Illinois Prep Stars Drafted in 2024
Every year hundreds of thousands of high school athletes across the country hit the field with long term dreams of having a shot to make it to the NFL. Far less than 1% of those kids will get a chance…
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Continue ReadingEvery year hundreds of thousands of high school athletes across the country hit the field with long term dreams of having a shot to make it to the NFL. Far less than 1% of those kids will get a chance to do so. With the NFL Draft wrapping up this past weekend we were able to watch seven athletes from the Land of Lincoln see those dreams become a reality. Today we are going to give just a quick snapshot of who was drafted, where they are drafted, and the path they took to get to this point. Congratulations go out to all these former Illinois prep athletes!
JJ McCarthy, Quarterback- Michigan
- Drafted at #10 by the Minnesota Vikings
- Led Michigan to a 2024 National Championship
- Committed to Michigan out of IMG Academy
- Led IMG to a HS football National Championship
- Prior to IMG Academy, JJ attended Nazareth Academy where he was a State Champion as a sophomore
Tyler Nubin, Safety- Minnesota
- Drafted at #47 by the New York Giants
- Committed to Minnesota out of St. Charles North HS where he played DB, WR, and Wildcat QB
- Set the career INTs record for Minnesota
- Was 1st Team All Big Ten and 1st Team All American his senior season at Minnesota
Kiran Amegadjie, Offensive Tackle- Yale
- Drafted at #72 by the Chicago Bears
- Played RG and LT in college
- Committed to Yale out of Hinsdale Central HS, had offers from Central Michigan Indiana State and Southern Illinois
Bucky Irving, Running Back- Oregon
- Drafted at #125 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Transferred to Oregon from Minnesota, committed to Minnesota out of Hillcrest HS
- Rushed for 699 yards as a freshman at Minnesota, rushed for over 1,000 yards each season with Oregon
Chau Smith- Wade, Cornerback- Washington State
- Drafted at #157 by the Carolina Panthers
- Was a Senior Bowl attendee during this draft cycle
- Committed to Washington State out of Simeon Career Academy in Chicago
Logan Lee, Defensive Tackle- Iowa
- Drafted at #178 by the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Committed to Iowa out of Orion HS, had offers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ole Miss among others
- Back to back years as Big Ten Honorable Mention
Ryan Flournoy, Wide Receiver- Southeast Missouri State
- Drafteed at # 216 by the Dallas Cowboys
- Originally attended Central Missouri, transferred to Iowa Western CC, then. transferred to Southeast Missouri State
- Committed to Central Missouri out of Homewood-Flossmoor HS
- Was named 1st Tam All Conference as a senior, attended the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. Was the first Southeast Missouri State player to attend the Senior Bowl since 1998