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| Dineen, center. Lawrence Journal World. |
Lawrence Free State
Position(s): Quarterback/Safety
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 lbs.
Year: Senior
Stat to Note
Athletic success is in Dineen's blood. His grandfather, Ron Oelshlager, played football for Kansas in the 1960s and his great-grandfather, J. Roy Holliday, played basketball under Phog Allen at Kansas in the 1930s. Not to mention both his parents played collegiate sports at the Division One level.
Scouting Report
Dineen is one of the hardest hitting defensive backs I've ever witnessed in the Sunflower League and he has an uncanny ability to make plays on the ball (it probably helps that he's a great baseball player). With those attributes added to an already tremendous combination of size, speed and athleticism, Dineen recorded 62 tackles, three interceptions and one defensive touchdown, in addition to rushing for 495 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. Those efforts earned him First Team All-Sunflower League honors as a defensive back, a year after he earned Second Team honors as a sophomore. This season, the graduation of Kyle McFarland has left a void at the quarterback position -- one which Dineen will be filling.
The quarterback position at Free State has been one of the most highly-acclaimed positions at any league school over the past decade. The list of players who've manned the quarterback spot for the Firebirds in that time include Ryan Murphy, Craig Rosenstangle, Camren Torneden, Dylan Perry and McFarland. Dineen will look to carry on the incredible tradition that's been established by the signal-callers in the Firebird's zone-read attack.
The added dimension of playing a full-time role on offense in addition to his defensive efforts makes Dineen one of the early favorites to win the Simone Award as the most outstanding high school football player in the Kansas City metropolitan area. With his recruitment complete (Dineen committed to Kansas in late May), the league's most complete all-around player will be able to focus his full attention on trying to bring Free State its first state title in school history.
