#2 Euless Trinity Trojans |  Preseason Top 25 Home

Coach: Tom Westerberg
Mascot: Eagles
Region: 1
District: 8-5A
2010: 10-2 D1 Area Finalist (L Euless Trinity, 35-37)

PROGRAM

Allen won its first state championship in 2008 and followed that achievement with back-to-back 10-2 seasons. The Eagles have compiled the third most wins over the last five seasons (58).  As impressive as these numbers are, they still may be a little misleading in regards to the strength of the program.  Allen routinely faces one of the toughest playoff roads and there’s no telling how many wins they could have piled up in a different part of the bracket.  Under current HC Tom Westerberg, the Eagles are 76-14 in seven seasons.

OFFENSE

Returning Starters:  7

Unit Rankings
Backfield:  
Receivers:
Offensive Line:

Key Players
QB Alec Morris, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)
RB Jonathan Williams, Senior (’10 5A 1st All-State, 1st Team All-District)
OL Jake Trotter, Senior (’10 1st All-District)

Players to Watch
RB Jeff Harris, Junior
WR Andrew Rodriguez, Senior ( ’10 2nd All-District)
WR Oliver Pierce, Junior (’10 District Soph. of Year, ’10 5A All-Sophomore)
WR Anthony Adams, Senior (5’10 150)
WR Cortland Tolbert, Seinor (6’4 190 4.7)
OL Mark Massei, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)
OL Brad North, Junior

DEFENSE

Returning Defensive Starters: 7

Unit Rankings
Defensive Line:
Linebackers:
Secondary:

Key Players
DL Deandre Hill, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
LB Thaddeus LaGrone, Senior (’10 2nd All-District)
DB LB Bates, Senior (’10 1st Team All-District)

Players to Watch
DL Stone Drulman, Junior (’10 1st All-District, ’10 5A All-Sophomore)
DE/OLB Brandon Bolling, Senior (6’1 230)
LB Chris Hudson, Senior (’10 1st All-District)
LB Nick Cobb, Junior (’10 District Soph. of Year)
DB Camden Cooper, Junior (’10 2nd All-District)
DB Chad Adams, Sophomore

SCHEDULE

THE BOTTOM LINE

Offense: Senior running back Jonathan Williams is one of the top prospects in the country and has been a fixture in the lineup since his sophomore year. He”s verbally committed to play for Missouri in 2012. Experience along the offensive front, especially at center, goes a long way in high school football.  Senior C Jacob Trotter and two other starters from last season return on the offensive line. Senior Alec Morris (6’4 235)  is the next in a line of great Allen quarterbacks.  Given the talent at wide receiver and defenses with one eye in the backfield, Morris could post a 3500 yard and 40 touchdown season.

Defense: How does seven returning starters, all of which were all-district players, on a defense that ranked 24th in the state last season sound? Pretty good, huh? That’s the luxury the Eagles have entering the 2011 season. It’s very hard to find any weaknesses in this unit.  Three of the four all-district linebackers are back in LaGrone, Hudson, and junior Cobb for starters. This standout unit is surrounded by size, athleticism, experience, and depth. It wouldn’t surprise us if they end up as a better defense than the 2008 state championship group that finished with an adjusted defensive scoring mark of -13.66 (5th best).

Overrated if: They’re not peaking in the playoffs when they’ll most likely face #2 Euless Trinity.  It’s really too bad that these two have to face each other so early in the playoffs. Whomever loses, it will look like they were way overrated from a number ranking standpoint, however that’s clearly not the case.

Why are they #1?: The Eagles return a staggering 13 all-district players and 39 lettermen from a 10-2 team that lost out to eventual state finalist Euless Trinity by two points in the playoffs.  Seven starters return on each side of the ball giving the Eagles a great nucleus ready to hit the ground running (or passing). QB? check. RB? check. WR? check. OL? check. DL? check. LB? check. DB? check. Also, check out, From Early Elimination to State Champion …