Pre-Season Scouting Preview: A Look At De Smet's Top Prospects

St. Louis (MO) De Smet heads into 2022 loaded with college prospects   New Head Coach John Merritt begins his first season with the Spartans with a wealth of college football prospects to lead his team into battle with for the coming season. Here is a look at the top prospects, some of who have already committed to P5 schools, along with others who have offers and at getting looks from colleges on every level.   [player_tooltip player_id='37662' first='Christian' last='Gray'] | 2023 | 6'0" | CB   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Christian-Gray-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-420568" /></figure>   Christian showed flashes of what was to come as a freshman and sophomore with his speed and athleticism. His skills caught up to those as he grew and became bigger and faster. Already committed to Notre Dame, Gray is not only a lockdown corner, but he is a valuable weapon for the Spartans on special teams and on offense as a receiver. Besides his 34 tackles, 2 picks and 2 fumble recoveries from his cornerback position, Christian also scored 4 TDs for the Spartans, and had 1 of those as a receiver. a role he will likely see more of as a senior.   <ul><li>Big-time speed having been clocked in the 4.4 range.</li><li>Excellent cover skills. Locks down and blankets receivers.</li><li>Ball hawk with a nose for the ball.</li><li>Great hands and ball skills.</li><li>A threat to pick the ball when challenged.</li><li>Physical defender who can play the run well.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='37655' first='Mac' last='Markway'] | 2023 | 6'4" | TE   The Louisiana State verbal commit first caught my attention as a middle school player because he already looked like a senior in high school. A weight room warrior who is advanced in his physical development and strength. Mac hasn't played a ton of football on the high school level. He saw some varsity action as a freshman and sophomore and has 7 catches for 68 yards and 3 TDs in those two seasons, but missed his entire junior season following knee injury, and it's uncertain that he will play his senior season as he is focused on being fully health and his future on the college level. His potential and athleticism didn't deter P5 schools from heavily recruiting him. After initially committing to Florida, Markway decommitted and picked LSU following the hire of Brian Kelly.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Mac-Markway.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422196" /></figure>   <ul><li>Great size and strength</li><li>Good hands</li><li>Athletic and runs well</li><li>Does a good job finding open space and using his size against defenders</li><li>Strong blocker</li><li>Nice red zone target</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='300208' first='Elijah' last='Thomas'] | 2023 | 6'2" | S/LB   An absolute physical machine and big-time hitter as a safety or linebacker who makes receivers and back pay. Thomas impressed me with his ability to see plays unfold and meet opponents with a full head of steam to blow them up. He also does a good job covering and shutting down TEs and backs with his ability to run and use his skills. Elijah is exactly what you look for in a college football safety prospect. While he holds offers already from Arkansas, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Kansas among others, he should be an even more heavily recruited prospect in my opinion.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Elijah-Thomas.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422198" /></figure>   <ul><li>Physical big hitter</li><li>Athletic</li><li>Good speed and runs well</li><li>Good vision to see plays and react</li><li>Good strength and physical development</li><li>Does a good job in pass coverage</li></ul>   Christian Cotton | 2023 | 6'0" | QB   Cotton has been a varsity starting QB since he was a freshman at the now closed Trinity high school. He transferred to De Smet following that and became the starter for the Spartans last year and threw for over 1,300 yards and 17 TDs against 6 picks. A true dual threat, Chris also ran for over 800 yards and 5 more TDs. He does a great job leading his offense and playing within himself to make the right moves to make positive yardage with his arm and legs. He's picked up an offer from Missouri Baptist but has the ability and talent to play on a higher level.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Christian-Cotton-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422222" /></figure>   <ul><li>Strong arm and can make all the throws</li><li>Sees the field well and finds the open receiver</li><li>Good accuracy and doesn't force the ball</li><li>Runs the offense well and has good leadership</li><li>Runs well and makes plays with his feet</li><li>Physical and has good athleticism</li></ul>   Trevon Piggee-Blake 2023 | 6'1" | DT   Looking for a real breakout season from Trevon following the work he has put in the offseason, and based on what I have seen from him in camps in the spring, along with how he has looked this summer. He is explosive and fast at 6'1" 285 having recorded 5 sacks and 27 tackles with 3 fumble recoveries as a junior and can play inside or out on the high school level. commanding double teams to prevent him from blowing things up in the backfield.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Trevon-Piggee-Blake.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422207" /></figure>   <ul><li>Tremendous motor</li><li>Great get off and explosiveness off the ball</li><li>Superior strength</li><li>Quick and runs well </li><li>Speed to run down plays from the backside</li><li>Versatile and can be a two gap or 3-tech </li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='101710' first='Keshawn' last='Ford'] | 2023 | 5'11" | RB   -One of the top running back prospect in the state in his class. Keshawn has been a 4-year varsity player who should be more heavily recruited then he has been. Not a burner when testing but is football fast and doesn't get caught in the open field. Has good quickness and athleticism which he uses to slip tackles, but is also strong and runs between the tackles well as a north-south runner. Can be a workhorse in an offense both as a runner and catches the ball well. Does a nice job as a complete back including with his blocking.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Keshawn-Ford.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422208" /></figure>   <ul><li>Good vision and hits the hole fast</li><li>Quick feet </li><li>Tough runner</li><li>Makes quick decisions</li><li>Football fast</li><li>Good ball security</li><li>Blocks well</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='37686' first='Demetrion' last='Cannon'] | 2023 | 6'1" | WR   A sure-handed and productive WR prospect with speed (4.6 forty hand) who does a nice job of finding the open space on a field, but also make the tough catch in traffic. Good size at 6'1" with above average athleticism (9'8" broad jump, 4.1 pro agility) and can go out and get the ball. Demetrion will be one of the top targets for the Spartans in 2022 and will command a lot of attention from opposing defenses. He caught 22 passes for 367 yards with 5 TDs for a 16.7 yards per catch average as a junior. He can play inside or out.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Demetrion-Cannon.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422210" /></figure>   <ul><li>Tremendous concentration </li><li>Finds a way to get open</li><li>Solid speed and athleticism</li><li>Good strong hands</li><li>Can make plays after the catch</li><li>Good blocker</li><li>Puts in work to get better</li></ul>   Allen Willis | 2023 | 6'2" | WR   The speedy Willis will add another weapon to the Spartans arsenal after missing last season. He is a long athlete that can run and has been a productive tart for them during this summer in 7v7 and scrimmages. He has very good hands and can stretch the field while reliably making the catch when I've watched him. He looks ready to have a breakout year and get on the radar of some colleges in the process.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Allen-Willis.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422211" /></figure>   <ul><li>Speed</li><li>Athleticism</li><li>Good hands</li><li>Length</li><li>Concentration</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='322134' first='Caleb' last='Redd'] | 2024 | 6'4" | DE   Redd has the ability to be the next big-time edge rusher out of the St, Louis area. Good length, speed and explosive off the ball. His technique needs work but he can be as good as he wants to be at 6'4" 220 with 4.78 verified forty speed at the 2022 Elite Football Combine. Caleb led the Spartans defense in sacks with 6 and added 45 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and a pick to his defensive stats. I expect to see his production be even better during his junior year as a disruptive force in opponents backfields getting to the QB and running down plays.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Caleb-Redd.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422212" /></figure>   <ul><li>Good speed and length</li><li>Explosive off the edge</li><li>Good athlete</li><li>Solid against the run</li><li>Chases down plays and disrupts in the backfield</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='285140' first='Dillon' last='Duff'] | 2025 | 6'2" | QB   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Dillon-Duff-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422221" /></figure>   Duff has the potential to be the top QB in the Missouri class of 2025, and one of the top players in that class overall. He 6'2" with a strong, accurate arm and a very good athlete who also plays basketball. Dillion spent his summer playing for Boom Football 7v7 team and excelled. He has a pretty good football IQ already and sees the field well to find the open receiver. He has nice touch on the ball on his deep passes but can also fire it in there. Doesn't force plays or throws despite his strong arm. Can make all the throws and his ability and talent will have him seeing some action with the varsity first team along with starter [player_tooltip player_id='37660' first='Chris' last='Cotton'].   <ul><li>Good overall athlete</li><li>Strong arm</li><li>Accuracy</li><li>Height</li><li>Footwork and technique</li><li>Vision and ability to find open receiver</li><li>Makes good decisions</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='179194' first='Michael' last='Cunningham'] | 2025 | 6'3" | OG/C   A varsity starter on the offensive line as a freshman, the talented Cunningham was thrown into the fire and responded well holding down the C position but has the ability to play any of the five spots along the OL. Michael will begin this year at one of the Guard spots with a year under his belt and having gotten bigger and strong in the offseason. A tireless worker on his skills, Cunningham is very technically sound for a young offensive lineman, and trains year round to constantly be improving. He is also a good athlete which makes him a prospect to watch as colleges should start taking notice.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Michael-Cunningham.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422214" /></figure>   <ul><li>Good technique</li><li>Good feet</li><li>Nice punch and uses his hands well</li><li>Size and strength</li><li>Solid athleticism </li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='1600964' first='Christian' last='Hill'] | 2025 | 6'1" | DT   Another player who looks ready for a breakout season is this big Spartan sophomore DT prospect. After sitting out last year, the 6'1" 290lb Hill has had a very good off-season and summer. He is not only strong but has the athleticism and quickness to beat guards and centers regularly to blow up and make plays in the backfield. He's a big raw and still learning but when it all comes together he will no doubt be a college prospect. Another piece in a talented Spartan defensive front.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Christian-Hill.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422215" /></figure>   <ul><li>Size and strength</li><li>Above average athleticism</li><li>Very good motor</li><li>Puts in work on field and in weight room</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='374501' first='Liam' last='Russo'] | 2025 | 6'5" | TE/WR   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Liam-Russo-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422218" /></figure>   Tall TE/receiver prospect with good hands and can run. I liked what I saw of him this summer in 7v7 and scrimmages. He runs like a receiver but has the size potential of a TE. Fits well into the system Coach Merritt is using and should have a very productive sophomore season.   <ul><li>Big target who uses his height well</li><li>Long strider who can cover a lot of ground</li><li>Runs nice routes</li><li>Displays good consistent hands</li></ul>

St. Louis (MO) De Smet heads into 2022 loaded with college prospects