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Scouting Mundelein: Mustangs are making numerical strides

Three years ago, when Larry Calhoun took over the struggling football program at Mundelein, 27 players filled the varsity roster.

Now, that number is 50, including 23 returning seniors.

And while Mundelein has yet to become a perennial playoff team, which is Calhoun's ultimate goal, there are clear signs that the program is moving in the right direction.

"I'm cautiously optimistic because we play in a really really good conference," Calhoun said. "But I think we are pretty good too.

"I'm really happy with the involvement, the number of guys who are playing football now. I'm happy with the energy and the culture in the program. There are a lot of people around school, around the program who say the energy and the vibe with this team is a little different. There are some expectations with this group and these guys are having a blast playing together. I think that will be a big benefit to us this year."

The Mustangs boast some experienced and senior offensive linemen back in Dante Segura, Leo Payes and Caleb Ngwangu and will be deep up front.

But some of the position players are a bit green.

Junior Isaac Wellman, the younger brother of graduated wide receiver standout Isaiah Wellman, will be taking over at quarterback, after being the quarterback of the sophomore team last year.

"Going into the summer, it was really a three-man race at quarterback," Calhoun said. "And Isaac really won the job. He rose to the challenge. He's a dual-threat kid, he's athletic and he can move. He has grown in his maturity a lot over the summer and he is making decisions on the field really well."

Another young gun for the Mustangs in the backfield will be sophomore halfback Shawn Patrick, who was a standout in track last year on the sprint relay teams.

"He's very fast," Calhoun said of Patrick. "He does some really nice things with space that I'm not sure you can teach. He's not that big, but he can move and he has a knack for finding that green grass."

Some senior position players who will help to balance out the youth of Wellman and Patrick are wide receivers Eli Daugs and Adonis Hagedorn, along with running back Kyle Schaller.

Schaller is a tough runner who gained more than 500 rushing yards last season. Calhoun says he is a natural leader with his teammates.

Defensively, Mundelein is solid at linebacker with the return of Jake VanderPloeg, Tabor Alemu and Logan Kvein.

Alemu is Mundelein's only returning all-area player and was one of the leaders on the team last season in tackles.

"I've felt really good about this group all summer," Calhoun said. "But until we are a perennial playoff team, we won't be satisfied. I think we've got things moving in the right direction. We've made a lot of great strides."

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