Rise and Fire: ‘24 & ‘25 Top pass catchers
The Rise and Fire camp held three different sessions, the first was for the young up-and-coming athletes while Saturday and Sunday saw the incoming freshman and rising sophomore’s competing. I’ve already gone over Sunday’s group and now the focus will…
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Continue ReadingThe Rise and Fire camp held three different sessions, the first was for the young up-and-coming athletes while Saturday and Sunday saw the incoming freshman and rising sophomore’s competing. I’ve already gone over Sunday’s group and now the focus will go to the Saturday’s group. Here are the top pass-catchers from Saturday’s session.
2024 Lyons WR Noah Pfafflin Noah Pfafflin 6'2" | 185 lbs | LB Lyons Township | 2024 State IL (6’2” and 175lbs) @noahpfafflin
When Pfafflin plays with his peers, he looks out of place, but not in a bad way. At this stage of his career, he’s just so much more polished than many of the other players his age. He runs a variety of routes, all well, while having a very impressive catch radius.
The most polished WR in Saturday’s group was @noahpfafflin who has a great connection with teammate @RyanJackson714 pic.twitter.com/MsSnXfptZg
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
Pfafflin’s hands are strong, he normally out-muscles defenders for jump balls. He’s a name on the rise and will be fun to watch the next three years before Pfafflin moves on from the high school level.
2025 TE Dinos Drossos (6’3” and 181lbs) @DinosDrossos
Unfortunately this rising playmaker is moving to Arizona, This wont be the last time you hear from Drossos, he’s already possessing an impressive frame with a very solid skill set. He large right now and seemingly will only get bigger.
Hey @N_Rock17 this young guy @DinosDrossos is headed your way and needs to be on your radar pic.twitter.com/yRYqObhsm7
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
Drossos has good athleticism, solid hands and can run more than a few routes. Who know’s what position the young man will end up playing, Drossos has tons of potential on the gridiron.
2025 Morgan Park WR Jovan Clark (6′ and 195lbs) @__JC23
If you told me Clark was a rising junior, it would make sense. For his age, the frame is extremely impressive, already muscular and thick. Clark is another player who is a wait-and-see what he grows into due to his age.
Could Morgan Park have another freshman WR make waves on varsity for a second year in a row? @__JC23 has the potential to be an impact player right away pic.twitter.com/ehZAI8JtnI
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
Great hands and solid footwork, he could very well end up on the other side of the ball, as a linebacker. A player like Clark has so much potential, it’s just way too early to designate a position for him. Either way, he’s one to watch this fall and over the next four years.
2025 Montini Catholic WR Donovan Olugbode (6’1 and 160lbs)
While he still hasn’t gotten to Montini, Olugbode should be exciting the coaching staff about his potential. He’s got great size already, runs clean and scrips routes, with very good hands. Olugbode has a long frame, that has some muscle to it, but with plenty of room to continue to add on good weight.
.@MontiniFootball has an impressive freshman WR in Donovan Olugbode who caught this pretty pass from @NMcfarlnd pic.twitter.com/4Calq1S13J
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
I liked the fact that he consistently made plays, his focus is very impressive when catching balls. I’m very interested to see if he gets some varsity run this fall, but if he doesn’t, Olugbode will be a playmaker waiting in the JV wings.
2024 Thornwood-Fractional TE Charles Miles (6′ and 178lbs) @CJ_Miles27
Although not a speedy receiver, Miles still showed good hands and route running ability.
Really like the upside of @CJ_Miles27 who could grow into a TE pic.twitter.com/dGMiG4sgXs
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
It makes me think that he’ll ultimately end up as a tight end, his frame can hold on extra weight and if he grows a few inches over the next few years, Miles would fit the mold. I liked that I saw through the day and Miles has potential to be very solid for T-F.
2024 Kenwood WR Zion Sims (6’2 and 190lbs) @ZionSims8
Another rising sophomore who has a great frame, Sims is long and athletic, with some very good flexibility. He made some impressive catches throughout the day, but he might outgrow the receiver position and end up as a tight end.
Long and athletic @ZionSims8 could be a field stretching pass catcher as he develops pic.twitter.com/CJyqab4HIu
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
Sims isn’t the fastest on the field, but ran routes well enough to get separation to utilize his long arms. I’m excited to see what he brings to the table the next three years.
2025 Marist WR Jahmare Washington (6′ and 150lbs) @buckz5k1
After watching Washington move, what his body-type looks like and his skill set, it’s easy to see a young Malik Armstrong Malik Armstrong 6'2" | 165 lbs | WR Minooka | 2022 State IL , who recently committed to NIU. Washington is long and lean, and runs deceptively fast due to his long strides.
Incoming @RedHawkFB WR Jamari Washington’s frame looks like an instate NIU commit and is showing ability like him as well pic.twitter.com/SatZNWxMs8
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
He’s got very good hands and uses his length to this advantage to high point balls. He’s going to have to add a bit of weight to his frame, but the potential is there for Washington to be a force.
2024 Kaneland WR Aric Johnson Aric Johnson 6'0" | 190 lbs | WR Kaneland | 2024 State IL (6′ and 180lbs) @aj_4king
One of the most physically gifted players in attendance, Johnson has the look like he’s already an upperclassman. A strong lower-half which allowed him to speed by the competition, his hands were very good also. Athletically, Johnson moves well, has good hands and uses his strength to his advantage. Johnson has a ton of potential and at these kind of events, his impressive traits show up.
2024 Rockridge TE Connor Deem (5’11” and 190) @ConnorDeem21
Even though he’s a bit on the shorter side for a tight end, Deem has the skill set to make plays at the position. He could occasionally line up out wide as well, but his future is at the end of the line.
Really liked the frame and catch radius from @ConnorDeem21 pic.twitter.com/YBBjZK9O4L
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
A good frame that is already muscular, Deem ran routes well and has very good hands. He jumps well to catch balls, keeping his balance and ability to turn upfield. I liked what I saw from Deem and will be interested to see how he does this fall.
2025 Nazareth TE Gabe Kaminski (6’3” and 200lbs) @gabe_kaminski
A great tight end frame for such a young player, Kaminski isn’t just a big body. He ran good routes, showed enough speed for the position and has good hands. Kaminski has some athleticism as well and it should improve as he gets older. I really like the potential that he showed during the camp, Kaminski is another incoming freshman that we need to keep an eye on.
2024 Oswego East TE Aiden Moriarty (6’3” and 200lbs) @aidenmoriarty6
A massive frame, Moriarty showed well during the event. He ran some very good routes, and good catch radius.
Already with a great TE frame @aidenmoriarty6 oozes with potential pic.twitter.com/WJhMIdVpdP
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
Moriarty does need to work on his hands a bit, then his skill set will really shine. I think the potential is there for him to improve and if he does, Moriarty could become a very solid pass-catching tight end.
2024 Glenbard West WR Julius Ellens Julius Ellens 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Glenbard West | 2024 State IL (5’10” and 165lbs) @JuliusEllens
A freshman starter, Ellens is already in contact with multiple P5 schools. It was easy to see why as he was absolutely impressive in all aspects. Ellens has good hands, ran very good routes while showing off some very good speed.
Loved seeing @JuliusEllens not just running deep routes. After a big freshman year, he’s going to explode this fall. Pass from @DiegoGu89654875 pic.twitter.com/23cMstTEPR
— "The" Mike F Chen (@MikeFChen) July 1, 2021
He went to the camp with a purpose, to improve his game, which I really liked. Ellens has a solid frame as well, he’s already fairly muscular but with plenty of room to grow. After starring on varsity last spring, Ellens should blow up this fall and offers should be heading his way.
2024 Mt. Carmel WR Maurice Davis Maurice Davis 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Marian Catholic Chicago Heights | 2024 IL (5’11” and 168lbs) @mauricedavisjr
A slot receiver right now, Davis has some great wiggle to his game. He was one of the better route runners, consistently creating space due to his technique. Davis has sure hands as well, catching the majority of balls thrown his way with his hands and not body.
2024 Seth Cyrus (5’9” and 160lbs) @SethCyrus2
Although a bit smaller than some of his classmates, Cyrus has the quickness and elusiveness to combat the lack to size. He’s compact, gets in and out of his breaks well while showing good hands. He might end up as a running back or a slot receiver, but Cyrus has plenty of talent. Still deciding this offseason which school he’ll attend, Kenwood and Marist are viewed as top choices, if he’s able to crack their schools talented roster for playing time on varsity this fall, big things are ahead for him.
2024 Crown Point, IN WR Landen Delich (6’2′ and 170lbs) @landendelich
A very good looking prospect who traveled from the state to the east and it was well worth the trip. Delich has a large catch radius and although he didn’t stand out during the drill portion, when 1v1’s happened, he turned it on. Delich used his height to his advantage, out-jumping defenders while being able to run very good routes. I love the potential with Delich and I’ll be monitoring his progress during his sophomore year.
2025 St. Viator WR Dayvion Ellis
Although he has yet to play a down for his high school, Ellis will bring an impressive skill set to the Lions team. Ellis has long arms, a solid frame and runs routes extremely well for a player his age. He was able to make plays that didn’t seem like he’d be able to reach due to his long reach. Ellis probably won’t make much of a mark his freshman year on varsity due to the depth that St. Viator has, but when he gets his opportunity, Ellis will take advantage of it. Make sure you keep tabs on him during his time with the Lions.