Starting Lineup: It would be hard to pass up Hamburg QB Xander Menapace
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the 12 top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
“Starting Lineup” is presented by GoBigRecruiting.com.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked 1 thru 12). Former NFL lineman and recruiting expert Ross Tucker offers comments on each selection.
Xander Menapace, Hamburg
| 6-4 | 205 | Senior | QB/P |
BACKSTORY: Xander Menapace hasn’t garnered a lot of attention yet, but that’s soon about to change. Playing in a Wing-T offense that didn’t showcase his big arm, for a program that had never won a district playoff game, and coming into last season off an injury-marred offseason prevented him from fully displaying his talents.
He’s had an active spring and summer camp season, has worked tirelessly to improve his skills and is ready for a breakout senior season.
“Xander is extremely hard-working on and off the field,” said Hawks coach Matt Hoffert. “He’s smart with the football and has great strength and placement with his throws.”
Hoffert, in his first season as head coach at Hamburg, has switched to a Spread offense. He said that’ll suit Menapace’s skill set and help him emerge as the top quarterback in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
“Most guys in college are running the Spread, the RPO, the zone (read),” Hoffert said. “This is going to prepare him for what he’s going to see in the near future (and) help both of us in the long run.”
Not that Menapace wasn’t effective a season ago, when he led the Hawks to their first District 3 playoff victory with a pair of TD passes in a 31-27 win over Bermudian Springs. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes, second-highest in the Berks League, for 869 yards and nine TDs. His 153.5 passing efficiency rating was third-best in Berks, behind only Conrad Weiser’s Logan Klitsch and Exeter’s Colin Payne.
Menapace missed critical exposure last spring and summer after fracturing a bone in his right wrist in a basketball fall early in 2021. His throwing hand was in a cast for six weeks and he wasn’t able to show off his arm during a crucial time for prospects to get out in front of college coaches. He couldn’t do upper body work in the weight room, either.
“I was so anxious to get back, I had over-use issues,” he said. “I was probably never 100 percent last summer.”
He made up for that this offseason and throughout the spring and summer. He’s an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier than he was as a junior. He barely resembles the wiry freshman who got some starts behind center three years ago.
He has attended top quarterback camps up and down the East Coast over the past several months.
Each Wednesday during the spring he made an hour commute to Manheim to train with quarterbacks guru Jim Cantafio and alongside other top District 3 quarterbacks.
Menapace doesn’t possess outstanding foot speed but Hoffert said that won’t matter once the games begin.
“On the field he will make up for it with his his play-making ability,” he said. “He’s more football fast than he is testing fast.”
ROLE: Menapace will be a team captain, a third-year starter at QB and in command of the offense. He’ll also handle punting duties. He’s the biggest reason so many Section 5 coaches are pointing to Hamburg as the preseason favorite in what looks to be a very competitive section.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Menapace is on the radar of several Division I programs, including Holy Cross, Dartmouth and Brown; Villanova has shown interest, as have many others. He’s an outstanding student, which will only help his recruitment.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “Great frame and size potential. Possesses an impressive arm that has gotten him on the radar of a number of Division I coaches. Hasn’t put up huge numbers to this point in Hamburg’s run-based offense but he showcases the physical tools and ability to do so, and should be in line for a big senior year.”
Starting Lineup 2022
| Josiah Jordan | Berks Catholic | HB/CB/KR |
| Xander Menapace | Hamburg | QB |
| Lucas Palange | Exeter | G/LB/DE |
| Jven Williams | Wyomissing | G/T/DT |
The “Starting Lineup” team was selected by MikeDragoSports.com, with input from Berks coaches and Ross Tucker, co-founder and CEO of GoBigRecruiting.com and a former NFL lineman. Tucker, who played at Wyomissing, has deep contacts throughout college football and remains dialed into Berks football.
After the “Starting Lineup” team has been announced MikeDragoSports.com will present the “Berks Watch List,” which will include 50 more other top players to watch this season.
