Illinois’ Pre-Season #1 Overall Team: East St. Louis

<strong>Head Coach:</strong> <i>Darren Sunkett</i> <strong>Mascot:</strong><em> Flyers</em> <strong>Twitter: </strong><em>@Football_Flyers</em> <strong>IHSA Enrollment:</strong><em> 1,1662 </em> <strong>2019 Record:</strong> 14-0 (Class 6A State Champions) <strong>Star Player: </strong><em>WR, [player_tooltip player_id="20194" first="Dominic" last="Lovett"], SR</em> <strong>Breakout Star: </strong><em>RB: [player_tooltip player_id="20248" first="Jaylen" last="Reed"], SR</em> <strong>Overview</strong> East St. Louis, is loaded with talent returning from 2019's state title squad. Offensively, they'll be led by Missouri commit [player_tooltip player_id="20203" first="Tyler" last="Macon"], four-star wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="20194" first="Dominic" last="Lovett"] &amp; one of the nations premier rising prospects in wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="20251" first="Keontez" last="Lewis"]. Defensively, you have to look at rising junior's [player_tooltip player_id="20928" first="Ahmad" last="Robinson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="20908" first="Jireh" last="Mays"], both of whom should see their recruiting take off in the next few months. Last fall, East St. Louis was dominant, averaging 51 points on offense and only giving up 14 on defense. The only test they had was a 50-48 week three win at Neuqua Valley; every other win was by double digits. Head coach Darren Sunkett does a tremendous job with his program and consistently sends multiple prospects to the division one level each season. He's won three state titles in his eighteen seasons and could very well capture his 4th this fall. <strong>Offense</strong> <strong>2019 Offensive PPG:</strong><em> 51.0</em> <strong>Notable Returners:</strong> <em>QB: [player_tooltip player_id="20203" first="Tyler" last="Macon"], SR</em> <img src="https://static.hudl.com/users/prod/10923163_3bd207b876404627ad076356ea9d74a3.jpg" /> <em>WR: [player_tooltip player_id="20251" first="Keontez" last="Lewis"], SR</em> <img class="" src="https://www.bnd.com/latest-news/ylfe1c/picture237926239/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1140/JJS_3930%20copy.jpg" alt="East St. Louis, IL, receiver gets offers from Auburn, UCLA ..." width="449" height="253" /> <em>WR: Kenneth Cotton, 5'10, 165, SR</em> <img src="https://static.hudl.com/users/prod/10190491_8f63c5b0df504590a19f2e5eedb98cf7.jpg" /> <em>WR: [player_tooltip player_id="20194" first="Dominic" last="Lovett"], SR</em> <img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1169771578651025408/fSDP6WVp_400x400.jpg" /> <em>OL: [player_tooltip player_id="20841" first="Miles" last="McVay"], SO</em> <img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1234057389780983808/fM-u-Cex_400x400.jpg" /> <em>ATH: <span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="20248" first="Jaylen" last="Reed"]</span>, SR</em> <em>OL: [player_tooltip player_id="20842" first="Paris" last="Patterson"], SO</em> <img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EK04ReuWsAA9G-4?format=jpg&amp;name=small" alt="Image" /> <em>Transfer: TE, [player_tooltip player_id="20272" first="Scott" last="Presson"], SR</em> <img class="" src="https://vg.hudl.com/7u2/yz6/a0c3e318-a287-4da5-9422-d70d53cdd95c/vca9qm2rvv5s9y8h-3000_Full.jpg?v=1D86001EA3F7D408" alt="[player_tooltip player_id=" width="506" height="285" /> <strong>Notable Departures:</strong> <em>OL: Javontez Spraggins</em> <em>WR: Lawaun Powell</em> <em>RB: DaMonta Witherspoon</em> <strong>Defense</strong> <strong>2019 Defensive PPG:</strong><em> 14.0</em> <strong>Notable Returners:</strong> <em>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="20928" first="Ahmad" last="Robinson"], JR</em> <img class="" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPvba5CWkAIc975?format=jpg&amp;name=large" alt="Image" width="512" height="341" /> <em>DB: <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jeremy-gelino/"><span class="name-pointer">Lamarr Box</span></a>, JR</em> <img src="https://static.hudl.com/users/prod/11866424_3568cb8e10364cca956ebc1454365a76.jpg" /> <em>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="20919" first="Jamol" last="Molton"], JR</em> <em>DL: [player_tooltip player_id="20908" first="Jireh" last="Mays"], JR</em> <img src="https://static.hudl.com/users/prod/13649085_ae20a2b735754ef9b249781a437db970.jpg" /> <em>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="20920" first="Jalen" last="Byrd"], JR</em> <img src="https://static.hudl.com/users/prod/11866429_913d685758e44f9dabee594a0514b367.jpg" /> <strong>Notable Departures:</strong> <em>DB: Antonio Johnson</em> <em>DL: Kevon Billingsley</em> <em>DL: Kendrick Scarbrough</em> <strong>2020 Schedule</strong> @ Christian Brothers (MO), 8/28 vs. De Smet (MO), 9/5 (Class 6 State Champions) @ St. John Bosco (CA), 9/11 (2019 CIF State Champions &amp; 2019 National Champions) @ Belleville West, 9/18 vs. Alton, 9/25 @. Edwardsville, 10/2 vs. O'Fallon, 10/9 @. Belleville East, 10/17 vs. Naperville Central, 10/23 <strong>Opponents 2019 Record: </strong><em>59-36</em> <strong>Opponents Win Percentage: </strong><em>62.1%</em> <strong>Top Storyline</strong> Can the state's most talented team get through the toughest schedule in Illinois healthy before playoff time rolls around? <strong>Thoughts</strong> I truly believe this is the state's most talented squad, and it could be the flyer's most talented team in a very long time. However, we all know talent alone won't just win you games. The flyers are going to have to battle week after week. I gotta hand it to head coach Darren Sunket; he'll play anyone, anywhere, at any time. Their 2020 schedule has an SEC type feel to it, including two state champions from two different states. The big one will be week three on the road against reigning National Champion St. John Bosco out of California. If the Flyers are able to win that game and run the table in Class 6A, I think you'd have to put them in the conversation for the greatest squads in Illinois history. I believe East St. Louis is the favorite in Class 6A and has an excellent chance of repeating as state champions. If the flyers don't enter the playoffs with an unblemished record, there's no reason to freak out. This team is well versed and has plenty of experience with deep playoff runs. One thing is for sure; the 2020 East St. Louis flyers are going to be fun to watch.