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Meet the 2017 Star Tribune All-Metro defenses

By Star Tribune, 11/21/17, 5:30PM CST

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See who made the first and second teams.

All-metro first team

           

David Alston

School: Woodbury  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-5  | Wt: 225  |  Position: Defensive lineman

Remarkable athletic ability. Led the East Metro Blue subdistrict with four interceptions. Added 6.5 sacks. Committed to Nebraska.

 


Luke Kubesh

School: Totino-Grace  |  Grade: Junior  |  Ht: 5-11  | Wt: 273  |  Position: Defensive lineman

Great strength makes him an anchor of an interior lineman. Had 15 tackles for loss.

 


Micah Roane

School: Chaska  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-4  | Wt: 215  |  Position: Offensive lineman

Plays with great leverage, hands and motor. Strong against the run. Finished with 56 tackles, 12 for loss.

 


Zach Whaley

School: Prior Lake  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-4  | Wt: 290  |  Position: Defensive lineman

The Lakers’ mountain in the middle. Physical player who was tough to move. Registered 62 tackles.

 


Ty Barron

School: Minnetonka  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-0  | Wt: 220  |  Position: Linebacker

Versatile athlete who led defense and also carried the ball. Racked up 52 solo tackles and 71 assists for Prep Bowl-bound Skippers.

 


Kellan McKeag

School: Apple Valley  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-1  | Wt: 210  |  Position: Linebacker

The Eagles’ catalyst. Strong yet nimble, makes plays at the line of scrimmage and in coverage. Played running back as well.

 


Antonio Montero, Metro Player of the Year

School: Eden Prairie  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-0  | Wt: 215  |  Position: Linebacker

Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year. Instinctual player who hits holes with purpose and makes sure tackles.

Read David La Vaque's feature on Montero

 


Nolan Schmitz

School: St. Michael-Albertville  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 5-11  | Wt: 205  |  Position: Linebacker

Runs very well (4.65 seconds in 40-yard dash), tackles well in space. Averaged almost 10 tackles per game.

 


Tayler Johnson

School: Minneapolis North  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-0  | Wt: 170  |  Position: Defensive back

Ball-hawking safety picked off seven passes. Also made big plays as a receiver.

 


Kyler Kluge

School: Eden Prairie  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-1  | Wt: 185  |  Position: Defensive back

Rolls down from safety spot to deliver crunching tackles. Led the Eagles with four interceptions.

 


Nehemiah Montague

School: Minnetonka  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-1  | Wt: 185  |  Position: Defensive back

Tough, physical cornerback with terrific closing speed. Made 33 tackles — eight for loss — and one interception

 


Phoenix Sproles

School: Robbinsdale Cooper  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-0  | Wt: 175  |  Position: Defensive back

Do-it-all player for the Hawks whom offenses couldn’t avoid. Committed to North Dakota State.

 


Jon Neve

School: Mound Westonka  |  Grade: Senior  |  Ht: 6-0  | Wt: 160  |  Position: Kicker/punter

Finished 10-for-15 on field goals and 33-for-34 on extra points. Flipped the field with eight punts inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.


All-Metro second team

             

Linemen

Davis Jaeger, Sr, Eden Prairie

James Van Horne, Sr, Minnetonka

Donnie Ventrelli, Sr, St. Paul Como Park

Odell Wilson, Sr, Minneapolis North

Linebackers

Josh Aune, Sr, St. Paul Highland Park

Nate Hill, Sr, Robbinsdale Cooper

Brock Mogensen, Sr, Farmington

Jarrod Peterson, Sr, Centennial

Defensive backs

Karon Adams, Sr, St. Louis Park

Max Sandin, Sr, Roseville

Nate Soto, Sr, Fridley

Xavier Thurman, Sr, St. Michael-Albertville

Kicker

Skyler Redulius-Palmer, Sr, St. Louis Park


How the team was chosen

The Star Tribune’s All-Metro teams and Metro Player of the Year were chosen based on nominations from metro-area coaches, conversations with a panel of coaches and staff observations.


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