The season is here, and players are already making it known they plan on making huge impacts for their teams on Friday nights.
This year there is a new honor that will separate the best of the best. The PrepsKC McCarthy Elite team will be announced at the season’s end with only 28 players making the cut. Each week PrepsKC will highlight a position group with some of the top players who are making waves and getting known for their work on the field.
This week we take a look at quarterbacks. Every team in the Metro has one but only one will be named to the PrepsKC McCarthy Elite team.
Let’s Start on the Missouri side:
Tillman Martin, senior, Liberty North – Led the Eagles to the Missouri Class 6 title in 2023 with a very talented receiving corps around him. This year he is expected to shoulder more of the load, and he didn’t disappoint leading North on two late drives to overcome a 20-12 deficit to earn a 21-20 win over Blue Springs South.
Ayden Wilhelm, junior, Blue Springs South – Led the Jaguars in rushing including a long scoring run that helped give South the lead in the second half. This dual threat QB may be more dangerous with his feet than his arm.
Rocco Marriott, junior, Platte County – Threw for 24 TDs and 2,026 yards as a sophomore while rushing for 670 yards and eight more scores. Big Athletic signal caller will be a big part of any success the Pirates have in 2024.
Hudson Bailey, junior, St. Pius X – The reigning Frank Fontana Award Winner showed well in a big game against Rockhurst to start the season. The Warriors have moved from Class 3 to Class 5 which will give Bailey plenty of high-end competition in the postseason.
There are plenty of good candidates on the Kansas side:
Tate Nagy, senior, Blue Valley West – The Jaguars signal caller opens his season Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas. He had a breakout year in 2023 with almost 2,000 yards passing and 600 yards rushing and a combined 33 touchdowns.
Banks Bowen, senior, Lawrence – Another dual threat QB who finished 14 yards short of a 1,000-yard season in just nine games. He had 13 rushing TDs and 12 more through the air. He is another quarterback who affects the game in many ways.
Braven Powell, senior, Gardner-Edgerton – Fresh off leading his team to the Kansas 6A title Powell could be even more of a force this season. The run first QB from just a few years ago has developed his passing and that side of his game could be big for the Trailblazers in 2024.
These are just a few athletes who could be in contention. The list will grow as the season progresses as we found out who is Elite.
