Let's just say by some strange circumstance, I'm asked to coach a team of "Wyandotte County All-Stars" against teams from Johnson County and elsewhere.
I'm allowed to pick everyone on my team and field it to try and win a state championship.
Who would I pick?
First, let me explain the systems I would run on both sides of the ball.
OFFENSE: The pro-style offense. The pro-style offense is not ran much at the high school level, as most teams favor either the spread offense or an option-type offense that involves running the ball and pitching it. There's nothing too flashy with the pro-style. It's a balanced attack where quarterbacks generally take snaps under center. There are usually two running backs in the backfield and at least two wide receivers, perhaps a tight-end. While the spread offense is preferred among many teams I covered this year, I'd go with the simple pro-style offense and try to keep teams off balance. I also think the option-offense can be shut down by a smart and athletic team.
DEFENSE: Alternate between a 4-4-3 stack defense and a 3-5-3. Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County had a ton of athletes this year at the linebacker position. I also thought the secondary position across the board was the weakest this year in Wyandotte County. There were some good cornerbacks and safeties, but there were a ton of linebackers. Two or three of my linebackers listed on this team can easily drop back into coverage and create issues for the quarterback to find space.
(On a side note - Athletes, this is the team you want to be mad at me personally if you don't make. The KCK Preps All-Star Team is determined by more than one person. This is solely me.)
Let's get started.
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OFFENSE
QB - Terrance Simmons, Harmon: With a solid offensive line, Simmons could be great at the quarterback position. Simmons made great plays all year with his legs and his arm. Even without Isaiah Ming, Simmons led Harmon to 28 points against Atchison and 24 points against Schlagle. Simmons had a good year and his athletic ability and his leadership earn him this spot for me.
RB1 - J'veyon Browning, Schlagle: Browning was the best overall running back I saw this year. There were several of them who are solid. Give me Browning out of the bunch. Browning was underrated out of the backfield and he would thrive on screen passes and little outlets.
RB2 - Isaiah Ming, Harmon: This is so, so close. Ming and Johnathan Jackson are so close. But I like Ming by a hair. I really think Ming is a nice hybrid between Browning and Jackson. He's patient. He breaks tackles. He can catch the ball. He makes great cut-moves. It's a close one, but I like Ming as my second running back.
WR1 - Vernon Vaughn, Sumner Academy: He's the best wide receiver in KCK. He was hurt this season, but he's a stud who's heading for Kansas State for a reason. He's someone who can spread the field all over. He can make tough catches over the middle and on the sidelines.
WR2 - Stevie Williams, Bonner Springs: I love Stevie's passion, attitude and pure ability. He's the only athlete ever to remind me of a bad prediction during the game itself. I love that fire and attitude. He's also a gamebreaker. He's a bit smaller than Vaughn, but Williams can make some of the same plays.
WR3 - Marcus Allen, Sumner Academy: Darrin Hawkins from Harmon might be a better fit, but Hawk is my stud on defense that I need. I love defense a lot more than offense and Hawkins will be needed in the 3-5-3. But I love Allen. He's a good wide receiver who would absolutely be dangerous as a third wide-out. He was awesome as the second or third option. Have fun defending that trio of wide receivers.
OL - T.J. Wallace (Schlagle), Stephan McIntosh (Schlagle), Cletus Gilmore (Piper), Justin Lockrey (Wyandotte) and Kyle Dumler (Bonner Springs). Wallace is the boss hog of the line and is a flat out stud. I like these four other guys a lot too, though.
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DEFENSE
DL - Drake Leger, Turner: I was impressed with Leger all year. He has nice size and can tackle guys. He can get to the quarterback and he made several tackles for losses in just the three games I watched alone.
DL - Caleb King, Piper: Very underrated ability inside and someone who's a good leader. There's a reason why he made the All-Kaw Valley League first defensive team.
DL - Tyler Kruskamp, Turner: Like his Golden Bear counterpart, Kruskamp is big and has nice athletic ability. Him and Leger are the best defensive end options for me.
(IMPORTANT NOTE: I would bring in T.J. Wallace on third and short. He's great against the run, but he needs to be on my offensive line first.)
LB - Darrin Hawkins, Harmon: Hawkins is physical and very rarely misses tackles. He's also athletic enough to drop back into coverage and be a quarterback spy. Hawkins leads an outstanding group of linebackers.
LB - Julian Cole, Piper: Last year's Defensive Player of the Year, Cole would exclusively be on defense with my team. He's just like Hawkins. He can fly all over the field and is physical.
LB - Nick Rodriguez, Turner: Nick-Rod is assignment sound and like Hawkins and Cole, can both tackle and defend the pass really well. He had five interceptions - as a linebacker! He made a great interception against Bonner Springs and he's someone who does not whiff on tackles in the open field.
LB - Jammie Nunnally, Wyandotte: See Hawkins and Cole. These three guys are identical players. Nunnally might just be the best overall athlete in Wyandotte County. He's a freak who played on both sides of the ball.
LB - Trevon Wallace, Schlagle: Yes, I have five linebackers on my team simply because I have a simple philosophy of playing the best players available. All five guys are also athletes who are good enough to do both things required at the linebacker position. They are also smart players who don't miss assignments. They are all vocal leaders as well. Wallace had 21 tackles in one game this season.
DB - Matt McDonald, Piper: McDonald is a good running back for Piper, but I like him on defense a little bit more. He's a big cornerback who could be physical enough to make plays in the open field.
DB - Neal Boyce, Sumner Academy: I've heard a lot of good things from people I respect about him this year. I'll take their words for it.
DB - De'Andre Fenrick, Turner: OK, I'm cheating a bit here because Fenrick was listed as a linebacker this year. However, Fenrick has nice instincts and was very good in coverage. He's not as physical of a linebacker as the other guys are, so I'd slip him into the secondary.
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Return Man 1: De'Andre Fenrick, Turner: Fenrick made some outstanding plays in the kick return game. He had some nice returns, including a long one for a touchdown against Mill Valley. Fenrick is a special teams stud.
Return Man 2: Paul Jones, Piper: Jones is also a special special teams return man. Jones can make something out of nothing and it's not the best idea in the world to punt to him.
Kicker - Nick Rodriguez, Turner: He's the best kicker in the city. No further need to explain.
Punter - Nick Rodriguez, Turner: My lone three-position player. He's a great punter. That's all.
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That would be the group I would select.
Would it win a state title? I have no idea.
But I like those players a lot. I have a lot of speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball. I have senior leadership and guys who find ways to make plays.
Again, I can't stress this enough - but I love those linebackers. This also does not include guys like Major Jackson, Sai-Vone Love, Colton Beebe, Nicholas Nuessen and others who are good as well. That position was so tough.
