Video: Top 25 Preseason Early Contenders - No. 24 Valor Christian
View images by photographer Paul DiSalvo from his preseason photo shoot with the Eagles.Valor Christian football coach Rod Sherman has never put on a football helmet in his life. But boy, does he know the game and talent.
He's been blessed with plenty of it, first coaching Orange Lutheran (Calif.) in the vaunted Trinity League and winning a California State Bowl title in 2006 before taking on the challenge of starting a new program the very next year at a new private school in Colorado.
Head coach Rod Sherman addresses his team following a playoff victory last season.
File photo by Paul DiSalvo
He and Brent Vieselmeyer moved to the Rocky Mountains and helped start what has now become a Centennial State dynasty with six state titles in the last seven years — the only loss a 25-24 heartbreaker to Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) in 2014.
"We started with 156 freshmen in the school and a JV program," Sherman said. "Our first varsity year we took our lumps. We started seven freshmen and eight sophomores."
They went 4-6. Not bad.
After winning four state titles — very good — Vieselmeyer left and took the co-defensive coordinator job for two seasons at Houston Baptist and now is a linebackers assistant with the Oakland Raiders. Those Raiders are coached by Jack Del Rio, whose star quarterback son Luke played at Valor Christian in 2012.
See Valor Christian Early Contenders photo shoot When Vieselmeyer moved on, Sherman stepped in from his offensive coordinator role to head coach in 2013 and the Eagles have just continued to roll, going 35-7 in those three seasons with two state titles.
Valor Christian graduates Luke Del Rio (Florida), lineman Alec Ruth (Kansas State), defensive back Eric Lee (Nebraska), running back Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), receiver Max McCaffrey (Duke) and lineman Alex Kozan (Auburn) all represented the Eagles in major college conferences last fall.
"We've been very blessed and fortunate to have a lot of good, high-profile kids pass through the program," Sherman said. "They work very hard also. All of it is a result of hard work."
The Players
The Eagles return six starters on both sides of the ball for a team that went 12-2 and won the CHSAA 5A title last season.
Photo by Paul DiSalvo
This year's squad is led by the frontrunner for National Player of the Year, quarterback
Dylan McCaffrey (nicknamed De-Caff), and the team is blessed with at least a half-dozen future FBS players.
The Eagles return six starters on both sides of the ball for a team that went 12-2 and won the CHSAA 5A title with a 29-26 win over Pomona.
McCaffrey, of course, is the key component. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior is the younger brother of 2015 Heisman runner-up Christian McCaffrey and accounted for 3,392 yards and 40 touchdowns last season. He's ranked the No. 19 overall recruit in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite, but he's already committed to Michigan.
A player with his pedigree and attention could cause a rift in a team, but far from it, Sherman said. That's largely because of his family and he's just one of the guys, a three-sport kid who also stars on the basketball court and track.
Senior quarterback Dylan McCaffrey
Photo by Paul DiSalvo
"He's not caught up in all his athletic accomplishments," Sherman said. "There's so much more to him. He doesn't play with pressure or anxiety. He has so much personal fortitude. Great kid."
The Eagles have so much more.
Defensive tackle
Noah Elliss (6-5, 330) is ranked the 348th recruit in the country, is virtually impossible to move and one of the best defensive players Sherman has ever coached. Elliss is being recruited by about everyone, including Alabama, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, but looks headed to Utah.
View this season's 247Sports Composite Rankings
He helps make life easier for his brother, linebacker
Christian Elliss (6-2, 195), who has Big Sky Conference (FCS) offers, and
Jack Walley (6-1, 180), an active cornerback.
On offense, sophomore running back
Joshia Davis (5-11, 190) has a "high ceiling," after leading the team in rushing as a freshman (he's also a superb receiver) and transfer
Will Rodgers (6-5, 235), a tight end, defensive end and linebacker, "will make a major impact," Sherman said.
Besides Dylan McCaffrey, the Eagles have loads of depth at quarterback in backup
Blake Stenstrom, a 6-3, 185-pound junior, and sophomore Luke McCaffrey, brother of Dylan. He started on the JV team last season. Stenstrom, who already has an offer from Colorado, is the son of former Stanford and NFL quarterback Steve Stenstrom.
See more videos of the Valor Christian EaglesThe younger Stenstrom was pretty efficient as a sophomore on the varsity team, completing 12 of 14 passes for 162 yards and four touchdowns. His QB rating was 161.3.
"We're pretty strong at that spot," Sherman said with a smile.
The keysThe Eagles are spreading their wings, taking the next big step and heading national. Besides their No. 24 national ranking, they'll open at home with No. 25 Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.) on Aug. 27 in a game televised by ESPN.
Defensive tackle Noah Elliss
Photo by Paul DiSilvo
Another home game Sept. 9 against Greater Atlanta Christian (Ga.) pits McCaffrey against senior quarterback David Mills, the nation's No. 71 recruit who has already committed to Stanford.
"That should be fun," Sherman said.
All of it should be for the Eagles, as long as:
* They can find some new receiving threats.
* Their line protects McCaffrey.
* Rodgers is as good as advertised.
* The Elliss brothers stay healthy.
They'll need to hit the ground running fast against Saguaro, or at least let Dylan McCaffrey set sail through the air in one of the nation's top early-season contests.
"We're looking forward to all of it," Sherman said.
