Randolph County gets eight on All-Star squad

Posted June 06, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

CARTERVILLE -- The unofficially beginning of summer workouts is the typically the end of area seniors' high school careers.

The 16th annual Southern Illinois All-Star Football Game takes place Friday at 7 p.m. in Marion and Randolph County earned eight selections to the West squad.

Chester's Tyler Redeker, Blake Eggemeyer and Garrett Hoffman join Sparta's Gabe Yearian, Alyze Nesbitt, Drew Kordys, William Monroe and Ethan Gwin on the West All-Stars.

"Our side of the state is very athletic," said All-Stars co-coach Rob Kirk (Sparta), one of 14 coaches on the roster. "We've got a lot of big guys defensively, we've got lots of speed defensively.

"It looks like we're a lot deeper at defensive back, so I think we're going to do well."

Redeker and Hoffman will continue their football careers next year at Blackburn College and Lindenwood University, respectively, while Eggemeyer has chosen to forego a college career by enlisting in the National Guard.

"It's kind of new, meeting new people," Eggemeyer said of the All-Star experience. "Especially with same skill level or probably better."

Eggemeyer ran for 740 yards and 13 touchdowns on 111 carries (6.7 YPC) for the Yellow Jackets last season, finishing his three-year varsity career with 1,676 yards, 33 TDs and five games with 100 yards or more rushing.

"Just play with my heart," he said on what it would take to be successful in Friday's game. "It's my last game I get to play, so play with all I have."

Eggemeyer will be joined in the backfield by SIU-Carbondale recruit and Murphysboro graduate Clay Rendleman, who ran for 2,490 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Red Devils in his career.

Up front, Hoffman adds some grit to the West All-Stars defensive line. The 6-foot-1, 255-pounder had 66 tackles (seven for loss), two fumble recoveries, an interception and a sack as a senior.

"It gives me a little practice before I got off to school to play ball this fall," Hoffman said. "It gives me a chance to get out here and do something and play football again, that's always a good time."

Redeker, a center/nose guard/kicker for the Yellow Jackets, finished his senior year with 20 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a sack and averaged 45.1 yards per kickoff.

The Southern Illinois All-Star Football Game returned in 2001 and was previously known as the Western Kentucky vs. Southern Illinois All-Star Game as the contests alternated hosting sites between SIU-Carbondale and Murray State University.

It was moved back to a Southern Illinois-only contest due to declining crowds and interest.

The West Squad won the 2015 version (which was the first under the East-West format), 40-30, in a game played at Johnston City High School.

With a variety of players from different programs, Kirk was asked how detailed the offensive and defensive schemes get.

"It's very basic," he said. "For us on defense, we've got to be able to stop the read-option game and veer, inverted veer and midlines with the quarterbacks and traps and things like that.

"In the passing game, everybody has their responsibilities, but we don't put in any blitz packages."

Kirk was asked what he expects out of the East All-Stars, who have running back Colton Land (Fairfield), SIU-Carbondale kicker/punter recruit Nico Gualdoni (Johnston City) and Chase Owens (Benton) among the notable players.

The East All-Stars have been practicing at Johnston City High School this week, while the West All-Stars have been practicing at Carterville High School.

"Last year was a good year for us," Kirk said. "(The East All-Stars) stripped the ball in for a touchdown and we did a good job of shutting them down on that last play.

"I would assume this year, on paper, that we would do fairly well against them. I'm confident, I know our coaches are confident and I think our players are confident."

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