Here are the high school football players from the Fox Valley who made The Post-Crescent Elite 11 team
Ricardo ArguelloVersatility has always been a strength of players on the Elite 11 football team.
This year’s group has several athletes who play on both sides of the ball, including Freedom’s Carter Kriewaldt (running back/safety), Oshkosh West’s Parker Fontaine (defensive/offensive tackle), Neenah’s Jase Jenkins (running back/outside linebacker) and Bay Port’s Josiah “JoJo” Azure (outside linebacker/fullback).
Also featured on the team are Menasha’s AJ Korth (quarterback), De Pere’s Gabe Herman (quarterback), Green Bay Southwest’s Thomas Paasch (offensive lineman), Appleton East’s Taye Derrico (defensive back), Kimberly’s Ethan Doucette (inside linebacker), Appleton North’s Brock Salm (safety) and West De Pere’s Najeh Mitchell (running back).
Josiah “JoJo” Azure, Bay Port, outside linebacker/fullback
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230
Family: Parents, Caleb and Chrissy; siblings, Micah, Samantha and Isaac
Favorite food: Cheeseburgers
Favorite TV show: “The Office”
Favorite movie: “Catch Me If You Can”
Favorite school subject: Weightlifting
Favorite musical artist: Luke Combs
Favorite pro athlete: A.J. Dillon
Why he’s on the team: Ranked as the No. 4 senior “edge” defender by wissports.net and ranked as the No. 11 senior overall. Unanimous first-team all-FRCC-North selection. Finished with 91 total tackles, including 19 for loss, and five sacks. Also forced three fumbles.
Taye Derrico, Appleton East, defensive back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Family: Mother, Jamie; siblings, Mekhi and Austin
Favorite food: Bacon cheeseburgers
Favorite TV show: “All American”
Favorite movie: “Purge”
Favorite school subject: Math
Favorite musical artist: Lil’ Baby
Favorite pro athlete: Jaire Alexander
Why he’s on the team: Was first-team all-Fox Valley Association and the league's defensive back of the year. Led East with 59 total tackles and also had an interception. Is the No. 5-ranked senior defensive back by wissports.net.
Ethan Doucette, Kimberly, inside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 222
Family: Parents, Bill and Amanda; siblings, Alex and Marcus
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite TV show: “All American”
Favorite movie: “The Blind Side”
Favorite school subject: Science
Favorite musical artist: Sleepy Hallow
Favorite pro athlete: Justin Flowe
Why he’s on the team: Unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association. Finished with 86 tackles, including 14 for loss. Also registered five sacks, a forced fumble and two interceptions. Ranked as the No. 6 senior linebacker by wissports.net.
Parker Fontaine, Oshkosh West, defensive tackle/offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 310
Family: Parents, Chris and Melissa; siblings, Ashley and Steven
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite TV show: “Breaking Bad”
Favorite movie: “Step Brothers”
Favorite school subject: Math
Favorite musical artist: Drake
Favorite pro athlete: Aaron Donald
Why he’s on the team: Ranked as the No. 11 defensive lineman by wissports.net. Totaled 22 tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss and was second-team all-Fox Valley Association.
Gabe Herman, De Pere, quarterback
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Family: Parents, Steve and Jenny. siblings, Logan and Tanner
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite TV show: “The Office”
Favorite movie: “De Pere game film”
Favorite school subject: Math
Favorite musical artist: Lil’ Baby
Favorite pro athlete: Cam Newton
Why he’s on the team: All-Fox River Classic Conference-North and the league’s offensive player of the year. Finished with 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns. Ranked No. 7 among senior quarterbacks by wissports.net.
Jase Jenkins, Neenah, running back/outside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Family: Parents, Jeff and Anne; siblings, Cooper and Mitchell
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: “Friends”
Favorite movie: “Dumb and Dumber”
Favorite school subject: English/Language Arts
Favorite musical artist: Cody Johnson
Favorite pro athlete: Bo Jackson
Why he’s on the team: First-team all-Fox Valley Association at running back. Totaled 1,233 yards on 210 carries (5.9 average) with eight touchdowns. Also second-team selection at linebacker and finished with 52 total tackles, including eight for loss.
AJ Korth, Menasha, quarterback
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Family: Parents, Jeramie and Krysta; sister, Alyx
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite TV show: “Outer Banks”
Favorite movie: "Remember The Titans”
Favorite school subject: Math
Favorite musical artist: Lil’ Baby
Favorite pro athlete: LeBron James
Why he’s on the team: Unanimous first-team all-Fox River Classic Conference-South and the league’s offensive player of the year. Passed for 1,223 yards and 17 touchdowns. Rushed for 1,768 yards on 203 carries (8.7 average) with 25 touchdowns. Ranked as the No. 6 senior quarterback by wissports.net and No. 34 senior overall.
Carter Kriewaldt, Freedom, running back/safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Family: Parents, Clint and Jamie; siblings, Kierstin, Collin, Clay and Kendall
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: “Outer Banks”
Favorite movie: “Step Brothers”
Favorite school subject: Math
Favorite musical artist: Zach Bryan
Favorite pro athlete: T.J. Watt
Why he’s on the team: First-team all-North Eastern Conference on offense and defense (unanimous). Finished with 1,246 yards on 250 carries with 15 touchdowns, along with 16 catches for 237 yards and four scores. Also had 77 tackles, including two for loss, a sack and an interception return for a touchdown. Ranked No. 4 among senior defensive backs by wissports.net.
Thomas Paasch, Green Bay Southwest, offensive tackle
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295
Family: Parents, Andrew and Melissa; siblings, Nicholas and Benjamin
Favorite food: Chicken breast
Favorite TV show: “Alone”
Favorite school subject: History
Favorite pro athlete: Max Scharping
Why he’s on the team: First-team all-Fox River Classic Conference-North. Ranked as the No. 1 senior offensive lineman by wissports.net and the No. 5 senior prospect overall.
Najeh Mitchell, West De Pere, running back
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Family: Father, Nick; siblings, Pejha, Nia, Mya, Kiyah and Keandre
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite TV show: “Last Chance U”
Favorite movie: “Kung Fu Panda”
Favorite school subject: History
Favorite musical artist: Lil’ Baby
Favorite pro athlete: Alvin Kamara
Why he’s on the team: First-team all-Fox River Classic Conference-North. Ran for 903 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 37 catches for 570 yards and nine scores. Ranked as the No. 4 senior running back by wissports.net and No. 29 senior overall.
Brock Salm, Appleton North, safety
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
Family: Parents, Nick and Christi; sister, Julia
Favorite food: Peanut butter and honey sandwich
Favorite TV show: “The Office”
Favorite movie: “Interstellar”
Favorite school subject: Math
Favorite musical artist: Billy Joel
Favorite pro athlete: Jaire Alexander
Why he’s on the team: Unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association. Had 42 tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a score. Also had a fumble return for a score. Ranked as the No. 9 senior defensive back by wissports.net.