Team Preview: CBC (2023/2024 Prospects)

The expectations are always high at CBC High School, especially after winning state championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018, but Coach Scott Pingel is used to that. "I’m excited about this group," Pingel said. "I really am. They are fun to coach and they come to work. It’s a fun group to be around. I’m excited." Pingel has another strong group, led by a deep and talented Class of 2022 and a strong group of 2023 and 2024 prospects. We broke up our 2021 Team Preview into two parts: <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/07/2021-team-preview-cbc-2022-prospects/">highlighting the Class of 2022 prospects</a> and now the 2023/2024 guys to watch. Here is a quick look at those players to watch this fall... <strong>CLASS OF 2023</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37675" first="Tyler" last="Gant"], 6-4, 270, DL</strong> Gant has been one of the top state’s prospects for a few years now and he continues to get better and better going into his third varsity season and second as a starter. "He’s going to play nose, d-end, d-tackle," Pingel said. "He’s so versatile. ... Could possibly play OL if needed." The coach said Gant has good hands, a good motor and good work ethic. Gant has early offers from Arkansas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Iowa State among others. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12954500/5faa42a423529d1b6cc5017a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103779" first="Jeremiyah" last="Love"], 6-1, 190, RB-WR-DB</strong> Love missed his sophomore football season with an injury, but showed he was healthy this spring during track season that culminated with him winning the Missouri Class 5 100-meter dash championship (10.76 seconds). He impressed during camp season enough to earn early offers from the University of Missouri and Eastern Illinois. One of the storylines to watch this fall is to see which position Love emerges at. He could play running back, wide receiver or defensive back and make an impact anywhere. "He’s probably going to do a little bit of everything for us," Pingel said. NOTE: HUDL highlights below are from Love’s freshman season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13030353/5f4d0f4eb018d40b9c0c08b2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99471" first="Dakotah" last="Mayo"], 5-8, 155, WR</strong> Another Division I prospect speedster for the Cadets, Mayo emerged late in his sophomore season when he caught 12 passes for 145 yards over the final two games. He finished the season with 16 receptions for 179 yards. Mayo earned early offers from Kansas and Arkansas State but will attract a lot more interest when he takes the field this fall. "His skill set with speak for itself," Pingel said. CBC graduated two Division I wide receivers in [player_tooltip player_id="37160" first="Chevalier" last="Brenson"] (Ball State) and [player_tooltip player_id="37216" first="Zach" last="Hahn"] (Missouri walk-on), so Mayo will have a chance for a breakout season with a lot more passes coming in his direction. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13030258/5fa985d638638d0b08f415bb" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103780" first="Michael" last="Teason"], 6-2, 190, S-OLB</strong> Another Division I prospect who could have a breakout season this fall, Teason could play outside linebacker, safety or even middle linebacker for the Cadets at some point. Pingel described Teason is "quick as a cat" and "very, very physical." "He’s a special kid," the coach said. "He reminds me of Cam Brown (current Ohio State cornerback) in that I told college coaches about him and he was special in his junior year." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13030261/5fa9df3238638d0d64b7aa5d" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103437" first="Kyan" last="Franklin"], 6-3, 215, MLB</strong> Franklin was pressed into action as a sophomore last fall because of injuries and he stepped up and performed well, racking up 19 tackles in four games. After a strong offseason, Pingel is expecting a breakout season from him this fall. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13030279/5fa99f083448b208a0c95ba6" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171840" first="Josh" last="Gregory"], 6-7, 250, OL</strong> Gregory didn’t play football as a freshman, when he was a member of CBC’s varsity basketball team, but he did play a little football late in the team’s COVID-shortened 2020 season. He has spent the offseason developing into an offensive tackle and is frame, long arms and good feet make him a legitimate Division I prospect. Gregory is on the radar of several bigger schools after they saw him at camps this offseason. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37708" first="Levi" last="McGee"], 6-1, 290, OL</strong> Pingel was effusive in his praise of McGee, who stepped up as a sophomore playing guard against a difficult schedule that included facing De Smet’s two Division I defensive tackles twice. "He can road grade, he can move, he can block at the next level," Pingel said. "He can do anything you want an offensive lineman to do. He’s probably one of the best O-lineman I’ve had in my 13 years at CBC." McGee will likely start at left guard, but could possibly play some center this season, which might end up being his position in college. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13030282/5feba3d7b3d27c0a1cc8d3d3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171841" first="Dylan" last="Van"], 5-11, 175, RB</strong> Van carried the ball 17 times for 50 yards as a sophomore, but figures to get a lot of work this fall and could be the Cadets’ starter. "I think [player_tooltip player_id="171841" first="Dylan" last="Van"], as much as (Jeremiyah) Love is the home run guy, Dylan is going to be the 4-5 yard guy who could turn it into 60," Pingel said. "He impressed the heck out of me at the East Central Camp." The coach said Van could emerge like Bryan Bradford, who rushed for more than 3,500 yards and scored 69 touchdowns in CBC’s back-to-back state championship seasons in 2017 and 2018 and signed with Kent State. "There’s something special about him to me," Pingel said. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37738" first="Ralph" last="Dixon"], 5-6, 165, RB</strong> Dixon showed his explosiveness as a sophomore when he made the most of limited carries near the end of games. He ran 14 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns. "He has great football instincts," Pingel said.  "We really like him. ... He’s a one-cut vertical guy. He sees a crease and he gets through it." Pingel said Dixon reminds him of former CBC Division I back Calen Taylor. "He plays so much bigger than his size," the coach said. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13030260/5fa8a1fe3448b208a0c8abd3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp; <strong>CLASS OF 2024</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="126237" first="Jeremiah" last="McClellan"], 6-1, 185, WR</strong> McClellan caught two passes for 27 yards during his freshman season, but was so impressive at camps this offseason he received early offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Arizona State, Minnesota, Iowa State and Indiana among others. Like Mayo, he should have a breakout season. Pingel called him a "special talent. "The cool thing about him is he’s so down to Earth and wants to work hard and get better," the coach said. "I think (new CBC wide receivers coach and former NFL wide receiver) Justin Gage is going to be the best thing for [player_tooltip player_id="126237" first="Jeremiah" last="McClellan"]. He’s going to take Jeremiah to the next level." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14614385/5fd0e9e2ff02770b687c85ba" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="126244" first="Bryce" last="Parson"], 6-3, 280, OL</strong> Parson started every game during his freshman season at left tackle, but could play some guard this season, which is where he might end up in college. "He’s just gonna be special," Pingel said. Parson, who also played basketball and volleyball as a freshman, was arguably CBC’s top offensive lineman a year ago. "The sky is so bright for this guy," Pingel said. "... He’s getting stronger. His punch is good. Really, really good base and stays with it." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14738602/5fcc58b70c554d0b20a1a362" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong>You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/natelatsch">@natelatsch</a>.</strong></em> &nbsp;