Here are the southwest Missouri high school football teams with the best position groups

Several teams across the Ozarks are deep at different position groups entering the season. We went through and picked out which teams are the best at the different positions entering the year.

Here are the top position groups in the Ozarks along with other teams who aren’t far behind.

Quarterback - Fair Grove

The Eagles get the nod here because they have two quarterbacks capable of leading their offense at a high level. Spensar Seiger and Bryden Baxter are both great athletes who can run the ball while also making the right reads and getting the ball into the hands of their playmakers.

Also worth noting: Marionville, Mount Vernon, Strafford, West Plains

More: Here are southwest Missouri's high school football quarterbacks to know heading into 2024

Running backs - Ava

The Bears have so many different capable backs that it’s hard to spread it out as much as they should when they have one of the best in the area in Hunter Adams. Keep an eye out for seniors Thomas Merritt and Jordan Hutchison along with Grant Swattosh to compliment Adams throughout the year.

Also worth noting: Marionville, Mount Vernon, Nevada, Lebanon, Carthage, Sarcoxie, Nixa, Fair Grove

Wide receivers - Neosho

There is a lot of turnover at wide receiver in the area entering the year. Neosho has done a great job over the last two seasons in developing top-end pass-catchers and it’ll return two of the area’s best with Hudson Williams and Tyrone Harris split out wide.

Also worth noting: Glendale, Marionville, Joplin, Houston

More: Here are southwest Missouri's high school football running backs to know heading into 2024

Offensive line - Nixa

There won’t be a better lineman in the area than five-star junior Jackson Cantwell at the Eagles’ left tackle. But the rest of the line has the potential to make this one of the better offensive lines to come through the immediate Springfield area’s history with Jacob Lile taking one of the guard positions and Hayden Mays at right tackle becoming one of the breakout candidates to watch.

Also worth noting: Lebanon, Webb City, Carthage, Republic, Marionville, West Plains, Fair Grove, Lamar, Seneca

Defensive line - Lebanon

The Yellowjackets return two of the area’s best defensive linemen from last season with Mason Hendrix and Nick Allen back in the mix. Lebanon allowed 15.2 points per game last year and it all started with its defensive front.

Also worth noting: Kickapoo, Logan-Rogersville, Carthage, Webb City, Republic

More: Here are southwest Missouri's high school football receivers to know heading into 2024

Linebackers - Carthage

The Tigers have one of the top prospects in the area in 6-foot-4 edge rusher Landon Bland along with a great recent history with players at the linebacker position. Keep an eye on Cooper Lilienkamp, an honorable selection All-Central Ozark Conference performer last year and led the team in tackles as a sophomore.

Also worth noting: Fair Grove, Bolivar, West Plains, Nixa, Ozark, Webb City

More: Here are southwest Missouri's high school football offensive linemen to know heading into 2024

Secondary - Kickapoo

The Chiefs have had one of the best defensive lines and secondaries in the area for the last few seasons. They return Trent Garton and Levi Phillips at opposite safeties this season. Kickapoo is two years removed from not allowing a passing touchdown for an entire season.

Also worth noting: Nixa, Carthage, Marionville, Mount Vernon, Houston, Lamar

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Here are the southwest Missouri high school football teams with the best position groups