The top high school football players in the St. Louis metropolitan area made their college decisions official this week as Wednesday was the first day of the national signing period.
University of Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and his staff were able to land four of the top prospects in the area. Headed to Mizzou are running back DeVion Moore of Hazelwood Central, all-purpose player Carl Gettis of Fort Zumwalt West, wide receiver Rolandis Woodland of Rockwood Summit and fullback/defensive end Sherman Golden of Affton.
Moore and Gettis transferred to the St. Louis area from the South and became impact players for their respective schools before committing to Mizzou. Moore rushed for 1,640 yards and 19 touchdowns in leading the Hawks to the Class 6 state quarterfinals. Gettis was a double-threat as a running back and receiver with nearly 2,000 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns.
The 6’5” Woodland was one of the area’s top receivers during his career at Lutheran North and Summit, where he spent his senior year. The athletic Woodland will give the Tigers a big receiver in the same mode of former Jefferson City star and former Tiger Justin Gage. Golden is a physical 6’0” 250-pound senior who helped the Cougars to the Show-Me Bowl in 2005.
As usual, the Hazelwood School district will send several top athletes to Division I schools. Marvin McNutt, the multi-talented quarterback from Hazelwood Central is headed to Iowa.
Headed to the Big XII Conference will be LaMark Brown of Hazelwood West, who signed with Kansas State. The 6’4” 220-pound Brown is one of the area’s most imposing and talented athletes. He can play a number of positions, but may be slated for wide receiver at Kansas State.
The prime-time running back tandem of Thomas Merriweather and William Anderson of Hazelwood East signed with Miami of Ohio and Arkansas State, respectively. Merriweather rushed for 1,163 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior while Anderson bullied his way to 957 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Riverview Gardens’ standout quarterback A.J. Steward signed with Kansas on Wednesday. The 6’4” 210-pound Steward was one of the area’s most underrated, but most spectacular players. As a senior, he passed for 1,549 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep teammates Michael Baker and DeAndre Gilmore are both headed to Miami of Ohio together. The 6’1” 205-pound Baker was an All-State linebacker while the 6’2” 195-pound Gilmore can play receiver or safety. He is also an All-State basketball player for the Class 3 state-championship Lions. Both were instrumental in leading the Lions to the semifinals of the Class 2 state playoffs as juniors in 2005.
Tight end Chris Owens of Hazelwood Central is headed to NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State. The 6’3” 240-pound Owens scored five touchdowns for the Hawks in 2006.
McCluer North’s tailback/defensive back Quartize Jackson signed with Alabama State. Jackson will play for St. Louisan Charlie Coe, who is the head coach at Alabama State. Jackson’s teammate at North, Josh Hager signed with Indiana. The 6’8” 250-pound tackle was a huge part of North’s success over the past three years.
Northern Illinois picked up a couple more area players in standout defensive end John Hopkins of Oakville and offensive lineman Adam Kiel of St. Dominic. Another lineman headed to an Illinois school is SLUH’s Niko Mafuli, who signed with Northwestern.
On the East Side, O’Fallon High’s Duane Bennett will sign with Minnesota. Bennett rushed for 1,362 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading the Panthers to the IHSA Class 7A playoffs. Teammate Brandon Heard of O’Fallon is headed to Western Illinois. A transfer from Carlisle, Pa., Heard became an impact player for the Panthers.
