Live Look: Evaluating Prospects I’ve Seen In-Person

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're halfway through the regular season and I'm more than impressed with the quality of football being played in the IL state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've attended five games so far and have gotten a chance to see firsthand at just how talented some of these prospects are. I've seen a player score 4 touchdowns and be virtually impossible to tackle. I saw a premier playmaker take a 92-yard touchdown reception to the house, while also watching a freshman receiver dominate in his varsity debut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As playoff races begin to formulate, it's safe to say the second half of the season is going to be just even more exciting.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So without further ado, let's get to know some of the prospects who I've seen dominate in-person this season</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-dots"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='227182' first='Kaiden' last='Miller'] | ATH | 2023</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":443554,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/IMG-9924-225x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-443554"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miller's body is the most college-ready out of all the skill-position prospects I've seen this season. He's a natural runner of the football who's equally effective at wideout or rushing out the backfield. His size creates mismatches for opposing defensive backs and enables him to dish out punishment as a runner. An explosive athlete with breakaway speed who I saw score four touchdowns and was literally, I mean literally, impossible to tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='248197' first='Jacob' last='Donohue'] | QB | 2023</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":436243,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/80FE702D-7559-44A1-95C5-48FADB0EF75A-225x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-436243"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was first introduced to Donohue when he threw for over 300 yards and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore making his first varsity—and he's only gotten better since then. He's extremely poised in the pocket with above average footwork for a quarterback. Has a good arm and is accurate in all three levels of the passing game. What I love most about Donohue is his ability to escape the pocket and become an effective runner. He had over 100 yards rushing when I saw him this season and displayed that he has another element to his game that increases his value as a quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='267760' first='Willie' last='Taylor'] | ATH | 2023</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":431633,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/F43F3FA4-8456-4832-A2F1-F2F702EDE667-225x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-431633"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chicago Public League (CPL) is riddled with talent, and from my observation, [player_tooltip player_id='267760' first='Willie' last='Taylor'] is one of the more talented prospects in the CPL. He's worked on body and came back this season with a more chiseled frame that was on display as he ran for two hard-nosed touchdowns when I saw him back in week 1. Taylor is one of those type of players that can function anywhere on the field. He's a physical runner who's athletic enough to rip off big gains and he's no slouch on the defensive side of the ball at the linebacker position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='283926' first='Kai' last='Owens'] | WR | 2026</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":428715,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/IMG_9631-225x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-428715"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owens is by far the most talented freshman I've seen this season and without a doubt has the most upside of any prospect in this article. I first had a chance to see Owens at our Prospect Tour earlier this year where he was one of the MVPs of the camp. The next time I would see Owens was in week 1 where he had 4 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown reception that brought the crowd to their feet. Owens has a wiry frame with a good catch radius along with excellent body control to make tough catches look routine. He has all the tools to be a dynamic playmaking receiver that's going to give opposing defensive coordinators fits over the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Kristan Gavric | WR | 2023</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":450862,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/09/unnamed-13-225x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-450862"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gavric is a natural playmaker who brings a ton of swag to the game. Creates a ton of separation with impressive route-running and has the speed to separate from his defender and pile up the YAC when the ball is in his hands. Gavric had over 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns all in the first quarter when I saw him play this season—easily one of the premier playmakers in Lake County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->