Star Tribune football All-Metro first-team offense

November 22, 2016 at 2:08AM
Brad Davison, Maple Grove football, 2016
Brad Davison, Maple Grove football, 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

(Players are seniors unless noted)

QUARTERBACK

Brad Davison, Maple Grove, 6-4, 200: Has all the attributes of a Division I QB: Poise, arm strength, size, athleticism, leadership. Passed for 2,418 yards and 23 TDS, rushed for 891 yards and 15 TDs. Selected Wisconsin for basketball.

RUNNING BACKS

Wade Sullivan, Lakeville North, 5-9, 179: Metro's best combination of strength and speed. Always gets positive yards. Rushed for 1,787 yards, 31 touchdowns.

Jalen Frye, Mahtomedi, 5-7, 160: Explodes through holes and runs through arm tackles. Has speed to pull away from defenders. Ran for nearly 1,700 yards, scored 20 TDs.

Ryder Beckman, Monticello, 5-10, 181: Enviable amalgam of power, speed and elusivness. Rushed for 1,281 yards, 16 TDs. Owns school yardage records in rushing (3,302) and kickoff returns (1,091).

RECEIVERS

Isaac Ferm, Farmington, 6-3, 190: A matchup nightmare for opposing coaches because he has the size to fend off defenders and the athleticism to run by them. Wins the 50-50 battles. Caught 10 TDs.

Tyler Johnson, Buffalo, 6-0, 160: Instinctive player with football smarts, amazing hands and better-than-expected speed. Set a state record for receiving yards in one game with 345 in a loss to Blaine. Finished with 65 receptions for more than 1,000 yards.

LINEMEN

Eric Abojei, Cooper, 6-5, 310: A mauler with a commitment to Minnesota. Plays with a strong base, dominates defenders. Incredibly strong. Said one coach, "We lost our defensive end. I think he's inside him."

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Ronald Audette, Elk River, jr., 6-4, 305: A lithe athlete with quick feet trapped in a lineman's body. Had 62 pancake blocks before the state tournament. Also excels on defense.

Ian Bass, Rosemount, jr., 6-4, 273: Coach Jeff Erdmann called him "our best offensive lineman." Others agreed, with one opposing coach calling him "gritty and tough."

J.J Drew, Eden Prairie, 6-6, 310: Size is imposing, allows him to control defensive linemen with his bulk. Heady and smart, committed to Harvard.

Brent Laing, Lake- ville North, 6-4, 255: The leader of the quickest offensive line Panthers coach Brian Vossen has had. Relentless and driven. Vossen called him "the hardest working lineman I've ever had."

ATHLETE

Brock Boltmann, Edina, 6-1, 197: Possesses exceptionally quick feet, ability to change directions without stopping. Great defensive back, but will play QB at North Dakota. Passed for 1,376 yards, rushed for 543.


Wade Sullivan, Lakeville North football., sr., 2016-17
Wade Sullivan, Lakeville North football., sr., 2016-17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Jalen Frye, Mahtomedi football, sr., 2016-17
Jalen Frye, Mahtomedi football, sr., 2016-17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Ryder Beckman, Monticello football, sr., 2016-17
Ryder Beckman, Monticello football, sr., 2016-17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Isaac Ferm, Farmington football, sr., 2016
Isaac Ferm, Farmington football, sr., 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Eric Abojei, Cooper football, sr. 2016
Eric Abojei, Cooper football, sr. 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Ronald (Ronnie) Audette, Elk River football, jr., 2016-17
Ronald (Ronnie) Audette, Elk River football, jr., 2016-17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Ian Bass, Rosemount football, jr., 2016
Ian Bass, Rosemount football, jr., 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
J.J. Drew, Eden Prairie football, sr., 2016-17
J.J. Drew, Eden Prairie football, sr., 2016-17 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Brent Lainh, Lakeville North football, sr., 2016
Brent Lainh, Lakeville North football, sr., 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Brock Boltmann, Edina football, sr., 2016
Brock Boltmann, Edina football, sr., 2016 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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