Risers and Under The Radar Prospects in IL’s C/O ’23, Part 1
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It’s amazing to see the number of sophomores having a significant impact on their team’s success this spring. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Illinois’ c/o ’23 has the potential to be one of the state’s best in…
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Continue ReadingIt’s amazing to see the number of sophomores having a significant impact on their team’s success this spring. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Illinois’ c/o ’23 has the potential to be one of the state’s best in recent years.
Throughout the offseason, I was able to evaluate and meet a bunch of prospects in this class; now that we’ve had some semblance of a season, I’ve been able to come across more talented prospects to add to my already stacked list of talented ’23s in the ILL state.
This three-part series will feature prospects in the ’23 class who we expected to have strong seasons and others flying under the radar.
Let us kick it off with five prospects who are flying under the radar but won’t be for much longer.
JaMycheal Towns JaMycheal Towns 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB St. Rita | 2023 State IL | LB | Bremen
Towns is active on the field and appears to always find himself around the ball. His versatility is what I love about him the most. He’s the type of linebacker who can play in the box and be a factor in stopping the run, getting to the quarterback, and if need be, he can drop back in coverage. He has good footwork for his size (6’3″ 200lbs) and does a great job keeping his hips parallel to the LOS.
Willie Taylor | ATH | Clark
Taylor is probably one of the most intriguing prospects you haven’t heard of. He gets it done on both sides of the ball and does so at a high level and is currently leading his team in rushing and tackles. As a running back, he has long speed which enables him to take it the distance. His solid frame makes it difficult for solo tacklers to bring him down, and he’s by far one of the hardest runners I’ve seen in person this spring. He’s also a reliable receiver out of the backfield with a nice set of hands and can be a threat intermediately or downfield. He’s a hybrid on defense who is as sure of a tackler as they come. Has an incredible nose for the ball, which is a credit to his great instincts.
Jacob Donohue | QB | Grayslake N.
Donohue was given the keys to the Knight’s offense once senior quarterback Nicholas Fish was lost for the season with a foot injury. Donohue opened up the season throwing for 7 touchdowns in his first start on varsity and has since led his team to a 4-1 record. He wasn’t on my radar to start the season, but his play has been so impressive that he’s worked his way into the conversation of being considered one of the top quarterback prospects in Lake County. Through five games this spring, he’s shown great pocket presence, an ability to extend plays, and the accuracy to consistently hit his guys between the numbers. Donohue is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on moving forward.
Jaden Bossie Jaden Bossie 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Mt Carmel | 2023 State IL | DB | Mt. Carmel
Bossie may have found a new home after spending most of his freshman season at the running back position. He’s put together a solid sophomore season as a defensive back on one of the state’s premier teams. He’s a physical corner who’s more than capable of coming up and supporting the run. He has excellent speed and good hip fluidity and footwork, which enables him to deploy his ball skills and make life hard for an opposing receiver.