5A Spring Season Preview

Colorado is preparing for its second football season of the 2020-21 year to officially start in the coming weeks. The number of teams participating in the spring is significantly less than the fall participants, resulting in a unique alteration to the leagues. The 5A classification will only have 12 teams playing in two different leagues, the North and the South. Due to there being two seasons during 2020-21, there will be a state champion crowned at the end of the spring competitions. Each team is scheduled to play six games with a possible seventh game for the teams who do not reach the postseason. Like the fall season, the playoffs will consist of eight teams and the championship games will be held at CSU Pueblo between May 13th and May 15th.   Which teams are in which league? For the North League, the teams that will be playing are Adams City, Boulder, Fort Collins, Mountain Range, Northglenn, and Westminster. The South League will consist of Denver East, Denver South, Far Northeast, Hinkley, Rangeview, and Vista PEAK Prep.   A few names to look out for The upside to having only 12 teams in the 5A classification playing in the spring is that some of these programs will garner more attention they may have gotten during the fall. This can be very beneficial for the players who have aspirations of continuing their careers at the next level.   <img class="size-medium wp-image-38168 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/GunsDownDenver17.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="56024" first="Ja’Derris" last="Carr"] | Vista PEAK Prep | 5’11” | RB | 2021 Carr is Prep Rezone Colorado’s number one ranked running back in the 2021 class. He is a powerful back who is extremely difficult to bring down on initial contact. Once he gets to the second level, he has another gear that enables him to run just as fast as the defensive secondary. Carr’s on and off-field performances have led to him earning a spot with Princeton’s program this coming fall. Julian Buerk | Denver South | 6’2” | QB | 2021 Buerk is a duel-threat quarterback with amazing athleticism. He maneuvers well in the pocket and has a very strong arm. He keeps his eyes downfield whenever he has to extend a play with his legs, making him a true danger as a passer who can potentially take off for a big gain. Buerk has been putting in substantial amounts of developmental training in the offseason and has recently committed to CSU Pueblo. [caption id="attachment_56144" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-56144" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/369F48E9-1EAA-4960-A4D4-137EAD8CCB87-300x285.jpeg" alt="Colorado Wild Sports" width="300" height="285" /> [player_tooltip player_id="22720" first="Dylan" last="Wigglesworth"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="22720" first="Dylan" last="Wigglesworth"] | Denver East | 6’0” | QB | 2022 Wigglesworth is a quarterback who fits perfectly into a spread/RPO scheme. He possesses the athleticism needed to extend plays when necessary and has an accurate arm that enables him to throw on the run. His running ability makes him a serious threat, especially when executing the read-option. Wigglesworth is a dual-threat quarterback who has put in a lot of work during the extended offseason, helping to solidify him as a name-to-know. [player_tooltip player_id="58941" first="Tyler" last="Larson"] | Boulder | 6’3”| WR | 2022 Larson is a tall receiver with a phenomenal catch radius. He has a long stride that helps him create space from defenders, making him a serious deep threat. His height and ability to cover ground with just a few steps give him an instant advantage against just about any corner. Larson is an ideal receiver for any passing game and will be working to claim his place under the spotlight this spring. [player_tooltip player_id="242109" first="Rashad" last="Caldwell"] | Denver South | 6’0” | WR | 2023 Caldwell is a very talented receiver with excellent route running abilities. He accelerates quickly and has sharp cuts that he explodes out of. Caldwell is a young player who made a significant contribution during his freshmen year, and he will be looking to elevate his production this spring. [player_tooltip player_id="153736" first="Vincent" last="Strimel"] | Westminster | 5’10” | LB | 2021 Strimel is a tough linebacker with the size and speed to line up as an edge rusher. He has quick feet and good eyes. His ability to fill gaps makes him an asset as a run defender, while his acceleration enables him to drop out into coverage quickly. Strimel is also an effective pass rusher, which makes him a versatile asset as a box defender.