Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – The biggest strength for Clear Creek Amana this season is the big boys up front on.

It’s two of the biggest of those big linemen that are leading the way for the Clippers.

Seniors Vinnie Keller and Brody Clubb combine to give Clear Creek Amana one of the top two-way line combos in Class 4A and this fall that duo has teamed up to take on a bigger leadership role as Clear Creek Amana seeks to snap a string of back-to-back three-win seasons under first-year head coach Lance Pedersen.

“When you have some of your top guys working the hardest it’s easy for a lot of guys to follow a along,” Pedersen said. “That’s been Vinnie and Brody and it’s been a lot of fun to watch those two in that way.”

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Clubb and 6-foot, 270-pound Keller are both big, which is among the most important characteristics for a lineman.

Equally as important both Keller and Clubb are experienced.

Both are four-year starters that are among the most experienced linemen in the state with both playing a variety of positions across both the offensive and defensive lines the past three season.

In their final prep season Clubb and Keller are poised to play the best football of their careers while leading an experienced group of returning Clipper linemen.

“We played together for four years, we’ve been in the weight room together, we’ve been on the field conditioning together and (Vinnie) wants just as bad as anyone else on the team,” Clubb said. “I think it should be a good year for both of us.”

Clubb and Keller both started as freshmen in 2021 helping Clear Creek Amana to a 6-4 record and a spot in the Class 4A playoffs.

It hasn’t always been a smooth journey from freshmen starter to senior standout for either player.

Clubb made an immediate impact early in his career ranking on the top four on the team in tackles in each of his first two seasons.

Among the best defensive lineman in the state, Clubb was off to the best season of his career last fall before a shoulder injury ended his season after just three games.

“That was the first time I had ever watched,” Clubb said. “It’s a whole different perspective so I was almost able to step into a coaching role and help my teammates that way just seeing stuff from the sideline.”

Clubb underwent surgery in October and was cleared to return to basketball in January, playing in the final 10 games.

Since getting the o.k. to resume football activities in February Clubb has gone non-stop in an attempt to set himself up for a strong senior season.

“I didn’t want to get back to where I was I wanted to get past that since I’d missed so much,” Clubb said. “I think I’ve been able to do that.”

A North Dakota State commit, Clubb has racked up 99.5 career tackles including 15.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Clubb projects as a defensive end in college but will play on both lines this fall.

He joins Keller, Cole Smith (6-1, 270), Justin Jiras (6-1, 240), Kevin Howe (6-0, 210) and Jacek Wauters (6-3, 210) in a big, physical and experienced Clear Creek Amana linemen unit.

“Jacek Wauters will be in his third year starting this year and he’s stepping into a bigger role, Cole Smith and Justin Jiras both started the last two years on the offensive line and we have a lot of those guys that are going to play defense this year as well,” Clubb said. “They’ve taken that and ran with it.”

While Clubb had immediate success Keller is among the most improved players in the Clear Creek Amana program.

Keller started as a freshman when he says he couldn’t bench press 135 pounds.

Now, an anchor in the middle of both lines with a 305 bench max, Keller is coming off a junior season in which he was a first-team all-district pick.

He credits the weight room work and joining the wrestling team as the reasons for his ascent.

“I couldn’t even bench a plate when I was a freshman and I just tried to stay consistent in the weight room,” Keller said. “I’ve done wrestling the last two years and I think that has helped me so much with my footspeed and explosiveness and I think that’s been one of the biggest things for me.”

An offensive line starter his first two seasons Keller was a force on both lines last season.

Keller took up cross fit training in the offseason to prepare for the rigors of playing 100 plus snaps in games and produced ranking fifth on the team with 31.5 tackles including six for loss.

“He wants to learn, he wants to get better and he’s work as hard as he can,” Pedersen said of Keller. “He wants to be part of the change and part of the turnaround in the football program here.”

Keller and Club have played together for three seasons but haven’t line up much together on the defensive line.

Both believe that together they will be a tough assignment for opposing offensive lines this season.

“You can’t really double both of us, if you put two guys on either of us the other one is going to be free,” Keller said. “I think it’s hard to game plan for.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.