2024 Gems Outside of Chicagoland

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone knows the Chicagoland area is loaded with talent year after year. However, there is plenty of talent outside the city's one-hour radius. Today, we're looking at some rising senior hidden gems outside of the Chicagoland area. These youngers have shown potential on tape, they just haven't seen their recruitment take off just yet. Keep an eye on them this summer as we get closer to kick-off for the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, If you have someone you think I need to see, please DM them to me on Twitter at @hsfbscout!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LB: Ty Douglas, 6'2" 210, Quincy</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outstanding production in 2022, finishing with 129 total tackles to go with 16 TFLs. He's got heavy hands at the point of attack, has the body fluidity to make tough tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and showed impressive range on runs away from him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>DB: [player_tooltip player_id='271724' first='Will' last='Roberts'] 6'1" 160, Hononegah</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This young man is always around the football, has terrific closing speed, and shows great anticipation. He takes quality angles to the tackle and will lock on in zone coverage on the scramble drill. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>QB: [player_tooltip player_id='530042' first='Connor' last='Dennis'] 6'2" 175, Rockford Boylan</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A rhythmic passer with a high on-field IQ and the ability to drop the vertical ball right in the breadbasket. Dennis has a twitchy release with no wasted motion and can throw a receiver open through the holes in zone coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>WR: [player_tooltip player_id='271845' first='Joe' last='Allen'] 6'3" 195, Rock Island</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen has the size, he powers through contact and is more than willing to go over the middle. He's a YAC monster with natural hands and can climb the ladder on 1 on 1 jump balls. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>WR: Randy Johnson, 6'4" 205, Rockford Jefferson</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong outside receiver prospect equipped with a nasty stiff arm and good vision after the catch. Johnson plucks the football out of the air, tempos down in the holes in zone coverage, and can make defenders miss after the catch. He plays wide receiver right now, but part of me thinks he could project nicely as a tight end at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>RB: [player_tooltip player_id='354104' first='Rasheed' last='Johnson'] 6'1" 175, Rockford Boylan</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson has noticeable speed, having clocked a 10.94 100-meter, and can make you miss in a phonebooth. He bursts right through arm tackle attempts, loses little to no speed changing direction, and is a serious weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>DB: [player_tooltip player_id='354102' first='Santana' last='English'] 6'3" 180, Rockford Boylan</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>English's length on the outside is hard to find at the cornerback position. He's sticky in man, has the speed to run with smaller/shiftier wideouts downfield, and knows how to widen a receiver's release to make a throw tougher on opposing quarterbacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->