Recruiting Report: Jamarien Wheeler – Mpls Washburn (2021)
Outside of winning a state championship – which no one in Minnesota truly got the opportunity to do in 2020 – Minneapolis Washburn senior [player_tooltip player_id="18072" first="Jamarien" last="Wheeler"] ended his high school football career better than 99 percent of Minnesota football players. Washburn won the Section 4AAAAA title over Tartan 33-28, and Wheeler had a Randy Moss versus the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1998 kind of game – five catches, 194 yards, and four touchdowns. Now, Wheeler is preparing for his winter sports season and a chance to have more Freak like performances at the next level.
"They were expecting us to run, and I got on top of their corners a couple of times," Wheeler said about his big night. "Tartan was a ball-control offense. We only ran five plays in the third quarter, but we scored three touchdowns."
Although he and the Millers ended the season on a high, the team was solid all year – losing just one game.
"We had a good run stop, but we also had good athletes in the secondary," Wheeler said. "On offense, we had a good passing game."
On the way to his season-ending performance, Wheeler was a consistent threat on both sides of the ball.
"It was my best season of high school football. I had 25 catches and 16 touchdowns in seven games. I have good hands and am a good route runner. I worked on catching contested balls over the summer. I usually stay on one side of the field and am lined up wide."
A four-year starter at receiver, Wheeler has started both ways since his junior year.
"I was an outside linebacker (in the Millers’ base 4-3 defense) always on the wide side of the field. I was also a standup defensive end. I would play safety in long-yardage situations. I think I am best at shedding blocks and pass coverage."
Wheeler expects to be playing receiver in college.
"I need to work on my route running, footwork, and hands."
Since the end of the football season, Wheeler has been working on those skills.
"I have been playing on a seven on seven team and have been in the weight room," the 6’2" 200-pound athlete said. "I will be playing basketball too. I am like a sixth man and play small forward or shooting guard. I am mostly a defensive player. I might run track this spring."
Wheeler – prepredzonemn.com’s 64th ranked senior – isn’t ready to make any college commitments but has interest from some Midwest schools.
"St. Thomas and South Dakota State have been the main schools that have been looking at me. They like my deep ball skills."
They like the deep ball skills - like he put on display in one of the best closeouts to a high school career of 2020.
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