2025 Film Room: Western Suburbs Wide Receivers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue our breakdown of the position groups across the state in the 2025 class.&nbsp; The film we are now evaluating is the wide receiver group from all over Illinois!&nbsp; Today we examine <strong>2025 Film Room: Western Suburbs Wide Receivers Pt 1</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='278883' first='Talyn' last='Taylor'] (Geneva – 6'0” 165)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor is the top wide out in the 2025 class in the state of Illinois.&nbsp; Catches everything with his hands not letting the ball get into his body.&nbsp; He is such a smooth route runner with his fluid hips getting in and out of breaks. Suddenness at the top of routes is impressive.&nbsp; Very smooth route runner that makes the most of his catches after he gets his mitts on them.&nbsp; Great run after catch that explodes downfield.&nbsp; At 6'0" he is good at high pointing fades in the endzone.&nbsp; Showed he could run the complete route repertoire, but was particularly adept at the skinny post where he had several super long catches.&nbsp; Slick on his out routes for first downs and is a speedster with the ball on bubble screens.&nbsp; Bit of a hop off the line at times.&nbsp; Showed some return skills as well in the kick return game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='278895' first='Burke' last='Gautcher'] (Sycamore – 6'2” 200)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gautcher impressed at the Prep Redzone Camp winning MVP of the WR group.  It was easy to see why then and now he has become one of the top pass catchers in this class.  Very good hands in traffic showing his toughness willing to go over the middle.  Such smooth and easy acceleration gliding past secondary defenders with ease.  He excels at the skinny post where it looks like he is just going past the safety while they aren't even moving.  Tracks the ball well and transitions from long catch to run well.  Speed in the open field taking short catches and turning them into major plays.  Catches it with his hands and is physical with the ball. Committed to Iowa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331441' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] (West Aurora - 6'4” 180)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a 6'4" wide receiver that is also a top 10 hoops prospect in the state.&nbsp; He has been picking up a lot of momentum on the football side with the way he has been playing.&nbsp; First thing that stands out is his tremendous size at 6'4" with elite athleticism and ball skills.&nbsp; High points catches in traffic whether on the edge or going over the middle.&nbsp; Very good hands snatching the pigskin out of the air on the regular.&nbsp; Long strider that seems to glide down the field.&nbsp; Tracks the ball well in the air and has good body control during the catch. Can do some work on short routes too catching a bubble screen for a 60 yard TD.&nbsp; Should develop into an elite redzone threat as was shown on tape where he was a TD machine!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='583759' first='Travis' last='Stamm'] (Lyons – 6'2” 180)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stamm is a good sized wide out that is a crisp route runner and has excellent hands.  Catches it with his hands every single time.  Gets in and out of cuts with ease. Tracks ball especially well on the skinny post. Hesitation on routes.  Toughness was shown through blocking downfield as he really gets after it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331561' first='Brock' last='Pettaway'] (Naperville North&nbsp; - 5'10” 170)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pettaway is a 5'10" slot receiver that has big time speed!&nbsp; He brings sudden movements on his routes and makes guys miss in space over and over again. Home run threat that can take short passes and turn them into long gains.&nbsp; Fluid hips on his routes and does an excellent job of finding the weak spot in the defense on short routes.&nbsp; Gadget guy that can be used in a variety of ways including bubble screens which he is good at creating YAC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='278900' first='Ian' last='Willis'] (Wheaton St. Francis – 5'9” 170)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Willis is a bit of a smaller guy that probably projects working best out of the slot at the next level.&nbsp; Super smooth route runner that is deceptive at the top of his routes.&nbsp; Legit downfield threat with his speed down the field blowing past opponents.&nbsp; Fluid hips and great hands. More than willing to go over the middle for catches.&nbsp; Finds holes in the defense especially in the endzone.&nbsp; Shifty around the redzone making plays for touchdowns.&nbsp; Breaks tackles as well as anyone we have broken down tape of in this wide out class.&nbsp; Slippery in space.&nbsp; Very good ball skills and excellent hands.&nbsp; Gets in and out of breaks with ease. On bubble screens he wins downfield attacking in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205735' first='Charlie' last='Cruse'] (Downers Grove North – 6'1” 190)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crues has good size and creates great separation on his cuts. Nose for the end zone and is an excellent possession receiver.&nbsp; He has a good feel for getting first downs knowing where the chains are.&nbsp; Really good at the out route.&nbsp; Overall he is just a technician with everything that he does.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='299448' first='Sean' last='Anshel'] (Neuqua Valley – 5'9” 150)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anshel is a smaller possession slot receiver that has sure hands.&nbsp; Lots of short crossing routes and outs for first downs. Quick off the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='803633' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'] (Batavia – 6'1” 160)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown has good size and is a big-time deep threat.&nbsp; Field stretcher that makes plays down the field getting separation with pure speed along with double moves. Tracks the ball well on the deep shot in the air.&nbsp; Can run short routes as well with fluidity for first downs especially out routes.&nbsp; Willing to go over the middle and finds the weak spots in D.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->