- Indiana
STATE CHAMPS! SCOUT TEAM: Young Gunslingers — Mt. Vernon’s Slunaker, Lafayette Jeff’s Preston about to make waves
Threading needles is his middle name.
Mt. Vernon quarterback Gehrig Slunaker is the field general in Hoosierland most poised for a breakthrough in their recruiting in the next six months. The 6-foot-2 rifleman racked up 2,100 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air as a sophomore in 2019 and he didn’t take the reins of the offense on a full-time basis until late in the season. Slunaker and the Marauders caught fire in the tournament last year and won the school’s first-ever regional crown (4A), with the G-Man playing big down the stretch.
Here’s the scouting breakdown:
He’s got a smooth release and seems to get better as the pressure rises in game-time situations. The footwork and work ethic are there and he shows the ability to connect on both intermediate and deep routes on his throws. I expect Slunaker to record close to 3,000 yards and near 30 touchdowns in 2020.
Another name to watch:
Lafayette Jeff’s Brady Preston (2022) played in several games for the Bronchos last fall, as well — and started on the baseball team at catcher as a freshman — but will take over full time as the starting QB this fall. He runs a 4.88-second 40-yard dash, and squats 430 pounds.
— SCOTT M. BURNSTEIN
