St. Louis Super 30!!

[cphawkinthelou]

As in past years, and from the local rag...thought some of you hard-core types might enjoy perusing this impressive list...As in many years, Hawks don't seem to be too overly interested in the gateway city...

NOT TOO SHOCKING: 5 of the top 10 are East St. Louis Flyers...

Linky: Yes, I'm a stud.

 

[cphawkinthelou]

Follow up...

The Flyers beat Chicago Mt. Carmel this evening at Illinois State University in a clash of 2 powerhouse programs 42-23. Unfortunately, the Auburn commit... #1 on the Super 30 went down with a collarbone injury during the game. See link to local article from the game if interested.

Flyers wins clash of 2 titans...

 

[uihawk82]

As in past years, and from the local rag...thought some of you hard-core types might enjoy perusing this impressive list...As in many years, Hawks don't seem to be too overly interested in the gateway city...

NOT TOO SHOCKING: 5 of the top 10 are East St. Louis Flyers...

Linky: Yes, I'm a stud.

It is hard to reply or take part in a thread where the info is behind a pay wall link.

What is the gist of your thread meaning?

 

[RuggieC]

It is hard to reply or take part in a thread where the info is behind a pay wall link.

What is the gist of your thread meaning?

Wasted thread

 

[cphawkinthelou]

The PD's website is trash. Click-bait hell. I used to do this day to day, but it would take a full work day to cut/paste one player with all the crap they have on their site. Sorry boys.

 

[cphawkinthelou]

Myson Johnson-Cook settles in with East St. Louis, finds college home at Auburn: No. 1​

From the Meet the St. Louis area's top 30 college football prospects series​

• Paul Halfacre | Post-Dispatch
• Aug 21, 2026
• 0

East St. Louis running back Myson Johnson-Cook is the No. 1 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects. Johnson-Cook has verbally committed to Auburn University.
Paul Baillargeon



Paul Halfacre | Post-Dispatch

Meet the St. Louis area's top 30 college football prospects​

Who's ready for the high school football season? Every year, the Post-Dispatch ranks 30 of the area’s top senior college football prospects.

East St. Louis senior running back Myson Johnson-Cook isn't a stranger to living out of a suitcase.
Johnson-Cook spent his freshman year in Decatur, Illinois, and then moved to DeSoto, Texas, for what he thought was his final stop before college. But the behemoth speedster left the Lone Star State in the spring of his sophomore year and landed in East St. Louis.
"Coming to East St. Louis, it was a smooth transition," Johnson-Cook said. "They welcomed me with open arms."

The Flyers had found a 6-foot-2 and 225-pound monster in the backfield ready to terrorize opponents in the Southwestern Conference and the rest of the state. Johnson-Cook found a home.
Despite all the moves, all the changes in scenery, his game stayed the same. Johnson-Cook is a battering ram who can run through defenders, and he also can outrun most opponents — for example, he was Illinois' Class 2A state runner-up in the 100-meter dash in 10.75 seconds.
He is a freak athlete who probably can make a defender miss in a phone booth.

Having that kind of an athlete in the backfield creates so many opportunities.



"We'll feed Myson," long-time East St. Louis head coach Darren Sunkett said. "We're going to make defenses respect Myson."

East St. Louis junior Myson Johnson Cook (6) runs with the ball during the Class 6A football state championship game on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.
Paul Halfacre, Special to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Johnson-Cook, who has rushed for 3,548 yards and scored 52 touchdowns across his three different high school teams, is No. 1 on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 football recruiting countdown of the area's top senior college recruits.

One of the top-ranked running back recruits in his senior class, Johnson-Cook received offers from scores of Division I powerhouse programs and verbally committed in April to Auburn University.

That's something even Johnson-Cook wouldn't have imagined.
"I had a top 12, and Auburn wasn't even in that top 12," Johnson-Cook said. "Their running backs coach contacted me, and at first I didn't really like him. But when he came to the school, he was really cool, so I gave Auburn a chance. I went up there in January and I was back three or four times. It just felt like home. The coaches were treating me with love, respect and it never changed."

Johnson-Cook bought the vision the new Auburn coaching staff sold, including first-year head coach Alex Golesh, who made three successive bowl appearances as South Florida's head coach from 2023-25.


Auburn has had five successive losing seasons.
"What he did at USF, imagine what he can do at Auburn with better facilities, better recruits," Johnson-Cook said. "I feel like we can turn the program around. That's why I picked them."



East St. Louis's Myson Johnson-Cook (6) carries the ball against St. Laurence during a class 6A football semifinal game at St. Laurence High School in Burbank on Saturday, Nov 22, 2025. Sean King, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
Sean King

As a freshman, Johnson-Cook rushed for 1,343 yards and 20 touchdowns at Decatur MacArthur, which finished 6-4 and reached the Class 5A playoffs. As a sophomore at perennial powerhouse DeSoto, he rushed for 911 yards and 14 TDs for a team that won 11 games and reached the fourth round of the playoffs in Texas' largest classification.
During his debut East St. Louis season, Johnson-Cook carried the ball 127 times for 1,294 yards and 18 touchdowns in a campaign that ended with a Class 6A runner-up finish.

And while Sunkett's offense has never really revolved around one player in particular, he can't deny the talent he has at his disposal.

"He's going to catch the ball out of the backfield, he'll run it and block," Sunkett said. "He's going to be an all-purpose player for us."
Last season, he averaged 10.2 yards per carry and had six games of 100 rushing yards or better, topped by 257 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries in a second-round playoff win at Chatham Glenwood.


As good as his first season with the Flyers was, Johnson-Cook feels like there's unfinished business left on the table for his senior year.


"Whenever you come to East St. Louis, there's no choice but to win titles," Johnson-Cook said.

 

[cphawkinthelou]

Jack Brown wants to leave Howell Central on a winning note before heading to Mizzou: No. 2​

From the Meet the St. Louis area's top 30 college football prospects series​

• Paul Halfacre | Post-Dispatch
• Aug 20, 2026

Francis Howell Central tight end and linebacker Jack Brown is the No. 2 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects. Brown has verbally committed to the University of Missouri.
Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch



Jack Brown made a lasting impression on Francis Howell Central head football coach Malach Radigan.
Especially because it was a moment of adversity.
"I'll never forget his freshman year at Troy," Radigan said of a GAC South game Sept. 15, 2023. "What's their No. 1 play? Counter. And they're so amazing at it, credit to them. Our coaches said, 'Put Jack in.' Jack went out there and did it. He didn't stop everything, but he wasn't afraid of the refrigerators at Troy running counters against him."

​

A tight end and linebacker, the 6-foot-5 and 215-pound Brown has been the complete package as a football player from the start of his high school career.
Now he's an elite college recruit who has high hopes of a successful senior season with Howell Central.
"I would say I always had confidence in myself," Brown said. "I don't think there was a realization moment. I just think I've always had confidence and known what I can do. And I've shown that."

Brown, No. 2 on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 football recruiting countdown of the area's top senior college recruits, verbally committed to the University of Missouri in March.


He'll join a program that includes Brett Norfleet and Jude James, a pair of tight ends from the Spartans' main high school rival, Francis Howell.
"I grew up watching those two, and those guys are great role models," Brown said. "On my visits, I hung out with them."


Francis Howell Central's Jack Brown gets past an offensive lineman during football practice on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Lou Fusz Athletics Complex in Bridgeton, Mo.
Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Brown also received offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona State, Auburn, Florida State, Houston, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Kent State, Lindenwood, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UNLV, USC, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

He mentioned new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and tight ends coach Alex Atkins as key factors in his decision to head to Columbia.
"They told me from Day 1 that I was their guy, (that) I was the guy they'd come after," Brown said.

In three years, Brown has 1,009 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He's also collected 142 tackles and six sacks on defense.
Brown is such a large target on offense that he's a safety valve for Spartans quarterback Brody McAlister.
"He's always open and always makes the tough catches," McAlister said. "A lot of teams will put him in triple coverage, and he'll still make the play."


Brown pointed out that if teams do throw multiple defenders at him, he's confident his open teammates will make the plays.

And ultimately, Radigan said Brown would be over the moon if that happened.

"What I love is that Jack wants to win so badly that he'll take that if we win," Radigan said. "He'll take that no pass for a win. That's who he is."

Francis Howell Central senior Jack Brown makes the reception during football practice on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo.
Paul Halfacre, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Brown echoed that sentiment when asked about his goals. He didn't care how his tackles, touchdowns and sacks add up.
All of that paled in comparison to his goals of team success.


"All my high school career, we haven't had a winning record, and I want to change that," Brown said.
The last time the Spartans had a winning record was in a 7-4 finish in 2013.
It's a trait that Brown shares with the rest of his senior class.
"For them to show up and say, hey, history won't repeat itself, they're doing everything they can to make sure that doesn't happen," Radigan said.



Having a leader like Brown on both sides of the ball will help that endeavor.

Tight end is where he's expected to play at the collegiate level, but Radigan knows Brown can affect the game in many ways.
"When you have a guy like that and try to focus offensive and defensive schemes around him, he is our guy and there's only a select group of people who are like that," Radigan said. "He's a unique human. He's built different. He trains different. He's preparing his body to carry that load."


Radigan was quick to point out that he and his coaching staff won't run Brown into the ground and will keep an eye on his workload before he heads to Mizzou.
The Spartans open the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 by playing host to Northwest Cedar Hill.

"He's 10 times the young man that he is a football player, and he's a pretty good football player," Radigan said. "He's one of a kind who will be greatly missed, but I'm just thankful for the time we had with him."

 

[cphawkinthelou]

Ladue's Evan Via takes scholar athlete tag seriously, heading to Stanford: No. 3​

From the Meet the St. Louis area's top 30 college football prospects series​

• Steve Overbey | Post-Dispatch
• Aug 19, 2026

Ladue defensive back and wide receiver Evan Via (left) is the No. 3 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects. Via has verbally committed to Stanford University.
Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch


Steve Overbey | Post-Dispatch
Ladue High defensive back and wide receiver Evan Via is the consummate teammate.
On and off the field.
Sometimes Via's ability to assist in the classroom is even more impressive than his on-field prowess.
Via, a 4.0 student with a weighted curriculum, regularly serves as unofficial tutor to his teammates if they are struggling in one course or another.

Ladue junior teammate Gus Logan credits Via with a huge save in an advanced calculus class the two took together.

"I got a B," Logan said. "And I wouldn't have without his help."
Ladue football coach Adam Hamilton, a retired lawyer who is a science teacher at the school, marvels at how Via blew through an advanced physics class with an A-plus.
"I told him I'm a science guy and I stayed as far away from physics as I could," Hamilton said. "He didn't listen. Just went out and dominated in the classroom just like he does on the field."


Ladue's Evan Via (4) carries the ball during a Class 5 District 3 quarterfinal game between Ladue and MICDS, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Ladue Horton Watkins High School High School in Ladue, Mo.
Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch
Not surprisingly, Via has given a verbal commitment to attend Stanford University. He chose the Atlantic Coast Conference school over some major NCAA Power Four Conference institutions including Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami and Michigan. Mizzou also was in the mix.



And of course, the high academic standards at Stanford played a huge role in Via's decision.
"I think I work as hard at my schoolwork as I do at football," Via said. "That's something I take pride in."

Via's last non-A grade came in the seventh grade. The low mark still bothers him.
"Should've done better," he said.
The No. 3 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects, Via is almost as flawless on the field. A two-way threat, his offensive numbers are just as impressive as his defensive skills, although Stanford plans on using him as a cornerback. He caught 22 passes for 294 yards last season. The speedster returned six kickoffs for 264 yards, an average of a whopping 44 yards per return.


On defense, he unofficially allowed just one catch all season long and anchored a stop unit that recorded back-to-back shutouts against Hazelwood West and Parkway Central midway through the campaign.
"I still think he can play on the offensive side of the ball in college if they need him to," Hamilton said. "He's electric with the ball in his hands."


Via carries himself with the utmost maturity and is highly respected by fellow students and administrators.


"From a character standpoint, Evan is as good of a young man that you're going to find playing high school football in the entire nation," Hamilton said.

Via's parents Tim and Gaylon also shined academically and both received master's degrees in college.
A master's is a goal Evan would like to reach as well, although he might have to put it on hold should the NFL come calling.
"He wants to play professional football, and I wouldn't put it past him," Hamilton said.


Ladue's Evan Via (4) carries the ball defended by MICDS’ Graham Faust (14) during a Class 5 District 3 quarterfinal game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Ladue Horton Watkins High School High School in Ladue, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to the Post-Dispatch

Via broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and recorded 13 tackles. He began playing both ways as a sophomore and essentially never left the field last season including his kick return duties.

He sports a wide variety of interests including golfing and fishing. His best catch came a couple years ago when he hauled in a 12-pound bass off the coast of Florida.
Via will leave high school early and head to Stanford in January to begin his college career.



First, he is anxious for one more high school campaign. The Rams return a host of key players from last year's 8-4 team.

Hamilton is also looking forward to watching Via play one last time.
"He's truly elite on the field and in the academic world," Hamilton said. "You don't see kids like him very often."

 

[cphawkinthelou]

Trust me, i'd rather navigate the Strait of Hormuz, than the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website....