Midwest Road Warrior

When I started in the business several years ago, I read about scouts who were on the road all the time checking out the nation's top prep football talent. The past few years working for ESPN, I've been hitting the road in the Midwest, visiting high schools and interviewing players. I get to see tomorrow's stars in person which is a big leg up on the competition. These are my stories from the road.







Monday, December 6, 2010

2-Time All-State LB Searching for Opportunity

When I spent my week in St. Louis this year, I asked every coach to name the best player in the area. All of them said Rob Standard on offense and Jason Meehan on defense. Webster Groves coach Cliff Ice raves about Meehan and says it's a travesty he's being overlooked. Kirkwood coach Matt Irvin called me after playing Webster Groves and said Meehan was the best player he's seen all year.



Linebacker Jason Meehan (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves)  despite being named all-state and drawing raves from his head coach and opposing coaches as well seems to have his recruitment stuck in neutral. “I really don’t understand it,” said Webster Groves coach Cliff Ice. “I haven’t seen a better linebacker this year. Why is this happening? Since I can’t find the answer, I might guess and take a stab that it could have something to do with a sub-par combine performance last summer.

“I have to believe college coaches are looking for football players and not workout warriors. He [Meehan] is a football player. There’s not another linebacker I’d want more on my team .”

Meehan says he does have an offer from Eastern Illinois but he’s still holding out hope that in the next few months, schools contact him and take a closer look.


“Eastern (Illinois) is my only offer,” said the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Meehan. “I’m hearing from some MAC schools but no offer yet. I’m completely wide open and would be open to listening to any school but Boston College, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan and Michigan State would be the schools are at the top of my wish list.”


Meehan had 177 tackles in 2010. 123 of those tackles were solo. He also had 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and five interceptions.  “Jason played offense for us this year as well,” Coach Ice said. “He only had 9 catches but he averaged 56 yards per touch. The video of those catches is eye-opening because Jason outruns  a lot of defensive backs. Jason is faster this year and he’s better all-around this year. That’s saying a lot because he was probably our best player as a junior.”

(Jason Meehan (left) with brother John Meehan receiving martial arts medals.)

No comments:

Post a Comment