2023 IL ALL-STATE TEAM: 5A to 8A UNDERCLASSMAN
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It’s a rare thing in the Land of Lincoln for an underclassman to be named to the All-State Team. Of the 8 Classes of IHSA High School Football, only 23 underclassmen earned First-Team IHSFCA All-State Honors in 2023. 6 of…
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Continue ReadingIt’s a rare thing in the Land of Lincoln for an underclassman to be named to the All-State Team. Of the 8 Classes of IHSA High School Football, only 23 underclassmen earned First-Team IHSFCA All-State Honors in 2023. 6 of those players came from Classes 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A. Below we will take a look at these 6 juniors who went above and beyond this season.
The 5’11, 175 lbs defensive back and return specialist out of Glenbard West High School is beginning to see Division I Power 5 offers roll in. The only junior to be named to the IHSFCA 8A All-State Team, Ellens is a dynamic playmaker who impacts the game in a variety of ways. On special teams, Ellens is perhaps the top returner in the state, and the country, for both punts and kick offs. He has the speed, vision, and elusiveness to take any kick to the house. Defensively, he is incredibly stout in coverage and is a physical and sure-handed tackler in the open field. Keep an eye out this incredible prospect during his senior campaign next season.
The 6’1, 195 lbs quarterback out of Quincy broke nearly every school passing record during his junior campaign. The only underclassmen named to the IHSFCA 7A All-State Team, Little is a top quarterback recruit throughout the state of Illinois. Little plays with incredible poise in the pocket and has the confidence and talent to make any throw on the field. He showcases elite accuracy on level 1, level 2, and level 3 balls. He has tremendous touch and throws accurately on the run. This playmaking signal caller is coming for the #1 quarterback spot in the state next season.
Highlights
The 5’10, 190 lbs tailback from Richards is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. Mitchell possesses the elite combination of vision, balance, and speed that makes him hard to tackle in the open field. He is strong enough to run through arm tackles and showcases plus elusiveness that contributed to his monster junior season. He also has the breakaway speed that makes him nearly impossible to catch once he hits the open field. As the only junior to earn IHSFCA 6A All-State Honors, Mitchell enters next season as one of the top running backs in the Land of Lincoln.
Gautcher is a 6’2, 200 lbs athlete from Sycamore who gave his commitment to Iowa University this fall. He was one of three juniors to earn IHSFCA 5A All-State Honors. Gautcher played both quarterback and safety for the Spartans but projects to be a defensive back for the Hawkeyes. He is a quick twitch and physical safety who is one of the better tacklers you’ll see on tape. Gautcher plays with elite physicality and tackles with confidence, especially in the open field. He is also a smooth backpedaler who can get in and out of breaks to make plays on the ball. Gautcher is ready to run it back for one more season before he heads off to Iowa City.
Highlights
Martin Cohen
Martin Cohen
The 6’1, 175 lbs athlete from Antioch burst onto the scene this season, earning IHSFCA 5A All-State Honors. Cohen primarily shined at tailback, as he posted a stat line of 89 carries for 1,209 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. That translates to 13.58 yards per carry. He is a speedy back who is extremely dangerous once he gets to the edge. Cohen has the speed to outrun most defenders to the corner and possesses the vision to cut the ball back. Once he sees green grass, Cohen is gone out the gate. While he may not get quite the recognition that some other running backs in the state receive, make no mistake about it: Cohen is one of the top backs the Land of Lincoln has to offer for the Class of 2025.
Kaminski is not only one of the top edge rushers in the state of Illinois, but he is one of the best in the country. It’s no surprise that Kaminski earned IHSFCA 5A All-State Honors, as the 6’3, 255 lbs game wrecker out of Nazareth currently holds multiple Division I Power 5 offers. He has all the traits that elite pass rushers possesses, including power, speed, and bend. Often times, Kaminski wins at the snap of the ball by his quick first step. He can make opposing offensive tackles uncomfortable early, as he flies off the ball and plays with a relentless motor that allows him to pursue the quarterback for the length of every play. He showcases polished pass rush technique and plays with physicality against the run. Kaminski heads into next season as one of the top players in the country.