Landon Bland, OLB/DE/Edge, 6-4, 230, Carthage, Mo.
Athletic Traits: 4.6 - 40, Outstanding baseball player and pitcher, athletic with size and power.
High School Honors and Statistics: Consensus 3-star prospect, 1st-team Prep Redzone All-Southwest Missouri as a senior; As a junior he was 1st-team All-Conference and 3rd-team All-Class 5A (Missouri HS Football Coaches Association); Bland had six sacks as a junior. Carthage does not release their statistics. We do know he caught a 34-yard touchdown pass in the quarterfinal win over Capital City and a four-yard touchdown pass in the District 6 Championship Game with Republic.
Commitment Details: Bland committed on March 14 and never wavered.
Other Schools Recruited by: Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Purdue, and Wisconsin (all had offered at some point)
Our Thoughts: His team is 12-1 and will play Platte County at Missouri Western University on Friday (Dec. 5) for Class 5 State Championship. Bland is one of the top players for Carthage and a captain. He plays both defensive end and tight end. He is athletic for his size and has 4.6 speed, very good quickness. He is also bull strong and will get stronger focusing on football year-round rather than throwing fastballs in the spring. He is a very good prospect and should fit in the new Cowboys defensive system.
