Scouts Eye: Prospects to Watch at State Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend the IHSA State Championships will take place on Friday (1A-4A) and Saturday (5A-8A) at Illinois State University in Bloomington.&nbsp; If you can't get there all the games will be streamed on NFHS. &nbsp;Here we examine the prospects to watch in each game that are ranked by Prep Redzone Illinois!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The event will be stacked with top ranked prospects!&nbsp; In the 2025 class there will be six of the top 10 ranked prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='201724' first='Dierre' last='Hill'] Jr (Althoff), [player_tooltip player_id='278883' first='Talyn' last='Taylor'] (Geneva), [player_tooltip player_id='258001' first='Jason' last='Dowell'] (Althoff), [player_tooltip player_id='1291979' first='Donovan' last='Robinson'] (Loyola), [player_tooltip player_id='278245' first='Gabe' last='Kaminski'] (Nazareth), and [player_tooltip player_id='176242' first='Charles' last='Bass'] (East St. Louis).&nbsp; Also the top two quarterbacks in the senior class and player of the year candidates [player_tooltip player_id='131488' first='Jack' last='Elliott'] (Mt. Carmel) and [player_tooltip player_id='1292076' first='Ryan' last='Fitzgerald'] (Loyola) will be playing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top 10 prospects in the junior and sophomore classes include 2026s [player_tooltip player_id='212319' first='JC' last='Anderson'] (Mt. Zion) and [player_tooltip player_id='270192' first='Braeden' last='Jones'] (Mt. Carmel) while the 2027 class is represented by top 10 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='611846' first='Israel' last='Abrams'] (Montini), [player_tooltip player_id='214234' first='Jayden' last='Ellington'] (Althoff), [player_tooltip player_id='1334146' first='Namari' last='Anderson'] (Montini), and [player_tooltip player_id='1335278' first='Luke' last='Injaychock'] (Nazareth).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>1A Ranked Prospects<br></u></strong>Belleville Althoff vs Lena Winslow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Althoff<br></strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='201724' first='Dierre' last='Hill'] Jr (2025 – Oregon)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='258001' first='Jason' last='Dowell'] (2025 – Mizzou)<br>CB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1292071' first='Charleston' last='Coldon'] (2025 – Boston College)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='831091' first='Drake' last='Mosley'] (2025)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1292104' first='Cooper' last='Zimmer'] (2025)<br>CB [player_tooltip player_id='973848' first='Xavier' last='Chapman'] (2025)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1564786' first='Patton' last='Leib'] (2025)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1564824' first='Logan' last='Davis'] (2025)<br>TE [player_tooltip player_id='1565530' first='Aaron' last='Powell'] (2025)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='214234' first='Jayden' last='Ellington'] (2027)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1598828' first='Steven' last='Brown'] (2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>2A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Christian vs Maroa Forsyth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chicago Christian<br></strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1292232' first='Niko' last='Griggs'] (2025)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='832146' first='Brock' last='Sperling'] (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maroa Forsyth<br></strong>TE [player_tooltip player_id='1292241' first='Grant' last='Smith'] (2025 – Illinois)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1184797' first='Tanner' last='Jacobs'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>3A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montini vs Monticello</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Montini<br></strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1292161' first='Sean' last='Hubeny'] (2025)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1180017' first='Douglas' last='Mateo'] (2025)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1280429' first='Maxwell' last='Bell'] (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1564790' first='Jeremiah' last='Peterson'] (2025)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1564836' first='Santonio' last='Flowers'] (2025)<br>OL JC Hayes (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='209448' first='Nico' last='Castaldo'] (2026)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='611846' first='Israel' last='Abrams'] (2027)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1334146' first='Namari' last='Anderson'] (2027)<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>4A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Zion vs DePaul Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mt. Zion<br></strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id='278901' first='Brayden' last='Trimble'] (2025 – Illinois)<br>TE [player_tooltip player_id='212319' first='JC' last='Anderson'] (2026)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='212314' first='Jacob' last='Harvey'] (2026)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='369201' first='Keller' last='Stocks'] (2027)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1400014' first='Broden' last='Reynolds'] (2026)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1585319' first='Luke' last='Miller'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DePaul Prep<br></strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1564036' first='Jet' last='Reese'] (2025)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1525746' first='Braden' last='Peevy'] (2025 – Central Michigan)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1146460' first='Dominic' last='Bitz'] (2025 – John's Hopkins)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1454184' first='Matthew' last='Osterman'] (2026)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='901504' first='Carlos' last='Rios'] (2027)<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>5A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joliet Catholic vs Nazareth Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joliet Catholic<br></strong>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1292305' first='Jake' last='Jakovich'] (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1292307' first='Keegan' last='Farnaus'] (2025)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1292312' first='Anthony' last='Brown'] (2025)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='537274' first='Zachary' last='Beitler'] (2025)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='401608' first='Ian' last='Campbell'] (2026)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1167291' first='Craig' last='Peacock Jr.'] (2026)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='401593' first='Anthony' last='Finnegan'] (2026)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='401618' first='Kingston' last='Dunagan'] (2026)<br><br><strong>Nazareth Academy<br></strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='278245' first='Gabe' last='Kaminski'] (2025 – Stanford)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='162591' first='Garrett' last='Reese'] (2025 – Indiana)<br>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='161367' first='James' last='Penley'] (2025)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='831101' first='Sam' last='Stec'] (2025)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='118787' first='Logan' last='Malachuk'] (2025)<br>RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='801877' first='Lesroy' last='Tittle'] (2026)<br>ATH Edward McClain (2026)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='474760' first='Spencer' last='Martin'] (2026)<br>DL/OL [player_tooltip player_id='1335278' first='Luke' last='Injaychock'] (2027)<br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>6A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Geneva vs East St. Louis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Geneva<br></strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id='278883' first='Talyn' last='Taylor'] (2025 – Georgia)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='252511' first='Troy' last='Velez'] (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='330457' first='Michael' last='Rumoro'] (2025)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='252482' first='Tony' last='Chahino'] (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='801711' first='Dominic' last='Dileonardi'] (2026)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='801707' first='Dylan' last='Reyes'] (2026)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='802037' first='Tyler' last='Drake'] (2026)<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East St. Louis<br></strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='176242' first='Charles' last='Bass'] (2025 – Mizzou)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1291986' first='Keylan' last='LeGrant'] (2025)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='830840' first='Ke'Andre' last='McClendon'] (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='278888' first='TaRyan' last='Martin'] (2025 – Kent State)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='188603' first='Mekhi' last='Mixon'] (2025 – Grambling State)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='831102' first='Kendrick' last='Lyons'] (2025)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='179193' first='Larevious' last='Woods'] (2025 – Lindenwood)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1564075' first='Christopher' last='Bennett'] (2025)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='836292' first='Blake' last='Brown'] (2025)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='401621' first='Leon' last='Howard'] (2026)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='401599' first='Carnell' last='McIntosh'] (2026)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1128408' first='Armaad' last='Sharp'] (2026)<br>QB Reece Shanklin (2027)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1335224' first='Caleb' last='Brown'] (2027)<br>LB Philip White (2027)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1282833' first='Amir' last='Tillman'] (2027)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1335357' first='Raheem' last='Floyd'] (2027)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1250731' first='Aireon' last='Bass'] (2027)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1335408' first='Laron' last='Baker Jr.'] (2027)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1335411' first='Ronnie' last='Gomiller'] (2027)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='419226' first='Royce' last='Searcy'] (2027)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1335413' first='Frank' last='Luckett IV'] (2027)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1335415' first='Jeremiah' last='Reed'] (2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>7A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Carmel vs Batavia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mt. Carmel<br></strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='131488' first='Jack' last='Elliott'] (2025 – Vanderbilt)<br>CB [player_tooltip player_id='830845' first='Le'Javier' last='Payne'] (2025)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1564094' first='Cooper' last='Lehman'] (2025)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1292234' first='Matt' last='Mucha'] (2025)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='299571' first='Tristan' last='Pusateri'] (2025)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='270192' first='Braeden' last='Jones'] (2026 – USC)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1538329' first='Joey' last='Quinn'] (2026)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='283927' first='Lamont' last='Miller'] (2026)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1354121' first='Jack' last='Webb'] (2026)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='801990' first='Tim' last='Harkins'] (2026)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1585253' first='Madden' last='Wilson'] (2026)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1524594' first='Stephen' last='Winkler'] (2026)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1585329' first='Zion' last='Elliott'] (2026)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1585147' first='Declan' last='Gill'] (2026)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='472668' first='Josiah' last='Wallace'] (2027)<br>WR Quentin Burrell (2027)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1275281' first='Duran' last='Sims'] (2027)<br>DB [player_tooltip player_id='476341' first='Tavares' last='Harrington'] (2027)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1598821' first='Roman' last='Igwebuike'] (2027)<br>WR Marshaun Thornton (2028)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1682021' first='Caleb' last='Tucker'] (2028)<br><br><strong>Batavia<br></strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1292150' first='Malachi' last='Smith'] (2025)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1362880' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'] (2025)<br>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1120487' first='Ryan' last='Myers'] (2026)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='401606' first='Greyson' last='Kelly'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>8A Ranked Prospects</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loyola vs York</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Loyola<br></strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='890063' first='Donovan' last='Brown'] (2025 – Washington)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1292076' first='Ryan' last='Fitzgerald'] (2025 – Iowa)<br>RB [player_tooltip player_id='831094' first='Drew' last='MacPherson'] (2025 – Iowa)<br>TE [player_tooltip player_id='1292068' first='Brendan' last='Loftus'] (2025 – Miami (OH))<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1292131' first='Tommy' last='Ghislandi'] (2025 – Army)<br>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1292141' first='Connor' last='Sullivan'] (2025 – South Dakota State)<br>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1564787' first='Charlie' last='Daly'] (2025 – Army)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1564831' first='Conlon' last='Kane'] (2025)<br>WR [player_tooltip player_id='537272' first='Will' last='Carlson'] (2025)<br><br><strong>York<br></strong>DL [player_tooltip player_id='163858' first='Joseph' last='Reiff'] (2025 – Notre Dame)<br>QB [player_tooltip player_id='832150' first='Bruno' last='Massel'] (2025)<br>TE [player_tooltip player_id='1585186' first='Simon' last='Kodosky'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->