Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – When it comes to his size Max DePrenger is a realist.

The City High junior is aware he doesn’t possess the prototypical measurements for any position on the football field.

DePrenger knows the 5-foot-11 and 146-pounds next to his name in the City High program are a bit generous.

“I’m maybe 142 or 143,” DePrenger says with a smirk and a shrug. “Somewhere around there.”

DePrenger definitely understands he doesn’t own some of the physical attributes of his opponents.

He just doesn’t seem to care.

“I know I’m smaller than a lot of guys and that doesn’t bother me,” DePrenger said. “It’s about the mindset. You have to have that mindset to be physical with the bigger guys and be ready to fight to get in there.”

He might not fit the exact physical mold of a football standout but three games into his varsity career DePrenger is performing like one.

DePrenger led City High in tackles in each of the first two games this season and is tied for the team lead with17.5 tackles from his spot in the secondary.

Playing both strong safety and cornerback DePrenger made a career-high nine solo tackles in a week-two loss to Pleasant Valley and leads the Little Hawks with 15 solo tackles on the year.

“He is fearless and he is a good tackler so he has all those things going for him,” City High coach Dan Sabers said. “He just brings a lot.”

DePrenger grew up wrestling and spent time in the City High lineup at 138 pounds last winter.

He credits his success on the football field to years of working on wrestling.

“I think the mental aspect of wrestling helps a lot with football,” DePrenger said. “It also helps you know how to tackle someone basically going for the legs.”

Bringing an attacking approach from wrestling to football has been a key for DePrenger.

Sabers has been impressed with his aggressiveness and physicality in the defensive backfield.

“He is a wrestler and you can see that, he gets after it,” Sabers said. “He’s fearless out there.”

Like any player making their varsity debut DePrenger needed time to adjust to the speed of the game.

Playing defensive back around 145 pounds DePrenger also needed to find a way to offset the size advantage he often faces against taller receivers.

Three games into his varsity career he has already started to make that adjustment.

“Definitely the size of the guys I have to guard was the biggest adjustment,” DePrenger said. “I had to guard a 6-foot-5 receiver last week which was kind of tough but I hung with him. No matter how big the person is. I just try to go after them.”

DePrenger has seen his role increase in a short time on the varsity roster.

With starting tailback Davonte Foster sidelined with an injury last week DePrenger stepped in and rushed for 59 yards on eight carries against Ames.

“He’s a pretty good tailback,” Sabers said. “There is no question he sees this and he hits the hole quick.”

Less than a month after making his varsity debut DePrenger will get his first taste of the annual Battle for the Boot on Friday when City High (1-2) hosts second-ranked West High (3-0) at Frank Bates Field.

City High is attempting to win its third straight game in the series and ninth straight over West High at Bates Field.

“It’s intense, it’s a lot more intense than all the other weeks,” DePrenger said. “I’m so excited just having that atmosphere and being with my friends on the field and being able to battle for that Boot is exciting.”