5/22/2014 football Edit

Spring Tour: Christian Brothers College

Brian Austin

PowerMizzou.com Staff Writer

SPRING TOUR DATES
May 11: North Gwinnett (GA)

The last three seasons have been very successful for CBC football as the Cadets have finished with an overall record of 33 and 5. Unfortunately, none of those strong seasons led to a state championship.

Looking to take that final step this season, head coach Scott Pingel will be counting on a strong group of upperclassmen to lead the way.

"This year we'll have one of our bigger squads. We'll have about 30 some seniors so it will be a difference for us. We are usually in the ten to fifteen range, so having 30 seniors and having that experience is going to help out quite a bit," he explained. "We have two mini camps and two regular week long camps so I'm excited about this summer and I know our guys are too when I can get them here. They've done a lot of college camping, which I think is where recruiting is nowadays, so I'm excited about the guys getting out there. We're going to try and be a little faster on offense and play with a little more quickness. I think we got some skill guys that can do that for us."

Even with the large group of seniors, CBC will have to replace some major contributors from last year's team. Offensive lineman Brian Wallace and defensive lineman Armon Watts both signed with Arkansas and cornerback Zach Muniz headed to Duke.

"I'm excited about it, let me say that," Pingel said of trying to replace his departed stars. "I don't have those Brian's [Wallace] or Armon's [Watts] walking through the building anymore. I don't have that 6-foot-6, 300 pounder, but we got a lot of good quality players."

"Our sophomore class, soon to be juniors, I really like them as a class. They've been very successful in their first two years. We're replacing four offensive linemen this coming year, not just Brian, so any time you're replacing four you have to really, really, really evaluate your talent. Challenge them mentally and physically to make sure they know what they're doing," he continued. "Every high school program tries to develop players and make those changes from o-line each year. That's probably my biggest concern right now, the offensive linemen."

As expected, with a run of success like the Cadets have had, there have been a host of very talented players to come through the program. According to Coach Pingel this season will be no different.

"Eric Carrera is kind of my bigger recruit right now. He is getting some MAC looks, some possible B1G interest and Syracuse is out there. It's just everybody wants him to go to a camp. Once Eric figures out what four camps he wants to go to I think the scholarship offers will come. Another guy that I think is in that mix is Damian Baker. He's a very, very physical corner. He'll be a two-year starter for us at corner and probably start for us at wideout this year as well. He's a very good athlete. He was getting some MAC looks too early in the process," he said.

"John Chamberlin is one of my guards. He'll be a three-year starter at guard. Just a big sized body. He's getting some looks from some FCS schools. Calen Taylor got offered by Army. He's a smaller running back, so if people like smaller running backs he's got some potential. Dynamite running back. Fast. Blocker. Can do it all. If he had four to five more inches he'd be a big time recruit I think. That's what is scaring people away, but man he is a football player," he continued. "Last guy I'm selling out there pretty hard is named Quintin Wynne. He's kind of going to have to be a hybrid in college, but for us he plays defensive tackle. Fast edge rusher. Very good for us in a 3-4 scheme. Very good at squeezing blocks. Playing off blocks. Strong as an ox and about as fast as any skill player I got. We're not quite sure at what position he'll get recruited at for college."

And that is just the 2015 prospects. In the class of 2016, CBC has a strong group of skill players that are expected to be major contributors this season.

"Tre Bryant started for us as a freshman at running back. Started the last four games for us including our playoff games. Did a really, really good job. Tre got banged up over this past summer and had some MCL damage," said Pingel. "He had to have surgery and sat out all of last year because when he finally came back from the knee he banged up his shoulder. I guess he would have been a medical redshirt if we had them, but we don't have those in high school. He's dynamite. He's the real deal. He just went to a combine and timed a 4.52 electronic. He's just very, very special so we hope he's back and healthy."

"Rodrrick Bryant, no relation to Tre, is a big tall receiver. Lengthy. Tough as nails. Goes across the middle. Goes up and gets the jump ball. He's one of those lengthy striders so he looks slow, but no one catches him. He just tore his ACL, but his rehab is going really well. It was just the ACL, so we hope to have him back by the middle of August. Lamar Anderson is kind of your do it all guy. He'll be recruited as an athlete I think. Started for us at free safety. Played some running back. Played some slot. Can play corner. Return game. Just one of those skill guys that's pretty special. Great kid off the field too. I'm just really excited about coaching Lamar," he continued.

With the level of recruits that Pingel and CBC are churning out every year, plenty of college coaches make their way by during the evaluation period. Among the visitors each year is Mizzou cornerbacks coach Cornell Ford, who recruits the St. Louis region for the Tigers.

Despite some recent talk to the contrary, Pingel, who coached current Mizzou defensive back Aarion Penton, does not believe there has been any change to the recruiting tactics used by Mizzou in St. Louis.

"I have a real good relationship with Cornell Ford. I think in my six years hear as head coach I've had a great relationship with them. I think guys just have so many more options now because they are going to so many different camps," he said when asked why some players are leaving the state. "They're getting more visibility by getting seen at other camps. There are a lot of opportunities out there, not just at Mizzou. I think the recruiting by Mizzou has been fine. Sometimes they want to leave the area. I also think, with Mizzou's success, they think they won't be able to play right away. I've got two young men going to Arkansas next year and I don't think playing time was an issue for them. It was just where they fit in better."

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