Starting Lineup: Joey Schlaffer determined to lead Exeter no matter where he’s lined up
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.
Joey Schlaffer, Exeter
| 6-7 | 218 | Senior | QB/TE/DE/LB |
BACKSTORY: Schlaffer hit the gene pool lottery. His father, Joe, played college basketball; his mother, Sherry was a runner. His maternal grandfather is 6-7. His half-brothers, Christian and Michal Menet, played football at Michigan State and Penn State, respectively. Michal’s now a center with the Green Bay Packers.
“I’m blessed to be able to have the height that I have, and the ability that I have,” said the 6-7 Schlaffer, who went through an incredible growth spurt in junior high that saw him shoot up 14 inches over a two-year span.
He now wears a size 17 shoe.
He enters the season just under 220 pounds but wants to be close to 240 this time next year, when he’s playing tight end at Penn State.
Schlaffer won’t need that bulk for now, especially if he ends up as the Eagles’ quarterback, as many suspect he will.
He could be the tallest QB in the state and bring unique talents to that key position as Exeter seeks to win the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 title in its league debut.
“He’s a super athlete,” said Eagles coach Matt Bauer, “deceptively fast. And he’s very cool under pressure. Nothing seems to rattle him. He’s definitely grown into one of our leaders.”
Schlaffer came up in the Exeter youth program as a quarterback. He moved to receiver as an eighth-grader because there was another good QB ahead of him, Gavin McClusker (now playing at Merrimack College).
The move was a boon for Schlaffer and the Eagles. He started at wide receiver as a freshman, was Berks League Section 1 Receiver of the Year as a sophomore and Section 1 co-Receiver of the Year last season, when he had a team-leading 48 catches for 822 yards last season and earned All-Berks and All-State status.
With his height and ability to go up and get the ball he is an impossible match-up for the typical high school cornerback, who stands eight to 10 inches shorter.
He showed off his wide-ranging physical skills at the annual Chris Nunn Memorial Berks Combine in May, finishing second overall. He placed second in the 3-hop drill and scored points in the 40-yard dash, L-cone drill and vertical jump.
If Schlaffer’s not employed at quarterback he’ll be on the field at tight end, or split end, or wide receiver — he’s been utilized at all three spots over the past three seasons and already stands as one of the most productive receivers in program history.
Schaffler plans to enroll early at Penn State so he won’t be playing basketball as he did the past three seasons. He’s completely focused on football.
“I don’t want to have any regrets,” he said of his senior season. “I need to take advantage of the time left I have in high school, especially since I’m enrolling early. A big goal is to keep being a good leader and a good teammate, and to be a level-headed player on the field.”
ROLE: Went into camp the favorite to win the starting QB spot. If he’s not behind center he’ll make an impact at TE or WR. Will play key role on defense, too, possibly as a DE or a Lawrence Taylor-type outside LB who can storm the pocket.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Committed to play TE at Penn State in October. Collected nearly 20 Division I offers and would’ve had many more had he not made such an early commitment.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “Very fluid athlete who possesses the agility and body control of a much smaller athlete. Effortless catcher of the ball who always looks smooth and in control while running routes despite his 6-6 frame and significant growth potential.”
Starting Lineup
| Anthony Caccese | Exeter | T/DT |
| Drew Eisenhower | Wyomissing | HB/S/KR |
| Cam Jones | Wilson | WR/CB/KR/LS |
| Josiah Jordan | Berks Catholic | HB/CB/KR |
| Matt Kramer | Wyomissing | FB/OLB |
| Ayden Martin | Gov. Mifflin | RB/S |
| Delsin McNeil | Gov. Mifflin | QB/S |
| Xander Menapace | Hamburg | QB |
| Lucas Palange | Exeter | G/LB/DE |
| Joey Schlaffer | Exeter | QB/TE/DE/LB |
| 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.
