2027 Skill Players on the Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 class in Illinois is already starting to take shape, and a handful of young playmakers are beginning to separate themselves. These are athletes who have the tools, production, and upside to become major names over the next two seasons. Here are five underclassmen who are trending up fast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1344621' first='James' last='Johnson'] – WR – Belleville East – 6'3, 185</strong><br>Johnson is one of the more intriguing young receivers in the state because of his size and long–stride athleticism. At 6'3, he presents a big target on the perimeter and shows natural body control when adjusting to the football. His catch radius already stands out, and once he adds more strength and polish to his route running, he has the upside to become a true WR1 for Belleville East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1727710' first='Herman' last='Yancey'] – WR – Perspectives Charter – 5'8, 151</strong><br>Yancey brings a different kind of electricity. His game is built on sudden quickness, sharp cuts, and the ability to win in space. He's a natural separator who can take a short throw and turn it into something explosive. As he continues to grow physically, his playmaking instincts and burst give him a chance to become one of the dangerous slot options in Chicago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1887922' first='David' last='Croom'] – RB – Plainfield East – 5'8, 170</strong><br>Croom runs with a low center of gravity and surprising power. He hits the hole with confidence and shows enough vision to squeeze through tight lanes. What makes him stand out is how consistently he falls forward and finishes runs. As his role expands, expect him to emerge as a dependable every-down back for Plainfield East with real breakout potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1791871' first='Jackson' last='Cook'] – WR – Harlem – 6'1, 170</strong><br>Cook is a smooth athlete with clean routes and strong hands. His frame and stride length allow him to cover ground quickly, and he does a nice job creating leverage on defensive backs. Cook is the type of receiver who can win at all three levels of the field. With more varsity reps ahead of him, he's a prime candidate to become a go-to target in Harlem's offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Luke Sickmeier – WR – Wauconda – 6'3, 185</strong><br>Sickmeier is a matchup problem because of his size and ability to high-point the football. He competes for everything in the air and shows signs of being a physical red-zone threat. At 6'3, 185, he moves well for his build and flashes the upside of a big outside receiver who can dominate 1-on-1s. If his trajectory continues, he could be one of the more talked-about 2027 wideouts in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2027 group is already showing depth across the board, and these players are positioned to make big jumps in the next year. Each one has the traits, foundation, and upside to become a major name in Illinois high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->