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Senior quarterback Ayden Wilhelm kept hearing in his freshman year that the Class of 2026 would be the one to re-establish the Blue Springs South High School football tradition. Four years later, and it is mission accomplished as he begins his college football career at Rice University. Wilhelm and the Jaguars showed promise, going 1-9 as a sophomore starter in...

Senior quarterback Ayden Wilhelm kept hearing in his freshman year that the Class of 2026 would be the one to re-establish the Blue Springs South High School football tradition.

Four years later, and it is mission accomplished as he begins his college football career at Rice University.

Wilhelm and the Jaguars showed promise, going 1-9 as a sophomore starter in the first season under new head coach Alan Wilmes. That progressed to an 8-3 record and an appearance in the district championship as a junior.

2025 Examiner All-EJC Football – The Examiner

As a senior, Wilhelm led the Jaguars to their first undefeated regular season since the state championship year of 2015. With another stellar season, Wilhelm has repeated his reign as The Examiner's 2025 All-EJC Football Offensive Player of the Year.

"When we were freshmen, they kept telling us that this is the class that is going to turn it around," Wilhelm said. "We all believed it, and we continued to work on it every day after that.

"It's been an exciting time. Words can't express how blessed I am to go through all of that – even through all of the ups and downs. I wouldn't take anything back."

Nor would Wilmes, who knows he made the right call when he made Wilhelm his starter when he was a sophomore.

"Ayden Wilhelm was the cornerstone of our football program the last four years," Wilmes said. "Ayden was integral to the resurgence of Blue Springs South football in the KC metro and state of Missouri."

After passing for 1,545 yards and running for 900 yards while completing 62% of his passes as a junior, Wilhelm surpassed that as a senior. He completed 68% of his passes (153 of 225) for 2,061 yards and 29 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He again was a threat with his legs as well, rushing for 503 yards and five more touchdowns on just 45 carries.

"We worked on it all offseason with the coaches and did a great job," Wilhelm said. "And the receivers, those guys were great. They came down with some balls that not many can come down with and made my job easier."

He now holds school career records for passing yards (5,609), attempts (630) and completions (391). He is second in school history with 75 touchdowns and second in school history for touchdowns in a season with his 34 this year.

This season he was named first-team all-state by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and the Suburban Gold Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Simone Award that goes to the top player in the metro area.

"He was a player that came and worked hard every day and helped improve our program," Wilmes said. "He is leaving as one of the best players to ever play at Blue Springs South High School. He's a great player and an even better person. Ayden will do great things at Rice University."

Wilmes said it wasn't just his talent that made him a great player, but his leadership as well.

"Ayden was always the hardest worker in the room. He worked his craft every single day and was detailed about it. This is what made him great," Wilmes said. "It also brought his teammates along with him. He led by example and would be vocal when needed. Ayden was a servant leader and was there to help his teammates get better each day. His legacy will be passed on by the younger players who he mentored and helped along the way."

Wilhelm said he would look fondly back on his time at South and playing for Wilmes and his staff.

"It was an awesome blessing to play for him and all the other coaches," he said. "I appreciate all they did for me. And I love all the guys I played with. We built bonds with each other and became a real brotherhood."

Wilhelm leaves with only one regret – and that was not taking the Jaguars further into the playoffs. After going 9-0 in the regular season, being ranked in the top three of the Class 6 state poll all season and earning the first-week bye in their district, the Jaguars were upset 29-10 in the district semifinal by rival Blue Springs, which the Jaguars beat 35-7 in the regular season.

"I thought the season went well, but I and the team all wish we could have done more," he said. "We had an undefeated season for the first time in a long time, and it was a fun time, but we definitely thought we could have done a lot more. It was disappointing, and you could see it on everyone's faces in the days and weeks after.

"But I enjoyed every minute of it with the guys. It was a special time with the coaches and my teammates."

Now he is getting used to his new teammates at Rice after graduating early from South and getting a head start on his college career. He said that program seemed to be the right fit for him.

"It was just a common thing that all the coaches said – they seemed to have all the same goals and interests with what I wanted to do," Wilhelm said of why he picked the Owls. "I really like the campus and Houston too. Now I'm enrolled in classes and I'm just being a regular college student and getting adjusted to that. We get rolling in that (football) next week. It's an exciting time."

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