INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indianapolis (Ind.) Pike has a talented young football team heading into the 2012 season, and head coach Derek Moyers is optimistic as fall approaches.
Iowa commit David Kenney had 11 sacks in 2011.
247Sports made a recent stop out to see the Red Devils practice, and Moyers talked about some of his top prospects.
David Kenney, 2013, DE, Committed to Iowa
-2011 Stats: Program record 11 sacks.
Moyers: “Really, David has undertaken that leadership role we always wanted him to take. He’s definitely one of the team leaders, especially on the defensive side. He’s doing a great job in the weight room and on the field and in the locker room.
“He looks fantastic. Even more explosive than he was last year. He’s a lot quicker, he’s a lot smarter, he understands the defense a lot better. He’s setting a good example for the younger guys playing under him. It’s been great watching him grow as a player and a leader.”
Dominique Booth, 2014, WR
-Offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Purdue, Wisconsin
-2011 stats: 46 receptions, 585 yards, five touchdowns.
2014 WR Dominique Booth already has 11 offers.
Moyers: “He’s a year wiser when it comes to the offense. He’s really taken on the fact that the expectations for him are even higher. We told him from a receiver standpoint, it all starts and ends with him and that he really has to step into a leadership role. He’s taken it on. He sets really good examples. He’s our hardest worker at the receiver spot. He’s first in line. He’s the first one here and last to leave.
“A lot of it is awareness. He understands when we get in our passing game, the concepts and what everyone is supposed to be doing and where everyone needs to be. He’s really done a good job in the offseason of studying defenses. Especially teams we’re going to play. During the school year, he’d come in every morning and ask really good questions. He’s been watching a lot of film, especially the 7-on-7 stuff we do with other schools. He’s being a sponge right now.”
Brent Lyles, 2014, QB
-Interest from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Stanford and Wisconsin.
-2011 stats: 90-of-133 passing, 1,438 yards, 16 touchdowns, 3 interceptions.
Moyers: “He’s just learning more. He’s another one that really likes to watch film and learn from his mistakes. Playing up at the Colts 7-on-7 tournament we had there, it was fun to watch him as he got better with every game. Everything was crisp and he got back to the way he ended the season last year. He’s learning a lot at the camps he’s going to, and it’s a growing process and a maturation process you’re seeing every day.”
Derrick Wilkerson, 2014, RB
-Interest from Ball State, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Iowa, Louisville, Northwestern, Toledo, Western Kentucky
-120 carries, 801 yards, 7 touchdowns, long 92; 7 receptions, 112 yards, 1 touchdown
Moyers: “Derrick Wilkerson is a relentless worker. He’s explosive and powerful. He’s really worked on his speed and agility. He’s a rock in the weight room. He’s an intelligent kid. He’s a 3.7 kid. I think he can play at the Division-I level. What conference is to be determined, but I’ll take him in my foxhole any day.”
Pike Quick Hitters
-Senior linebacker Kevin Brown has an offer from Eastern Illinois, and is hearing from a few MAC schools and Western Kentucky.
-Senior offensive guard Jason McBride has MAC interest according to Moyers.
-Tyrice Howard is a senior safety coming off an ACL tear. “He worked so hard in his offseason rehab,” Moyers said. “He was a month or two ahead of schedule. He plays free safety. We call him the silent assassin. He doesn’t talk much at all but he’ll come down hill and hit you.”
-Junior cornerback Robert Williams is a 2014 prospect Moyers is high on. He said Williams had six interceptions in the Indianapolis Colts 7-on-7 tournament.
- Steve Wiltfong
- National Recruiting Writer - 247Sports