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.