Missouri State commit should reap in another nice year for the upstart Broncos.
RB Tyron "Tank" Young
Sophomore, 5-foot-7, 165
Showing flashes a freshman, Young should flourish in his sophomore campaign with Cameron Jackson also in backfield, to make a dangerous 1-2 punch in the Saints system.
