Laurinaitis named Mr. Football - Rosemount Sun Current
Laurinaitis named Mr. Football
By John Sherman
Sun Newspapers
(Created 12/23/2004 10:04:08 AM)
Even though Wayzata High linebacker James Laurinaitis did not come out a winner in the Prep Bowl this season, he has won the Mr. Football of Minnesota Award for 2004.
This is the second year for the Mr. Football Award, which last year was shared by Lakeville running back Brylee Callender and Breck School quarterback Liam O?*Hagan. The award is open to seniors only.
Laurinaitis, the first defensive player to win the award, performed brilliantly throughout the season with a total of 197 tackles in 14 games.
His two-year total of 316 tackles may be a state record.
The Mr. Football Award caps an impressive list of honors for Laurinaitis. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker and tight end was named to the All-State first team by minnesotapreps.com and was also voted state Defensive Player of the Year by that organization. He made the All-Classic Lake team and the Associated Press All-State team.
Laurinaitis comes from an athletic background. His father Joe played college football and was a sensation in pro wrestling as Animal of the famous ìRoad Warriors Legion of Doomî tag team.
In evaluating talent, college scouts look at four things more than anything else ñ academics, football IQ, speed and strength.
Laurinaitis has a 3.6 grade point average and scored a 25 on the ACT test. Scouts like the way he sees the entire field and reacts to situations. They also like the way he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and bench presses 305 pounds.
Laurinaitis is not just a top football player, he is a star in hockey as well. He scored his first goal of the season Saturday as Wayzata defeated Roseville 6-1 in a non-conference game.
Earlier this year, Let?*s Play Hockey magazine voted him ìMost likely to go proî among Minnesota?*s prep players. Ironically, he was playing in a hockey game for Wayzata High when he was announced as the winner of the Mr. Football Award on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Laurinaitis said he is pleased to be Mr. Football of 2004. ìBeing named the best player in the state is a great honor,î he said, ìespecially this year, because there are so many great athletes.î
Laurinaitis said playing in the Prep Bowl against Minnetonka was a special experience ñ because of the rivalry and because the teams always seem to play right down to the wire.
ìI am still disappointed that we lost,î he said. ìBut if you?*d told me at the start of the season that we?*d be in the Prep Bowl, I would have taken it.î
Good genetics
James Laurinaitis said the two people who have supported him most in his athletic career are his dad and mom, Joe and Julie.
ìMy dad was a linebacker and my mom was an All-State hurdler,î said Laurinaitis. ìThat?*s probably the best combination of genetics a person could have.î
Joe was a junior college All-American at Golden Valley Lutheran College after an outstanding career as a high school athlete at Irondale.
Instead of pursuing a career in football, the elder Laurinaitis became one of the world?*s most prominent professional wrestlers.
ìMy mom and dad have been huge inspirations to me,î said James Laurinaitis. ìMy mom taught me about nutrition and my dad taught me about training and mental toughness.î
Laurinaitis became a linebacker while he was playing freshman football at Wayzata High.
ìI was a defensive end at first, and I wasn?*t very big ñ only 5-11 and 180 pounds,î he said. ìWe were playing Edina and one of our linebackers got hurt. In my first game at linebacker, I made a game-saving tackle against Edina and I realized that?*s where I wanted to be.î
More awards
The Mr. Football of Minnesota committee has three more awards, in addition to the Mr. Football Award.
Walker Ashley of Eden Prairie High School has been named Minnesota Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound senior played defensive end and tackle for Mike Grant?*s Eagles and specialized in stopping the run. He was also a top blocker and pass catcher on offense.
Nick Mertens of East Grand Forks has been named Minnesota Offensive Player of the Year. He showed his stuff in the Prep Bowl, leading the Green Wave to the state Class 3A title. In the championship game against Becker, Mertens passed for 224 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards and another touchdown. He also kicked a field goal and ran for a two-point conversion.
Laurinaitis, Ashley and Mertens were Mr. Football finalists along with South St. Paul quarterback James Leary, St. Louis Park running back Arsenio Richardson, Bloomington Jefferson quarterback Mike Spillman, Sibley East quarterback Jordan Berg, Delano fullback-linebacker Nate Triplett, Mahtomedi lineman Andy Franta, Eastview lineman Ryan Ruckdashel, Tartan running back Jay Thomas, Northfield linebacker Zach Larsen and Maple Grove wide receiver-defensive back Greg Martin.
