Recruiting Report: McCabe Dvorak (St. Louis Park/2021)
Coming from a program like St. Louis Park that hasn’t had a Division 1 football player in more than a decade it can be hard to find the exposure and coverage on the recruitment scene that other players may find at more…
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Continue ReadingComing from a program like St. Louis Park that hasn’t had a Division 1 football player in more than a decade it can be hard to find the exposure and coverage on the recruitment scene that other players may find at more prolific programs. It’s not a knock on the Orioles, when I went to MPLS Southwest back in the late 2000’s/early 2010’s it had been a very long time since a Laker received a full-ride to a college, much less a D1 scholarship. We had a great team my senior year at that school, and came about close as we could have to beating a Washburn team loaded with D1 talent that season, so I know a lack of D1 talent doesn’t mean teams aren’t competitive, as we won 9 games that year with not a single D1 school coming by Linden Hills to visit. The Orioles are also a great example of this themselves, as they defied the odds and qualified for the state tournament in 2017 with no Division I players on their roster. It just takes one special baller to change the whole appearance of a high school recruitment wise. For my Lakers it was this years 2020 NDSU RB commit Demetrius “TK” Marshall, who blew the doors off what I thought a Southwest kid could do on the field and in the recruitment scene. It seems that the St. Louis Park Oriole equivalent has already shown himself, and like Marshall, this recruit has some serious NDSU interest. Meet 6’2, 220 lb. McCabe Dvorak. He’s a smooth and silky athlete who handled WR, PR, DB, LB, and more duties for St. Louis Park while coming in as one of their biggest players. It’s funny, when you see his size and turn on his tape you’d expect to see linebacker highlights, but to see the 220 lber. return punts and lay the wood from the cornerback position on his junior tape is really something to see. It’s no surprise that NDSU and South Dakota have kept in constant contact, as well as the University of Sioux Falls, and I am definitely disappointed in myself for not discovering Dvorak sooner so I could plug him into the 2021 rankings. Once we update, he should be pleased with his standing. Until then, check out what the junior had to say to Northstar Football News in regards to his career at SLP so far, the 2019 season in particular, where he’s at with recruiting, and more. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy! Junior Season
DvorakNFN: Hello and thank you for your time, McCabe. Please start by telling me a little bit about yourself and where you’re from. When did you begin playing football and what do you love about the game? Also, please include your measurbales, lifting weights, and stats.
Dvorak: “I’m from St. Louis Park was born here and haven’t moved since. I started playing football in 3rd-4th and 5th grade then took a break and picked it back up in 8th grade. I love everything about football especially scoring TD and making bigs plays in big time moments, I love the spotlight. I’ve been playing hockey my whole life and I love hockey too right now I don’t know what I wanna do in college. My height is 6’2 weight is 220. 40 time-4.69. Bench press is 290, squat 465. My junior season stats where 500 receiving yards 25 catches. 18 tackles 2 int. My sophomore season stats where 235 rec yards 18 catches. 5 int and 22 tackles.”
Dvorak.NFN: Tell us about your 2018 sophomore season as well as St. Louis Park’s. What were some highlights and lowlights and what did you learn from the season?
Dvorak: “My sophomore season was good it was my first year playing both ways and I was kinda nervous because I was an underclassman playing both ways. The year overall was good we where 4-4 and won one game in sections. The best part of the season was probably when I got a 97 yard pick 6 at our homecoming game. After that season I learned a lot I saw the game from both sides of the ball.”
NFN: What were expectations like going into 2019? What did you work on to better your game this past offseason? Also, what do you love about the SLP program?
Dvorak: “Going into the 2019 season I had a lot of expectations for myself. I knew I was due for a breakout season. I got stronger and faster. Especially having last season experience under my belt. I was a captain too going into the season. I love all the coaches we have at our program they help you so much and they know so much about football. I also love how close are team is. Both varsity and JV teams are very close and everyone is friends with everyone and I love that.”
DvorakNFN: Now get into some details about the 2019 season. Who’d you play and how’d they go? What were some big games for you and how’d you play?
Dvorak: “The first game of the 2019 season was against Chaska, we didn’t play horrible but we could’ve done better on offense I think I had a couple catches for 30 yards and a couple tackles. Next we played Waconia and that game was really awesome got down 17-zero and then just started slowly coming back. I had like 8-9 catches for like 85 yards. Next was Cooper we started off hot and then just couldn’t keep up and I had like 120 yards 1 TD and 1 pick. Next was Spring Lake Park and we just couldn’t do anything they out played us and we couldn’t stop their offense. Next was Orono and that game was really fun we were their homecoming game and I scored 2 TD with like 60 yards, we played really well and they couldn’t stop us and our defense was lockdown. Next was Chanhassen and I did really well I had 200 yards and 2 TD and we were playing really well but during the second quarter our star running back went out with a bad knee injury and was out for the rest of the season. We just couldn’t keep up but we played really hard. Our last 2 games where at home against Jefferson and Delasalle and we played well both games and shut out Delasalle and gave up only 1 TD against Jefferson and that 1 TD was my fault. They ran a trick play and I lost my man haha. I felt horrible giving up the shut out. But we got the W and everyone played well.”
NFN: What can you guys to improve for next season and turn yourselves into a state championship contender?
Dvorak: “I feel like next season we can get some of those big wins next season we will have a lot of new kids on varsity but I feel like they’ll be ready. Our coaches put us in the best situations to win so I believe if we all do our jobs and play well we can win those tough games.”
NFN: How was last years section game? What happened and what can you use from that experience to make for a better 2020 season outcome?
Dvorak: “Our section game was very tough we knew we could beat them but we needed to play our best game they had a team full of seniors and I feel like more of them wanted it more. We played okay just couldn’t finish. They kept scoring and making the game a 2 possession game and it was hard to keep playing catch up. Next year I feel like we have a very good chance on winning our section but it’s gonna take everyone both sides of the ball.”
DvorakNFN: Now let’s get into recruiting. Who are some teams you’re in contact with/interested in? What are you hearing about your potential as a recruit? What else are you looking for in a potential college? Also, what can you say about the recruitment process coming from St. Louis Park? How does it affect recruiting?
Dvorak: “The recruiting process this year has been very interesting I never thought I’d be talking to some of these big name programs like NDSU which was the first school to contact me and come to my school to watch me workout. Other schools like South Dakota, UMD, Sioux Falls, Bemidji State, St. Thomas, Moorhead, and some other schools nothing crazy. All my junior days where cancelled except the NDSU one which I very fortunate to make it up there before all the coronavirus stuff. They told me they really liked my athleticism and the way I move for my size I really like the coaches up their and if I end up getting an offer from their I’d be so happy. I feel like coming for St. Louis Park you don’t get as many looks as like all those private schools and very traditional football schools. Also all those 6A schools. We are very under looked and have kids at our school who go D3 when they could go D2 or D1 and it’s just kinda sad. I hope this article snd I can help change this tread and bring more exposure to kids here at St. Louis Park.”
NFN: Lastly, what do you think you can add to a college program and what do you do well as a player?
Dvorak: “I feel like I can bring a lot to a college program with my height and weight and how I move. My balls skills are great from what I’ve heard from other coaches. I feel like I can play almost any skill position on the field and can do anything a team wants me to do to help them win football games.”
That big first offer is coming my man, hang in there! Stay tuned for any news on Dvorak and his Oriole squad for this upcoming season with Northstar Football News!