By: Cole Mantell (@lightningdragon)
The offseason has come and gone, and now it’s time for some real CFSL action! While Week 1 is still a bit away, we have three games to kick off the Season 22 festivities, as tradition. Let’s preview the freshmen showcases and senior send-off, and look at some early storylines that could preview Week 1 as well.
East-West Newcomer All-American Game
East Coach: Ron.kda (Clemson)
West Coach: Kaki (USC)
Starting the festivities is the East-West Newcomer All-American game. Incoming FSU QB Bear Michaels will lead the West. Notable names on their roster also include three 5-star HBs Booker Travis (Alabama), Malcolm Dansby (Virginia Tech), and David Michael (Michigan State). Rounding out this star-studded offense are two of the top TE recruits in the country Hamilton Berger (West Virginia) and Frankie Frederick (UNC). This roster is built to dominate a running game offense and I’d be shocked if that isn’t the direction West Coach Kaki goes in.
The West defense has some notable names as well. That includes 5 stars in DE Jett Trevor (USC), CB LaMarr Carr (Oklahoma), and SS Billy Davis (West Virginia). This defense is not rated as strong as the West, so my guess is that will reinforce the time of possession running offense idea for the West, and the focus will be getting the stars on the defense paired with the most dangerous weapons of the East offense as much as possible. The safety group, on paper, is the stronger part of this defense, which aids pass defense for the West.
For the East, their offense seems like an alright matchup against the West’s defense. It seems they are even more strongly built towards favoring the run, with only one 4-star WR (Anthony Weston, Texas A&M) on the roster. QB Malcom Streets (Texas A&M) has one of his new teammates to throw to, but this team probably runs through former #1 recruit HB Richard Williams II (Penn State). Other names to watch on offense for the East include HB Dee Money (Florida State), TE Bryan McGuire (Michigan), and TE James Triplett (Tennessee).
On defense, on paper, this squad is deeper than the offense and has some intriguing names. The big names to watch are 5 stars in MLB Billy Savage (Alabama), OLB Mykel Stevenson (Colorado), CB Zach Axis (Florida State), and SS CJ Mucci (Virginia Tech). The depth behind these guys all feature some notable names as well, but this defense is built with those stars in mind. In this showcase, it will be a question of which defense can stop the run better, and who will have more success using these pieces the right way.
North-South Newcomer All-American Game
North Coach: Norman Bates (Michigan)
South Coach: Tankasaurusrex (Florida State)
The second freshman showcase of the evening should also have some fireworks to give the audience. Starting with the North, this team is led by Clemson freshman QB Bojack Merriweather. Incredibly, Merriweather is supported by three more 5-star HBs in TD Hurd (Clemson teammate of Merriweather), Kylan Odin (Oregon), and Adaviyan Augustin (Florida State). This offense is going to be able to be a threat in either the run or passing game, and coach Norman Bates will have a lot of options on where to take this squad. Another big name to watch on offense will be 5-star TE Kellen Taylor (Colorado).
For the defense, the North might have one of the stronger units in these showcase games, starting with the defensive line. The two 5-star DTs Monty Leak (Florida State) and JJ Stout (Oklahoma) are a huge part of this team. Add in fellow 5 stars in the back end in CB Maverick Berlin (Auburn), CB Matt Miller (Texas), and FS Cohen James (LSU), and you have what should be one of the more fun units to watch on Thursday. The depth of defense will be an asset for this coaching staff.
On the South side, Texas commit and 5-star QB Spunky Tolbert leads this group. As mentioned, he will have a tough task against this North defense, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have help. Notable names helping him on offense include the 5 stars in HB Derrick Tolliver (Penn State), TE Hoss Carter (Auburn), and TE Cyrus Sapp (Penn State). At WR, 4 stars in Ragnar Wood (Auburn), Denver Anthony (Alabama), and Jadon Charles (Georgia) will be trusted to help Tolbert out. Funny enough, they’re all going to rival SEC squads after this game. Hopefully, that won’t be too awkward.
On defense, the South competes well with the North, with some big names to help lock things down. Starting on the defensive line, this unit will be led by 5-star DE Kyle DeSantis (Colorado). Supporting them, at linebacker, OLB Quavious Ball (Florida State) is a big name to keep in mind as well. Then, moving towards the back end, there are a shocking five 5 stars at either CB or safety. That is going to be the strength of this team overall as well. This should be a defensive showcase, with whoever breaks through first likely taking the win.
Season 21 Senior All-American Game
West Coach: Logan Wetzel (Clemson)
East Coach: Josh Claydon (LSU)
Two current CFSL ADs go head to head as we celebrate the best of the senior class of Season 21. Nearly every player on this roster is a 5-star, a testament to the talent moving on after last season. For the West, the seniors are led by QB Owen Dart, who gets one more game after falling in the Season 21 National Championship with Texas A&M to USC. Ironically, his trusted HB for this showcase will be none other than the star HB from USC, Messiah Bishop. And if he looks downfield, two of the WRs he will be throwing to are Alexander Tolbert and Kevin Davis, both also on the USC championship team. Well, if Dart can’t beat them, might as well join them.
On defense, the West will rely on a large BIG 10 influence. Specifically, three Ohio State players get one last game together. DE Mike Diamond, MLB Seth Berlin, and OLB DJ Money were all Buckeyes stars who will team up with some rivals in this game. That includes, among others, Penn State SS JM Cook Jr and Michigan DE Krylic Martel. These players might have been rivals, but now they’ll need to work together to defeat the enemy.
It’s no surprise who was chosen to be the East Seniors coach given the QB representing them. Florida State QB Zeus Claydon was a star from the moment he entered the CFSL, and now he gets one last chance to lead his squad to victory. He’ll be supported by a few big names, including two of his teammates from FSU in WRs Dave Axis and Sebastian Sapp. At HB, CeeCee Mucci and Mykel Vanderslice is a potent one-two combo. And supporting the offense are two Auburn guys in WR Devin Zero and TE Domenik Barfield.
On defense, the East is dominated by SEC and ACC names. Continuing the Auburn trend, the Tigers have DE Travis Hurd and OLB Luke Radloff on this roster. Rival Alabama has MLB Isaac Sparks. Georgia has FS Malik Austin. As for the ACC, three UNC names in DE Kevin McLeod, CB Dakota LeBlanc, and SS Arch Archie lead the way. Clemson also has two safeties as well in FS Buddy Watkins and SS Tucker McGuire. This is a defense where rivals are familiar with each other, and their opponents. It’s one last chance for the stars to shine, and should cap a great week before we get into Week 1 of Season 22!
