Recruiting Report: Aden Price (2019)

The 2018 Irondale football season was split into two, almost equal, halves. The first half of the year they were winning games and looked like a team that was about to make a big jump when the playoffs came around. During the second half of the season, the team struggled to win games, losing their final four games – including a six-point overtime loss - by a total of 15 points. When teams lose by such a small margin, it is often a little thing that is the difference. Knights' wide receiver Aden Price is focusing on the little things in his game to improve and help his team get over the hump in 2018. "I thought we played to the best of our abilities and were a couple plays away in those close games," Price said. "Losing those close games was frustrating, but as a team, we stayed together and trusted each other. It was great to see. Our seniors showed great leadership." Offensively, the Knights relied on running back Parker Freiberg who would carry the ball thirty plus times a game – opening the passing game for guys like Price. "My season went better than I expected. Through mini-camp (quarterback) Brendan White and I jelled. It gave us chemistry during the season. He was throwing to me the year before and had trust in me." One of Price's biggest strength is his catch radius. "I am a longer person. I am easier to throw to (than smaller receivers). Quarterbacks can throw the ball higher and away from defenders," Price said. "I feel like I am a good route runner. I got the ball going deep a lot, but I like running short routes. It allows me to make the catch, turn around and beat guys one-on-one." Price is soon to be a three-year starter who plays all the receiver positions. "They moved me around to different spots," NFN's 91st ranked junior said. "I liked it because it opened up different areas. If a team was targeting me or targeting Parker, it helped to go to other options. We have weapons, and it is hard to stop them all." Price played some cornerback as a sophomore but was strictly on the offensive side of the ball as a junior. He doesn't have any insight from the coaches, but due to the number of defensive backs, Irondale will graduate this spring he can see himself playing some part-time defense next season. The focus of his off-season will continue to be offense and improving the little things. "I want to work on keeping my eyes on the ball," Price told northstarfootballnews.com. "Sometimes I could feel my head drifting – like on a comeback route - I could feel my head turning upfield too fast instead of catching the ball. I want to make sure I catch those routes and then make a play." This winter he started on the basketball team and is continuing to play on the Urban Ventures Athletics AAU squad this spring and into the summer. "We had just two seniors to end the year," said the Knights' point guard. "My coach told me I needed to step up and be more of the main guy. I was our leading scorer, but I also tried to be more of a leader." Much of the 6'3" 155-pound Price's summer will be traveling and playing with his basketball team; he also plans to fit in some work on the football field. He will be going to a North Dakota State team camp. He is also getting interest from FCS and Division II football programs. "I have been invited to five to ten junior days," Price – who also has had some preliminary interest from basketball programs – said. "I was only able to attend the South Dakota State one in early March. There hasn't been much concrete yet." Concrete interest is likely in Price's future. If he continues to improve on the little things Irondale's victories and college football programs' interest in him are sure to increase.