MN High School Football All-Decade Team 2010's (Defense)

Even though we are nearly six months into the new decade, I thought there was no time better than now to reminisce and look back at the best Minnesota high school football players from the 2010’s. We will begin looking at the defensive side of the ball, and my criteria to make the list is just a player that graduated from 2011-2020. The list will consist of four players who were known as defensive backs, three linebackers and four defensive linemen, as well as a few honorable mentions.   Defensive Backs <ul> <li>Amani Hooker, DB/WR/QB, Park Center (2016)</li> </ul> Amani Hooker has as good of an argument as any to be the most dominant MN player from the last 10 years. He played all over the field for the Pirates. A wildcat QB and an outside receiver on the offensive end and a roaming defensive back on the other side of the ball. Hooker had one of the best single game performances off all time, as he caught three touchdowns, ran for two, and even returned an interception for one in a playoff victory over Robbinsdale Cooper. His supreme athleticism landed him a scholarship at the University of Iowa, where he had a great career and recently got drafted in the fourth round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 NFL Draft. <ul> <li>Malik Rucker, DB/WR Robbinsdale Cooper (2013)</li> </ul> Malik Rucker was a terrific all-around athlete for the Hawks during his high school career. He was a prolific return man, as he averaged 16.5 yards per punt return and 11.8 kick return during his senior season. He made his name on the defensive side as he recorded 83 total tackles and forced four total turnovers while returning one for a touchdown in his final season. The Robbinsdale Cooper graduate would later commit to the University of Iowa as well, as a top 700 player in the country. He later transferred to Western Michigan to close out his career where he would play for P.J. Fleck. <ul> <li>James Farrow, DB/WR, Minnetonka (2011)</li> </ul> Farrow is one of the most interesting players to make this list. After becoming the number one recruit in all of MN in 2011 he committed to Virginia Tech. After a prolific career for the Minnetonka Skippers as a great all around player he did not find much playing time in Blacksburg. Following his redshirt-freshman season in college he decided to transfer to the University of San Diego which is an FCS school. He reportedly never even played for USD, and he would later even pursue a career in rapping. Although Farrow was never able to translate his talent at the next level, there is no doubt that he was one of the most prolific players from the 2010’s. <ul> <li>Keelon Brookins, DB/WR, Tartan (2013)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21750" align="alignright" width="181"] photo via: UNIAthletics[/caption] Keelon Brookins is one of the most gifted athletes that has came through Minnesota in the last 10 years. He missed the majority of his junior season in high school due to a knee injury, but his 4.3 40 yard dash speed which led to him also winning the state championship in the 200m dash as a junior made him a very intriguing prospect to college coaches. He was a very dominant player on both sides of the ball for the Titans when he found his way on to the field. He eventually committed to the University of Wisconsin and later transferred to University of Northern Iowa. Injuries derailed Brookins entire football career, but his modern box safety, do-it-all defensive back style was dominant while he was on the field. The former Tartan star is currently a defensive assistant on UNI’s coaching staff. Honorable Mention <ul> <li>Kamal Martin, DB/QB, Burnsville (2016)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="1558" first="Benny" last="Sapp III"], DB/WR, Eden Prairie (2018)</li> </ul>   Linebackers <ul> <li>Peter Westerhaus, LB/TE Holy Family Catholic (2011)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21751" align="alignright" width="231"] photo via: vikings.com[/caption] Westerhaus had arguably one of the best senior season for any player in MN football history. As a twelfth grader he recorded 139 total tackles on the defensive side, while he brought in 49 catches for 789 yards and 11 touchdowns on the offensive end. The Holy Family legend led his team to the 3A state championship in his senior season. He unfortunately was never able to play a down of college football, as before he took his first snap for the Minnesota Gophers he was ulcerative colitis further derailing his football career. <ul> <li>Carter Coughlin, LB/RB, Eden Prairie (2016)</li> </ul> Carter Coughlin was one of Minnesota’s first elite nation-wide prospects. In his senior season, Coughlin recorded 35 total tackles and seven tackles for loss in only seven games. He parlayed his senior season into becoming the 89th ranked prospect in the country. Coughlin eventually had a terrific career for the Minnesota Gophers, and most recently he was selected in the seventh round by the New York Giants in April’s NFL Draft. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2212" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"], LB/TE, SMB (2020)</li> </ul> SMB’s two-time state champion defense has been led by [player_tooltip player_id="2212" first="Kaden" last="Johnson"] the previous three seasons. Johnson had a dominant three year career for the Wolfpack, but his senior season was special. He recorded 54 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks on the defensive end. He was also an elite redzone threat as a pass catcher throughout his high school career. Johnson will be playing college football for Wisconsin next season, as he comes in as four star, top 200 prospect in the country. Honorable Mention: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="1571" first="Antonio" last="Montero"], LB/RB/K, Eden Prairie (2017)</li> </ul>   Defensive Linemen <ul> <li>Jashon Cornell, DE, Cretin Derham-Hall (2015)</li> </ul> The former five-star recruit, Jashon Cornell is arguably the most hyped football prospect to come out of Minnesota. Heading into his junior season he was ranked as the number one overall player in the entire country, until he settled into being ranked 33rd following his senior season. He put together some of the best film that the state of MN has ever seen. He eventually committed to Ohio State University, and he was quickly lost on the depth chart. He fought his way back up and he was recently selected in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions, in April’s draft. <ul> <li>Anthony Hayes, DL/OL, St. Thomas Academy (2011)</li> </ul> Minnesota has not had a plethora of talent on the defensive line in the past 10 years, but Anthony Hayes is one player who was supremely skilled. Hayes recorded seven sacks as a senior for the Cadets from the interior defensive line position. This earned him All-metro, all-state and first team all-Classic Suburban League as a senior. Hayes went on to Stanford to play college football, where he would eventually only play in four career games recording one sack. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="1559" first="David" last="Alston"], DE/WR, Woodbury (2018)</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_21753" align="alignright" width="158"] (Courtesy of Andy Hill)[/caption] Alston wrecked havoc in his senior season at Woodbury. He recorded 10 tackles for loss and four interceptions in only seven games. Alston’s elite size and dominant film led to him landing a scholarship to Nebraska. The Woodbury product’s on field production is up there with some of the all time greats. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2272" first="Aaron" last="Witt"], DE/OT, Winona (2020)</li> </ul> Winona’s [player_tooltip player_id="2272" first="Aaron" last="Witt"] rounds out the defensive side of the ball on the all decade team. As a senior Witt recorded 61 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries with one being returned for a touchdown. His play making style was far too effective to leave him off this list. Witt will be playing for the University of Wisconsin in 2020. Honorable Mention: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="10961" first="Yahya" last="Black"], DL/OL, Marshall (2020)</li> </ul>   *you can expect the offensive team within the next week*