2008 Team to Watch: Rockhurst

As the month of May begins, PrepNation.com begins looking ahead in earnest to the start of the 2008 high school football season. We're still a few months away from the release of our expanded preseason national rankings, but it's not too soon to whet your appetite with mini-previews of teams that are likely to figure very prominently on the national scene this season.

Rockhurst has established a standard of excellence in the Show Me State this decade. Last year, the Hawklets won their third state championship in eight seasons and finished ranked No. 23 in the National Prep Poll.

Four starters return on both sides of the ball for veteran coach Tony Severino. The group includes blue chip quarterback recruit Nathan Scheelhaase, who accounted for nearly 2,778 yards of total offense, and junior safety Sal Belfonte, who led the team in tackles on defense and had more than 1,000 yards in kickoff and punt returns.

Its first Top 10 national ranking since 2002 could be a distinct possibility if Rockhurst can survive a brutal schedule that includes four-time defending Kansas 6A champion Hutchinson and a trip to Denver to face perennial power Mullen Prep. Closer to home, the Hawklets will battle Blue Springs South, Blue Springs and Jefferson City - a trio that combined to win 10 of the 16 state championships not won by Rockhurst since 1990.

Rockhurst Hawklets (Kansas City, Mo.)
Coach: Tony Severino (236-55-1, 25 years at Rockhurst; 279-76-1, 31 years overall)

2007: 13-0, Class 6 state champion, No. 23 National Prep Poll ranking

Top returning players: QB/S Nathan Scheelhaase (6-3, 195, 1,861 yards passing, 917 yards rushing,34 TDs), S/FB Sal Belfonte (5-10, 195, leading tackler, 1,000 return yards, WR/DB Keith Langtry (6-2, 180, 820 yards receiving)

Key losses: RB Drew Temple (Missouri), TE Jake Arbanas (Army), OL Doug McFarland (Army), DE Van Marshall (Navy), DB Ivan Charbonneu (Princeton)

All systems go: Skill positions, speed, experience at QB, RB and LB

Questions must be answered: Inexperienced offensive and defensive lines

Toughest games: @Blue Springs South (Aug. 29), vs. Hutchinson, Kan. (Sept. 5), vs. Blue Springs (Sept. 12), @ Denver Mullen (Sept. 19), vs. Jefferson City (Sept. 26), vs. Minnetonka, Minn. (Oct. 10).

Forbes Report Scouting Video: QB/S Nathan Scheelhaase

2008 Teams to Watch Archive

Euless Trinity (Texas)

2008 Team to Watch: Euless Trinity

As the month of May begins, PrepNation.com begins looking ahead in earnest to the start of the 2008 high school football season. We're still a few months away from the release of our expanded preseason national rankings, but it's not too soon to whet your appetite with mini-previews of teams that are likely to figure very prominently on the national scene this season.

Trinity Trojans (Euless, Texas)

If not for a heart-breaking 22-21 loss to No. 2-ranked Southlake Carroll in the 2006 playoffs, Trinity might very well be working a streak of three consecutive Class 5A state championships.

The 2008 Trojans have 11 returning starters and figure to be in the hunt for a mythical national championship. Trinity's pre-district schedule includes a September 1 national TV date with fellow national power John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) at Texas Stadium followed by tilts with top area foes Cedar Hill and Allen.

Trinity has won 40 of its last 43 games and finished last season ranked No. 9 in the National Prep Poll. Coach Steve Lineweaver (89-16 in eight seasons) directs one of the nation's premier high school football programs, which routinely wallops Dallas-Fort Worth area foes with a tough and physical rushing attack on offense and a fast and swarming unit on defense.

Trinity Trojans (Euless, Texas)
Coach: Steve Lineweaver (89-16, 8 years at Trinity)

2007: 15-1, 5A/I state champion, No. 9 National Prep Poll ranking

Top returning players: RB Tray Robinson (6-1, 205, 885 yards rushing, 17 TDs), QB Denarius McGhee (5-11, 180, 1,706 passing yards, 14 TDs), DB Eryon Barnett (6-2, 180, Texas commit), LB Earnest Norman (5-11, 210, Tulsa commit)

Key losses: OL Josh Ayers (Texas A&M), DT Mao Leota (Kilgore JC), TE Tapa Taumoepeau (Fresno St.)

All systems go: Offense skill positions, defense

Questions must be answered: Inexperienced offensive line

Toughest games: vs. John Curtis, La. (Sept. 1 at Texas Stadium); @ Cedar Hill (Sept,. 12); @ Allen (Sept. 19); vs. Colleyville Heritage (Oct. 10).

Forbes Report Scouting Video: RB Tray Robinson

Wayback Machine: Jonathan Stewart junior film

More post-draft high school film for today's blog entry.

The Carolina Panthers selected Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart with the 13th overall pick of last weekend's draft.

Back in the fall of 2003, Stewart was a record-setting junior who rushed for 2,609 yards and 36 touchdowns in one season.

If he stays healthy, Stewart figures to be a big-time weapon for the Panthers for years to come.

Wayback Machine: Darren McFadden junior film

I'll admit it. I'm a draft junkie.

Admittedly, I am one of those guys who lies around on his couch for hours during the last weekend of April watching Mel Kiper, Mike Mayock and other assorted TV draft experts talk about whether or not the Chiefs "reached" for that LB or the Panthers got "good value" on this particular CB.

That's me. A draft junkie.

Since 2002, I have been gathering and editing recruiting film for The Forbes Report. In the last six years, I have compiled film on more than 4,000 total prospects. More than 300 college football programs subscribe to our scouting reports and video service.

A key part of my Draft Weekend is digging into the film archive to compare high school clips of the players being drafted with the college video being played on my TV.

Perhaps the most impressive junior film of those who were picked highly over the weekend belongs to Darren McFadden, the fourth overall pick headed to the Oakland Raiders.

Here is McFadden's junior year highlight film while at Oak Grove HS in North Little Rock, Ark.

Enjoy!