St. Louis Rams High School Squad Heads For NFL Tourney

A contingent of the top high school prep football talent in the St. Louis area leaves Thursday for Cleveland to represent the St. Louis Rams in a National Football League tournament to see who can put up the most points in 7 on 7 play.

7 on 7 competitions have gained popularity in recent years as a way to show off talents of the so-called "skill position" players at quarterback, wide receiver and running back.

Athletes for the hand-picked roster come from CBC, Chaminade, Vianney, Parkway Central, Francis Howell, MICDS and other local programs. The St. Louis roster features five players who participated in the event last summer when it was held in Indianapolis. That experience was something that MICDS Linebacker Cole Sigmund, who is back in 2013, called "life-changing" and said helped him improve as a high school player.

"A fast pace and a lot of people," is how Parkway Central Defensive End Jonathan Bonner described it. "It's a little chaotic at first but it'll eventually slow down and everyone can just get on the same page."

CBC defensive back Zach Muniz has been telling his teammates about the physical toll the event will have on them. "You're going to be playing in the heat, you're going to be playing for a good five to six hours straight so you need to go to sleep when you you get the chance to go to sleep you need to make sure you eat a good breakfast," he said.

The team arrives in Cleveland Thursday, plays in an exhibition Friday at the Cleveland Browns practice facility and then competes in a single elimination tournament Saturday. The 2012 squad went 8-1 before being eliminated in the 2nd round.

Meet The Team

Devin Alexander – Ritenour High School
Justin Andrews – Normandy High School
Jonathan Bonner – Parkway Central High School
Brandon Brice – Hazelwood East High School
Sam Frelich – Chaminade High School
Jimmy Jones – Hazelwood East High School
Kyle Kinner – Westminster High School
Brendan Moore – Mehlville High School
Zach Muniz – CBC High School
Brett Siebenshuh – Francis Howell High School
Cole Sigmund – MICDS High School
Markel Smith – Vianney High School