As part of the Prep Sports interview process we ask every coach to share some details about their players. The Cardinals Head Coach Ryan McFarland gave shoutouts to the following players.

Most Valuable Player(s):

Nate Miller –

“Nate is a 3-year starter for us on the offensive line. He was a starter at guard for us on the 2021 State Championship team. Last year he played with a shoulder injury through most of the season. Nate can play multiple positions on the offensive line for us. He is very athletic and we hope, with a healthy shoulder, he is able to be more physical at the point of attack and be a dominate force up front. Nate is also a state placer in discus last spring as a Junior.”

Shaun Hunt –

“Shaun Hunt is a returning All-State offensive lineman. Shaun started for us at center last fall and was our best/most consistent lineman. Going into the season we weren’t real sure what Shaun’s role would be. As we went through last summer and into pre-season practices our offensive line coach kept making positive comments and bragging on who well Shaun was playing. Shaun has a high football IQ and he is definitely the leader of our guys upfront. He has high expectations for himself and our offensive line as a whole and he works hard to hold the whole group to a high standard.”

Like most teams, we will look for our offensive line to be the strength of our offense this upcoming season. We expect Nate and Shaun to be the leader of this group.

Underclassman To Watch:

Gabe Johnson –

“Gabe had the rare opportunity to play some as a freshman for us last season. Not only did he get the chance to get on the field, but he was able to get some valuable time playing QB for us. Gabe was also able to get some varsity experience on the basketball court last winter and on the track team last spring. We feel that with these experiences Gabe comes in this season as more of an upperclassman instead of a traditional sophomore. Gabe has worked hard in the weight room since the end of last season and has gotten bigger and stronger over the offseason. Gabe is a very dynamic athlete and he has the ability to make a big play anytime he touches the ball. Gabe will be in competition for our starting QB position, but regardless of what happens he will be on the field in some capacity this fall.”

Unsung Hero:

Colton Taylor – 

“Colt is a player that is a little undersized physically, but he makes up for it with his heart and dedication to Webb City Football. Colt has great leadership skills, he never misses a workout and is one of our hardest workers. Off the field Colt never has a bad day and he always has something to say to put you in a good mood. Colt has been a player who really embraced his role as a “work-team/practice squad” player as an underclassman. He understood what his role was and accepted it. I am excited to watch Colt play this season. He is also a state qualifying wrestler. Colt is a player that I am looking forward to coaching this season and a player that I will sincerely miss once he graduates.”

Character Counts Athlete:

“Jonah had the opportunity to play some (at tight end) for us as a sophomore and we have had a hard time keeping him off the field since then. Jonah will be a Senior for us this Fall. Jonah is a player that has done everything that is asked of him and never takes a workout/practice off. I promise you he has never skipped a weight in the weight room nor has he ever not done a drill full speed. In the weight room, I feel most athletes need encouragement to get them to work at a high level. With Jonah I feel it is the opposite…He almost works too hard or tries to do too much and we have to get him to relax at times and give his body a little recovery time. Jonah is the same way in the classroom and has a 4.0+ GPA. Jonah is a player for us that is highly respected by his classmates. Jonah is always willing to volunteer for whatever task needs to be done. Jonah is a great listener. When anyone is talking to a group Jonah is in or to Jonah specifically he is always keeping eye contact with them paying attention. If I were to make a list of characteristics I would want our players to display, Jonah would mark every box on the list. Jonah is going to make some college extremely happy that they took a chance on him after this season.”

Under-Recruited:

“Jace is a 6’7″ 250 pound DE for us. Jace has been stuck behind a few pretty good players at defensive end throughout his career so he hasn’t had many opportunities to play on Friday Nights. Jace has worked extremely hard on developing his body for football. As a sophomore he was a 6’4″ 195 pound kid. It has been an exciting journey to watch Jace embrace the grind and put in the work to become a varsity football player and a leader of our football team. Jace has great size and long arms and that has gotten him attention from all levels of college football. Jace has become our vocal leader on the football field over the summer and we are very excited to watch him lead his fellow classmates this season. Jace is also a varsity hurdler for our track team in the spring. It’s not everyday you see a 6’7″ hurdler out on the track.”