Road Warrior - St. Louis

I've been in this business for 14 years now and I've read about all those that have come before me and how they spent days and nights on the road talking to prospects and coaches. Give me a little elbow room, I'm now one of those guys.

I'm on the road more than I'm home and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm fortunate to be able to do what I absolutely love for a living.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a week in Southern Illinois and St. Louis. My week started at Edwardsville (Ill.) H.S., visiting with Coach Mark Bliss and seeing 2011 top prospect Rodney Coe and it ended in St. Louis at McCluer North H.S. visiting with legendary coach Jim Schottmueller.

I met some great coaches and great kids during the week. I found out that Gateway Tech (St. Louis) offensive coordinator, Jason Dulick, is a former wide receiver standout at Illinois. I found out that DeSmet is loaded with talent but also that head coach Pat Mahoney, is one of the best people I've met in the business.

DeSmet quarterback Steve Kaiser (pictured) is a an extremely talented signal caller and an outstanding get for SMU, however, Kaiser and his family will be making campus visits to Kansas and Colorado State.

St. Louis is arguably the best kept secret in the country. St. Louis kids, like the kids in Chicago are willing to leave the state at a drop of a hat. They are open to seeing every opportunity and talking to every coach who recruits them.

Why is St. Louis a hotbed? Within a 4-5 hour driving distance are Missouri, Kansas State, Kansas, Louisville, Cincinnati, Illinois, Purdue, Memphis, Indiana and few others. I visited  17 schools in the St. Louis area.

All film from St. Louis is now available for viewing to all NPN Clients. Log onto www.nationalprepnetwork.com.

King Kong Coe!

Edwardsville coach Mark Bliss has a hard time finding words for what kind of football player he has in Rodney Coe. The 6-3, 245-pound, athlete, yes athlete, will be one of the most sought after football players in the 2011 class.

Coe lettered as a freshman, he had a very good sophomore season and he's proving his worthy of all the accolades this season.

"Rodney is as good as they come," said Coach Bliss.

"He could be a tremendous tight-end at the next level. He could play defensive end because of his explosiveness and quickness off the edge and he can run (4.56) sideline-to-sideline if you play him at the MIKE BACKER position."

Illinois has already offered Coe and the Illini might have an inside track here because he wants to play running back at the next level.

"Rodney sees himself as a Brandon Jacobs type running back," said Charlie Coe, Rodney's grandfather, who also happens to be the head coach at Gateway High in St. Louis.

"He tells me all the time that he wants to play running back. I think he could be a Julius Peppers type defensive end in college."

Charlie Coe knows a little about football. He's spent time coaching under the likes of Johnny Majors and most recently under Lane Kiffin for the Oakland Raiders.

Rodney Coe in person is a physical specimen. You watch him work and you can't believe how light he is on his feet for his size. He just turned 16 and there are already boxes upon boxes of mail for him in Coach Bliss's office.

I was told by once by a very respected college coach that high school kids mature the most between their junior and senior years. When kids come back for their senior season, you might not even recognize them.

It's scary to think of what Rodney Coe is going to look like next season?? Looking at my list, there are several major D-1 prospects in the Class of 2011 in Illinois. Being down here in St. Louis this week has opened my eyes even more.

There are other talented skill athletes in the junior class at Edwardsville but the one getting the least pub has to be kicker Sam Fink (6-2, 170). Fink is a soccer player who kicks for the football team. He has a huge leg and showed me that he's worthy of a D-1 football scholarship. Fink is a 2011 grad.

Belleville East is loaded with talent and so is East St. Louis. Althoff Catholic has D-1 prospects and so does O'Fallon. The St. Louis (Southern Illinois) area is becoming a hot bed for recruiting.

Why? Because like Chicago, the kids in St. Louis will look out of state to go to school. All within a five hour drive you have Memphis, Louisville, Indianapolis, Chicago and maybe a few more cities.

Other D-1 prospects at Edwardsville - -


WR/DB Andre Cleark - 6-1, 185 (2011)
WR/DB Reggie Box - 6-0, 175 (2011)
OL/DL Vincent Valentine - 6-4, 300 (2012)

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