The Metro League will be loaded once again, and you can expect to see three teams out of the conference ranked in the class 6a Top 10. The Southridge Skyhawks return a very talented group of seniors on the perimeter that can rival any other team in the state.
Our last regional combine at the Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver saw eight of the northwest’s top 20 receivers on hand, two of which come from a very talented Southridge group. Kevin McClean (6-4 195 Jr. WR/S) is one of the top two way threats in the State of Oregon, and is ranked in the top 10 at both positions. He will be a three year starter and someone each team in the Metro league will have to prepare for. He is a student of the game and provides outstanding overall athleticism. Kevin earned second team all league honors last season, and should be considered one of the top players in the conference.
Talented side kick Justin Calo (6-1 175 Jr. WR) will be the other game breaker that could do damage in 2012. Calo averaged 24.5 yards per catch last season leading the Metro League in multiple receiving categories. He’s a kid that can return kicks and punts, and also be a big time factor if u get him the ball in the open field. Justin is ranked as one of the state’s top 10 receivers, and should have a monster senior year with one of the State’s top QB’s, Reza Aleaziz (6-4 220 Jr. QB) getting him the ball.
The Skyhawks also have Jordan Morgan (6-2 185 So. WR/DB), one of the state’s top underclassmen at wide out. These three could be the top trio of receivers in Oregon given the right situation. It will come down to line play, and whether or not the young Southridge up front cast can withstand massive up front pushes from teams like Jesuit and Aloha. They will have to count on talented young lineman such as Tyler Cox (6-3 235 So. OL/DL) and Danny Tanabe (6-1 240 So. OL/DL) to step up and play beyond their years.
Rounding out the trio of Skyhawks that we interviewed is talented DB Alec Powell (6-1 175 Jr. CB) , who is ranked by NEI as one of the state’s top defensive backs after earning second team all league honors a season ago. Powell has D1 genes as many will remember his very talented brother Mikhail Powell, who earned a scholarship from the University of Hawaii out of Beaverton High School.
Powell has size and legit intangibles that could make him one of the state’s top DB’s if he puts in the work. All three of these athletes are close friends and come from a tradition rich community that loves their football. It wasn’t long ago that Southridge won their first state title (2008), and they want to get back to that championship era.
Southridge won the Metro League Title in 2011 and looks to do the same this season. It will be extremely tough with a nationally ranked Jesuit team and a very talented Aloha group on the horizon, but we think its going to be a battle for the ages. Congrats to all three of these top seniors to be. Enjoy the video interview from the Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver.
Regional Combine Highlights..
Kevin McClean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15me_3xrjSQ
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/81222/highlights/8339398
Justin Calo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uno_CyetYXs
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/62720/highlights/2475432
Alec Powell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rKxLKKIvI
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/62267/highlights/2295438
