Although college football has been turned upside down by big-school super conferences, Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal, one thing remains.
Kids still grow up dreaming of playing the game at the college level.
And as usual, there are many area high school players currently looking for options to do just that.
The first day NCAA football programs could sign high school recruits was Wednesday, Feb. 5. Major colleges had an early signing period in December, but the vast majority of recruits will be signing this week.
Recruits no longer sign national letters of intents, as the NCAA has done away with them. Now players ink grant and aid agreements at a school for the upcoming school year.
Here is a look at some senior players from area schools who are considering a future in collegiate football, along with the 2024 team records:
South-Central Association
Salem (2-8): The Tigers have a couple of players looking. Reuben Hovey (5-6, 165) is a running back/linebacker who is considering some smaller schools, with running back his preferred position. And Tobey Gover (6-1, 191) is a running back/defensive lineman who is also searching for the right fit, with running back also his top choice. Gover has been in contact with Southwest Baptist about possibly playing football and competing in track. Hovey rushed for 634 yards on 95 carries (6.7) with four TDs this past season while Gover made 59 tackles – 36 solo – with four sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Houston (6-5): Wide receiver Jordan Arthur had verbally committed to Ottawa, but Graceland and Central Methodist were making late pushes. Arthur rushed for 669 yards (5.1) and 10 TDs while catching 25 passes for 572 yards (22.9) and five TDs.
Thayer (8-3): The Bobcats have all-state defensive lineman Cooper Clark fielding several offers, including Ottawa, Southwest Baptist, Westminster and Baker. Tight end Brandon Prince is considering Ottawa, SBU, Westminster and Culver Stockton.
Mountain Grove (7-4): No Panther senior is looking to play football, although some underclassmen are.
Willow Springs (2-8): The Bears have offensive lineman John Jones who has signed with NAIA program Culver-Stockton.
Cabool (0-10): No senior from the Bulldogs is looking to play at the next level.
Ava (7-3): The Bears currently have no players looking to play. All-state fullback Hunter Adams considered options, but after he had a second knee surgery he has decided not to play at this time. Adams rushed for 840 yards (6.2) and 10 TDs in 2024.
Independent
Rolla (6-4): Trustin Richards (6-0, 220), who led the Bulldogs in tackles the past three seasons, has offers from Central Methodist and Ottawa University. Mason Delagarza (5-8, 155), is a running back/defensive back who has been talking to NAIA schools. Richards had 117 tackles – 62 solo – with six tackles for loss this past season while Delagarza rushed for 694 yards on 63 carries (11.0 yards per carry) and eight TDs and caught five passes for 102 yards (20.4) for a TD.
Four Rivers Conference
St. James (4-7): The Tigers have Blaine Noakes (5-8, 165), a running back/defensive back, interested in playing at the next level, although he’s not sure where. Noakes was a standout on both sides of the ball for the Tigers. Last season, offensively he ran for 691 yards on 94 attempts (7.4) and seven TDs while catching 20 passes for 82 yards and a TD. On defense he made 91 tackles – 37 solo.
Sullivan (6-5): All-state lineman Nolan Center has preferred walk-on offers from NCAA Division I schools Mizzou and Southeast Missouri State and has scholarship offers from D-II schools Truman State, of the GLVC, and Missouri Southern, of the MIAA. Also, quarterback Robert York and receiver/defensive back Seth Valley are still looking at multiple schools. York passed for 463 yards (55%) and rushed for 590 yards and seven TDs last season while Valley caught 16 passes for 369 yards.
St. Clair (7-4): The Bulldogs have two players looking to play at the next level in all-state offensive lineman Luke Dierker and all-state running back/linebacker Josh Hawkins.
Hermann (8-3): All-state edge rusher DL Daeden Hopkins (6-6, 227), a 3-start recruit, signed with Mizzou during the early signing period. Head coach Jed Leeper said several other Bearcats who are juniors and seniors are also currently looking for college football opportunities. That includes current seniors Aiden Eikermann (6-2, 205), who is a running back, tight end and linebacker, and two-way lineman Kegin Sperry (6-1, 205). Eikermann rushed for 364 yards (6.7) and caught 23 passes for 371 yards (16.1) and scored a total of 12 TDs last season. Sperry made 66 tackles.
Pacific (6-6): For the Indians, all-state offensive lineman Aiden Dickey has verbally committed to NCAA Division II school Quincy University of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Also, receiver/defensive back Kade Collins, who caught 35 passes for 447 yards and four TDs last year, has been talking with some D-II/NAIA schools.
Union (3-8): Wildcat head coach Justin Grahl says he has no 2025 seniors looking to play at the next level.
Central Ozark Conference
Waynesville (0-10): Running back Michael Kelsey, Jr. (5-10, 180) will play at Evangel University, a NAIA program in Springfield. In addition, Braylin Scott (6-0, 215), a tight end for the Tigers, has committed to William Woods University, a football program in its second year in the NAIA. William Woods finished 1-10 in its inaugural campaign during 2024. Kelsey, Jr. just missed rushing for 1,000 yards for a third consecutive season in 2024 after missing all or most of the final three games due to injury. He finished with 939 yards on 180 carries and 11 TDs. He flirted with the Tigers’ all-time career rushing record before falling just short.
Lebanon (7-5): The Jackets’ all-state fullback Jax Glendenning (5-8, 175) will be going to D-II school Harding University in Searcy, Ark. to play college ball. Glendenning erupted for 2,547 rushing yards (8.4) and a whopping 35 TDs last season while catching five passes for 169 yards and two TDs.
Other Schools
Camdenton (6-5): Kole Lane (6-0, 205), a center for the Lakers’ O-Line last season, is looking to play next year, but is still considering options.
West Plains (8-4): The Zizzers have one senior interested in playing college football. Quarterback/linebacker Isaiah Jones (6-3, 215) is going to D-II school Missouri Baptist.
Cuba (4-6): The Wildcats have one player looking in football. Receiver/defensive back Micah Volner (6-0, 180) has been in talks with Southwest Baptist, Concordia and Westminster. Volner caught 21 passes for 347 yards (16.5) and made 65 tackles – 47 solo – and had three interceptions. Other Cuba players who had drawn some interest were wideout Preston Heads (6-5, 180) and quarterback Jesse Elrod (6-1, 190), but both of those players are currently eying collegiate basketball instead.
