Second Salinas Cowboy WR to receive offer
- Thread starter NorCalSportsFan
- Start date
Pretty awesome. This could end up being the largest number of D-I recruits on one team Salinas has ever had. Aiden Flynn is also listed as 2* at linebacker.
Whether this all translates to a huge season is a question mark considering their schedule.
Was at my brother's home for a barbecue and one of the coaches is a friend and was there. Said they should be very good. Cowboy's looking like they will be able to score some points with talent and speed at WR and 3 year starting QB who is big and very mobile and can also wing it. RB they will probably have committee and usually decent. Only question mark is line on both sides. They lose all defensive line and o-line not a lot of size and experience (but they have a large base of players to pick from). As you mention LB Flynn should receive some offers as well as among the top LB prospects in the section. Not sure why he isn't ranked higher (not a speedster but big and quick and ball hound and finishes). Flynn is a out of the radar gem. He can flat out play football.
Defense will be key to Cowboys beating the top teams in the section, but early season games against Clayton Valley and VC and Clovis who are big on the lines could indicate how good the Cowboys will be as far as physicality on the lines. The teams to watch are Aptos (huge line this year and very good RBs) and Hollister. Palma could surprise but too many question marks and line small (looking like Palma wil start getting big again in two years with big kids in 8th grade class), but RBs and WRs are stacked and with depth. QB will be a little undersized as last season but accurate passer and junior is going to be very good.
Salinas could be very good this season, and if they reload on line could be special.
If they put defense together, they will be tough. They could be a top 5 CCS team.
Defense will be key to Cowboys beating the top teams in the section, but early season games against Clayton Valley and VC and Clovis who are big on the lines could indicate how good the Cowboys will be as far as physicality on the lines. The teams to watch are Aptos (huge line this year and very good RBs) and Hollister. Palma could surprise but too many question marks and line small (looking like Palma wil start getting big again in two years with big kids in 8th grade class), but RBs and WRs are stacked and with depth. QB will be a little undersized as last season but accurate passer and junior is going to be very good.
Salinas could be very good this season, and if they reload on line could be special.
- Adam Shaffer, Sr., QB, 6-2, 220, returning 3 year starter, 700 yards + rushing. Potential college prospect. Accurate passer and decent arm. Offensive Player of Year Monterey Herald;
- Aidan Flynn, Sr, LB, 6-2, 220 (40 4.8), PCAL-Gab MVP;
- Nyziah Hunter, Sr, WR/DB, 6-2, 192 (40 4.52), 10.67 100M Jr year, verbal Cal;
- Emerson Cortez Menjivar, WR/TE, (6-2, 185), 1st team all league and also good speed; offer Idaho Vandals;
If they put defense together, they will be tough. They could be a top 5 CCS team.
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In viewing the Salinas schedule this year- they must feel like they're on to something. I also agree that their LB- Flynn-should generate some serious interest- he can flat out play the game. Sometimes aggressive to a fault- but a guy you want on your team!
P.S. Saw Aptos at the Carmel passing tournament a couple of weeks ago and granted it was just a passing tourney- but they've got some guys that have spent some serious time in the weight room. Sorry for getting off topic.
Coach Zenk has done a terrific job of building up this program. He has taken them to the next level of being a top CCS school. Before, they were good some years but could not get past the "Palma Hurdle". Now year in, and year out they are the best team in in the Gabilan.
Salinas has depth and size that most schools would dream of. Their inexperience on the line may cause a stumble or two out of the gate, but I see them rolling through the rest of the Gabilan, and challenging the WCAL big boys in the DI playoffs.
And big props to Emmerson on the DI offer!!!!
Salinas has depth and size that most schools would dream of. Their inexperience on the line may cause a stumble or two out of the gate, but I see them rolling through the rest of the Gabilan, and challenging the WCAL big boys in the DI playoffs.
And big props to Emmerson on the DI offer!!!!
What do you think are the reasons Coach Zenk has been able to get Salinas to this consistent level?
Salinas has always been sort of a sleeping giant. It's a pretty big school (~2650 students) that is mostly middle class, stretching into upper middle class, with a Pop Warner program beneath it that has been pretty successful.
When the program has had good coaching, they've been competitive in D-II type of playoffs, winning a couple of titles. When they haven't, then it flounders pretty badly. I've long believed that no Salinas team should ever have fewer than 6 wins in any season based on the school's advantages alone vs the other schools in the city.
Lately, they've been somewhat of an offensive juggernaut, but I think the thing that separates true state D-I from the rest is line play and defense. The Cowboys have given up some big points to quality competition over the last few seasons, so they will really have to step up against the likes of CVC, VC, and Clovis (last time out, they gave up 52 points to the Cougars).
I'm very curious and hopeful for this season. Last year, they finished at #50 in the state in Cal-Hi's rankings and I anticipate them starting somewhere in the mid-40s this year. They're currently listed as #47 in Calpreps.com... higher than all three of those aforementioned big opponents. I kind of like their chances against the Warriors, but am apprehensive about the games with the Ugly Eagles and the Cougars.
Strap that helmet on tightly.
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Also, many players that opted to go to Palma have decided to play at Salinas with program upgrade and cost to go to Palma has increased significantly over the years which hurt their enrollment numbers as a whole. Salinas has 87 kids out for varsity this season....something like 211 went out for all three levels. One thing Salinas is missing though is size on the lines and needs to replace all d-line and a couple o-line returning. This area is a question mark, but they have a huge base to reload from. They have good core of really good players everywhere else and if line reloads decently they could be very good. Offense should be very good, but defense will need to step up.
I think it was really the '08 recession when parents stopped being willing to pay for Palma in the same numbers. You're right, a number of those kids are now at Salinas.
