The Midwest Showcase COVERAGE | DEs that shined & Raised Profiles – We look at some of the defensive end top rising talent that shined at the Midwest Showcase in St. Joseph and raised their profiles on December 11th.
MIDWEST SHOWCASE COVERAGE
➡️ Results | Photos A | Photos B | KICKOFF23
283 —Sam Ables
, 6-0, 240, DE, 2024, Olathe West (Kan.) 
@SamuelAbles63
Led Olathe West with two sacks and was a top 10 tacker with 45 tackles and nine tackles for losses on the Olathe West defensive edge. One of the defensive lineman in the KC metro West area that is a D-Lineman to have on the high talent radar. Ables, 6-0, 240, is a player that has shown he can be one of those talented edge play makers that gets off the ball quickly and at 240 pounds is a very hard and physical tackler on contact, one of those guys that makes you feel it when he hits you and a player at 240 that is as physical defender on the rise. Also a standout student, Ables reports a 4.0 GPA.
277 —Nico Cocumelli
, 6-3, 220, DE, 2025, Blue Valley West (Kan.)@Nico_cocumelli
Had 31 tackles, 10 tackles for losses (second most on the team), and a sack, and was a top ten tackler on the team and the leader among sophomores for tackles on the team. At 6-4, 220 pounds Cocumelli is one of the players that is among the tops for pure length and being a top pressure attacker in the sophomore class, a player that has length and a big time motor and can be a big impact maker in the coming years, tough player, a wrestler also, brings that grit to the end position and can be a good power end to know. A player that impressed us as much in person at the 6Star Football Showcase as he has on the field as a must see riser in the 2025 DE class.
51 —Wyatt DeWitt
, 6-2, 225, DE, 2024, Indianola (Iowa) @Wyatt30505397
One of the Iowa lineman that we think could really be a major junior on the rise and had a big year as a pressure end player that was tough and played with a big motor all season long for Indianola High School, DeWitt, 6-2 225 is a player that had 7.5 sacks a big leader on the team and had 23 solo tackles, 12 tackles for losses, a fumble recovered, you can’t deny his impressive overall impact as a DE edge presence that can create turnover, apply big pressure and big a physical run stopper.
580 —Donovan Hamby
, 6-3, 190, DE, 2024, Shawnee Mission NW (Kan.)@DonovanHamby239
A player that has some good length, 6-3, 190 and an edge weapon that can also play and lineup at linebacker when needed for Shawnee Mission NW. Hamby is a player that has some good speed and can make some big plays happen, is looking at and has visited Ottawa among colleges looking at the edge college prospect to know. A junior radar make to know among DE prospects on the rise. Has made a visit to Ottawa and is one of those early college radar makers. A standout student, Hamby reports a 3.7 GPA.
448 —Detrick Johnson
, 6-2, 215, DE, 2025, Topeka (Kan.) @detriccck
A very talented DE and hybrid linebacker from Topeka High School in Kansas, Johnson is 6-2, 215 and an athletic edge play maker that will be looking to be one of the key sophomores on the team that gained valuable playing experience for a big junior season ahead. Could end up becoming a top edge defender in the 2025 class next season. Johnson got in on the action this season and showed signs of being one of their top sophomores on defense to watch for in the coming seasons for Topeka.
329 —Owen Perkins
, 6-3, 195, DE, 2025, Blue Valley North (Kan.)@Owen_Perkins18
There are not many sophomore linebackers in the KC metro west that have made early radars yet but one of those players that has is Blue Valley North’s Owen Perkins, a player that can play DE and backer, Perkins may be more of a true Defensive End but can play backer also, a key pressure rusher and play maker that will be looking to make a bigger name in 2023, has some speed off the edge and is one of those guys we could see having a very big junior season in 2023. Talented looking edge play maker and rusher on the rise to know.
313 —AJ Ress-Conkey
, 5-10, 170, LB, 2024, Ralston (Neb.) @ajleerc
Some of the better speed and play making backer skills in Nebraska, Ralston’s Ress-Conkey is a player that can be all over the football field and make some of those big time stops using his speed and play reading skills to be a nice side line to side line play maker. AJ is a hot junior play maker at Bandit and OLB that had a big 2022 season with an average of 4.6 tacklers a game and 2.0 sacks at OLB with 22 solo tackles out of 37 total tackles along with 3.0 tackles for losses.
328 —Kyrce Robinson, 6-2, 225, DE, 2024, Topeka West (Kan.) @rece_robinson05
One of those guys that can be a physical tackler and one of the DEs that Topeka West will be looking to use for his power and physical strength, Robinson reports a bench press of 315 pounds and a squat of 550 pounds along with a reported 4.9 time in the 40 yard dash. Earned Second Team All-UKC honors this season for his big play. Also a standout student, Robinson reports a 3.5 GPA. Had a big season with 55 tackles, 22 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 pick, and 1 FF.
267 —Jason Strickland
, 6-4, 240, DE, 2024, Blue Valley SW (Kan.) @jason_Strick70
6-4, 240 has some impressive length to his game and plays offensive tackle and defensive end for Blue Valley SW, a player that had a great offseason and showed out at several big camps, a name to know among the big men in Kansas football, and a riser that is just going to get better and better in the trenches, has that size and length that could make him a big time prospect, could project highest at DE for the next level. Has impressive size and is one of the top stock risers for talent to know in the 2024 class.
223 —Robert Villezcas
, 6-1, 260, DE, 2024, Ulysses (Kan.) @ThatRobert100
The big man from Ulysses High School in Kansas is a 6-1, 260 Defensive end and lineman that will be looking to have a big senior season in 2023 and has the toughness and the power to be a very impressive junior big man against the running game for Ulysses. Villezcas earned Honorable Mention All-GWAC honors for his big season in the trenches in 2022. Finished as a top five tackler on the Tigers roster in 2022 with 31 tackles as a junior, and will be a top junior defender to watch for in 2023.
