2025 Rankings: Top Wide Receivers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Illinois recently updated our class of 2025 rankings extending the list from 150 to 300 ranked prospects along with 140+ on the watch list.&nbsp; Now we dive into each position to look at who is the cream of the crop including here in <strong>2025 Rankings: Top Wide Receivers</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[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='278901' first='Brayden' last='Trimble'] (Mt. Zion – 6'0” 160)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trimble is a receiver that really makes guys miss in space.&nbsp; He is the definition of Mr. YAC!&nbsp; Does it on shallow cross routes, bubble screens, and turns them into big plays.&nbsp; Took one bubble screen 75 yards for a TD.&nbsp; High points deep balls and is a smooth route runner.&nbsp; Very good in the return game.&nbsp; Can be a gadget guy as well running it on sweeps and lining up all over the field.</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='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.&nbsp; It was easy to see why then and now he has become one of the top pass catchers in this class.&nbsp; Very good hands in traffic showing his toughness willing to go over the middle.&nbsp; Such smooth and easy acceleration gliding past secondary defenders with ease.&nbsp; He excels at the skinny post where it looks like he is just going past the safety while they aren't even moving.&nbsp; Tracks the ball well and transitions from long catch to run well.&nbsp; Speed in the open field taking short catches and turning them into major plays.&nbsp; Catches it with his hands and is physical with the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='278886' first='Quinn' last='Morris'] (Plainfield East – 5'11” 165)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris is a 5'11" receiver that is very athletic and smooth.&nbsp; His coaching staff loves to get him the ball via the bubble screen as it was shown over and over on tape.&nbsp; Does a good job of catching and getting downfield.&nbsp; Quickness in short areas make him tough to contain.&nbsp; Very slippery through traffic and has burst in the open field.&nbsp; On downfield passes he was best at the post tracking it well in the air.&nbsp; When thrown passes on the edge he would high point them or snatch them away from the defender.&nbsp; Creativity in the return game with several impressive kickoff returns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831093' first='Cameron' last='Bates'] (Grayslake North – 6'2” 175)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bates has solid size and is an adept route runner getting in and out of his cuts.&nbsp; "Very good route runner" was written down at least half a dozen times.&nbsp; Tracks the ball over his shoulder on deep ball.&nbsp; Smooth acceleration gliding past the defensive backs.</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 -->