Jack Lange's first taste as a starter for the Eureka Wildcats was like jumping into the deep end of the pool to learn how to swim.
Lange started in a district playoff game as a sophomore against MICDS.
"He was put in a heck of a pressure situation. He played extremely well in that game," Eureka coach Jake Sumner said. "He showed me a lot. He had a tough matchup in that game. He showed us he had grown up. He had the intangibles. We knew he'd be a great player in his junior year.
"The way he played with physicality and speed, he really shined. We were excited for what was to come."
Lange has developed into a terrific left tackle. Lange, who has committed to play at Missouri, is one of the area’s elite talents in the class of 2025 and the 6-foot-9, 295-pound lineman is the No. 5 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects.
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Justin Selbert, who is playing at Princeton, was ahead of Lange as the starter in Lange's sophomore season. But Selbert tore his ACL in a district semifinal against Parkway West. Lange went in and finished the game.
"I went into the Parkway West game, and I had to go out and play the best I could," Lange said. "We won that game."
Then he got a big start against MICDS.
During that week, line coach Andy McCollum and Wildcats right tackle Eli Crafts helped Lange prepare for MICDS.
While the Wildcats lost, Lange was not overwhelmed by what he had to face.
"I wasn't perfect that game. I don't think I did too bad in that game," Lange said. "I was excited to get the chance and make a name for myself. I was super pumped for the opportunity. I was devastated for Justin to get hurt like he did."
MICDS coach Fred Bouchard said the senior nose guard Lange faced was 6-5, 340-pound Devyn Rodgers, who now is on the track team at Augustana. The defensive ends then were sophomores Luke Allgeyer, who is committed to Iowa, and Peyton Simons, who is a linebacker this fall. Cortlin Dalton, who now plays at Washburn, was an all-state linebacker that Lange also had to contend with.
"It would be interesting to go back and see how Jack matched up with Luke that night as those two are ranked fairly high by scouting services," Bouchard said. "Jack certainly impressed the college guys during the summer after his sophomore season because his recruiting went to a different level, and he became a national recruit."
Lange remembers going up against a nose guard and a linebacker that were both "pretty big."
"I was not where I wanted to be physically and mentally," Lange said. "I had a lot of work to do in the offseason. I knew what I was capable of doing. I needed to make it happen.
"I committed my offseason to working out and getting my body as good as I could be for the next season."
In his junior year at Eureka, Lange was an integral part of a Wildcats’ season that led to a district championship. Lange was named third team all-state on the offensive line.
Most recruiting services list Lange as a four-star offensive lineman. He has been rated as the 15th-best offensive tackle and the No. 144 player nationally in his class
Every school wants him. Lange had offers from Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and others.
In April, he committed to Missouri.
"I didn't want to go into the season with that looming over my head. Since I committed, I can focus just on high school and finish this season without any doubts on my mind," Lange said. "Last season, I would go straight my game and drive somewhere for a game.
"Missouri is just two hours away. That is relaxing for me. I don't regret my decision at all. It was really hard to say no. The success they had last year shows they can be a team that can be really good and be a team people want to see."
Plans remain fluid for his freshman season.
"I think I'll redshirt my freshman year and develop in weight room and get college strong," Lange said. "If I'm ready to play when I get there, that's good too. I just want to do what's best for the team."
Sumner is looking forward to following Lange in college.
"I'm hoping he'll be a four-year starter," Sumner said. "He has a very special skill set. When they get their hands on him, they'll keep developing him.
"The O-line coach (Brandon Jones) there is going to work with him. I know they're fired up to have him. He's going to hopefully be a big part of what's going on there for a long time."
But first, he has his senior year to play at Eureka. The Wildcats went 8-5 last fall. Eureka won the district championship with a 35-17 victory over Summit. The Wildcats were stopped in the Class 5 quarterfinals with a 32-29 loss to Cape Central.
"He's a monster of a young man," Sumner said. "What sets him aside, is he has that fast switch ability with his feet. He has great flexibility. Combined, that makes him such an athlete at that size he has.
"His feet are active. He can bend. He can play low, but he can play fast and low. He's physical. He finishes with some violence. It's fun to watch him play."
Lange likes being the left tackle. It's a big responsibility but Lange doesn't mind.
"It puts a weight on my shoulders. I help everybody on the line. I love playing tackle," Lange said. "I love to block outside guys who are fast on the edge. I love to down block."
When the Wildcats need that big yard in a fourth-and-1 situation, Sumner doesn't call for Ghostbusters.
He knows to call on Lange. It worked last season.
"We needed the hard yards, we went to his side," Sumner said. "Not only is he a great run blocker, he's a heck of a pass blocker. He's just a well-rounded player."
Being the man his team counts on to help get that important yard is something Lange relishes.
"I did that couple of times last year for sure," Lange said. "Against Ladue, Coach (Tyler) Wasson was asking what play to run and what we wanted to do. I was patting my chest and said run behind me. We got a first down on that play. I know I can make it happen. The guys can trust me."
Sumner likes the attitude Lange has to the game. He is eager to learn and work to improve.
"He's very coachable. He's got that great hunger to be better," Sumner said. "That's what I love about him. He's got everything going for him. He's en route to Mizzou, but he's not done here.
"He could kick back and say this is what I am, but he wants to keep going. He wants to get better. He challenges himself. He pushes himself to be coached."
The Wildcats face two big tests right out of the gate this season. Eureka opens the campaign at Francis Howell and then begins conference play with visiting Marquette.
"Both of those teams are very good teams," Lange said. "There are a bunch of good players on each team. Those teams’ coaching staffs are great. We're a competitive team.
"We won't back down from the challenge. We're ready to play those guys. I think we can get it done. I have faith in this team. I'm very excited. I think our team will be really good this year."
Once the season ends, Lange will have one more high school game to play before turning to college football. In 2025, Lange will be participating in the High School All-American Bowl in San Antonio on nationally televised NBC.