Top 20 high school football players to watch. See who made the Kansas City-area list

The Friday night lights are about to be bright in the Kansas City region.

High school football kicks off this week for Missouri teams, with Kansas schools following suit next week. Across the Kansas City metro, thousands of players will suit up for bragging rights as they try to win a state championship.

There’s loads of talent scattered throughout Kansas and Missouri, with many players already committed to playing at a college after this season.

Ahead of the season, The Star surveyed the region’s coaches to identify players they have their eyes on. These are some of the names they shared.

Players are listed in alphabetical order.

SAMMIE BAILEY, RB/LB, VAN HORN

On his Hudl page, Sammie Bailey says “I love the game of football,” and viewers can tell he does.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior had 488 tackles and two sacks as a linebacker and 1,057 yards and 10 touchdowns as a running back for the Falcons during the 2022 season.

TRISTAN BAKER, RB, MILL VALLEY

Mill Valley won its fourth straight state championship last year, led by senior running back Tristan Baker.

He finished the 2022 season with 1,437 yards and 22 touchdowns. He will be leading the way again as the Jaguars look for a fifth championship.

JUSTYCE BETTS, LB, BISHOP MIEGE

The senior linebacker was voted first-team all-state last season, finishing with 86.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Coming in at 6 feet 1 inches and 200 pounds, Justyce Betts will look to lead the Stags to a memorable season.

BRAYDEN BUSH, RB/LB, PLEASANT HILL

His stats from last year include 931 yards rushing, 18 rushing touchdowns, 161 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two defensive touchdowns.

Those efforts earned the 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior a spot on the Class 3 first-team all-state list, where he was a unanimous choice.

BRETT CARROLL, OL/DT, OLATHE EAST

The senior offensive lineman was an All-Sunflower League honorable mention selection last year.

Brett Carroll received offers from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Toledo, Illinois, Tulane, Colorado State, Southeast Missouri State and South Dakota State, but ultimately chose to commit to Minnesota.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman was also the Kansas Class 6A heavyweight wrestling state champion. He has racked up 100 career wins on the mat.

DEREK JOINER, OL/DE, GRANDVIEW

Derek Joiner has committed to Tulane to continue his football career. He finished first-team all-state in 2022 and is athletic at 6 feet 3 inches and 285 pounds.

Opposing teams are going to have a hard time containing him no matter what side of the ball he’s playing for the Bulldogs.

TYLER KERKHOFF, OL, STALEY

He takes up a lot of space on the offensive line, standing at 6 feet 5 inches and 315 pounds.

A brick wall in protecting the quarterback, Tyler Kerkhoff was voted first-team all-state by the Missouri Football Coaches Association last season and has received offers from the University of Tulsa and the University of Memphis.

MELVIN LASTER, LB, LIBERTY NORTH

The linebacker has started every game since his freshman year at Liberty North, and the team has only lost six games since.

Eagles coach Andrew Lierman said Melvin Laster is responsible for much of the checks and communication used by the defense and has great overall knowledge of the game.

Laster led the team in tackles, sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries last year and is a two-time Missouri Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior has committed to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

BRYCE LISAKA, RB, PARK HILL

What position doesn’t Bryce Lisaka play?

Utilized at running back, wide receiver, defensive back and returner, he totaled 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns last season for Park Hill.

Trojans coach Andy Sims said Lisaka has received five offers to play in college but didn’t reveal which ones.

CARSON MILLER, QB, DE SOTO

The Wildcats quarterback did more damage to opposing defenses using his legs last season, totaling 1,152 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

But when the opportunity to throw was there, he took advantage, throwing for 473 yards and six touchdowns in a campaign that earned him honorable mention from the United Conference of Kansas Athletics and the Kansas State High Schools Activities Association.

MARCUS NEAL, WR/DB, RAYTOWN SOUTH

Neal totaled 590 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a wide receiver to go along with two interceptions as a defensive back.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior has received offers from Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado State, Toledo and Air Force but has yet to choose a college destination.

WILLIAMS NWANERI, DE, LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH

The Kansas City metro’s first national No. 1-ranked high school recruit has committed to the Missouri Tigers for 2024.

Standing 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 250 pounds, the senior defensive end is expected to be a key player for the Broncos again this fall.

Nwaneri posted 56 total tackles, 12 sacks and six pass breakups in 2022, according to 24/7Sports.

DARIUS PAHMAHMIE, DL, LIBERTY NORTH

He joined the team at the same time as Melvin Laster and, like Laster, has started every game since his freshman year.

Pahmahmie is a strong, physical player at 6 feet 2 inches and 295 pounds who commands double-teams against the run.

He was voted first-team all-district in 2022 and has verbally committed to University of Nevada. Las Vegas.

RYVER PEPPERS, RB, FORT OSAGE

Always a threat with the ball in his hands, this running back carried it 251 times for 1,634 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

He also caught 20 passes for 480 yards and eight touchdowns in addition to tallying a kick-return touchdown.

The junior was voted second-team all-state and has received a college offer from South Dakota State.

JADEN REDDELL, TE, RAYMORE-PECULIAR

A 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end, Reddell finished the 2022 season with 49 receptions, 1,002 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.

He’s committed to the University of Georgia.

KALEB SCOTT, DB, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

The senior made first team United Conference of Kansas Athletics in 2022 and looks to build on that in his final year of high school.

He had 52 tackles and one interception last season, along with two kick-return touchdowns. Basehor-Linwood coach Rod Stallbaumer said Scott will also play wide receiver.

Scott has received an offer from Missouri Western State University. His brother, Eric Scott Jr., was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

RAY SMITH III, RB/LB, OLATHE EAST

The 6-foot-2, 224-pound linebacker has totaled 98 tackles, including 12 for loss, with the Olathe East varsity team. He’s also carried the ball 26 times for 209 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry.

Smith earned All-Sunflower League honorable mention in 2022 and has received a scholarship offer from Eastern Illinois. Pitt State, Iowa State, Kansas State and the University of Wyoming have also shown interest.

MAESON TUNLEY, WR, ROCKHURST

The speedy wide receiver posted a 4.59-second time in the 40-yard dash and is expected to have a breakout year for Rockhurst this season.

According to MaxPreps, Tunley caught 25 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns in 2022. He’s received offers from the University of Central Missouri and William Jewel College.

CHARLIE WOLEBEN, DE, DE SOTO

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound defensive end racked up 44 tackles and six sacks for the Wildcats last fall, earning first-team All-United Conference of Kansas Athletics honors.

A junior, he has already received scholarship offers from the University of Kansas and the University of Nebraska.

KAM YARBROUGH, LB, BISHOP WARD

This senior linebacker isn’t huge — he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds — but he packs a lot of power.

Yarbrough finished his junior year with 103 tackles, three for a loss, and three sacks, earning all-state honorable mention.