2020 Preseason All-St. Louis Area Team (Defensive Seniors)
COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in just about every aspect of life and of course, this disease has affected if football will be played in St. Louis. Already, many schools and school districts will start the school year 100% online…
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Continue ReadingCOVID-19 has thrown a wrench in just about every aspect of life and of course, this disease has affected if football will be played in St. Louis. Already, many schools and school districts will start the school year 100% online which according to the Missouri Sports ruling body, those schools can’t play fall sports. That means many seniors who would be on this list will not have a senior year. I am going to proceed with my list as if every school is playing football (you never know if a lawsuit is brought into the mix) this autumn and these are the players who deserved to be recognized. I did not do that for the offensive teams and will correct that issue by writing futures on a few players I left off.
Defensive Linemen
Gabe Rubio, Lutheran St. Charles (6’6, 290) The best defensive lineman in the state is already skilled with his hand usage and lockout on contact to gain separation. The Notre Dame commit never stops working to get the blocker away from his body and using leverage, low explosion and contact points off the snap to shock the blocker and win the repetition.
Mehki Wingo, DeSmet Jesuit (6’1, 290) A bowling ball of butcher’s knives, Wingo will singlehandedly take over games for his interior defensive line position. Explosive off the snap, lively with his hands and compact in build, the blocker rarely has a chance to get both hands on Wingo to
even try to block the DT. The Missouri Tigers commit flashes lateral quickness and is a fantastic finisher to punish the ball carrier.
Dakote Doyle Dakote Doyle 6'0" | 260 lbs | DL De Smet | 2021 State MO , DeSmet Jesuit (6’, 260) Watch the Baylor commit do a backflip and handspring all around the field and you can see the pure athletism that Doyle was born with. Then mix in an underdog work ethic and you have the makings of one of the best players not only St. Louis but in the state. Off the snap, when Doyle lays his heavy and head on the blocker, you can see their chest cavity give way. With a strong senior year, Doyle may outpace Rubio and Wingo as the best DL in the state.
Travion Ford Travion Ford 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Lutheran North | 2021 State MO , Lutheran North (6’4, 240) Ford is an outstanding athlete who has a professional first step as a high school player. But Ford’s best football is still in front of him. With added strength and size, coupled with natural bend and flexibility, Ford will be one to watch not only in 2020 but for years to come getting sacks and knocking out quarterbacks for the Missouri Tigers.
Adel Mountassir Adel Mountassir 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Francis Howell North | 2021 State MO , Francis Howell North (6’4, 265) Strong hands and upper body power allow Mountassir to win at the high school level. His recruiting exploded in the spring of 2020 after coaches could see the pure raw talent the FHN player possesses. With multiple offers from D-1 schools, expect Mountassir to stack a few more to his pile with a dominant senior season.
Cartrell Ecford-Green Cartrell Ecford-Green 6'0" | 280 lbs | DL Living Word Christian | 2021 State MO , Living Word Christian O’Fallon (6’, 280) Very much in line with Wingo and Doyle, Ecford-Green is powerful at the snap, uses his hands well to gain separation and is swift to shed with power. Using fluid lateral quickness off the line of scrimmage, the LVC DT has the speed to shoot the gap and make the tackle in the backfield. When Ecford-Green’s motor is running hot, he is almost unblockable at the level he plays. A college coach that can get him playing hot all game will have himself a star.
Linebackers
Carter Edwards Carter Edwards 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB De Smet | 2021 State MO , DeSmet Jesuit (6’, 225) Edwards has been featured as a top player lacking a P5 offer. During time away from school during the pandemic, Edwards gained size, strength and speed. The DeSmet Jesuit product did not rest on his laurels and post-season awards and instead used the accolades to drive him harder.
Chris Futrell Chris Futrell 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Fort Zumwalt North | 2021 State MO , Fort Zumwalt North, (5’11, 205) Futrell is a solid athlete who is an exceptional football player. Has short-area quickness, burst and dexterity to make open-field tackles. An underrated skill for high school linebackers, but the FZN player is uncanny in his zone coverage and being in the right spot at the right time. Futrell has seen his recruiting pick up but with a solid senior season, the sky is the limit.
Logan Kopp Logan Kopp 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Lindbergh | 2021 State MO , Lindbergh (6’1, 193) Jerry Maguire had Dorothy at ’Hello’. Logan Kopp Logan Kopp 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Lindbergh | 2021 State MO had me at his first play on Hudl. Find ball, get ball, hit ball! Kopp is a freak athlete who plays all over the football field. Lines up at RB, WR and returner but his true position is LB. Reminds me of D2 All-American Drew Seers out of Parkway West in high school. But I think Kopp is faster and has better lateral quickness.
Christopher Kerr Christopher Kerr 6'2" | 210 lbs | WR Ft. Zumwalt West | 2021 MO , Fort Zumwalt West (6’2, 210) Kerr has long arms, flashes brisk hands and is adept in man and zone coverages. Uses the fact he is a starting WR as well to bait quarterbacks into throws as he eats up the passing lanes. Kerr should transition nicely to a weak side OLB spot at the college level with a top-level senior year.
Defensive Backs
Jakailin Johnson Jakailin Johnson 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB De Smet | 2021 State MO , DeSmet Jesuit (6’1, 170) Johnson has speed for days and toys with wide receivers downfield. Has one of the best vertical jumps in the state and uses this to highpoint the football at the apex. But Johnson is not just a cover CB. He is a willing tackler who will stick his face up in the action to get the ball carrier down. Not only should he succeed at Ohio State but with a clear head, has the talent to play beyond college.
Tyler Hibbler Tyler Hibbler 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Trinity | 2021 State MO , Trinity Catholic (6’, 190) Hibbler is a fun football player to scout and watch. Has so many unique skill sets to his game that once you fall in love with one attribute, he flashes another. The future Mizzou Tiger could probably play cornerback in college with smooth hips to transition and run. But as a safety, Hibbler stands out due to his physicality. He thrives to hit. Not just tackle but to punish!
Jordan Marshall Jordan Marshall 6'1" | 200 lbs | DB CBC | 2021 State MO , Christian Brothers College (6’1, 200) Another player featured as one to watch who doesn’t have a P5 offer, Marshall recently committed to Ball State. Heading into his senior season, Marshall has become more powerful out of his breaks, closes with power and burst and yearns to win each rep. Still an ascending player.
AJ Snow AJ Snow 6'3" | 210 lbs | DB Orchard Farm | 2021 State MO , Orchard Farms (6’3, 210) The Navy commit is a bit of an unknown due to where he plays high school football and the fact he is the starting QB. But Snow is one of the most elite athletes in the St. Louis area. The Orchard Farm product is rangy in coverage, diagnoses the route tree like a pro and is a jackhammer on the tackle. A multisport athlete, Snow excels on the football field, on the wrestling mat, on the track, and in the classroom. The country is safer with players like AJ Snow AJ Snow 6'3" | 210 lbs | DB Orchard Farm | 2021 State MO ready to defend her.