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Nic Abbate – Defensive End

6-3, 220 lbs

Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North)

Abbate had 75 tackles (39 solo and 18 for loss) with nine sacks, six forced fumbles and an interception while helping the Glenbard North Panthers to the semifinals of the Illinois Class 8A championship bracket.  Abbate was a unanimous choice as the DuPage Valley Conference linemen and Defensive Linemen of the year.  The Panthers were 11-2 in 2009 with the two losses coming against the Class 7A State Champion (W. Warrensville South) and the Class 8A runner-up (Marist-Chicago).   He was named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, EdgyTim/Rivals.com, News-Gazette.com and Chicago Tribune all-state teams.  In addition, Abbate was an all-area pick by the Chicago Sun Times and Daily Herald. 

Jason Baker (Offensive Line)

6-4, 304 lbs

Bridgeton, Mo. (Pattonville HS)

Baker earned second team all-state honors the past two years as an anchor at left tackle on the Pattonville offensive line.  He was named the offensive most valuable player for the Pirates and was the team’s captain as a senior.  Baker was a first team all-conference (Suburban North) pick both his junior and senior years.  As a sophomore, the Pirates advanced to the Missouri Class 5 semifinals before being defeated by Mehlville 19-13.  As a junior, Baker was named honorable mention to the St. Louis all-Metro team.  He wrestles at Pattonville and is a swimmer on a club team.

Dallas Grier (Wide Receiver/Corner Back)

6-3, 190 lbs

Frisco, Texas (Justin Wakeland HS)

Grier was a unanimous choice first team all-District selection for the Wakeland Wolverines in 2009 and was the #12 receiver in Class 4A in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area.  Grier caught nine touchdowns and had 941 receiving yards after helping the Wolverines to a 6-3 record.  He was named the team’s most valuable wide receiver and most valuable player in the secondary.  For his high school career, Grier had 12 receiving touchdowns and 1,444 receiving yards.   He was a first team all-County Wide Receiver last season.   Grier is also a member of the school’s basketball and track teams.

Taylor Heislen (Kicker/Punter)

6-3, 190 lbs

Jefferson City, Mo. (Helias)

Heislen earned all-state honors as a punter in 2009 and was an all-state kicker as a junior in 2008.  He converted on 92% (145-of-156) point after attempts with all misses being blocked.  Heislen was 13 of 20 in field goal attempts with a long of 43 yards that shares the school record.  He holds the school record for point after conversions with 145 and made 49 straight during the 2008 season.  The past two years, the Crusaders have been runner-ups in the Missouri Class 4 bracket and have a 26-3 record during that span.  As a member of the basketball team, Heislen’s team finished third in Missouri as a junior and is a pitcher and first baseman on the school’s baseball team.

Connor Nagel (Linebacker)

5-11, 210 lbs

Lemont, Ill. (Lemont HS)

Nagel has led both his team and conference in tackles the past two seasons to earn honorable mention all-state honors.  He had 105 tackles with 27 solo, seven sacks and three fumble recoveries as a senior and 137 with 54 solo and three sacks as a junior.  He was a key member of the Indians squad that finished second in Class 6A in 2007 and 2008 and was 10-2 in 2009.  Over the past three years, Lemont has posted a record of 34-6.  Nagel is a two-time all-conference (South Suburban) selection and has been named to all-area teams by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times and Southtown Star.  Nagel is a member and starter of the school’s wrestling team.

Brady Nowak (Quarterback/Punter)

6-1, 170 lbs

Belleville, Ill. (Althoff Catholic HS)

Nowak threw for 1500 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for over 600 yards and six more scores as he led the Althoff Crusaders to a 6-4 record last season.  He was named second team all-conference (South Seven) and was an all-area selection as a senior.  Nowak was named the Belleville News Democrat and the Suburban Journal’s player of the week following a 44-0 victory in week one in which he completed 16 of 27 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns.  As a junior, Nowak threw for over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns to earn honorable mention all-league and all-area accolades.  He is a pitcher and outfielder on the school’s baseball team.

Brian Rosser (Place Kicker)

6-1, 175 lbs

Des Peres, Mo. (Kirkwood HS)

Rosser earned honors on both Kirkwood’s soccer and football teams.  Rosser was named first team all-Suburban West Conference kicker after making all 28 point after attempts and going five of six on field goal attempts including two 41-yard makes against Oakville.  In kickoffs, 37 of the 41 went for touchbacks.  Rosser earned the soccer team’s most valuable player award his senior season and the 110% Hustle award his junior year.  Rosser won a state championship in club soccer as a goalkeeper for the Lou Fusz/St. Louis Scott Gallaher Soccer Club in 2009.  In addition, Rosser plays center field on the high school baseball team.

Brady Schroeder (Wide Receiver/Defensive Back)

6-1, 168 lbs

Minier, Ill. (Olympia HS)

Schoeder was named both a first team all-area and all-conference (Corn Belt) defensive back while playing for the Olympia Spartans.  He earned second team all-league honors as a kick returner as a senior and was named an academic all-state honoree.  The Spartans finished 4-5 last year.  Schroeder broke the school record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.8 and has lettered in track the past three years.

Paul Taylor (Wide Receiver/Defensive Back)

5-9, 185 lbs

St. Louis, Mo. (Oakville HS)

Taylor earned second team all-state defensive back honors at Oakville High School in St. Louis.  He was also selected first team all-Suburban West Conference as both a wide receiver and defensive back and a second team all-league punt returner after leading the Tigers to the semifinals of the Missouri Class 6 bracket.  Taylor scored 14 touchdowns with six receiving and eight rushing while also recording 84 tackles and eight sacks during his senior season and had 22 career touchdowns and 194 total tackles.  He holds the school record for longest kickoff return for a touchdown at 92 yards, most sacks in a game with four, most points in a season with 86 and longest touchdown reception  of 81 yards among other records broken.  Taylor is also a sprinter on the school’s track team and plays centerfield in baseball.

Courtesy Truman State University