Underclassman to Watch Recruiting Report: David Geebli (Coon Rapids-2022)
One of the cooler and more underrated aspects of writing for Northstar Football News is uncovering, tracking, and hyping up the younger upcoming prep recruits the state of Minnesota has to offer. Getting ahead on the recruiting trail of a…
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Continue ReadingOne of the cooler and more underrated aspects of writing for Northstar Football News is uncovering, tracking, and hyping up the younger upcoming prep recruits the state of Minnesota has to offer. Getting ahead on the recruiting trail of a future potential highly rated recruit and helping to disperse their film and get their name out there as a underclassmen is a very cooling feeling as a writer in my position. I also can’t help but think a good one has been found with this newest recruit for this report: Coon Rapids Cardinals 2022 grad David Geebli.
#23The 5’9, 190 lb. sophomore is heading to enter his third year of high school next fall and is poised to make some waves coming up in Minnesota taking over the starting RB job for the 5A state semifinalist Cardinals in 2019 after starting the first five games at safety, and having a heckuva year as he finished with 864 rushing yards, 216 receiving yards, and 8 total TDs. Geebli has the measurables, skills, and attitude of a future scholarship athlete, and I’m very fortunate to be one of the first writers to speak with the stud. Check out this first-look, exclusive interview with the 2022 grad as we discuss his football career thus far, earning that RB job after a defensive switch, playing with NSIC commits Jake Van Hulzen, Myles Taylor, & , and some of his hopes for recruitment. Hope you enjoy! Sophomore Season
NFN: Hello and thank you for your time, David! Congratulations on your success in 2019, as well as the Cardinals. Please begin by telling us a little bit about yourself, when you began playing football & what you love about it, and your stats and measurables!
Geebli: “I was born in Liberia on April 7th 2003, I moved here in 2010 when I was 8, didn’t start playing football until I was 6th grade, I actually started by playing defensive end, and I was pretty decent! The reason I love playing football is the environment and the games it’s teached me a lot of life lessons and made me into the person I am the coaches and the players are awesome and I just love being around, I also love the grind during the off season definitely my favorite part of the year. I’m 5’9, 186lbs, run a 4.7 40, max bench of 200, squat 410, and clean 190. I had 864 rushing yards and 216 receiving and 8 total touchdowns in 7 games out of 12 because I played defense in the first 5 games.”
NFN: You looked like you had been playing RB all year when I saw you play Spring Lake Park in the state quarterfinals last fall. Can you tell us a little bit about the start of your season and how the switch to RB occurred mid season?
Geebli: “I had a lot of hype coming into the season about being starting running back but the coach thought someone else was better… So the first 5 games I did not start at running back but started at outside backer. The dude got injured so during the Armstrong game was my first start, and I ran for 65 yards and a touchdown to go along with 73 receiving yards.
#23Then after that game we played Hopkins, and that’s when I secured the job as I ran for 165 yards and a touchdown. I then ran for 100 yards in the last game vs Park of Cottage Grove. During the section game vs St.Francis I ran for 40 yards and had 134 receiving yards. The section championship game vs Andover I ran for 175 yards and 1 touchdown, and closed the game to win the section. Quarterfinals for State vs SLP I started out slow but then eventually got things going in the second half where I ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, and I closed out the game with 4 straight runs that were all over 4 yards to grind out the clock. Semifinal game vs Chaska was a rough first half but in the second half I ran for 60 yards and 20 receiving yards and a score”
NFN: That’s a heckuva debut! And that’s a good stat line vs. arguably the best 5A defense in the state. What were your expectations going into the season? And what were the teams?
Geebli: “My expectation was to rush for 1500 yards but did not reach that goal but I’m pleased with how my season ended up working out. We knew we had the stuff in place to make a state run but we didn’t play as a team. We knew that if we wanted to go on a state run we were going to have to come together and our new coaching staff really helped us with it our coaches were a big part of our success and I can’t ask for a better coaching staff.”
NFN: That’s awesome. What was your offseason like and what do you love about the CR program?
Geebli: “The offseason was basically just about me being a better leader and getting myself right mentally I also knew to work on my hips and just because more agile and powerful because I lacked those things as a freshman. I like the coaches and how all the players are like brothers and all the coaches have a good relationship with every player and holds every player accountable even players that don’t play which is very important to me.”
NFN: What was it like playing with some prep heavy-hitters like Jake Van Hulzen (Winona State commit), Myles Taylor (Augustana commit), & (Southwest Minnesota State)? How did they impact your growth as a player? Also, what’s it like having Gavin Layton (#1 285AAA wrestler) as your OT?
Geebli: “Playing with Jake on offense really helped me understand the defenses and helped me through plays and concepts. Jordan is a great player and really a nice guy, he played outside last year and so he helped me through plays and stuff and was a big help. Gavin blocked for me a lot. He’s a hell of a athlete and love running behind him.
#23 and Myles Taylor combine for the tackle.Myles is like a brother to me him and his dad took me (under his wing) and took me to people Myles trained with and Myles showed me how to work how to go about yourself as a high school football player, and having him as a role model and a mentor really shaped me.”
NFN: Well said. Now if possible, give us some detail in 2019. What were some big regular season games? And was it like playing in some big section/state games?
Geebli: “The first 5 games were very frustrating because I knew I had the talent to start and be one of the best players in the state, but I just wanted a chance to prove it and after Ryan got hurt I had my chance and I ran away with it. A game I won’t forget is the first SLP game we had to chance to send a massage to the whole state if we beat them, and we beat them pretty convincingly and we sent a message. During the section games I had 383 rushing yards. With the section games I had no idea how it was going to go, but we knew we had a shot to make a run for state.
#23The Andover game was a interesting one because they played good defense the whole season and the first two drives I had a easy time running the ball and I was surprised. I started to cramp because I started on both sides of the ball, and the cramps were all over my leg so I didn’t play the whole 3rd quarter except one play where I scored a touchdown. The 4th quarter I had to fight through the cramps while playing both sides I had good runs in the 4th quarter, but Andover came back to tie the score 14-14 and I had good kick return which set us up with good field possession. On a later 3rd&4 and we had to convert, and the coach trusted me to get the first down, so we went back to our play that has worked all game. We had a good block vs the week side backer so I was able to break the other ones tackle and ran for 20 yards. The Jordan Doe’s catch was very clutch and Alex was able to kick the field goal and got us the win. The second SLP game was a big game, and I felt like because of how good I played against Andover ended up hurting me because on the 1st drive I fumbled and I was mad but I knew I needed to forget about it and keep playing. So on defense I got my mojo back and still weren’t getting anything going, but then I had a good 10 yard run and a touchdown and after then I took off last drive we had I ran the ball for 30 yards and sealed the game.
#23Then vs. Chaska I played scared in the first half. Our wide receiver coach just told me to play ball, and the 2nd half we came out and balled out and we were down 17-7 and we had to stop them on 3rd and 8. I was in man coverage and their #6 beat me out of his break and they got the first and we lost our momentum, and then after it went downhill. The game was very frustrating because we could not get anything going.”
NFN: Thank you. So last but not least, what’s up with recruiting? Who are you interested in, what are you looking for in a college, and what do you think you could bring to a college program?
Geebli: “Haven’t really talked to any schools so I really don’t know who I’m interested in. I have not planned any visits and I don’t know how to as no schools have reached out yet. My goal is D1 but I could settle for D2. I went to UND camp during the summer. I’m not sure what I’m looking for in a college yet. I think I could add leadership and play anymore on the field and I’m willing to learn. What I do well as a football player is my leader and short term memory.”
This won’t be the last you hear of Geebli! Once junior year hits he can start getting contacted by recruiters, and his phone won’t stay quiet for long!