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DL, Brian Kagarice, Harrisonville, 6-2, 225, senior. Kagarice had 88 tackles for the Missouri Class 3 state champion. He also led the Wildcats in sacks and helped his team to a 14-0 record for the second straight year.
DL, Rodney Kelly, Lee’s Summit West, 6-2, 210, senior. Kelly had 94 tackles and helped Lee’s Summit West to a 14-0 record and the Missouri Class 4 state championship. He recorded 21 tackles for loss and had 11 sacks on a defense that notched a shutout in the state title game.
DL, Josh Copp, Blue Valley West, 6-4, 215, senior. The East Kansas League defensive player of the year was a terror for opposing offenses, racking up 72 tackles (26 for loss) and 17 sacks for the 5A state champions. Copp had six sacks and a blocked punt in his last two games.
DL, Bryce Murray, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 6-1, 215, senior. A force up front for one of the top defenses in the Sunflower League. Had 93 tackles and 12 sacks for the league-champion Cougars.
LINEBACKER
LB, Joey Carroll, St. Thomas Aquinas, 5-10, 195, senior. Had 155 tackles (nine for loss) for the Saints, who made it to the Kansas 5A state semifinals. Was the runner up for EKL defensive player of the year.
LB, Andrew Wilson, Raymore-Peculiar, 6-1, 205, senior. Wilson had 123 tackles for the Panthers this season. Nine of his tackles were for loss. He also had an interception and forced two fumbles.
LB, Malachi Bickle, Lee’s Summit West, 5-10, 195, senior. Bickle was the leading tackler for the Missouri Class 4 state champion Titans. He finished the season with 144 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He wasn’t just a threat to stop the run, as he also had five interceptions.
LB, Cody Fogle, Grain Valley, 5-8, 171, senior. Fogle seemed to be in on every play for Grain Valley. He accumulated 163 tackles and had nine tackles for loss for the Eagles, who reached the Missouri Class 3 state semifinals.
DEFENSIVE BACK
DB, Kyson Ginavan, Olathe South, 6-0, 175, senior. There’s wasn’t much Ginavan didn’t do – and do well – for the Falcons. A standout receiver, kicker, punter and kick/punt returner as well, he may have been most valuable as a defensive back. He tied for the Sunflower League lead with five interceptions while making 105 tackles (60 solo).
DB, Donte Strickland, Blue Springs South, 5-10, 155, senior. Call Strickland Mr. Do-Everything. He had four interceptions for 9-1 Blue Springs South. He also had six pass breakups, returned kickoffs and punts, and rushed for 984 yards.
DB, Ivan Charbonneau, Rockhurst, 5-9, 170, senior. Charbonneau had six interceptions, one short of the school record, for the Missouri Class 6 state champs. He also had 105 tackles and helped guide Rockhurst to a 13-0 record. He was part of a defense that allowed just nine passing touchdowns.
KICKER/ PUNTER
K, Mark Saxby, Olathe East, 6-1, 160, senior. A standout goalkeeper for the Hawks as well, the strong-legged Saxby converted 38 of 39 extra-point attempts and kicked six field goals. He also had a knack for booming kickoffs.
P, Joe Kassanavoid, Lawson, 6-6, 215, senior. Kassanavoid averaged more than 42 yards per punt for the Missouri Class 2 state champion Cardinals. During the state championship game, Kassanavoid’s only punt was for 47 yards and went out of bounds inside the 1-yard line.
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