Sports

Profiles of three noteworthy playmakers in prep football

Eden Prairie's JD Spielman, Cooper's Phillip Howard and Maple Grove's Isaac Collins are among the better prep football players in Minnesota.

August 18, 2015 at 11:09AM
Eden Prairie's J.D. Spielman was photographed outside the State Theatre Tuesday night. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Prep football special section photoshoot on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.
Eden Prairie's JD Spielman was photographed outside the State Theatre Tuesday night. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Prep football special section photoshoot on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Phillip Howard

Pos: QB/FS/WR/PR School: Cooper

Height, weight: 5-11, 180

Playmaker skills: Committed to the Gophers, he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds. Playing quarterback last season, he ran for six touchdowns, each covering 25 yards or more. Passed for seven scores and caught a TD pass.

Quotable: "You've got to have composure at those positions. The quarterback has to lead the offense because he has to know everything that's going on with every position. And the safeties are the last line of defense." — Phillip Howard

JD Spielman

Pos: FS/RB/PR School: Eden Prairie

Height, weight: 5-8, 174

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Playmaker skills: Scored six touchdowns of 52 yards or more last season: rushing (two), punt return (two), reception (one) and interception (one). Committed to Nebraska. Agile, strong, tough to tackle.

Quotable: "Whenever I get the ball, I always to strive to be a guy that you can't arm tackle. That's how I've been taught to play. " — JD Spielman

Isaac Collins

Pos: RB/FS/KR/PR School: Maple Grove

Height, weight: 5-9, 180

Playmaking skills: Rushed for 1,022 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. Returned a kick 95 yards for a score. Fifth on the team in tackles. Four multiple-TD games. College choice undecided.

Quotable: "Isaac is somebody where I feel guilty if he's standing next to me on the sidelines too much." — Matt Lombardi, Maple Grove coach

Cooper's Phillip Howard was photographed outside the State Theatre Tuesday night. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Prep football special section photoshoot on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.
Cooper's Phillip Howard was photographed outside the State Theatre Tuesday night. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Prep football special section photoshoot on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Maple Grove's Isaac Collins was photographed outside the State Theatre Tuesday night. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Prep football special section photoshoot on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.
Maple Grove's Isaac Collins was photographed outside the State Theatre Tuesday night. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com Prep football special section photoshoot on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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