Offseason All-Stars: Wide Receivers

This years offseason in Illinois was obviously extremely long and difficult for any high school athlete. So many prospects in the 2021 class got passed over due to not having current film. As for other classes, they too missed out on getting new film, but since the NCAA is on the verge of the dead period ending, they will get their opportunity later this week to show to coaches they’re worthy of offers. Many of the athletes took this in stride, as there were adjustments to the camp and workout schedules. I was able to attend a good amount of events and here are my offseason wide receiver MVP’s. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-113374" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/A666C62C-22D7-4A0F-9ABC-4DDE5D20DDF0-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> 2023 Justin Taylor I have no idea how Taylor slipped through the cracks but he did. I first saw him up close during the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/eft-edgy-tim-mlk-showcase-top-defensive-line-performers/">EFT / EDGY Tim’s MLK Showcase</a> then multiple times shortly after. A young man that showed he could play on the other side of the ball as well when I attended <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/02/qbwon-group-workout-standouts/">QBWON’s Friday night</a> workout, is one of the hardest workers I saw during the offseason. A few days later at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/next-level-athletix-sunday-workout-top-wrs/">Next Level Athletix</a> Sunday workout, he once again showed an elite skill set. Taylor can be a star on either side of the ball at the next level, but I prefer him on offense. He’s one of my favorite players in the class, and I’d be shocked if Taylor didn’t blow up this spring. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-42080" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/D012EC1A-A63D-455D-88A2-51D5BC447EF0-rotated-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="20836" first="Carnell" last="Tate"] The rising junior had a dominant fall camp season and I must have missed him during the Boom Showcase due to there being so many impressive players in attendance. I made it a point to see more than a few reps the next chance I got to see Tate at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/prz-showcase-session-2-top-performers-qb-wr-db-and-lb/">our PRZ Showcase</a> and was wowed by his performance. A few weeks later during his <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/boom-7v7-finals-top-wrs-and-rb/">Boom 7v7 in-house finals</a>, Tate was a dominant force. Rarely do you see long YAC scores in 7v7 play, but Tate was able to pull one off. He would later opt to transfer to IMG in Florida due to Illinois’ uncertainty surround their football season. Tate is already missed, but this won’t be the last time you hear his name. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111765" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt7-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> 2022 Malik Armstrong Long, lean and athletic, Armstrong was one of the best receivers at every event I saw him at. Starting with a very solid performance at the same <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/boom-7v7-finals-top-wrs-and-rb/">Boom 7v7 Finals</a>, he just glides on the field. A few weeks later on a Sunday norning at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/next-level-athletix-and-itrainathletix-qbs-tes-wrs-dbs/">Next Level Athletix</a>, Armstrong used his lanky frame to reach balls that seem uncatchable. Another impressive performance at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/eft-edgy-tim-mlk-showcase-top-tes-and-wrs/">EFT / EDGY Tim’s MLK Showcase</a> sold me on his talents. Armstrong should have a very solid spring which will catapult him to a big fall. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-41242" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/B353AD7F-64D8-4B79-8EB0-FB0BE2223A7B-169x300.jpeg" alt="" width="169" height="300" /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="20878" first="Tyler" last="Morris"] An older teammate of Taylor’s, the two of them combine to make up one of the deadlier duo’s in the state. Morris didn’t need to show much during the camp season, but what he did in the single time I saw him at the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/boom-7v7-finals-top-wrs-and-rb/">Boom 7v7 Finals</a> was more than impressive. A big time player maker, that is going to give plenty of defenses fits this spring. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-62335" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/4C848CD9-09C8-4669-96E4-B07781D84003-rotated-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="20868" first="Kaleb" last="Brown"] When you see a guy just once, at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/boom-7v7-finals-top-wrs-and-rb/">Boom 7v7 Finals</a>, and he leaves that kind of impression on you, it’s something else. That’s exactly what happened with Brown as I can still see him making extremely impressive catches all over the field. Already possessing multiple P5 offers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Brown made this list. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-42079" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/736A0C98-60E6-415F-B38A-23E70BA189D3-1-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="20843" first="Malik" last="Elzy"] Talk about a college ready frame, upon finding out Elzy was just a sophomore, my jaw dropped. He seems like he’s been living in the weight room, yet another player who stood out during <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/boom-7v7-finals-top-wrs-and-rb/">Booms 7v7 Finals</a>. It would be another few months until we would cross paths, but Elzy seemed like wasn’t taking any time off and another high level performance at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/eft-edgy-tim-mlk-showcase-top-tes-and-wrs/">EFT / EDGY Tim’s MLK Showcase</a>. Already possessing P5 offers, Elzy is primed for a huge spring. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-47106" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/IMG_2782-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="65877" first="Ryan" last="Sims"] Even though Sims didn’t attend many camps or events I was at this offseason, he still impressed when I did get to see him in Indiana for the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/eft-edgy-tim-mlk-showcase-top-tes-and-wrs/">EFT / EDGY Tim’s MLK Showcase</a>. Sims would later be a prospect that I reviewed when looking at his class, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/02/tape-review-class-of-2023-rising-prospects/">his freshman film</a> was more than enough for me. I will get the opportunity to see Sims live this weekend, and I’m sure he’ll put on a show. Best of the rest I’m not going to lie, the list that I compiled for this group was massive and although I won’t go as in-depth about these players they still were among the best that I saw. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="65846" first="Jalen" last="Johnson"] – Was one of the best receiver on hand at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/prz-showcase-session-2-top-performers-qb-wr-db-and-lb/">our PRZ Showcase</a>. 2022 Cameron Pickett – Wowed at two Boom events, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/08/who-stood-out-from-boom-showcase-day-2-class-of-2022-offense/">day two of their showcase</a> then again at their <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/boom-7v7-finals-top-wrs-and-rb/">7v7 Finals</a>. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="20890" first="Max" last="Reese"] – An absolute force at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/next-level-athletix-and-itrainathletix-qbs-tes-wrs-dbs/">Next Level Athletix</a>. 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="119388" first="Noah" last="Pfafflin"] – Has a very bright future performed well at both <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/10/next-level-athletix-and-itrainathletix-qbs-tes-wrs-dbs/">Next Level Athletix</a> then again months later with the same <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/next-level-athletix-sunday-workout-top-wrs/">great training group.</a> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="110715" first="Jacob" last="Bostick"] – Big time performance at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/eft-edgy-tim-mlk-showcase-top-tes-and-wrs/">EFT / EDGY Tim’s MLK Showcase</a>. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="65730" first="Luke" last="Jones"] – Among the best of the best at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/eft-edgy-tim-mlk-showcase-top-tes-and-wrs/">EFT / EDGY Tim’s MLK Showcase</a>. 2023 Grant Larkin – A young man that asked for more expose and deserved it with an impressive showing at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/throw-it-deep-sunday-morning-workout-best-pass-catchers/">Throw It Deep.</a>