Chicago’s South Suburb Prospects to Know, PT. 1

I genuinely believe the Chicagoland area is one of the more underrated and under-recruited areas in the Midwest. It's easy to get overlooked when there's so much talent in one area. And I think that is what's happening to prospects in the South Suburbs of Chicago. I was already familiar with a bunch of prospects from the South Suburbs. Still, I took it upon myself to do a deep dive and what I found was that there are a plethora of talented prospects south of Chicago who are worthy of being recognized. So without further ado, let's kick off part one of this three-part series and find out which prospects you need to know from the South Suburbs... <hr /> <h4><em><strong>Michael Garner | DE | Bloom '23</strong></em></h4> Garner recently picked up his first FBS offer from FAU this past month. But with the camp/showcase season upon us, I expect the 6-foot-7 235 pound edge rusher to accumulate more offers in the very near future. Garner passes any eye test and is a physical mismatch with the size and athleticism he brings off the edge. Can make tackles from sideline to sideline and has an impressive wingspan which he can utilize to keep distance from himself and opposing offensive lineman. Although Garner is still raw in his development, his potential is through the roof and he's definitely a prospect worth keeping an eye on this season. <h4><em><strong>Antonio Russel | WR | Eisenhower '24</strong></em></h4> Russel is one of the more complete receivers in Illinois' C/O '24. He's a threat in all three levels of the passing attack, he's a physical receiver who relishes the opportunity to pancake a defensive back, and lastly, he's a solid route runner who consistently creates separation. Does a good job at utilizing head fakes and body positioning which place him in prime position to consistently make plays on the ball. I think Russel will open a lot of eyes this season and will most definitely climb his way up the 2024 rankings. <h4><em><strong>Elijah Tyson | RB | Shephard '23</strong></em></h4> Tyson is one of the more versatile offensive weapons I've come across while evaluating Illinois prospects. You can line him up in the backfield and find out just how gifted a runner he truly is. Line up him out wide, and you'll find he's just as productive as a slot receiver, and not to mention, he adds to his value by being able to flip the field with explosive kickoff/punt return skills. <h4><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="266287" first="Chris" last="McKinney"] | LB | Flossmoor '23</strong></em></h4> McKinney appears to be a very instinctual player from the linebacker position. Flashes good speed, does a good job of scraping down the line, and is even better at filling the gaps. Excels at disengaging from blocks. Is a sure-tackler who's relentless in pursuing his target and one of the more polished defensive prospects in Illinois C/O '23. <h4><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="267700" first="Christian" last="Evans"] | QB | Carl Sandburg '23</strong></em></h4> Evans is a mobile quarterback who flashes good footwork and the ability to maneuver throughout the pocket. Extends plays and possesses the ability to deliver catchable passes under pressure. Throws the ball with the necessary touch and has beautiful ball placement on his deep throws. <h4><em><strong>Devonte Evans | WR | Argo '23</strong></em></h4> Evans is highly productive on both sides of the ball and has blossomed in his role in being used as a swiss army knife for the Argo Argonauts. He's a creative runner of the football and can be a threat to hit pay dirt whenever he touches the ball. That being said, I think defensive back is Evans' ideal position at the next level. He has a nose for the ball along with the necessary speed to cover the field from sideline to sideline and the ball skills to consistently make plays on the ball. <h4><em><strong>Charles Miles | WR | TF-South '24</strong></em></h4> After a more than productive sophomore season on varsity, I believe that Miles will emerge as a key "name to know" heading into the fall season. I first saw Miles at Rise &amp; Fire Camp a couple of years ago, and since then, he's improved exponentially. Has great size for the receiver position and is a prospect who I could see filling a role as a playmaking possession receiver. Good footwork enables him to be an effective route runner and a reliable target in terms of moving the chains. <h4><em><strong>Corey Stennis | QB | Rich Township '23</strong></em></h4> Stennis is a phenomenal athlete who lines up at quarterback but based on the skillet he displays; he'll more than likely move over to receiver at the next level. He's a creative and gifted runner of the football with breakaway speed and can be an absolute nightmare when in space. He plays in a run-heavy offense that maximizes his skill set but is also capable of hitting his open targets down the field. <h4><strong><em>Joe Castanada | RB | Oak Forest '23</em></strong></h4> Castaneda may be lacking in the size department, but he plays with a level of physicality that's often unmatched. He's tough as nails as a running back and has good leg churn to consistently fight for the extra yardage. On defense, he has a great nose for the football and isn't afraid to throw his body around to make a tackle.