Ten WRs You May Not Know, But Should

If you’ve been following me on Prep RedZone for the past two years, then you probably know that wide receivers are my favorite position to evaluate and report about. I’ve come across some talented receiver prospects here in Illinois, and from what I’ve seen, that crop is continuing to grow. Whether it be with up-and-coming prospects entering high school, or under-the-radar prospects who are finally starting to maximize their skill set. Either way, I think it’s safe to say that Illinois is in good hands regarding the wide receiver position. So without further ado, I’ll do the honors of introducing you to ten Illinois receivers you may not know, but should... <hr /> <h5><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="299652" first="Adam" last="Muench"] | Amundsen ’23</strong></em></h5> You must be a special player to score 26 touchdowns in only 10 games. Muench accomplished that feat last season as he was the do-it-all swiss-army knife for the Amundsen Vikings. He’s tough as nails and an all-around great football player, but if I had to project him at the next level, I could see him making his presence felt at the receiver position. He’s 6’2", weighs around 200 pounds, and is a dynamic runner with the ball in his hands. Makes tough catches look routine, and his 26 touchdowns last season proves he has a knack for finding the end zone. Muench should be one of the Chicago Public League’s leading scorers for the second consecutive season. <h5><em><strong>Marty O’Keeffe | Brother Rice ’23</strong></em></h5> After evaluating O’keeffe’s film, it’s pretty clear that he has an affinity for the deep ball. He uses his speed to beat defenders deep, and he has a good understanding of putting himself in prime position to make a play on the ball. He’s also a pretty good triple jumper, from what I heard. If you know anything about being successful in that event, you know that controlling your speed and body position is of the utmost importance. These two skills appear in his film and translate to the receiver position. <h5><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="272907" first="Michael" last="Nix"] | St. Viator ’23</strong></em></h5> Nix is a complete receiver who makes his presence felt at each level of his team’s passing attack. He’s a dynamic runner who can turn short passes into long gains. He’s a savvy enough route-runner to win matchups intermediately and has the speed and wherewithal to be a more-than-reliable deep threat. What I love most about Nix is his ability to make tough contested catches. <h5><em><strong>Darrion Gilliam | Mt. Carmel ’24</strong></em></h5> Gilliam is not on everyone’s radar yet, but I can assure you he has all the tools to dominate IHSA football over the next two years at the receiver position. At 6’5", he’s a good leaper who presents a physical mismatch for most defensive backs. He’s a long strider with decent speed and has an otherworldly catch radius that his quarterback will appreciate. Gilliam is a prospect whose stock could rise exponentially this upcoming season. <h5><em><strong>Spencer Leadbetter | Loyola ’23</strong></em></h5> Leadbetter is a big-bodied wideout who exemplifies what it means to be a possession receiver. Flashes a good set of hands and has a knack for getting open and picking up needed yards. Catches the ball well in traffic and displays good body control when adjusting to passes thrown his way. He’s as consistent as they come and could potentially be in line for a breakout season this upcoming fall. <h5><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="161328" first="Julian" last="Turner"] | Montini ’23</strong></em></h5> Turner is a unique offensive weapon that can pose significant problems for the opposing defense. His elusiveness can be attributed to his fantastic short-area quickness and lateral agility, along with the effortless speed he possesses. Can consistently beat his opponents deep and is a nightmare when he catches the ball in space. Can pile up the YAC with the best of them. <h5><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="354145" first="Lavelle" last="Hardy"] | DePaul Prep ’24</strong></em></h5> I caught one of Hardy’s games last season when DePaul Prep faced off against Leo Catholic. Although DePaul Prep came out on the losing end, I walked away with the impression that Hardy could very well be one of the premier receivers in the Chicagoland area by the time he’s a senior. Extremely explosive off the line and possesses the speed to eat up a defensive back’s cushion in an instant. His speed can pop the top off a defense, but he can also move the chains in the intermediate passing attack. Hardy is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on as we approach the upcoming season. <h5><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="299539" first="Emmett" last="Robinson"] | Evanston ’24</strong></em></h5> Although Robinson is still early in his development, his film gives us a glimpse into the potential impact he can have on Evanston’s passing attack. He’s a natural runner of the football with good enough speed to be a reliable deep threat. His versatility as an offensive threat will allow his coaches to use him in many ways. <h5><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="299479" first="Brennan" last="Saxe"] | Palatine Fremd ’25</strong></em></h5> Saxe is a prospect with tremendous upside. After being a heavy contributor on varsity as a freshman, I think it’s safe to say that the 6’2" wideout can emerge as one of, if not the best receiver in Illinois’ c/o ’25 when it’s all said and done. Has the ability to dominate in all three levels of the passing attack and be a dangerous red-zone threat. Catches the ball exceptionally well and does a good job catching passes in traffic. <h5><em><strong>Troy Hudak | Minooka ’24</strong></em></h5> This season will be Hudak’s first as a full-time varsity contributor. I’m not sure how big of a role Hudak will have since Minooka already has some decent receivers on their roster, but I can assure you this kid has the skills to be a productive receiver at the varsity level. A good route-runner who can excel in the slot and help his team move the chains.