Blazing Wisconsin and Illinois Track Times Posted this Spring

Nothing can boost a prospect's stock and athletic profile like an eye-catching track & field performance. Despite all of the speculation and hypothesis that goes into evaluating high school football players going into the college ranks and eventually college football prospects hoping to make it to the NFL, a consistent data point of successful players is multi-sport backgrounds. One of the most applicable sports to add to a football player's resume is track and field, and given that football generally comes down to who is the biggest, fastest, and strongest, nothing can be more clear-cut than throwing an object further or running faster than your opponent. Throwing requires strength, explosiveness, and balance, while sprinting is the name of the game for most sports, including football, and events such as the long, high, and triple jump, or the high hurdles, show off even more specialized and hard-to-find traits and skills. With the outdoor season finished up and summer camp season well underway, I wanted to quicky recap some of the notable and eye-catching track and field times coming out of the Badger State and the Land of Lincoln, solidifying some prospect's athleticism and putting others on the map. Multi-sporters and track speed galore!   --    An eye-catching track time can open up a high school football recruitment better than just about anything, and Neenah's standout 2025 athlete is a strong testament to that fact. Dean is coming off a strong junior track season - both indoor and outdoor - highlighted by a 7.02 60M, 22.18 200M, 48.85 400M, and of course, his blazing 10.83 100 time, which certainly caught the attention of the instate Wisconsin Badgers, who offered on April 16th and received a commitment from Dean the following day. Army, Wyoming, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State, and North Dakota State had also offered, and Minnesota, Iowa State, and Michigan State were kicking the tires on the 2025er as well.   A First Team All-Conference pick as a RB and returner and Second Team All-Conference as a safety, Dean rushed for 1,774 yards and 25 TDs on 244 carries, caught 20 passes for 239 yards and a TD, took a kick return to the house for six, and tallied 59 tackles, 36 solo, 2 INTs, and a TFL against D1 Wisconsin Big School competition. A three-phase contributor and multi-sport standout, Dean's speed shows up on every side of the ball, and he's a physical and explosive athlete who did great things on the gridiron no matter where he lined up at. The 6'1, 190 lber. is very dynamic, and I especially like watching him in run support. Dean can get downhill quickly and close with pace, runs the alley very well and takes good angles to the football, and is overall rangy in run defense. He's a strong tackler and effective at tackling in space, and is fast enough to successfully beat blocking attempts off their backside, a very hard move to pull off when pursuing and defending the edge of your defense. Offensively, Dean is a deep threat with contested catch and 50/50 ball ability as a wideout, and as a RB, he shows off smooth and sudden COD ability with the ball in hand, noticeable burst and contact balance, and speed at the top end. You give him space and daylight and he's gone. Can't let an instater like this leave your borders. Badgers got a good one!     The rise of Menomonee Falls' 2025 DB on the recruiting trail has been a steady and consistent upswing that culminated in Anderson earning a Badgers offer this past week at Wisconsin's prospect camp. The raw speed has been a big data point in Anderson's growth from a FCS to FBS to P4 prospect in the span of around three months. Anderson popped off a 10.88 100M as a sophomore in 2023 and added a 10.90 this spring for good measure. He's also added an impressive 21.69 and 21.85 200M this spring, as well as a 6.54 55M this indoor season, earning two All-State honors along the way on the track, and during the summer camp circuit has continued the spree of speed. 4.51 40 at the UWRF camp, and went 4.50 and 4.58 at the Badgers camp, along with a 4.10 shuttle at the Northwestern Wildcats camp, and a 9'7" broad as well.   Anderson posted 70 tackles, 9 PBUs, 6 TFLs in 2023, earning Second Team All-Conference honors along the way, and opens his tape with a crushing hit on a wide receiver over the middle. The 5'10, 180 lber. tracks the hip, mirrors, and is impressive when tackling in space and 1v1 situations, and he looks like he's shot out of a cannon when he sticks his foot in the ground, gets downhill, and closes in run support. Anderson has reps of man coverage out of the slot, displaying the ability to get hip to hip with WRs quickly and undercutting receivers while the ball is in the air, and his closing speed in pass coverage and pace out of his breaks catches the eye. Anderson's overall effort and motor in pass coverage, as well as pure want to break the pass up, is noticeable as well, and he's a thumper and physical presence from the third level of the defense in both run and pass support. Love the move by the Badgers to become his first P4 offer, the film is a fun one to watch and the speed shows up in a lot of different ways.     Coming out of Catholic Memorial High School, one of Wisconsin's top producers of talent in recent cycles, standout rising senior athlete Marvanous Butler-Brown continued to show that the Crusaders breed top-end talent with a great showing on the track this past outdoor season. Butler-Brown PRed with an explosive 10.81 100M at the WIAA D2 sectional in May, along with a 10.96, 10.95, 10.94, and 10.89 this spring. He also went 23.04 in the 200M. So far, Sioux Falls, Concordia-St. Paul, and Northern State have sent out DII offers, but the speed screams D1 ceiling and upside, as does the competition, coaching he's received at Catholic Memorial, and   A RB, WR, get-the-ball-in-his-hands offensive dynamo, Butler-Brown is a deep threat as a WR who tracks the ball well in the air and accelerates out of his breaks, creating separation at the top of the route with ease. He also displays big play speed and burst, showing that if he gets the sideline or a shred of space it's game over, and I'm impressed by his quick feet, balance, and shiftiness in the open field for an overall explosive and elusive skillset. Plus, he will run behind his pads and has some pop for a smaller ball carrier. Talk about track speed translating to the gridiron! I think Missouri Valley and FCS programs should take a hard look at the rising senior speedster, he's got some serious game.     Nearly 1,000 prospects descended on the UW-River Falls Minnesconsin Mega Camp this month, and [player_tooltip player_id='1394965' first='Levi' last='Nelson'] ran the second fastest 40 of the entire event. Nelson clocked a blazing 4.44 in the 40, and to continue the impressive streak of speed, went 4.44 TWICE at the Wisconsin Badgers prospect camp the following day. The hand-timed speed was backed up this spring with verified track time, as Nelson went 10.97 in the 100M in April and PRed with a 22.65 200M this spring as well. After his performance at the UWRF Mega Camp, Nelson earned offer #1 from the UW-River Falls Falcons, the first of what could be a plethora of offers given the importance of speed in the game of football.   Nelson possesses the game-breaking speed you'd expect with the numbers he's posted on the track and camp circuit, demonstrating explosive burst and splash-play top end speed. You can see that noticeable shift into his top & final gear in the open field to finish big runs and outpace pursuers, and his ability to go 0-60 and accelerate from a dead stop really catches the eye. Nelson put some defenders on skates when he stuck his cleat in the ground and cut laterally, shows good vision, and does a great job of keeping his legs churning through contact and has impressive reps of him powering through dog piles and multiple tackle attempts. The Western Wisconsin burner with scholarship ability and pure, raw speed that can do major damage against college defenses, no matter the division. Get at him!     Never short on athletes, powerhouse Arrowhead High School had one of the fastest football and track rosters in the state this past school year. The first 2026 burner we'll be highlighting is 5'10, 180 lb. WR [player_tooltip player_id='533176' first='Harper' last='Hughes'], who helped Arrowhead to a D1 state championship while setting a new state record in the 4x2 and qualifying for state in both the 200M (2nd place) and 4x2, which won state. Hughes PRed with a 10.91 100M this outdoor season, along with a 22.17 200M. He also clocked a 6.67 55M this past indoor season. Hughes is carrying the speed into the summer camp circuit, posting a 4.50 and 4.51 40 at the Iowa State prospect camp and a 9'8" broad jump.   The rising junior speedster is a deep threat as a WR who can blow by man coverage as easily as you or I pass a fellow pedestrian on a walk, and can take the top off the defense and beat defenses vertically week to week. Hughes displaysgood contact balance after the catch and owns a strong lower body that can break tackles and beat defenders in space and 1v1 settings, quick change of direction ability, and good ball tracking skills. The 180 lber. is also a physical and willing blocker out on the perimeter, can line up at multiple WR positions, and is a solid route runner who breaks his routes off smoothly, works back to the football while it's in the air, and can create separation at multiple points of a route. Hughes possesses obvious explosive ability, creating big-time splash plays against D1 competition, and was a major varsity contributor as an underclassman at one of Wisconsin's most consistent and talent-ridden high school football programs. The junior tape is going to be an important data point in Hughes continuing to raise his stock as a high school football prospect. Raw speed is a great place to start!      The fastest of the trio of Arrowhead Warhawks multi-sport standouts, speedsters, and rising junior prospects that helped AHS win the Wisconsin D1 outdoor track & field championship in 2024, WR [player_tooltip player_id='1220692' first='Ryan' last='Heiman'] has some real-deal jets. The 5'11, 155 lber. popped off an eye-catching 10.67 100M in late April of this past outdoor season, the second fastest 100M time in school history, and has added a couple of sub-23 second 200M times between the indoor and outdoor seasons. Heiman competed at the New Balance national tournament in June, and helped Arrowhead win the state title in the 4x1 and 4x2. He also popped off a 4.53 40 at this past spring's PRzWI Combine Series Showcase, so it's safe to say that the rising junior is fast.   Heiman, like his jet-fueled peers, can easily take the top off the defense and win reps vertically, and Heiman displays noticeable and impressive acceleration and burst, especially after the catch. He's a good route runner, and I like how he cuts his routes off smoothly and suddenly and without rounding off at the top off the route, as well as gets defenders to open their hips and overcommit before breaking. The 155 lber. eats up off-man cushions like it's his breakfast and is very dangerous to leave him 1v1, and if he gets a step on a CB who doesn't have safety help he can crack your defense wide open. Heiman can slip through tackle attempts and shows off good balance after the catch as well, can cut at top speed, is able to contribute in the return game and create explosive plays in the kick and punt game, and displays strong hands and a big catch radius that can pluck the ball out of the air and away from his body. He has reps of him finishing TD receptions and runs without a defender within 10 yards of him, and is overall one of the better route runners and more explosive WR prospects in the Badger State. Should be a huge junior season for the burner from Hartland.     The final blistering Arrowhead High School multi-sporter who posted some fantastic track times in 2024, RB [player_tooltip player_id='773292' first='Pres' last='Bencz'] has some serious get-up, posting a 10.93 100M this spring and 6.54 55M dash this past indoor season. Bencz was another one of the sprinters to help Arrowhead win their fourth straight D1 outdoor track & field title, as well as first place finishes in the 4x100 and 4x200, which then went onto to compete at the New Balance national track & field tournament earlier this month.   On the gridiron, Bencz can outpace pursuers in the open field and burn pursuit angles like the defenders are stuck in the mud, and he displays the top-end speed to finish big runs, especially if he gets the sideline. He demonstrates noticeable burst and power when he sticks his cleat in the ground and gets upfield and will run behind his pads and carry the rock with a physical edge, putting some would-be tacklers on their butts and displaying some serious pop for his size. Should be a huge year for Bencz, and man, you better be prepared for some serious speed when you line up against Arrowhead in 2024.     Always good to know your wide receiver is a burner, and 6'2, 185 lb. Stanley-Boyd pass-catcher [player_tooltip player_id='1067058' first='Madden' last='Mahr'] has done a good job of raising his football recruiting stock thanks to some impressive track times posted this spring. Mahr set a new school record in the 200M dash in May, posting a 22.22 time, and added eye-catching 100M times of 11.19, 11.18, 11.17, 11.05, and 11.03 for a very solid junior season out on the track. This past indoor season he also added a 6.56 55M dash for good measure.   Surprisingly, no offers yet for the rising senior, but plenty of schools are involved, especially from the Northern Sun and Missouri Valley, who have long benefitted from talented gridiron weapons from the Badger State. Mahr, a First Team All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State HM WR selection in 2023, posted 54 receptions for 1,158 yards (21.4 YPC), and 14 receiving TDs, as well as four (!) kickoff return touchdowns as a junior. Mahr is able to take the top off the defense and burn man and zone coverage alike, as well as blow by defenders and leave them grasping at air after the catch. He displays contested catch ability, plays the ball well in the air and has noticeable high-point expertise, and is a productive red zone target who uses his combination of height, length, and bounce to consistently win on fades and 50/50 balls. Multi-phase contributing ability, especially on special teams, where Mahr boasts one of the best kickoff return production and ability in the entire Upper Midwest, has been translating very well to success at the collegiate level, and Mahr is an absolute problem as a returner. He shows off explosiveness and playmaking ability in droves, and can take advantage of the slightest of seams in a coverage team and finish big returns once he gets the edge. Can't believe he doesn't have an offer yet, someone is going to get a baller!     Back to the 2026 class for our next verified speedster! Tosa' West's playmaking RB [player_tooltip player_id='1220791' first='Kevin' last='Johnikin II'] has arguably the most accomplished T&F resume of anyone on this list, and he's not even an upperclassman yet. Johnikin II is coming off a fantastic outdoor season that saw PR in the 100M with with a blazing 10.86, and he also posted a 10.92 and 10.94 in the past couple months for good measure. Johnikin II also went 22.01 and 22.18 in the 200M and has jumped 21'1.5" as a freshman in 2023. For further bragging rights, he was named an All-American at the 2024 Nike Indoor Nationals, and posted an impressive 425x3 back squat in mid-March, proving any questions as to where that speed comes from.   Earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore, posting 150 carries for 730 yards and I like his vision and patience as a tailback. He does a good job of following his blockers and taking what the defense gives him, is easily able to bounce it out to the edge, and displays solid burst. Johnikin II is also an explosive kick returner and displays a strong lower body that helps him bounce off weaker tackle attempts at his lower body and carry defenders for extra yardage. With the speed he shows on the track, I was hoping to see more explosive plays and overall elusiveness, so I'm thinking this offseason has been a monstrous one and Johnikin II is sitting right in the drivers seat of a breakout, stock-rising junior campaign with the Trojans.     Not a ton of information on Lakeside Lutheran High School's rising senior and multi-sport standout Ben Krauklis, except of course, that he's fast. Krauklis is coming off an excellent outdoor track and field season this spring, finishing second in the state in the 100M and 200M, winning the 4x2 relay, and winning the Wisconsin D2 team championship. He PRed and set a school record in the 200M with a 21.79, breaking his own record set previously that month of 21.83, and he also set Lakeside Lutheran's 100M record with an explosive 10.78. He also posted 100M times of 10.95, 10.88, 10.78 again, and 10.95 a second time. Plus, he's added a 7.09 60M time this past indoor season.   No available football film unfortunately, but Krauklis posted 53 rushes for 344 yards and 4 TDs, 10 receptions for 144 yards, and completed a pass for 33 yards. Hope he gets some film uploaded this summer. Krauklis is also a standout hooper and brings a decorated multi-sport background and real-deal offensive firepower to the table as a gridiron prospect. Seems like he could play multiple sports at the next level. Get at him!     The verified track data is doing what verified track times do with Iola-Scandinavia's 2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1251526' first='Jensen' last='Rice']. After winning the D3 100M and 110H this past spring, PRing with an eye-popping 10.66 in the 100M and 14.60 in the 110M hurdles, along with a 40.21 300M hurdle time as well, Rice has earned personalized recruiting graphics and/or camp invites from Wisconsin, Minnesota Gophers safeties coach Danny Collins, and North Dakota State's assistant coach Nick Goeser. No doubt Rice is one of the fastest football prospects in the Great State of Wisconsin, and that's caught the attention of some of the premier programs in the region.   Posting an explosive 927 rushing yards and 15 TDs on the ground, as well as 554 passing yards and 7 TDs, the combination of Rice's pure speed, explosiveness, and athleticism were simply too much for defenses last fall, and he's only gotten faster, more explosive, and more athletic since then. A three-phase contributor and multi-sport standout, Rice explodes up the field when he shows off that initial burst, and he can cut at top speed and does a good job of utilizing the sideline and every available inch of the field to his advantage. Rice uses his speed and athleticism to extend plays and create splash gains with both his arm and his legs and he's frankly electric in the open field and with the ball in-hand. The vision, balance, change of direction ability, and general elusiveness, which display Rice as a comfortable and natural playmaker, made for some electric plays and TD runs in the open field. At the high school level, it's not a bad idea to put your best athlete at the QB position, and Rice is a great representation of that trend. Not only is he one of the best athletes on Iola-Scandinavia's roster, he looks and plays like one of the best in Wisconsin. No wonder D1s are already poking around the rising junior and his rare resume as a track & football prospect.     It was an exciting spring for Glenbard West's [player_tooltip player_id='830846' first='Mason' last='Ellens'], who saw his eye-popping 10.77 100M and 21.89 200M track time net him his first P4 offer from Iowa State in late April. A little over a month later, Ellens was committed to the Cyclones, but not before Iowa, Minnesota, and Boston College also offered, and it was all thanks to his real-deal blazing track times. Ellens even improved on the 100M time, PRing with a 10.73 at the IHSA 3A Boys State Track and Field Championships in late May. He also added two 10.8 100Ms inbetween that time. He also beat the 200M time, PRing with a 21.84 time at the state championship meet as well.   Here's what I wrote about Ellens in my late May spotlight of some of the Midwest's fastest rising 2025 prospects at the time:   "Ellens has one of – if not the #1 – best special teams tape in the Midwest, and opens his tape with a series of fantastic returns. His 100M speed is showcased well as a kick and punt returner, where his explosiveness, ability to cut at top speed, balance, and acceleration helped him take 3 kickoff returns to the house (averaged over 50 yards a return), a punt return for six, and a couple of them he was barely even touched. He also proved himself to be a dangerous deep threat as a receiver who can also play RB if needed and is also a standout DB for the Hilltoppers. The younger brother of 2024 South Dakota football commit Julius Ellens<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/julius-ellens/"></a> , Mason is comfortable playing the ball in the air and shows some good ball skills, he displays patient read steps, doesn't waste movement, and accelerates out of his breaks in coverage. Able to play both CB and safety, Ellens also attacks blockers on the perimeter and is a physical run supporter who will meet WRs and ball carriers at the LOS, is a strong form tackler, comes downhill and closes with pace, and can make 1-on-1 tackles in space. Statistics are coming out that three-phase contributors, particularly TD-producing returners, go on to find success at the next level of ball and when you combine that with Ellens' eye-popping speed, you have quite a strong resume as a prep football prospect." Iowa State got a stud!     Maybe the fastest prospect on this speed-riddled list of standout burners, St. Laurence High School's rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='330475' first='Harley' last='Rizzs'] is the Illinois 2A Boys Track and Field State Champion in the 100M dash, roasting the competition with an incendiary 10.66 to take first. However, he ran even faster in the semis, posting a 10.61 as well. Additionally, he went 10.67 in April, four 100M times in the 10.8s, a 10.73 on May 9th, and a 10.97 in mid-April. Rizzs also was a state champion in the 4x100, and set the school record, previously held by himself, with a 21.69 200M at the state track & field meet. This kid can fly!   Rizzs posted 49 carries for 421 rushing yards (8.7 YPC) in 2023, displaying home run speed that can gash your defense for explosive TD runs, both up the gut of the defense and out on the edges. I really like his contact balance, especially for his size. Rizzs has a rep where he eats and bounces off a powerful tackle attempt at the LOS, propelling forward for an eye-catching TD run showing off some serious lower body strength, and he was also productive as a kick returner in 2023. The speed definitely flashes on tape, but as a senior, I really want Rizzs to bump that production up and create more splash plays indicative of his track speed. St. Laurence will run that rock, and I think it's going to be a huge season for the rising senior RB. No offers yet, someone is going to get an absolute steal.     One of the big winners from Illinois' outdoor track & field season, especially in-terms of football/track standouts, York High School's speedy QB [player_tooltip player_id='832150' first='Bruno' last='Massel'] IV had a good showing at the IHSA 3A Boys State Track and Field Championships, earning All-State honors in the 4x100m relay, and PRing in the 100M with a 10.87 time. He also ran a 10.98 100M at sectionals, and flew to a 6.59 55M dash during the indoor season. Massel IV showed that speed during the summer camp circuit as well, posting a 4.43 40 at the North Central College Mega Camp and posting the 5th fastest 40 of 249 competitors at the Northwestern Wildcats Prospect Camp.   Mostly played JV in 2023 as a junior with the Dukes, but Massel IV showed he was a true dual-threat QB who can hurt defenses with his arm and his legs. He displayed the ability to stretch the field, extend plays outside of the pocket with his legs, throw the ball off-platform, and toss the pigskin with accuracy to all three levels of the field. No offers yet, but speed screams collegiate upside and potential, and getting in there first is always an important factor in a prospect's recruitment. Going to be a make-or-break season for Massel IV, but you can't keep that speed/athleticism off the field as a senior, even if that means moving positions. PRzIL will be eagerly watching his senior season week to week.     Look no further for a potential FBS stock-rising senior than Grayslake North's 2025 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='831093' first='Cameron' last='Bates']. The Lake County product is still fresh off his first D1 offer, which came on May 31st from the Northern Iowa Panthers, and you can bet your bottom dollar that his 2024 outdoor track season times played a role in Bates growth into the D1-recruiting ranks. The Grayslake North athlete went 10.89 in the IHSA Class 3A sectionals, and added a 10.93 in the conference championships and a 10.98 at the IHSA 3A Boys Track and Field State Championship meet. Bates also holds a 6.54 50M, 6.66 55M, 7,18 60M, 21.96 200M, and a 41'11.5" triple jump in 2023 as a sophomore. The WR has kept the speed train rolling into the summer camp season, running 4.57 and 4.58 in the 40 at Iowa State's prospect camp, as well a 4.59 at the Northwestern prospect camp, good for 3rd out of the 249 recruits competing that day. Also added a 10'6" broad jump in Evanston for good measure. North Dakota made for his second D1 offer last week, and at the Badgers camp last week in Madison, he went 4.62 in the 40, 4.25 in the shuttle, and10'4" on the broad jump.   It's been a whirlwind, and I'm excited to see how the momentum continues to trend into his senior season. He could potentially blow up depending on how the senior tape looks. Bates posted 578 yards and 3 TDs last fall as a junior, displaying himself as a nightmare in man coverage and a deep threat who could go up and high-point the ball over DBs outstretched hands and through traffic. He demonstrates good ball skills, strong hands & contested catch ability, and accelerates out of his cuts. Bates breaks his routes off well and is smooth at the top of the route, occasionally taking a CBs ankles with him, according to his junior tape. The combination of speed, route running, and high-pointing & contested catch capability proved to be exciting and explosive in 2023, and with how well his offseason is going, I can't wait to see how 2024 looks. Great move by UNI and UND getting in early.     Coming out of the always-talented Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, 2025 cornerback Luke Leverett really caught some attention this spring with 10.96 100M at sectionals and a 10.85 at the IHSA 2A Boys State Track and Field Championships. Leverett's also PRed with a 22.51 200M as a sophomore in 2023.   An All-Area and All-Conference pick in 2023 as a junior, Leverett can play nickel, is comfortable on an island and having to cover in an ocean of space out on the edge, and effective in zone coverage, as he does a good job of passing off crossing wideouts and understanding that if someone leaves your zone, someone else is generally coming. Leverett is laterally quick and able to stay square and mirror WRs at the LOS in their releases, patient, and displays good bounce when going up for contested catches as well. The 170 lber. is aggressive tackler and when attacking the ball in the air, can find paydirt as a blitzer off the edge, and shows off that sub-11 second 100M speed on two impressive rundowns of a loose ball carrier far downfield and around 50 seconds and back-to-back into his junior tape. Leverett displays the speed to easily stay on top of speedy WRs working vertically and in man coverage, and is physical when attacking blocks and accelerates out of his breaks with noticeable pace. Especially now that we have verified speed data points, I am shocked he doesn't have an offer yet. Prestigious high school program, decorated prep resume, explosive speed, and good tape, I think he's a scholarship talent and DIIs should be all over this kid this summer. Get in there now, folks! Before it's too late.     Maine South's dynamo 2026 RB Niko Kokosioulis is a veteran of the PrepRedzoneIL Showcase scene and walked away from this past spring's PRzIL Combine Series stop with MVP honors from the RB group. Kokosioulis also had a good spring on the track, posting an 11.2 100M dash time, which followed an explosive 6.37 50M time during the winter's indoor season. Limited varsity reps, but Kokosioulis posted 1,314 total yards and 18 TDs in 2023 and did have some big-time runs against varsity defenses, all while showing off that game-breaking track speed in droves. Can bounce it out to the edge and burn pursuit angles with ease, Kokosioulis has start/stop burst and play speed that makes defenders look like they're wading through sand while in pursuit of the tailback. Shows some elusiveness in the open field and in 1v1 settings, and is always looking to work to the sideline and finish big plays on the edge of his opponents defense. Going to be a breakout season in 2024 for the Maine South RB, pay attention!     A 2025 WR still at the genesis of their recruitment, McInerney is fresh off his first college offer, which came from FCS Pioneer League competitor Drake University on June 11th during the summer camp circuit. Coming out of a talent factory of Hinsdale Central, 6'2 WR McInerney had a good showing during this past outdoor track season, PRing with an 11.15 100M, 22.82 200M, and 20'8" long jump.   McInerney displays good ball skills and impressive balance, a big catch radius and soft hands that can reel in receptions away from his body, and the straight-line speed to take the top off the defense. He's got a knack for 50/50 balls, is comfortable and effective running double-moves, and demonstrates sudden COD ability in the open field and after the catch, leaving a couple of would-be tacklers grasping at air and occasionally putting them flat on their butts in embarrassing fashion. Good move by the Drake Bulldogs getting in first, he's got the chance to be one of the more productive WRs in the state in 2024.    --

Nothing can boost a prospect's stock and athletic profile like an eye-catching track & field performance. Despite all of the speculation and hypothesis that goes into evaluating high school football players going into the college ranks and eventually college football prospects hoping to make it to the NFL, a consistent data point of successful players is multi-sport backgrounds. One of the most applicable sports to add to a football player's resume is track and field, and given that football generally comes down to who is the biggest, fastest, and strongest, nothing can be more clear-cut than throwing an object further or running faster than your opponent. Throwing requires strength, explosiveness, and balance, while sprinting is the name of the game for most sports, including football, and events such as the long, high, and triple jump, or the high hurdles, show off even more specialized and hard-to-find traits and skills. With the outdoor season finished up and summer camp season well underway, I wanted to quicky recap some of the notable and eye-catching track and field times coming out of the Badger State and the Land of Lincoln, solidifying some prospect's athleticism and putting others on the map. Multi-sporters and track speed galore!