The Discovered Undiscovered & Risers: 23′ Breakdowns Pt. 2
Welcome to The Discovered, Undiscovered, and Risers article series. In this series, we’re going to be diving into player breakdowns varying across positions and with players that you should have on your radar heading into the fall season. These student…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWelcome to The Discovered, Undiscovered, and Risers article series. In this series, we’re going to be diving into player breakdowns varying across positions and with players that you should have on your radar heading into the fall season. These student athletes range across all of Illinois and across all levels (8A-1A). Without further ado, let’s dive into part two of our 23′ breakdowns.
Check out the updated 2023 Rankings to see the entire Illinois 2023 hierarchy!
Braylen Meredith Braylen Meredith 6'5" | 180 lbs | WR Wheaton-Warrenville South | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Meredith is a receiver that can work both on the outside as well as out of the slot throughout his highlight tape. This young man provides an insight into his hand/eye coordination, body control, and balance to adjust to secure catches. He uses his strong hands to reach out and secure the catch even while the defender is slapping/pulling his arms to hinder his ability to catch the ball. There’s a clip in his film where he runs a curl while the defender is all over him and is able to secure the catch through contact. There’s also another clip in his highlights where he runs a comeback route along the sideline when working from the outside. Here, he’s able to fully extend securing the sideline grab while utilizing a toe tap to get his foot in to complete the catch. When he’s working out of the slot, he can take outside release as he gets wide before cutting the route back inside. This is seen throughout his highlights and when he does he’s able to secure the catch in a tight window between the safety over the top and the linebacker. At times, he gets upright running routes hindering his ability to get in/out of his routes to create separation while at others he showcased glimpses of being able to break defenders off at the top of the route creating separation – a trait to keep an eye on moving forward. When he’s going up against off coverage, he gets a free release and is able to use his long strides to win over the top on deep shots downfield. This is seen in one clip where he runs a fade route and simply runs past the defender gaining a step advantage. He doesn’t hesitate when securing catches in traffic and is aggressive going up for the ball across the middle of the field showcasing his willingness to expose his body to make tough catches while defenders are waiting to hit him. There’s one clip in particular that stands out in this area. In this clip, he works across the middle of the field going up high pointing the ball as he gets hit by two defenders on opposite sides. This young man then holds onto the ball after taking those hits and secures the catch. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Angelo Fasano Angelo Fasano 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL Joliet Catholic Academy | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Fasano is an offensive lineman that provided glimpses of what’s to come and has high potential heading into his Senior Season Campaign. When he’s blocking in-line, he showcases a glimpse of his strength where he can jolt the defender and drive down the line of scrimmage washing the defensive lineman down creating a hole for the ball carrier. There’s a clip in his highlight where he uses his initial punch to jolt the defender upright and washes the defender down the line of scrimmage. Once this happens a lane opens for the ball carrier which the ball carrier hits and is able to break a long run. This young man showcases glimpses of using his initial punch to gain inside hand placement out of his stance and is a trait to keep an eye on moving forward. When he’s pulling, he can kickout the defensive end/contain defender opening up a running lane off his block for the ball carrier. All in all, this 6’6 305 offensive lineman is going to be a name to keep an eye on as he showcased glimpses of what’s to come. I wouldn’t be surprised if this young man’s stock rises after his Senior Season is concluded. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Colin Schultz Colin Schultz 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Stevenson | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Schultz is a defensive lineman that works across the line working out of a 1 tech, 3 tech, and 7 tech/edge. His quick first step helps him get on top of the offensive lineman before they’re set to block which is seen both on run and passing downs. This is also where he penetrates the backfield after using his quick first step which puts him in a position to come away with tackle for losses as well as sacks. His quickness off the ball can cause the offensive lineman to overset to the outside leaving him free to counter back inside ripping across the offensive lineman’s face or using a swim move. This is exactly what was showcased when he was working out of a 3 tech. The first clip in his highlights showcased his bull rush. Here, he’s quick off the ball and jolts the offensive tackle back with a powerful punch to gain an initial advantage. He then drives the offensive tackle back before disengaging and closing on the quarterback coming away with the sack as he works as a 7 tech. This young man provides an insight into beating the blocker to the gap where he gets through/disengages the block to get pressure on the quarterback. There’s a clip in his highlight where he’s working as a 1 tech and is able to get pressure on the quarterback right at the snap forcing the quarterback to scramble backward as he tries to buy himself time. By doing so, the quarterback ends up in his endzone and has to throw the ball away as he almost got brought down for a safety. When the run is coming at him, this young man provides an insight into maintaining good knee bend to take on the run blocker with good leverage. There’s a clip in his highlights showcasing just that as he anchors to hold down the C gap and is able to close the gap down securing the tackle in the process at the line of scrimmage. When the run is going away from him, he’s able to work down the line of scrimmage and uses his closing burst to make the tackle against inside runs. This young man will also take pursuit angles down the line of scrimmage to make the tackle downfield on outside runs showcasing his effort. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Donnie Burton Donnie Burton 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR Richards | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Burton is a slot receiver that made his mark this previous fall season. He has quick feet and can accelerate to full speed quickly enabling him to close the cushion on the defender. This young man provides an insight into his top end playing speed and showcases the ability to get separation on deep routes. His foot quicks enable him to get started upfield quickly after securing the catch and has the balance/strength to run through weak arm tackles gaining yards after contact. This is seen in his highlights where he’ll secure the receiver screen and gets vertical quickly weaving in/out of defenders for a touchdown. There’s another clip in his highlights where he secures the receiver screen and breaks weak arm tackles immediately after securing the catch as he gets vertical along the sideline finishing the play inside the ten yard line. His ability to adjust to make tough catches is seen in one clip where he gets a free release on a seam route out of the slot and goes up for the 50/50 ball. Here, he attacks the ball at the highest point to secure the contested catch and stays up through contact. Once this happens he gets vertical as he gets into the endzone for the touchdown. His home run speed is showcased when he’s running receiver screen as he can shrug off the defender that was covering him and gets vertical quickly. This young man can accelerate to full speed quickly providing an insight into his ability to make big plays seen both in the air attack and in the return game. In the return game, he reads his blocks while staying vertical to set his team up in a good starting field position. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Karson King Karson King 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Kankakee | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. King works both as a slot receiver and as a half back showcasing his versatility. This young man can play above the rim as he goes up for 50/50 balls to come away with contested catches. There’s a clip in his highlights where he’s running a seam route and is able to climb to secure the catch above the defender. In another clip, he runs a double move out of the slot where he ends up tipping the ball on his initial attempt to secure the catch and is able to adjust last second to secure the catch while getting his toe in for the sideline grab. He can also track the ball well when running seams out of the slot on deep shots downfield. This young man can find the soft spot in zone coverage where he’ll sit to become an outlet for his quarterback as he has an understanding of spacing. Once he sits and secures the catch, he gets vertical as he weaves in/out of defenders increasing his yards after the catch. When he’s lined up in the backfield as a halfback he can secure the halfback screen and get vertical after securing the catch as he reads the blocks in front of him. An area in his game where he can make big plays is his elusiveness and home run speed. The first clip of his highlights showcases just that. In this clip, he secures the receiver screen and makes the first defender miss in open space getting into the endzone. In the second clip, he secures the catch in double coverage as he runs a seam route in the middle of the field and he spins right as he secures the catch making the initial defenders miss before getting into the endzone. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Lucas Foote Lucas Foote 6'4" | 215 lbs | WR Reed-Custer | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Foote is a slot receiver that has provided insight into what’s to come during his Senior Season Campaign. He has one clip in his highlights running the option as a wildcat quarterback where he keeps the ball and is able to get through the line of scrimmage breaking a long 25+ yard run resulting in a touchdown. In the return game, he showcases his change of direction which he uses to make defenders miss. In this clip, he fakes one way before he fakes another and then fakes again before getting vertical. Upon doing so, it allows for a lane to open up in front of him which he hits getting vertical, and returns for a touchdown. When he’s running an RPO bubble screen, he can secure the catch and utilize quick cuts to make the first defender miss before he gets vertical into the endzone for a touchdown. This is seen on multiple occasions in his highlights. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Christopher Franko Christopher Franko 6'6" | 215 lbs | LB Lyons Township | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Franko is an outside linebacker working out of a 3-4 defense that has a lean and long frame with high potential stating at 6’6 220. When the run is coming at him, he gives an insight into being able to disengage and close on the ball carrier to secure the tackle as seen in the first clip in his highlights. This young man also flows to the ball well when the run is going away from him. On outside runs, he can hold down the C gap as he holds contains before he closes down the running lane and secures the tackle. When he’s in zone coverage, he gets to his hook/curl drop and is able to rally to the ball in front of him to secure the tackle for minimal gain on the play. This young man gave insight into the type of player that he has the potential of becoming. What I’m most interested in seeing out of this young man is which position he’s going to mold into (stay as a 3-4 outside linebacker or get put on the line as a defensive end) as he has room to add to his frame without losing a step. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Riley Fuller Riley Fuller 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Moline | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Fuller is a halfback that has the foot quicks to change direction quickly making defenders miss and makes sharp jump cuts when doing so. In the second clip in his highlights, he takes the handoff and uses an initial burst to get through the line of scrimmage where he then breaks a long run for a touchdown giving an insight into his long speed. This young man is quick into/out of the hole and has the long speed to take it the distance. He has the vision to find running lanes quickly between the tackles and has the foot quicks through the hole. In the first clip in his highlights, he uses a quick jump cut to hit the running lane and then plants his foot to cut across the field utilizing his chance of direction for a long touchdown run. He’s quick to hit the hole and runs with good pad level as he provides a glimpse of using his pad level to run the defender over if they try to meet him in the hole at the line of scrimmage. This young man can also find the cutback lane quickly where he makes quick cuts off the run blocks in front of him and bursts through the hole when doing so. Currently hold no offers. Highlights
Riley Bradford Riley Bradford 6'0" | 220 lbs | DL Carterville | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Bradford is an interior defensive lineman that works out as a 1 tech and a 3 tech. He has a quick first step at the snap which he uses to get on top of the offensive lineman before they’re set to block. This is seen in the second clip of his highlights where he gets through the line of scrimmage and delivers good initial contact on the ball carrier forcing a fumble on the play. He provides an insight into his ability and balance to move through traffic without losing his footing to make plays in the backfield as well. This is seen when he uses his initial quickness to shoot the gap and get into the backfield as seen throughout his highlights. This is where he’ll use his hands at the point of attack to rip/club the offensive lineman’s hands resulting in this young man meeting the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage as well as disrupting the play in the backfield. When there’s a run at him, he shoots the gap and can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. He also glimpses his ability to be able to jolt the offensive lineman upright and disengages to make the tackle at/behind the line of scrimmage. In his pass rush, he showcases a glimpse of his power where he long arms the offensive lineman and presses the lineman backward to collapse the quarterback pocket. Once he gets close to the quarterback he frees himself up and secures the sack. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Jace Christian Jace Christian 6'1" | 200 lbs | RB Reed-Custer | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Christian is a halfback that is primed to take over for standout Elliot Cassem Elliot Cassem 6'1" | 205 lbs | RB Reed Custer | 2022 State IL as he heads to the next level. This young man provides insight into his foot quickly and uses jump cuts to get through the hole. He’s quick into/out of the hole and has the long speed to take it the distance against his competition. This is seen in a clip in his highlights where he does just that and is off to the races breaking a long run. He can also line up as a wildcat quarterback where he’ll take the direct snap and follow his blockers into the endzone. There’s one clip where he lowers his shoulder running the defender over to get into the endzone. This all happens by him using his vision to find running lanes quickly between the tackles where he keeps his feet driving to fight for extra yards by playing through the whistle. This young man has high potential heading into his Senior Season Campgian and also plays lineback as well. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Be sure to follow @PRZJordan regarding news & information for Illinois High School Football as well as @PrepRedzoneIL.
Want to be ranked? Fill out our FREE Prospect Player Index, another tool to help you in your recruiting journey.