Akron East is loaded with talent in 2020
When it comes to football, we all know that Northeast Ohio is king in the buckeye state. NE Ohio has always been a hotbed of the best players in the country every single year. As we travel to a small…
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Continue ReadingWhen it comes to football, we all know that Northeast Ohio is king in the buckeye state. NE Ohio has always been a hotbed of the best players in the country every single year. As we travel to a small town of Akron, made famous by Lebron James, East high school is sitting pretty with tons of talent. A Boston College commit leads this group by the name of Shawn Gates Shawn Gates 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Akron East | 2025 GA , he is an exciting player in the secondary and looks to continue the upward momentum for the Dragons program.
I spoke with Head Coach and Co- Athletic Director Marques Hayes about his 9th upcoming year as the man in charge. Here is what we discovered about the loaded East football program, and we will take a look into the roster.
The head ball coach told me, “This team is being built the right way” Hayes was speaking of his veteran units upfront on both sides of the ball. This football team in 2020 is bolstering a lot of size, power, and skill up front.
Offensive Line:
This unit has excellent size, and they can create lanes for the talented backs at East.
Donavan Daniels:
- 6’4 290 – LT – 2021
- Tough, Athletic and hearing from colleges
Darion Primus-Blackmon:
- 6’3 310 – LG – 2022
- Road grader type run-blocker
- Size, power and physical
Daekwan Sanders:
- 5’11 275 – Center – 2021
- Can bench press over 400lbs
- Very intelligent and can read fronts
David Banks:
- 6’0 290 – RG – 2021
- Returning Starter from 2019
- Very strong and powerful
Dennis Reynolds:
- 6’3 250 – RT – 2021
- One best in the region
- Physical and athletic
- Dominant on the Defensive side too
The Dragons will have an edge with this offensive lineman, and we all know you can’t win football games without it. What makes this situation unique is the high caliber backfield that will compliment this team’s strengths on the line. One player who will be “featured” from time to time on the offense is DeAnthony Becton DeAnthony Becton 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Akron East | 2021 State OH ; he is currently committed to Central Michigan to play DB. Becton is no stranger to RB as he was the starter at Ellet his freshman year. Richtell McCallister Richtell McCallister 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Akron East | 2021 State OH will lead the way with this group of talented backs.
Nakari Virden:
- 5’10 175 – QB – 2021
- Transferred to East to play for the same high school as his father
- Has the experience as a multiple-year starter
- Ability to run and pass are both equally effective
Richtell McCallister Richtell McCallister 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Akron East | 2021 State OH :
- 5’8 175 – RB – 2021
- Committed to Eastern Kentucky University
- Slasher style back
- Big-time playmaker
Kobe Campbell Kobe Campbell 5'10" | 215 lbs | RB Akron East | 2021 State OH :
- 5’10 215 – RB – 2021
- Physical back that can block
- Ability to beat you with his deceptive speed
- Hard to tackle in a one on one situation
With so much talent on offense, you would think there was not enough to go around for the defense. Well, if you thought that, you might want to reconsider that notion. Here are some of the key players on defense.
Vince Carpenter Vince Carpenter 6'6" | OL Red Bank Catholic | 2022 State NJ- 6’3 330 – Nose – 2021
- Hearing from D1 schools and has D2 offers
Eric Cosey:
- 6’1 230 – End – 2021
- Athletic and Improving
Dennis Reynolds:
- 6’3 250 – DL – 2021
- Quick
- Physical
- Leader
Tim Christian:
- 5’10 170 – CB – 2021
- Transfer from Copley
- Has D2 Offers
DeAnthony Becton DeAnthony Becton 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Akron East | 2021 State OH :
- #19 Ranked DB – Prep Redzone Ranking
- Central Michigan Commit
Shawn Gates Shawn Gates 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Akron East | 2025 GA :
- #4 Ranked DB – Prep Redzone Rankings
- Boston College Commit
Cameron Cosey:
- 6’3 220 – LB – 2022
- Prospect to watch in 2020
Tristan Thomas:
- Talented 2023 Prospect
- Starting at FS
- Uber Athletic
Head Coach Notes:
Marques Hayes (9th Season)
- (7-3) 2019 record started 0-3
- Past four years been to the playoffs twice
- Won both 1st round games lost in second both times
- Sent nine players to college from the class of 2019
An exciting year is in store for the Akron East Dragons, and we look forward to covering the team and its prospects.