Land of Lincoln Sleepers: Class of 2024 pt. 3
In this article:
The state of Illinois is filled with some impressive talent in the game of football. With 2024 recruiting in full swing, I would not be surprised if some of these athletes landed with a big time program. Marcus Brown IL…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe state of Illinois is filled with some impressive talent in the game of football. With 2024 recruiting in full swing, I would not be surprised if some of these athletes landed with a big time program.
Marcus Brown Marcus Brown 6’1″ | 185 lbs | QB Brother Rice | 2024 IL is a quarterback coming out of Brother Rice who should be getting more looks than he has but missed a large chunk of the 2022 football season due to injury. At 6’2 and 180 pounds, Marcus has a solid build for a prolific passer at any level of football. Marcus appears to handle pressure well as he always keeps his eyes up and downfield as he looks for one of his receivers. On the run, Marcus can evade pressure and has a smooth throwing motion while he is on the move and trying to extend plays. Marcus can also get the job done on the ground. As a runner, Marcus has sneaky speed to keep defense honest via quarterback reads and straight-up quarterback keeps. Even though his 2022 season was cut short, Marcus has proven to be a big play generator with his arm and with his legs. Look out for a major comeback season from Marcus as he looks to lead the Crusader offense in this upcoming football season.
Highlights
Corey Taubr Corey Taubr 5’10” | 170 lbs | ATH St. Laurence | 2024 IL of St. Laurence has spent the last two seasons dominating the CCL with multiple All-Conference selections before his senior season. Corey plays on both sides of the ball but is at his best on the defensive side of the ball as a safety. On the back end of the defense, Corey has some impressive speed that allows him to close the gap on receivers running through the between the hashes. Corey excels at helping in coverage as he can change direction and cover ground fast. In the run game, Taubr plays with a physical edge and fits into the box effectively. Corey has a high motor and plays with phenomenal toughness. As we head into the upcoming season, I expect Corey to continue to build on the success that he has had so far. Corey is going to be a huge addition to any college program that he joins.
Highlights
Riverside Brookfield’s Luke Kumski is a tight end that has shown to generate big plays out of a variety of different sets. Standing at 6’2 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Luke has a solid frame to be a dominant force on the offensive side of the ball. From aligning split out and running routes, to taking handoffs out of the backfield, Luke is truly the embodiment of a human Swiss Army Knife. As a route runner, Luke is a twitchy runner who can break on routes cleanly and effectively. He makes his ball skills evident through the effortless catches that he makes on the run. Luke has a very impressive set of skills that have helped him receive two All-Conference honors prior to his senior year. If Luke continues to follow this trajectory, I believe he may end up being on of the biggest play makers to come out of the Metro Suburban Conference.
Highlights
Matthew Lawson Matthew Lawson 5’10” | 180 lbs | RB Elgin | 2024 IL out of Elgin High School is a running back that has recently begun grabbing the attention of some traditional powerhouse programs across the Midwest. The 5’10 back earned All-Conference recognition after a big 2022 season where he gained over 1,000 all-purpose yards. Matthew is an elusive back who refuses to go down whenever he has the ball in his hands. With his impressive balance and athleticism, Matthew made a habit of breaking through arm tackles. Matthew has elusive speed that can expose defenses if they are not sound in the run game. From what I have seen, Matthew is a big play threat whenever he has the ball in his hands. With his speed, athleticism, and physicality, Matthew is going to be a huge part of offensive production for any program that he plays for.
Highlights
Aurora Christian’s Max Bray Max Bray QB Aurora Christian | 2024 IL is another quarterback to keep an eye on as he heads into his senior year. Standing at 6’3 and weighing 195 pounds, Max has the ideal frame to be a dominant arm at any level of competition. Max can heave the ball downfield accurately and generate big plays at a rapid clip. He is also an escape artist who is a natural at extending broken plays and getting the ball out to one of his wideouts or scrambling to pick up some yards on the ground. The most impressive piece of Max’s game is that he is a strong decision-maker. Of course, all quarterbacks want to make the biggest play possible, but Max appears to always make the right decision whether it is to launch the ball downfield or to tuck the ball and run. If Max continues to do what he has done, he is going to tear up the Metro Suburban Conference this upcoming season.
Charlie Boyer
Charlie Boyer
Brother Rice’s Charlie Boyer is another wideout to keep any eye on as we head into the 2023 football season. Charlie plays with an elite burst of speed which can make him dangerous on short and intermediate routes. His ability to break down on routes and change direction can make it nearly impossible for anyone to cover him. On deeper routes, Charlie does a great job of tracking balls through the air and seamlessly snagging the ball on the run. With everything that I have seen from Charlie, it is evident that he has the potential to be a playmaker at any level of football. Someone is going to make a big-time splash with Charlie joining their football program down the road. Lookout for Boyer to turn some heads this season, along with a dominant Brother Rice Crusader football team.
Chris Ellen Chris Ellen 6’0″ | 225 lbs | DL Bolingbrook | 2024 IL is a dominant defensive lineman out of Bolingbrook. At first glance, Chris seems to always be the most explosive dude in the trenches. He blows through the line of scrimmage consistently and has made a habit of disrupting offenses at the snap. Not only can he break into the backfield instantly, but Chris can also close the gap on scrambling quarterbacks and either force a bad throw or sack the quarterback. Most importantly Chris is a phenomenal tackler who can bring down ball carriers with his strength and his explosiveness. Overall, Chris is one of the most explosive defensive linemen in the class of 2024. If he continues to build on his previous success, he is going to end up being one of the most sought-after defensive linemen in the state of Illinois.