Recently, we unveiled our plan to name area programs’ top five players of the 21st century, which sits at 25 seasons in both football and basketball.
So far, we have revealed the teams for Snider and East Noble football.
Over the last 25 years, Carroll has gone from a 4A program to being the biggest high school by enrollment in northeast Indiana.
With that growth has come increased success on the gridiron. Seven of the Chargers’ eight sectional titles have come since 2001. There have been some well-known athletes part of that success.
Now, OTH names its top five players at Carroll over that time.
Reminder, this is based on high school career performance ONLY. This is by no means a definitive list and, if anything, is encouraging debate on potential omissions to this list.
Through exhaustive research, reaching out to former coaches and players and our own personal opinion, here is the OTH Quarter Century Team for the Carroll Chargers.
Note: The list is in alphabetical order
Jeff Becker, Class of 2022
Carroll has been blessed with a plethora of outstanding talent at quarterback over the last decade-plus. Perhaps no one fit the role of dual-threat behind center better than Becker.
For three years, Becker terrorized opposing defenses with his arm and his legs. Consider that from 2019 to 2021, Becker threw for a program-record 6,287 yards. Also during his career, he amassed 2,078 rushing yards, good for second all-time for the Chargers.
Statistically, Becker’s junior season of 2020 stands out, as he set the single-season mark with 2,581 yards passing to go with 33 touchdowns, also a program high.
In a 76-48 win over North Side on September 4, 2020, Becker went 21-of-31 for 460 yards and eight(!) touchdowns through the air, the yardage and touchdown marks in the books as school records. His 432 career completions is second in program history.
Becker was voted Indiana All-State in 2021.
Andy Papagiannis, Class of 2002
Before Papagiannis was directing Carroll’s offense to individual and collective program records as the unit’s coordinator, he was a standout two-way athlete for the Chargers.
Papagiannis was a prolific wide receiver in his day. At the conclusion of his career following the 2001 season, he was the program’s all-time leader in receptions (86) and near the top in receiving yards (1,012).
Not overly tall, but a master of the minutiae of his craft, Papagiannis was nearly impossible to defend on his routes. With the ball in his hands, he was a craftsman. His 2000 season with 58 receptions for 764 yards set records for the time.
In 2001, he showed his versatility by also notching four interceptions as a defensive back.
Jimmy Sullivan, Class of 2025
No player in recent memory in northeast Indiana has been as cool, calm and collected while also exhibiting exceptional football prowess as Sullivan.
An easygoing personality with a passion for excellence and execution, Sullivan was a three-time First Team All-SAC pick and a two-time All-State honoree.
When his prep career ended last fall, Sullivan departed as the program’s all-time leader in pass completions with 472. He is second all-time in yards with 6,108 and second in touchdown passes with 71. In three years, Sullivan helped Carroll win 29 games, including a magical 2022 campaign that saw the Chargers reach the Class 6A state championship game.
Sullivan’s leadership and steady presence was a constant, and his impact on the Carroll program was immense.
Drue Tranquill, Class of 2014
If the word ‘resiliency’ had a picture attributed to it in the dictionary, there would be the face of Drue Tranquill.
Long before he overcame injuries and odds to shine at Notre Dame, be taken in the fourth round of the NFL Draft and be in the midst of a successful pro career, Tranquill was the master of work ethic and hard work at Carroll.
Tranquill was already a gifted athlete, but it was his dedication and heart that took him to heights many thought unattainable. As a linebacker and running back for the Chargers, he was an absolute monster. His 203 career tackles ranks sixth all-time for the program. His ability to command the defense was outstanding. A gentle soul, the switch flipped between the lines on the gridiron. He is the program’s all-times scoring leader with 49 touchdowns, 33 of which came in the 2013 season when he rushed for 1,420 yards. His 1,768 total yards that season is also a program record.
Tranquill was named Indiana All-State in 2013.
Justin Tranquill, Class of 2015
Not to be outdone by older brother Drue, Justin Tranquill was a special talent in his own right.
Justin owns a pair of individual single-game records in the Carroll record book. His 254 yards rushing against Homestead on Oct. 25, 2013 is a high mark for the Chargers, as is his 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Columbia City that same year.
Justin wasn’t as physically imposing as his brother, but his finesse, natural ability and desire to be the best he could be made the 5-foot-11, 195 pounder play way bigger. His nine career interceptions sits third all-time in Carroll history, while his six picks in 2012 is just two off the program record.
Justin is second to Drue in total points for the Chargers with 210. Combined, the brothers scored 53 touchdowns in 2013.
The 1,447 yards on the ground in 2013 is second all-time in program history, while his 2,042 career rushing yards is third.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
Be the first to comment