2020 Preseason All-St. Louis Team (Defensive Juniors)

In a crazy year dominated by COVID, some of these players may not even play a full schedule or will have their seasons moved to the spring. I am writing this article as if all of these players were gearing up to play in the coming weeks.  Here are the 2022 high school graduates to check out now before you watch them playing on Saturdays in the fall of 2022 and beyond. Defensive Line: <img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-46928 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/75552-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="37521" first="Tyson" last="Ford"], John Burroughs (6’5, 215) Long, fast and flexible, Ford is tough to block and is a force versus the run and passing game. The best player in Missouri in the 2022 class. <img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-46927" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/20200829_091932-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="37546" first="Ashtin" last="Rustemeyer"], Lutheran St. Charles (6’1, 270) Powerful players like Rustemeyer usually dominate in the weight room and the LSC product puts in work with the iron. On the field, he plays with leverage and short-area strike. One of the hardest workers in the area. &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="37549" first="Jaydon" last="Wannstedt"], Lutheran St. Charles (6’1, 277) Another weight room beast, Wannstedt uses heavy hands and aggressive hand play to win at the line of scrimmage. No one blocking him is excited when he bull rushes. [player_tooltip player_id="37557" first="Marquis" last="Graciel"], St. Charles (6’3, 246) One of the fastest rising players in the area, Graciel is just starting to come into his own as a player.  He has the natural ability and once he learns the intricacies of the game, he will be a major force. Linebackers: [caption id="attachment_46854" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-46854" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/20200828_183828-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Jason Schoenig, <a href="https://dirtandturfphoto.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dirt and Turf Photos</a>[/caption] Chris Skiljan, DeSmet Jesuit (6’, 205) A transfer from Westminster in 2019, Skiljan did not play for DeSmet Jesuit in their championship run. But he watched, learned and grinded. Skiljan is mean at the point of attack, wants to knock the ball carrier out on contact and gets everywhere in a hurry. Future D-1 player. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="37559" first="Will" last="Singleton"], Francis Howell (5’11, 172) What Singleton lacks in size he more than makes up for as a wild dog on the football field. This sideline to sideline stalker finds the football quickly and explodes to make a play. Football is fun to watch the way Singleton plays. [player_tooltip player_id="37569" first="Nate" last="Kidd"], Christian Brothers College (6’, 187) Kidd is coming into his own as a player and on a team that consistently has good LB play, Kidd falls right in line. Kidd has good lateral quickness, deciphers the play effortlessly and is always looking to get in on the action. Defensive Backs: All of these DBs were featured in their own <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/07/five-2022-st-louis-dbs-with-national-attention/">article.</a> <img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-36903 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/IMG_9151-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="37522" first="Isaac" last="Thompson"], SLUH (6’, 190) Do it all safety that colleges are vying to win. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="37524" first="Toriano" last="Pride"], Lutheran North (5’10, 170) Pride has just about every offer a high school kid could ask for.  May turn out to be most highly recruited player from St. Louis...EVER! [player_tooltip player_id="37525" first="Caldra" last="Williford"], Lutheran North (5’10, 160) Speedy, quick and elusive, Williford is a smooth athlete that excels wherever he plays.<img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-36904" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/70591-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="37535" first="Cam" last="Epps"], Chaminade (6’2, 194) Epps, with a solid fall season, will take the recruiting world by storm. The St. Louis coaches and players already know.