Q&A: Eden Prairie LB Jack Cottrell - UPDATED (4/7): Commits to Boston College

[GopherHole Staff]

Eden Prairie LB Jack Cottrell's Focus on Academics and Football Likely to Lead to Some Big Offers
By Chris Monter

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/138204?referrer_id=331171

Jack Cottrell, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound linebacker from Eden Prairie, is one of the top juniors in the state. He helped lead the Eagles to the 2011 Class 5A Prep Bowl after leading the team in tackles.

Cottrell, who has played middle linebacker, tight end, wide receiver throughout his career, was named All-Lake Conference as a junior

Cottrell is also an excellent student with a 3.89 GPA and has an ACT score of 28 which he plans on re-taking in the spring with the intent of scoring at least a 30.

Cottrell also starts at forward on the Eden Prairie basketball team.

GopherHole.com recently caught up with Cottrell to learn the latest on his recruitment.

Gopher Hole: What school are you hearing from right now?

Jack Cottrell: North Dakota, North Dakota State, Minnesota, Boston College and Iowa State. Wisconsin, a little bit.

Gopher Hole: You went to the Boston College Junior Days. How was that?

Jack Cottrell: They have a really nice campus there. I really liked it out there.

Gopher Hole: That was the first time that you had ever been in the part of the country, right?

Jack Cottrell: Yes, that is correct.

Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from them?

Jack Cottrell: Good stuff, right now. I think that I am going to head out to their camp in the summer. That is the plan at least.

Gopher Hole: Any other Junior Days?

Jack Cottrell: South Dakota State’s Junior Day. I already got invited to Iowa State’s Junior Day a couple of days ago and the Gophers’ Junior Day.

Gopher Hole: That has to make you feel pretty good, getting noticed by some of these schools?

Jack Cottrell: Yes. And I going out to Wisconsin’s spring practice when they start that.

Gopher Hole: Does that even motivate you even more to work hard in the next couple of months leading up to the summer camps?

Jack Cottrell: Yes, it does.

Gopher Hole: Do you know what summer camps you definitely want to go to?

Jack Cottrell: I’m not really sure yet. I am trying to get through basketball first and then I’ll decide. I am planning on working a lot on football next summer and getting some looks from bigger schools. At this point I don’t really know. Anywhere that I get invited to, pretty much.

Gopher Hole: You lost to Wayzata in the regular season, but bounced back and got revenge in the Prep Bowl. You have to be pretty happy with the way you played this season?

Jack Cottrell: Yes. It was such a fun season. We all had each other’s backs. It was great winning a state title for all the seniors who have worked so hard for four years.

Gopher Hole: I know that you lose a lot of players like Andrew Larson, Drake Michaelson and Nick Davidson, but you have plenty of returning talent with yourself, quarterback Grant Schaeffer and others. Have you guys even talked about next year yet?

Jack Cottrell: Yes. We have a little bit. Everyone who is not playing basketball is hitting the weight room right now and getting stronger for next season. We should be pretty good. Our junior and sophomore class works really hard and I think we’ll be good next year.

Gopher Hole: Is it hard to do much football-wise during basketball season?

Jack Cottrell: Yes. It is hard to get a lot of lifting in because you have basketball every day after school, but I try to get lifting in on the weekends.

Gopher Hole: What things are you going to be working on once basketball season is over to continue to improve yourself as a player and getting for hopefully a big senior season?

Jack Cottrell: Once basketball is over, I am planning on working really hard on getting in the weight room and getting ready for football next year.

Gopher Hole: Have you talked to schools much about what position you would play in college?

Jack Cottrell: I have not talked about that yet. I’ll pretty much play anywhere they ask me to play.

Gopher Hole: Are you playing any spring sports this season?

Jack Cottrell: I have played AAU basketball for the past four or five years, but I don’t think that I’ll play this year to concentrate on football.

 

[GopherHole Staff]

 

[To Be Named Later]

Cottrell obviously needs to put on some pounds to play at the B1G level, but he appears to have the frame to do that. I will be interested to see how he tackles as a senior. His junior film looks like he meets and moves the ballcarrier but doesn't truly go through the ballcarrier as well as some of the other guys Kill has offered. I do, however, like his willingness to finish plays. He seems to play in the mold of Jack Lynn in that extra size and strength will help a lot. Lynn does look to have the edge in athleticism, but my opinion is based only on his senior highlights vs. Cottrell's junior highlights. Obviously, that is not a big sample size.

LB is an area of need for this recruiting class, yes? Cottrell has tools and excellent growth potential, but the lack of scholarships this year makes everything less predictable.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Cottrell obviously needs to put on some pounds to play at the B1G level, but he appears to have the frame to do that. I will be interested to see how he tackles as a senior. His junior film looks like he meets and moves the ballcarrier but doesn't truly go through the ballcarrier as well as some of the other guys Kill has offered. I do, however, like his willingness to finish plays. He seems to play in the mold of Jack Lynn in that extra size and strength will help a lot. Lynn does look to have the edge in athleticism, but my opinion is based only on his senior highlights vs. Cottrell's junior highlights. Obviously, that is not a big sample size.

LB is an area of need for this recruiting class, yes? Cottrell has tools and excellent growth potential, but the lack of scholarships this year makes everything less predictable.

That's a good assessment, but I think Cottrell has a frame that will hold quite a bit more weight than a Jack Lynn (or Drake Michaelson). He is already a larger guy than Jack Lynn (Cottrell is 6'4" 215 and Lynn is 6'3" 205). I think size is one of Cottrell's biggest assets. I really think by the time he steps foot on a college campus he'll be 6'4" 225-230, which is really good size for a HS LB.

I do agree that his highlights weren't like Drew Davis (where he was just crushing people), but what I really like about Cottrell is that he will likely be a MLB with his size, and he moves so well (like the comparisons to Lynn). He's just a really natural LB, reminds me quite a big of James Laurinitas(spelling?). If anyone has a chance to watch him play, I definitely recommend it, he is all over the place. I was saying during the state tournament that I thought the best two defensive players on the field were Chris Wipson from Wayzata (more of an OLB/DE) and Jack Cottrell (MLB). I hope they both get offers.

Then again if every MN kid who I thought deserved an offer, got one, we would have 140 scholarship players, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[To Be Named Later]

That's a good assessment, but I think Cottrell has a frame that will hold quite a bit more weight than a Jack Lynn (or Drake Michaelson). He is already a larger guy than Jack Lynn (Cottrell is 6'4" 215 and Lynn is 6'3" 205). I think size is one of Cottrell's biggest assets. I really think by the time he steps foot on a college campus he'll be 6'4" 225-230, which is really good size for a HS LB.

I do agree that his highlights weren't like Drew Davis (where he was just crushing people), but what I really like about Cottrell is that he will likely be a MLB with his size, and he moves so well (like the comparisons to Lynn). He's just a really natural LB, reminds me quite a big of James Laurinitas(spelling?). If anyone has a chance to watch him play, I definitely recommend it, he is all over the place. I was saying during the state tournament that I thought the best two defensive players on the field were Chris Wipson from Wayzata (more of an OLB/DE) and Jack Cottrell (MLB). I hope they both get offers.

Then again if every MN kid who I thought deserved an offer, got one, we would have 140 scholarship players, so take it with a grain of salt.

If he can get up to 225 as an incoming freshman, it will add some explosiveness. That would be great to have, especially since I expect them to go after a few LBs. I can pretty much guarantee I will not get a chance to see him in person, so I will be sure to listen to what you have to say about him in the fall.

My take on in-state kids is that if two kids are equal, go with the in-state kid. In addition to those kids having a better chance of sticking around (not sure if that is actually the case, but it seems to be), look no further than the last recruiting cycle to see what a good in-state haul can do for interest in the team. Winning with in-state kids would be huge for the program (though winning would anyone would be nice at this point).

 

[gophergrad]

Per tweet from Justin Rowland of Rivals

@JRowland_Rivals #BostonCollege COMMITMENT!!! Eden Prairie (Minn.) LB Jack Cottrell, versatile 3-star kid

 

[Gopherprof]

Per tweet from Justin Rowland of Rivals

@JRowland_Rivals #BostonCollege COMMITMENT!!! Eden Prairie (Minn.) LB Jack Cottrell, versatile 3-star kid

That really sucks. I like Cotrell a lot and don't understand why he wasn't given an offer.

 

[matt]

That really sucks. I like Cotrell a lot and don't understand why he wasn't given an offer.

National Signing Day is a long ways away.

 

[Winona Gopher]

That really sucks. I like Cotrell a lot and don't understand why he wasn't given an offer.

My guess: Not a lot of scholarships available and coaches dont see LB as a priority.

 

[tap]

I'm starting to dislike BC.

 

[John Galt]

It will be interesting to see if he still attends the summer camp. If he does and impresses enough to get an offer, who knows what happens.

Remember, there are only 3 Minnesota kids who have gotten offers for the 2013 class: Brookins, Rucker, Onwualu. Just remember, the staff has to be much more selective this year and will have to wait to offer borderline prospects until they see them in camp.

 

[Gopherprof]

My guess: Not a lot of scholarships available and coaches dont see LB as a priority.

The coaches have been on record that they have linebacker targeted as a specific depth need in this recruiting class (hence the late offer to the JUCO kid who decided not to come).

We can all have varying opinions of players, but I think Cotrell is a no-brainer D1 linebacker, and obviously Boston College agreed. Don't get it.

 

[Gopherprof]

National Signing Day is a long ways away.

It is, but it's an unnecessary luxury to wait on a kid in today's recruiting world. Maybe he keeps his options open, but maybe he does not. We have four scholarship linebackers graduating; my guess is that we have at least two linebackers in this class. Cotrell and Wispon both seemed like really obvious options.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

It is, but it's an unnecessary luxury to wait on a kid in today's recruiting world. Maybe he keeps his options open, but maybe he does not. We have four scholarship linebackers graduating; my guess is that we have at least two linebackers in this class. Cotrell and Wispon both seemed like really obvious options.

+1

Cottrell should have gotten an offer. To me, it's a really bad decision by our staff to not offer this kid. He plays a position of need (MLB), he's good enough (maybe they debate this statement), he's intelligent, and has all the things you look for in MLB. Lastly, he's local. I can't understand how he didn't get an offer and I hope that he can be persuaded to re-think the U. I personally think he was better than Michaelson was last year (year younger and will easily be 25 lbs larger).

Hopefully, we seriously look at Wipson, because i'm with you, they're no brainers. I thought Cottrell was even more of a no-brainer than Wipson being that Cottrell is more able to play MLB.

 

[To Be Named Later]

+1

Cottrell should have gotten an offer. To me, it's a really bad decision by our staff to not offer this kid. He plays a position of need (MLB), he's good enough (maybe they debate this statement), he's intelligent, and has all the things you look for in MLB. Lastly, he's local. I can't understand how he didn't get an offer and I hope that he can be persuaded to re-think the U. I personally think he was better than Michaelson was last year (year younger and will easily be 25 lbs larger).

Hopefully, we seriously look at Wipson, because i'm with you, they're no brainers. I thought Cottrell was even more of a no-brainer than Wipson being that Cottrell is more able to play MLB.

I'm guessing they would absolutely debate this statement. I agree with your thoughts on him, but only if there were more scholarships to hand out this year. If you remember, I did not think he appeared as solid on film as some of the others we have seen. To me, he looked like a project. Given the small number of available spots this year, the staff might not want to go with projects.

This is all conjecture, of course. If they change their tune and do end up offering him, I love seeing a good project come to fruition...especially a local one.

 

[Enzoman]

That's a good assessment, but I think Cottrell has a frame that will hold quite a bit more weight than a Jack Lynn (or Drake Michaelson). He is already a larger guy than Jack Lynn (Cottrell is 6'4" 215 and Lynn is 6'3" 205). I think size is one of Cottrell's biggest assets. I really think by the time he steps foot on a college campus he'll be 6'4" 225-230, which is really good size for a HS LB.

I do agree that his highlights weren't like Drew Davis (where he was just crushing people), but what I really like about Cottrell is that he will likely be a MLB with his size, and he moves so well (like the comparisons to Lynn). He's just a really natural LB, reminds me quite a big of James Laurinitas(spelling?). If anyone has a chance to watch him play, I definitely recommend it, he is all over the place. I was saying during the state tournament that I thought the best two defensive players on the field were Chris Wipson from Wayzata (more of an OLB/DE) and Jack Cottrell (MLB). I hope they both get offers.

Then again if every MN kid who I thought deserved an offer, got one, we would have 140 scholarship players, so take it with a grain of salt.

FYI: Jack Lynn's highlight tape is from his Junior season. Also, according to his high school coaches, he's now at 220 pounds.