Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – The easiest thing for Jace Andregg would have been to stick to what he knew.  

After all, there was already of plenty new for Andregg after transferring to Solon from Cedar Rapids Prairie last winter.  

New school, new teammates, new coaching staff.

With all those changes the easy route for Andregg would be avoiding a position switch in his only season as a full-time two-way starter for the Spartans.

A former safety and projected linebacker Andregg was more concerned with helping his new team than taking the easy road during his final prep season.

Andregg made the switch to defensive end and has become cornerstone of an impressive defense for second-ranked Solon (11-0) which faces No. 7 Sergeant Bluff-Luton (10-1) in the Class 3A semifinals on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.  

“I had only really played safety and I was going to play some inside linebacker before the season started but then the coaches thought I would be better used at defensive end,” Andregg said. “As long as I was helping the team as much as I could I was fine with where every they needed me to play.”

That willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team, even if it meant doing something he had never done before on the football field is a big reason Andregg fit in immediately with his new teammates.

“Everybody has welcomed him because he has the same goals as everybody else here,” Solon senior quarterback Cam Miller said. “He has just been a great addition.”

Andregg played primarily on offense in two varsity seasons at Cedar Rapids Prairie and has done plenty of damage as a receiver for the Spartans scoring 16 touchdowns.

His play on the defensive side of the ball has been perhaps an even bigger factor in helping Solon return to the UNI-Dome for the second time in three seasons.

In his first season playing defensive end Andregg ranks third on the team in tackles and leads the Spartans in both tackles for loss and sacks.

All from a guy that expected to play safety or linebacker as little as four months ago.

“It’s been a lot different putting my hand down and getting in the trenches but it’s been pretty fun,” Andregg said. “Being able to get hands on people, rush the quarterback, getting tackles for loss that’s a lot of fun.”

The fact the Solon coaching staff even considered moving Andregg to defensive line says something about the rare skill set he possesses for a high school player.

At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds Andregg moves like a safety, can hit like a linebacker and play with the physicality of a defensive end.

“Here is a guy that used to play safety and has played linebacker and now he has his hand down,” Solon coach Kevin Miller said. “That says about his skill set, that he is the type of player that is versatile enough that he can play multiple positions. He’s an athlete that can change direction, he’s explosive and he is getting better each week at that position.”

Andregg making the move to defensive end also speaks to the type of players the Spartans have at inside linebacker.

The only Spartans with more tackles than Andregg this season are inside linebackers Jax Flynn (77.5) and Carson Shive (64.5).

Andregg shifting down to defensive end strengthened a Solon defense that is holding opponents to 7.4 points and 169 total yards per game this season.

“He’s been a great fit for our program,” Kevin Miller said. “He is just a real humble kid that doesn’t like that attention or the focus put on him but just great lines up and plays.”

It took some time for Andregg to adjust to his new spot.

After recording 4.5 tackles in the Spartans first three games combined the senior has averaged 3.5 tackles per game since.

Andregg has 32.5 tackles on the season including five for loss and four sacks.

“I’ve really learned a lot this year especially working with coach (Aaron) Kampman,” Andregg said. “He has really taught me a lot, not just with a lot of pass rush moves but just a lot of base block stuff and how to get off run blocks.”

Andregg is coming off his best game of the season in a 24-0 quarterfinal win over Pella, a four-tackle, two sack performance.

The Northern Iowa recruit spurred a Solon defensive effort that forced four turnovers and held the Dutch to just 175 total yards.

“I think last Friday we did a pretty good job with a pass rush with Tyler Locke on the other side and just our defensive line as a whole,” Andregg said. “We didn’t really go up against a lot of teams that passed a whole lot, here and there, but definitely on Thursday there is going to be a lot of passing so rushing the passer is going to be big.”

Andregg and his teammates will get their toughest test of the season against Sergeant Bluff-Luton on Thursday.

The Warriors rank second in 3A in passing averaging better than 244 yards per game through the air thanks to 6-foot-8 senior quarterback Daniel Wright who has passed for 2,681 yards and 30 touchdowns.

The Sergeant Bluff-Luton passing attack makes Andregg’s ability to rush the passer from his defensive end spot a key for the Solon defense.

“He is going to have to be a catalyst on our defense,” Kevin Miller said. “Our whole defensive unit is going to be tested because this is probably the best offense we have faced to date.”

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