Week Three Recap: Mr. Football Watch

First presented in 2004, the Mr. Football Award is an annual award recognizing Minnesota’s best high school football player. By the point of week three, there usually starts to become separation between the good players, and serious contenders. There have been some terrific players so far this season, but their are five players that have seriously separated from the pack.   Serious Contenders: Similarly to any MVP or player of the year award, they have never stated the team record is a criteria for Mr. Football, but almost always- the winner is on a team that appeared in the State Tournament or got very close. So I decided to put team record into my criteria.   <ol> <li>Russell Corrigan, QB/TE/P/KR/LB, Hutchinson</li> </ol> [caption id="attachment_12136" align="alignright" width="185"] Photo by Ryan Kastenschmidt (crowrivermedia)[/caption] Corrigan came into the season well-known having already committed to Boise State as a tight end. But what many people didn't was that he would be Hutchinson's starting QB in his senior season. He has tremendously excelled with the opportunity. Corrigan is currently leading the sate in rushing touchdowns with 10. He also is averaging 5.8 yard per carry on 48 attempts for 276 yards total on the ground. The future Bronco has not had the same success in the air, only completing 10 of 23 passes for 218 yards. The gadget player also contributes on special teams, having one kick return for 33 yards and three punts for 105. Corrigan has not played defense yet this season, but he has played linebacker in the past, give the man a break he can only do so much.   **Season stats: Passing- 10/23, 218 yds, 1 INT--> Rushing- 48 carries, 276 yards, 10 TDs, 1 2PC--> Returning- 1 KR, 33 yds--> Punting- 3 Punts, 105 yds.   2. Matthias Algarin, WR/RB/KR/PR/DB, Pierz [caption id="attachment_11727" align="alignleft" width="234"] Mathias Algarin at "The Opening" (Photo: 247sports.com)[/caption] Historically Minnesota's Mr. Football award often goes to a player from a big school in the Twin Cities area, because they often receive the most exposure. I want to give Matthias Algarin the credit he deserves. If Russell Corrigan is the most versatile player in Minnesota Algarin is a close second. Pierz is arguably the best 2A program in the state, and Algarin is their clear leader. Standing at 5'11" 164 pounds, he is the perfect build for a gadget player. Algarin has been recruited as receiver, but at Pierz he plays all over the field. He has caught seven passes for a ridiculous 212 yards and three touchdowns. That would come out to an absurd 30.3 yards per reception. As well as the production through the air, he has added 235 yards and five touchdowns off of 24 carries on the ground (nearly 10 yards a carry). To round it all off he contributes on special teams as well, accumulating a respectable to 30.25 yards per return. Algarin has also played defensive back in the past, but he has focused more on the offensive end this season. Matthias' ridiculous 16.22 all purpose yards per touch, is too insane to ignore, I think the Pioneer deserves to be in the Mr. Football discusion early this season.   **Season stats: Receiving- 7 catches, 212 yds, 3 TDs--> Rushing- 24 carries, 235 yds, 5 TDs--> Returning: 4 total returns, 121 yds   3. Raja Nelson, QB/WR/DB, Lakeville North The reigning 6A state champions graduated their starting QB from last season Brennan Kuebler, so they just decided to move their most athletic player to behind the center. Last year Raja played running back and wide receiver accumulating nearly 800 total yards from scrimmage for 16 total touchdowns. He would later turn his performance into a commitment to North Dakota State as a wide receiver. This year Nelson has become the ultimate team player and made the switch the QB. He has thrived at the position by throwing 12/26 for 179 yards and four touchdowns. He has paired that with 56 carries, 285 yards, and four touchdowns on the ground. Nelson also contributes on the defensive end, where he has made six total tackles and he has brought in one interception. Lakeville North has ridden Nelson's dominant play to a perfect 3-0 record, with a total margin of victory of 100 to 10.   **Season stats: Passing- 12/26, 179 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT--> Rushing- 56 carries, 285 yds, 4 TDs, 1 FUM--> Defense- 6 TTckls, 1 INT   4. Jalen Suggs, QB/DB, SMB The great-Jalen Suggs and SMB sure have lived up to the hype this season. Suggs has been his dominant self, coming up in big moments and making highlight plays all over the field early in the season. Most of his work has obviously came throwing the ball where he is 23/53 for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He has also been very efficient running the ball averaging 11.3 yards per carry on 12 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns. The best play of his season came on the defensive side of the ball where he came up with a clutch pick six week one against Columbia Heights. At the end of the day Suggs will be right in the conversation for Mr. Football at throughout the year due to his pedigree and playing in the heart of the Twin Cities every Friday night. But he has just not put up the video-game-like-numbers as the three people ahead of him... YET. [embed]http://twitter.com/MREZsports/status/1171087276803272704[/embed] (Credit to <a style="color: #808080" href="https://twitter.com/MREZsports">@MREZsports</a> for the Twitter video) **Season stats: Passing- 23/53, 298 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT--> Rushing- 12 carries, 136 yds, 2 TDs--> Defense- 1 INT RetTD   5. Cody Lindenberg, LB/WR/QB, Anoka Cody Lindenberg continues the trend of dominant do-it-all players. Cody has committed to the University of Minnesota as linebacker, but standing at 6'2" 205 pounds he has the size to contribute all over the field. On the offensive end Lindenberg has played mostly receiver. Where he has hauled in 17 balls for 250 yards and one score. He also lines behind center as almost a wildcat quarterback quite often. This has lead to six carries for 24 yards and a score, as well as a little passing 3/6 for 24 yards. He is still able to be his dominant self on the defensive side of the ball, where he has recorded two tackles for loss, as well as 12 total tackles. Ultimately Anoka's 0-3 start will hinder Cody's chances of taking home the award, but he has sure shown that he can be dominant all over the field this season.   **Season stats: Defense- 12 total tackles, 2 TFL--> Receiving- 17 catches, 250 yds, 1 TD--> Rushing- 6 carries, 24 yds, 1 TD, 1 2PC--> Passing- 3/6, 24 yds   On the outside looking in: <ul> <li>Thai Bowman, WR, Robbinsdale Armstrong</li> <li>TK Marshall, RB, Minneapolis Southwest</li> <li>Aidan Bouman, QB, Buffalo</li> <li>Jalen Travis, OL, DeLaSalle</li> <li>Yahya Black, OL/DL, Marshall</li> </ul>