Committee chair Rick Sutton said it was a challenge determining the winner of the 2011 Mr. Football award. The committee recently chose a winner from three finalists and the name will be announced on Sunday at the Mr. Football Banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park.
A couple of weeks ago 10 candidates for the award were announced. “This was the most difficult year in coming up with 10 finalists. Then we struggled with the final three to pick the winner,” said Sutton who has been on the committee all eight years of the Mr. Football program.
The 10 finalists announced on November 20 were: Beau Bofferding, Marshall; Jonathan Harden, Cretin-Derham Hall, Trey Heid, Lakeville North; Andrew Larson, Eden Prairie; Andre McDonald, Hopkins; Nate Meyer, Rocori; Phillip Nelson, Mankato West; Jonah Pirsig, Blue Earth Area; Sam Sura, South St. Paul; Tyler Vaughan, Braham. All players had to be high school seniors.
Gophers fans have a particular interest in Nelson and Pirsig, the two candidates among the 10 listed above who verbally committed to play for Minnesota in 2012. The guess here is at least one of the two was among the final three candidates.
Nelson could be the Mr. Football winner. He’s considered by some prep observers to be the best Minnesota high school quarterback since Joe Mauer played for Cretin-Derham Hall 11 years ago. Nelson was also recently named the Minnesota Associated Press Football Player of the Year. At Mankato West he threw 94 career touchdown passes and rushed for 41.
Pirsig, 6-9, 300 pounds, played defensive end and offensive tackle for Blue Earth. He’s projected as a “road grader” type offensive tackle in college. Although he didn’t play against the strongest of high school competition, Pirsig drew interest from Minnesota and other major colleges.
The Mr. Football program is sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and the Vikings. Sutton is an association leader and Eagan High School football coach.
The printed banquet program includes quotes from the coaches of the 10 finalists. Here are some program quotes edited for brevity:
Mankato West coach Mark Esch on Nelson: “His combination of arm strength, quick release, size and speed make him the best quarterback I’ve ever coached. He is a leader and has a bright future at the next level playing for the Gophers.”
Blue Earth coach Randy Kuechenmeister on Pirsig: “Jonah is a physical player who moves exceptionally well for his size. He moves people and makes things happen up front.”
Eden Prairie coach Mike Grant on running back Andrew Larson: “We have never had a better player at Eden Prairie and this includes multiple Division I players and a few who played in the NFL.”
Hopkins coach John DenHartog on wide receiver Andre McDonald who has committed to Vanderbilt: “Andre’s skill set is something that doesn’t come along very often in high school football. He has a unique ability to be big, fast and very quick. Andre is a great competitor who refuses to be tackled and believes he is going to score every time he touches the ball.”