Team Preview: CBC (2022 Prospects)

With three state championships in five seasons, between 2014 and 2018, the CBC High School football program under coach Scott Pingel established itself as the gold standard in the St. Louis area. The past two seasons, however, the Cadets have been good but not necessarily great with a 12-5 record as they rebuilt with younger players competing against the area’s toughest schedule. Many in the area football community think the 2021 season will be CBC’s next best opportunity to make a run at the school’s fourth state championship. "Expectations never change," Pingel said. "I always expect us to compete and compete for a state championship at the highest level. This group I think has some key parts. In the years we’ve been really good we’ve been good on the offensive and defensive lines and we feel like this group has a chance to be like that." Here is a look at some of the players to watch for CBC this fall... NOTE: Because of the large number of players mentioned we are going to break this up into two parts -- the Class of 2022 prospects and then <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/2021-team-preview-cbc-2023-2024-prospects/">the 2023/2024 prospects</a>. <strong>CLASS OF 2022</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37539" first="Blair" last="Schonhorst"], 6-0, 175, DB-WR</strong> CBC’s first Division I commitment from the Class of 2022, Schonhorst recently pledged to Ball State after receiving scholarship offers from Indiana State, Missouri State and others. He is a three-year starter at cornerback who transitioned from playing wide receiver when he was younger, but he is expected to play some receiver this fall as well. Pingel said Schonhorst is a "technical dude who does everything right and is always in phase." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373615/5fb0159c478d9f0218a85c84" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171843" first="Justus" last="Johnson"], 6-1, 175, CB-WR</strong> Johnson, a two-year starter and three-year varsity contributor who also plays basketball, is a tall and lanky cornerback with exceptional speed and a long 6-foot-4 wingspan. "This dude is a straight nasty dog," Pingel said. "He’s that guy that you don’t like playing against but you love him on your team. ... I think he’s big time. He hasn’t done many camps, maybe one, because he’s done so much basketball this summer." Pingel said Johnson registered two 4.5-second 40-yard dash times this offseason but doesn’t necessarily look as fast as he is because he has long strides. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373626/5faaa153a6783c0728b67037" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171842" first="Kendall" last="Huston"], 6-1, 190, OLB-S</strong> Huston had a breakout season as a junior with 20 tackles, six sacks and an interception in six games in his first year as a starter. Pingel said Huston is versatile enough that he could play some safety this year. "He’s good in the run game," the coach said. "He has great instincts and ball skills." Pingel said Huston is a likely Division I player who could play a hybrid outside linebacker or safety spot at the next level. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373600/5fbd45d92aa68e011c5f6bc8" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37608" first="Patrick" last="Heitert"], 6-0, 185, QB</strong> Heitert began last season as the starting tight end and backup quarterback and finished as the starting quarterback. He completed 64% of his passes for 1,230 yards, with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions, in six games. He also ran for 275 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 44 yards. "Pat’s a really good quarterback," Pingel said. "He has a quick release. ... He’s a dual-threat guy. ... I expect just great things from him this year. He’s a great leader." A high-academic student, Heitert has received offers from Benedictine and William Jewell and interest from Ivy League schools, but could attract more offers with another strong season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11108812/5fb157a15b3cbc0bf04d8f87" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104902" first="Isaac" last="Cyr"], 6-1, 215, MLB</strong> Cyr was having a breakout season a year ago, as a junior, when racked up 27 total tackles in the first two games before suffering a knee injury that ended his season. "He’s super smart," Pingel said. "He does a great job of setting the fronts. ... He’s long for a middle backer and runs really well." The coach thinks Cyr could be an Ivy League prospect. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373637/5facafb2578ee802f877f00f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Jaycob Tatum, 6-0, 215, OLB-DE</strong> The half brother of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, Tatum is another player who was starting to emerge a year ago before suffering a season-ending injury in just the second game of the season. But he’s come back stronger, has been one of the team’s hardest workers this offseason and emerged as one of the team’s leaders. "I think Jaycob is just going to get better and bigger and taller," Pingel said. "... I think he’s the guy that’s going to have a breakout year for us." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11965439/5fc91ede90f9bd0688855c2b" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171848" first="Ayden" last="Robinson-Wayne"], 5-10, 170, WR-QB-DB</strong> Robinson-Wayne was CBC’s starting quarterback as a sophomore and early in his junior season before suffering an injury. A dynamic dual-threat quarterback, he racked up 2,610 total yards (1,744 passing, 866 rushing) and 29 touchdowns (18 passing, 11 rushing) as a sophomore in 2019 and then 578 total yards (494 passing, 84 rushing) and seven TDs (six passing, one rushing) in three games a a year ago as a junior. Robinson-Wayne, who is also a Division I baseball prospect, will likely focus on playing wide receiver this fall where he can utilize his speed and lightning quickness. "What he’s shown for us as a receiver has been pretty damn special," Pingel said. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373606/6014de8604287d036cd9d8d4" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103094" first="Collin" last="Bell"], 6-1, 260, DL</strong> A three-year varsity contributor, Pingel said Bell injured his Achilles this offseason but is working to come back during the season. "He is a guy who I though the sky is the limit for him," the coach said. "He’s a hard worker. ... He’s going to be a sleeper for somebody." Bell had 26 tackles as a sophomore in 2019 and then 15 tackles and two sacks in four games as a junior. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373620/5fa9c709d21c4d1aa0986b1b" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37637" first="Jeffery" last="Morgan"], 5-11, 170, S</strong> Morgan, who also plays baseball and wrestles, is another three-year varsity contributor who has made a big impact on CBC’s defense. "He’s so smart," Pingel said. "We couldn’t play our defense without him. ... I think he could play D-II. I know he was looking at some Ivy League schools." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11094052/5fac97a5578ee802f877dfe7" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171847" first="RJ" last="White"], 5-9, 230, DL</strong> Another three-year varsity contributor, Pingel said White is a guy with a high motor and just a good football player. White received an early offer from Benedictine. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11388104/5fc6e7e14206220b3c58a1c3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171846" first="Jerome" last="Logan"], 6-2, 325, DT</strong> Logan is a player who could stand out on the Cadets’ deep and talented defensive line this fall. The coach thinks Logan could be a D-II or D-III player. "Just seeing how much he’s grown as a young man has been really impressive," Pingel said. "... He’s grown into a special human being. ... I would go to bat for him to get a chance somewhere." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373598/5fb412dd6e81c80050e3156c" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37632" first="Matthew" last="Mayer"], 6-1, 230, OL</strong> Mayer is a three-year starter at center who is "super smart," according to his coach, and who has played much bigger than his size against CBC’s annual daunting schedule. Pingel said they have moved Mayer all over the offensive line this offseason. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/7801942/601a03833dec250a5cb6513d" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Robert LeMaster, 5-10, 225, LS</strong> LeMaster has traveled to several camps this offseason to showcase his ability as a long snapper. "He’s a pretty good long snapper," Pingel said. "He’s a guy that gets the ball back on long and short snaps perfect all the time." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11373631/5fa9efce0c5e0717cc9a93b7" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Evan Fitzpatrick, 6-5, 315, OL</strong> Fitzpatrick was a starting offensive tackle as a sophomore in 2019 before battling injury issues. He is coming off a knee injury this offseason but is expected to return in September. Pingel thinks Fitzpatrick could be a Division II prospect. <em><strong>You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/natelatsch">@natelatsch</a>.</strong></em>