Offensive Prospects That Have Shined on Tape This Year

We once again examined the tape from the first half of the season and these were some of the offensive players that left an impression with their play!   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1683690' first='Archie' last='Goewey'] (Centralia – 2028)   Goewey is a 6'3” signal caller that is a top 20 prospect in the 2028 class in both basketball and football.  He has excellent touch and arm strength down the field.  Subtle movements in the pocket when needed, but overall has quiet footwork.  Really like how he delivers the ball with his throwing motion.  The athleticism definitely shines through with his ability to make plays passing on the move.  He is at his best however in the pocket picking apart defenses with his pin point accuracy and quick processing.  Outstanding on intermediate and deep balls.  One of the better 2028 QBs in the state.   QB [player_tooltip player_id='971616' first='Marion' last='Persich'] (La Salle Peru – 2028)   Speaking of sophomore star QBs this is another one!  Persich has 17 touchdowns so far this season.  Big fan of this 6'4” signal caller.  Brings mobility to the table and can run when needed.  Deep arm strength pushing it downfield.  Like his pocket presence and how calm, cool, and collected he is.  Velocity on intermediate routes with good accuracy.  Touch on the deep ball.  Can pretty much make all the throws.   QB Jahonise Reed (Willowbrook – 2026)   This 6'0” quarterback is 71-11 passing for 1,474 yards and 13 touchdowns through the first six games of the season.   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1893778' first='Braxton' last='Fausett'] (Harlem – 2028)   The sophomore quarterback has been impressive this year throwing for 1,064 yards along with 13 touchdowns and only one interception.   QB Ben Peterson (Geneva – 2027)   Peterson is a junior quarterback at 6'4” 200 pounds that has nice size and strength.  Excellent touch on  the deep ball along with pushing deep slants over the middle of the feel.  Creativity being able to use his legs to extend plays, but is very comfortable as a drop back passer reading defenses and hitting his open man as well.  Crisp with his mechanics and footwork in the pocket.   RB William Bute (York – 2027)   Shifty running back that has long distance speed when he gets to the perimeter.  Loves to get to the edge then turn it north south for a long TD dash.  Also effective in the kick return game along with coverage units.   RB [player_tooltip player_id='801891' first='Owen' last='Yorke'] (Wheaton Warrenville South – 2026)   The WWS back has 113 carries for 943 yards in the first six games of the season.  Also has grabbed 12 catches for 112 yards.  In addition he has racked up 15 total touchdowns.   RB Tyran Marshall (Niles West – 2026)   Marshall is an explosive and speedy back that has juice with the ball in his hands.  Ends his runs with power making the pile go forward.  Burst with the ball and has shake in the open field making defenders miss.  Home run threat when he has the ball in his hands.    RB [player_tooltip player_id='1777327' first='Joshua' last='Crawford'] (Chicago Christian – 2026)   The 5'8” running back through the first four games he has played has racked up 301 yards on 39 carries along with 3 touchdowns.   RB [player_tooltip player_id='1335752' first='Bryce' last='Riley'] (West Aurora – 2027)   Riley is a junior back that through six games has 407 yards on the ground on 48 rushes along with 175 yards receiving.  Reached the endzone 9 times so far.   RB Harrison Hill (Geneseo – 2028)   Smaller back that is at his best getting on the perimeter using his speed.  The side back follows his lead blocker then runs past him for long dashes and/or touchdowns.   RB Kevin Jay (Downers Grove North – 2027)   Jay is a 5'10” 180 pound back that in his first five games of the season he has 479 yards total along with 10 touchdowns.   FB Joey Levy (Providence Catholic – 2026)   Old school full back that is an excellent blocker blowing up holds for his running back.  Knows his assignment and brings physicality to his job on a nightly basis.   WR [player_tooltip player_id='1683691' first='Kenny' last='Bratton'] (Centralia – 2028)   Bratton is an electric receiver with the ball in his hands.  Long and wiry frame with smooth route running.  Sets up his routes well and creates space.  Adjusts well to the ball in the air.  Can take short passes and make defenders look silly in the open field.  Big time punt return threat.  There is some Percy Harvin type stuff in this highly ranked sophomore.  On the defensive side he is an effective cover man in the secondary as well as a rangy free safety that can cover a ton of ground.    WR [player_tooltip player_id='1718268' first='Lucas' last='Matykiewicz'] (Sandburg – 2027)   Good size and smooth route runner.  Creates space on comeback route.  Snatches the ball out of the air with his hands.    WR [player_tooltip player_id='1541022' first='Zeke' last='Young'] (Monticello – 2027)   Electric athlete with the ball in his hands that you can run gadget plays.  Best to get the ball in his hands quickly and let him go to work in the open field!  As a defensive back he has some potential including a nice interception.   TE Charlie Fowler (Loyola – 2027)   Flex tight end that can also line up at the line of scrimmage.  He is a vertical pass catching threat that gets down the field and gives his QB a big radius to throw the ball.  Snatches the ball out of the air with his hands.  Competes and is technically sound as a blocker.    TE [player_tooltip player_id='1257274' first='Jackson' last='Miranda'] (Minooka – 2026)   The Minooka tight end is an in-line player that has good size and strength at 6'4” 245 pounds.  Effective catching short passes along with being a very good blocker.  Sure hands on passes over the middle.   TE Lincoln Mercado (Geneva – 2027)   Pass catcher with solid hands.  Effective on short routes and as a chain mover.  Rumbles with the ball in his hands after the catch.  Makes himself available to his QB when he is scrambling finding open space.   TE Lukas Melton (Libertyville – 2027)   Melton is the less heralded tight end for Libertyville.  He is more of a blocker first that serves as a sixth offensive lineman.  Really like how engaged he gets blowing defenders off the line of scrimmage and driving them.   TE Fabian Carreno (Alden-Hebron – 2026)   This 6'3” 215 pound tight end has 295 yards receiving on 15 catches including 6 for touchdowns through their first five games.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1682057' first='Brayden' last='Weaver'] (Tuscola – 2028)   This 6'5” 275 pound offensive tackle is a huge sophomore!  The left tackle just engulfs opponents with how big he is driving them into the ground like they aren't even standing there.  Also brings it as a defensive tackle inside getting up field.  Projects best as an offensive lineman with the way he moves and is light on his feet.  Powerful and agile with good technique.  Just blows up one side of the line.  Can also get out and block in the open field as well.  Man Child!   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1669942' first='Mytrell' last='Tillman'] (East St. Louis – 2026)   Tillman is one of the better offensive lineman remaining on the board.  The big bodied right guard is a mauler up front!  Blows dudes off the line with his raw strength and power.  Mirrors well and has the strength to hold up against quality interior pass rushers.  Light on his feet and athletic for how big he is.  Wide base and anchors well against the pass.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1684254' first='Joe'l' last='Washington'] (Rich Township – 2026)   The right tackle is a physical run blocker that blows defenders off the ball.  Good use of his hands and drives with his lower half.  Like how he mirrors and gets his hands on opponents in pass protection.  Good footwork and overall is pretty technically sound.   OL Jacob Washington (Glenbard South – 2026)   Washington is a right guard that has good size and strength.  Powerful use of his hands in the run game throwing and manipulating defenders where he wants them to go.  Several times you just see him run guys 10+ yards downfield off the line in the run game.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1364281' first='Finn' last='Rafferty'] (Sandburg – 2026)   This 6'1” 260 pound offensive lineman at left guard.  He has a wide base that is extremely physical in the run game.  Works well with others in double teams.  Opens up holes on the left hand side of the line.   Wrestles defenders to the ground.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1708660' first='Julian' last='Mckinnon'] (Morgan Park – 2026)   This 6'4” 320 pound offensive lineman brings versatility playing up and down the line.  He is huge being able to turn defenders and seal off the edge with ease.  Long arms getting his hands on defenders and then it is pretty much over.  Solid in pass protection.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1289319' first='Stephen' last='Caxton-Idowu'] (Sandburg – 2028)   The right tackle is a big boy at 6'5” 270 pounds that drives defenders in the run game.  Also like what he brings in pass protection as he has a wide base, moves his feet, and fights off defender with his hands from getting in his body.   OL Marc Schmidt (Lakeview – 2027)   Schmidt is a 6'0” 265 pound offensive lineman that plays right tackle and right guard.  Mauler in the run game that on several occasions went Michael Oher pushing back defenders 10+ yards.  Works well in double teams as well.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='969389' first='Reilly' last='Kliros'] (Lincoln Way West – 2026)   Versatile offensive lineman at 6'3” 290 pounds.  How about these stats he has 76 pancakes and 0 sacks allowed in the first 6 games.  Strong lower half and mirrors well while anchoring in pass protection.  Sound footwork and fluidity for his size.  Seals off defenders on his side of the ball.  Monster in the run game with his combination of strength and athleticism.  Gets on the second level and really does damage opening up long runs.   OL Jay Breitenstein (Glenbard East – 2027)   The junior Glenbard East center is strong at the pivot moving his defenders in the way he needs to for that blocking play.  Works well with guards on double teams.  Has the ability to wrestle opponents to the ground.   ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1640622' first='Luke' last='Mahoney'] (Oak Lawn – 2026)   Mahoney is an impact player on both sides of the ball as the 6'3” athlete has 9 catches for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense.  Defensively he has racked up 24 tackles along with an interception.   ATH Grant Bowen (IC Catholic – 2028)   Bowen is a 6'4” 205 pound athlete that is gaining a lot of helium on the recruiting trail.  He is a wide receiver/tight end offensively and a linebacker on defense.  Jumbo pass catcher that snatches it in the air and can really run.  Smooth route runner and tough to bring down with the ball in his hands.  Big catch radius.  On the defensive side he shows good instincts being able to cover in space.  Flies to the ball in the run and tackles with force.

We once again examined the tape from the first half of the season and these were some of the offensive players that left an impression with their play!