2017 All-Southeast Missourian Football team

Cole Welker, sr., Jackson

Jersey number: 6

After-graduation plans: Plan to play college baseball then attend med school

Twitter handle: @ColeWelker

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite pregame meal: Wibs BBQ sandwich

Favorite memory from the season: Beating Bluff in triple overtime

Favorite play from the season: Getting my 10th INT against Vianney

Favorite locker room pep talk: Coach Grassi hyping us up

Favorite football player: Aqib Talib

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting all-conference in three different sports

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: My PAT percentage being under 50%

My coach is always on me about: 100% effort and my attitude

I started playing football because: I wanted to join the traveling team in sixth grade with my buddies

Football is: A sport that creates a bond with your friends and takes dedication and confidence

What has football taught you about life?: It you put time in during the offseason you will be more confident and prepared for during season battles

Jordan Kent, jr., Jackson

Jersey number: 19

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite warmup song: "Power" by Kanye West

Favorite pregame meal: Chicken, Subway

Favorite memory from the season: Beating Cape

Favorite play from the season: Marion game, sweep left

Favorite locker room pep talk: Coach Grassi

Favorite football player: Odell Beckham Jr.

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Becoming a better player and person

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Losing a game or missing a game

My coach is always on me about: Coming out my stance

I started playing football because: No one in my family has played college ball

Football is: The only sport that pushes me to keep going

What has football taught you about life?: Keep going even if you want to quit

Nathan Brown, sr., Jackson

Jersey number: 25

After-graduation plans: Pursue a degree in physical therapy and play football in college

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite warmup song: "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed

Favorite pregame meal: Chicken and rice

Favorite memory from the season: Beating Poplar Bluff in triple overtime

Favorite play from the season: One of Bailey Beggs' sacks he had against Poplar Bluff

Favorite locker room pep talk: Coach Grassi giving us a pep talk about leaving our legacy

Favorite football player: Cooper Callis

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting 196 total tackles my senior year

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Coming up short of winning the conference championship senior year

My coach is always on me about: Being more vocal

I started playing football because: Of my dad and friends

Football is: A game that requires grit, hard work, and mental toughness along with a group of brothers

What has football taught you about life?: It has taught me to be determined and how to keep a competitive edge

Cooper Callis, sr., Jackson

Jersey number: 3

After-graduation plans: Attend a college and play football

Twitter handle: @CoopCallis

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite warmup song: "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen

Favorite pregame meal: Lasagna

Favorite memory from the season: Triple OT win against Poplar Bluff

Favorite play from the season: Ethan hurdling De Smet player

Favorite locker room pep talk: "Take care of the football. Take care of yourself."

Favorite football player: Nathan Brown

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Winning the Carr Award

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Missing most of sophomore year because of injured elbow

My coach is always on me about: Running teammates over in practice. He hates when I do that.

I started playing football because: I always threw the football with my dad when I was younger

Football is: Fun. A lot of fun. A whole lot of fun. I LOVE FOOTBALL.

What has football taught you about life?: Success doesn't come easy. "Behind the scenes" work is required to be successful in life.

Ethan Laster, sr., Jackson

Jersey number: 23

After-graduation plans: Pursue an architecture degree and play football through college

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite warmup song: "Enter Sandman" by Metallica

Favorite pregame meal: Grilled chicken

Favorite memory from the season: Playing and beating Bluff in 3OT

Favorite play from the season: Seth Waters' first TD, he worked hard all week for it

Favorite locker room pep talk: Coach Nick Grassi about writing our own story

Favorite football player: Christian McCaffrey

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Being a three-year varsity starter

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Coming up short in the district championship

My coach is always on me about: Leading the team with my voice and not just my play

I started playing football because: My best friends convinced me to in JAYF fourth grade

Football is: An escape from the real world. Greatest bond with a group of guys imaginable.

What has football taught you about life?: Hard work will pay off and to always strive for more

Owen Leible, sr., Jackson

Jersey number: 74

After-graduation plans: I'm going to A-State to puruse a job in nursing

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite warmup song: Didn't have one. I liked it to be silent.

Favorite pregame meal: Subway (footlong nine-grain honey oat oven-roasted chicken breast)

Favorite memory from the season: Marion, Arkansas, fourth quarter and the conversation me and Dawson Southard had before going onto the field

Favorite play from the season: I don't have any specific one

Favorite locker room pep talk: Anytime Bailey Beggs would talk to us

Favorite football player: Ray Lewis

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Second team all-state

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not getting first team

My coach is always on me about: Controlling my emotions

I started playing football because: I was too physical for soccer and too big

Football is: An escape from the real world for a three-hour period

What has football taught you about life?: That there will be ups and downs in your life, but it's up to you on how you respond to it, either positively or negatively, and if you automatically respond positively your life will be better

Aaron Harris, sr., Cape Central

Jersey number: 22

After-graduation plans: Go to college

Twitter handle: @amharris25

Favorite place to play: The Pit

Favorite warmup song: "Dreams and Nightmares" by Meek Mill

Favorite pregame meal: PB and J sandwich

Favorite memory from the season: Chauncey getting laid out by Devin at practice

Favorite play from the season: My game-winning touchdown against Farmington

Favorite locker room pep talk: "Do your job every play"

Favorite football player: Tom Brady

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting first team all-state

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not winning a state championship

My coach is always on me about: Wrestling

I started playing football because: I love to hit people

Football is: The best sport ever

What has football taught you about life?: That hard work and dedication pays off

Julian McBride, soph., Cape Central

Jersey number: 78

Twitter handle: @JulianMcBride14

Favorite place to play: At home

Favorite warmup song: "My moment" by Tee Grizzley

Favorite pregame meal: Chicken

Favorite memory from the season: When Devin ran over Chauncey

Favorite play from the season: When Aaron dragged a bunch of players into the end zone to beat Farmington

Favorite football player: Julio Jones

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Making third team all-state in 10th grade

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Losing to Hillsboro for districts

My coach is always on me about: Not being enough of a leader

I started playing football because: I loved watching it when I was little

Football is: My favorite sport, and my life. I've played since I was in second grade.

What has football taught you about life?: That character comes from within and it takes a strong mind to make a great man

Joseph Baker, sr., Cape Central

Jersey number: 14

After-graduation plans: Go to college and major in Business

Twitter handle: @Joseph_L_Baker2

Favorite place to play: Pit

Favorite warmup song: "Ex calling" by 6lack

Favorite pregame meal: Pasta

Favorite memory from the season: Chauncey getting laid out by Devin Mongal

Favorite play from the season: Aaron trucking #21 from Farmington to win

Favorite locker room pep talk: "Attitude, effort, want to and do your job every play" -- Nathan Norman

Favorite football player: Sean Taylor

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Playing as a Cape Central Tiger

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not winning districts/state as a senior

My coach is always on me about: Being too cocky at practice

I started playing football because: My dad played for ASU

Football is: Tough, physical 48-minute game

What has football taught you about life?: Discipline and nothing that you want comes easy

Matthew Nussbaum, sr., Cape Central

Jersey number: 31

After-graduation plans: Attend Mizzou, get degree in Biology, attend dental school

Instagram handle: Add me on the gram @matt_nussbaum

Favorite place to play: Poplar Bluff

Favorite warmup song: "Our God" by Chris Tomlin

Favorite pregame meal: Spaghetti

Favorite memory from the season: Beating Sikeston in the playoffs

Favorite play from the season: Getting an interception against Mount Liberty

Favorite locker room pep talk: Coach Mac at halftime against Farmington

Favorite football player: Todd Gurley

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting first team all-conference my junior year

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not winning districts my senior year

My coach is always on me about: Running my feet

I started playing football because: I loved watching it on TV

Football is: A good time

What has football taught you about life?: How to work together with others

Landon Tenkhoff, jr., Chaffee

Jersey number: 10

Favorite place to play: Chaffee High School

Favorite warmup song: "Too Hotty" by Migos

Favorite pregame meal: Cereal

Favorite memory from the season: When we had beat Scott City at our Homecoming in OT

Favorite play from the season: When we blocked the extra point to beat Scott City

Favorite football player: Todd Gurley

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Starting on varsity, as a freshman, in all three sports

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Losing against Scott City in the playoffs my sophomore year

My coach is always on me about: Taking care of the football

I started playing football because: I wanted to play all sports and it is a really fun sport to be a part of

Football is: Tough game for tough people

What has football taught you about life?: When things start falling apart, are you able to handle the adversity and fight through it?

Sam Elders, jr. Scott City

Jersey number: 24

Favorite place to play: William Wilthong Football Field

Favorite warmup song: "300 Violin Orchestra" by Jorge Quintero

Favorite pregame meal: One or two bananas and a few protein bars

Favorite memory from the season: Getting to play side-by-side with my favorite senior in our last game

Favorite play from the season: First run I ran of the season when I ran for a touchdown on the third play of the game

Favorite locker room pep talk: "We go out there and play our game the way we know how to play we will succeed. This is our house, we protect it."

Favorite football player: Saquon Barkley

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Becoming a big role player on my team and being the leader guys look up to

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not being able to be as good as we hoped, or win as many games as we hoped this season

My coach is always on me about: Getting into the weight room and always getting better at what I do everyday

I started playing football because: Football was the one sport I was able to purposely hit people and not get in trouble

Football is: The thing that keeps me sane, the thing I revolve a lot of the things I do around

What has football taught you about life?: When things get tough you can't just give up, you always have to push through

Kade Sullivan, jr., Chaffee

Jersey number: 44

Favorite place to play: Chaffee

Favorite warmup song: "m.A.A.d. City" by Kendrick Lamar

Favorite pregame meal: Bacon and eggs

Favorite memory from the season: Beating Scott City in overtime to win Homecoming

Favorite play from the season: When I tackled Ian Torrey in the end zone for a safety

Favorite football player: Bobby Wagner

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Having almost 150 tackles and over 25 tackles for loss this season

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Losing to Bismarck in baseball last year

My coach is always on me about: Taking the right proper step

I started playing football because: My whole family has always played it

Football is: A mentality you have to want to be good at it

What has football taught you about life?: It's a team game

Austin Dauster, sr., St. Vincent

Jersey number: 8

Favorite warmup song: "Bonfire" by Childish Gambino

Favorite pregame meal: Spaghetti and Texas toast

Favorite memory from the season: Celebrating in Crystal City's locker room after our first win

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Getting all-state kicker two years in a row

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Losing to Chaffee in districts

My coach is always on me about: Relaxing and having fun

I started playing football because: It is a sport filled with emotion

Football is: Giving everything you've got for 48 minutes

What has football taught you about life?: To always get back up again

Jerome Simpson, sr. Perryville

Jersey number: 23

After-graduation plans: Playing baseball at Central Methodist University

Twitter handle: @JeromeS2352

Favorite place to play: Pirate Stadium

Favorite warmup song: "We Ready" by Archie Eversole

Favorite pregame meal: Pasta

Favorite memory from the season: Beating SV

Favorite play from the season: Breaking a long run for a TD against SV

Favorite locker room pep talk: Just the screaming and getting pumped up

Favorite football player: Kareem Hunt

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: To be able to play a college sport

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Not being able to have more than one winning season as a football player

My coach is always on me about: Not breaking down to make a tackle

I started playing football because: Started watching football and wanted to play it

Football is: A get away from all the school stress and have some fun

What has football taught you about life?: How to handle wins and losses when thrown at you

Evan Urhahn, fresh., Kelly

Jersey number: 12

Favorite place to play: Home

Favorite warmup song: "First Day Out"

Favorite pregame meal: Chicken

Favorite memory from the season: Breaking the losing streak

Favorite play from the season: 26 power

Favorite locker room pep talk: "Do your best and we will win"

Favorite football player: Emmitt Smith

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?: Making first team all-conference as a freshman

What has been your greatest disappointment as an athlete?: Losing to Scott City

My coach is always on me about: Gaining weight

I started playing football because: Try a new sport and my family loves football

Football is: A sport I love

What has football taught you about life?: Never give up even if the challenge is tough