7A Quarterfinals Prospect Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend is a monster slate of games as the IHSA state quarterfinals will be taking place.&nbsp; We are looking at the biggest games of the weekend including here at all four 7A matchups!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#24 Lincoln Way Central at #17 Bradley Bourbonnais</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the all upset game!&nbsp; A 24 vs 17 seed in the quarterfinals I'm pretty sure nobody predicted in their bracket.&nbsp; Senior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='331594' first='Ethan' last='Toosley'] is one that caught our eye during the evaluation process.&nbsp; They also have watchlist seniors quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='331592' first='Luke' last='Mensik'], wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='331597' first='Kyle' last='Miller'], athlete [player_tooltip player_id='331596' first='Blake' last='Richards'], athlete [player_tooltip player_id='537217' first='Carick' last='Richards'], and running back [player_tooltip player_id='331595' first='Tyler' last='Tulk'].&nbsp; Bradley Bourbonnais is led by a pair of ranked juniors in wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='801703' first='Liam' last='Martin'] and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='287947' first='Ellis' last='Johnson'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Downers Grove North at #4 Batavia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minnesota 2026 quarterback commit [player_tooltip player_id='212320' first='Owen' last='Lansu'] is the top signal caller in the class and he leads DGN.&nbsp; His fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='283929' first='Oliver' last='Thulin'] is one of his top pass catchers.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='205735' first='Charlie' last='Cruse'] is a senior pass catcher for Lansu.&nbsp; At linebacker keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='205629' first='Weston' last='Waughop'] and [player_tooltip player_id='331478' first='Joe' last='Edwards'].&nbsp; Host Batavia has a pair of ranked 2025 prospects in defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1292150' first='Malachi' last='Smith'] along with wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1362880' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'].&nbsp; At 6'5” junior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1120487' first='Ryan' last='Myers'] along with running back [player_tooltip player_id='401606' first='Greyson' last='Kelly'] are Batavia's 2026s to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Quincy at #10 St. Rita</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quincy will have to go on the road as the higher seeded squad in this game.&nbsp; One of central Illinois' top squads will make the trip up north.&nbsp; Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1292113' first='Rico' last='Clay'] is their star in the secondary.&nbsp; They have a big 3 group of seniors on the offensive side with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='278885' first='Bradyn' last='Little'], wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1292164' first='Tykell' last='Hammers'], and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1292203' first='Jeraius' last='Rice Jr'].&nbsp; St. Rita out of the Chicago Catholic League has a solid group of prospects led by senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='830849' first='James' last='Kingsbury'] and offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='819687' first='Sincere' last='Kelly'].&nbsp; Couple junior wide receivers are intriguing in [player_tooltip player_id='401629' first='Walter' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1400013' first='Lucas' last='Davis'].&nbsp; Also 2026 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1400840' first='James' last='Franklin'] should be monitored.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Normal Community at #19 Mt. Carmel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Carmel is absolutely stacked!&nbsp; Vanderbilt commit [player_tooltip player_id='131488' first='Jack' last='Elliott'] has lived up to everything you could ask of a top signal caller.&nbsp; His go to weapon is sophomore stud wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='432197' first='Quentin' last='Burrell'].&nbsp; Their defensive line of [player_tooltip player_id='270192' first='Braeden' last='Jones'] (USC), [player_tooltip player_id='1538329' first='Joey' last='Quinn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1682021' first='Caleb' last='Tucker'] bring major star power up front.&nbsp; There are too many Caravan prospects to name!&nbsp; Normal Community has a pair of quality senior prospects in wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1292129' first='Mar'Quan' last='Gary'] and Indiana State offensive lineman commit [player_tooltip player_id='1159688' first='Bradyn' last='Mazanowski'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->