Top 2027 Offensive Prospects Breakdown Latest in Recruitments

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2027 has headliners on the offensive side of the ball in the class.&nbsp; Their recruitments are starting to heat up with junior days just around the corner and visits getting set up.&nbsp; We caught up with some of the best junior prospects in the state on the offensive side of the ball to get the latest on their recruitments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='611846' first='Israel' last='Abrams'] (Montini)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abrams is the top quarterback in the class and #2 overall player.&nbsp; He is coming off a monster junior season leading his team to another state championship.&nbsp; In the fall he went out to Tennessee, Iowa State, Northwestern, Kentucky, Purdue, and Wisconsin.&nbsp; Abrams said the programs making him feel like a priority are Purdue, Tennessee, and Auburn.&nbsp; In January he plans on visiting Tennessee, Auburn, Purdue, and Indiana.&nbsp; He told us what is next, “The next step in my recruiting process is to figure out what schools I want to take my official visits at.”&nbsp; He says he would like to be committed by late June or early July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1335265' first='Jake' last='Nawrot'] (Hersey)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nawrot is one of the fastest rising QB's in the state.&nbsp; He is coming off a massive season at Hersey and the recruiting has matched up with that.&nbsp; In the fall he visited Kansas, Purdue, Iowa, Mizzou, and Northwestern.&nbsp; He said that the two schools making him feel like the biggest priority are Kansas and Northwestern.&nbsp; Schools he would like to get out to in the next couple months include Penn State, Kansas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, and Georgia.&nbsp; No definitive timeline, but likely spring or summer for making a call.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1598818' first='Michael' last='Vander Luitgaren'] (Batavia)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the class who broke out late in his sophomore season and has steadily improved.&nbsp; Vander Luitgaren visited Miami (OH), Iowa, and Western Michigan for game days this season.&nbsp; Programs he remains in contact with consistently are Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Miami (OH), Central Michigan, Ball State, Toledo, and Wyoming.&nbsp; Other schools that have shown interest as of late include Northern Illinois, North Dakota State, San Diego State, and Rutgers.&nbsp; Miami (OH) and Toledo have already extended offers.&nbsp; Iowa and Wyoming are also standing out.&nbsp; The Hawkeyes offensive coordinator is expected to be at Batavia this month.&nbsp; He is looking to head out for spring practices at Wyoming and Miami (OH).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1598810' first='Reece' last='Shanklin'] (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shanklin is one of the more interesting signal callers in the 2027 class as a dual threat QB that has excellent size and arm talent.&nbsp; In the fall he took visits to Mizzou and Kansas State.&nbsp; He said that the schools in the most communication are North Dakota, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Carleton.&nbsp; He is taking his time with the process.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1791819' first='Jeremiah' last='Stonewall'] (Crete Monee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stonewall is the #2 back in the junior class.&nbsp; Combination of power and speed make him a big time commodity at the next level.&nbsp; He visited Kansas State and Kansas in the fall.&nbsp; He is in constant communication with both staffs and they are really involved in his recruitment. He would like to get out to Ole Miss for a visit.&nbsp; Minnesota had been on him as well, but his position coach made the move to Wisconsin so he is not sure on a visit there.&nbsp; He is looking for a staff and program that believes in him.&nbsp; Stonewall is willing to listen to all programs and once he gets a good feel take his official visits to get a picture for each program!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1791842' first='James' last='Bell'] (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bell is one of the better backs in the class.&nbsp; The Simeon star says the schools making him feel like a priority are Toledo, Buffalo, Purdue, and Wyoming.&nbsp; He plans to hit some camps to expand his list and is in no rush to make a decision at this stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE [player_tooltip player_id='1518233' first='Austin' last='Coles'] (Barrington)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You have to like the size and pass catching ability out of the #2 tight end in the class in Coles.&nbsp; The Barrington star visited Kentucky, Florida, Iowa, and Indiana this fall for games.&nbsp; He says the schools making him a priority right now are Iowa, Arizona, Rutgers, and Purdue. Coles will be at junior days for Purdue on January 24 and Indiana January 25.&nbsp; The pass catcher will be at some camps over the next few months and then narrow things down to decide in the spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TE [player_tooltip player_id='1625326' first='Warren' last='Schweitzer'] (Rochelle)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the better tight ends on the board in the 2027 class.&nbsp; He took gameday trips to Iowa State, Michigan, Western Michigan, NIU, and Lindenwood.&nbsp; Western Michigan and Lindenwood are making him a priority.&nbsp; Iowa State and Northern Illinois were very involved before coaching changes.&nbsp; He is looking to attend camps this summer and continue building relationships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1598833' first='Mason' last='Halliman'] (Lincoln Way East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Halliman is one of the best offensive tackles in the class.&nbsp; During the fall he visited Iowa, Nebraska, and Notre Dame.&nbsp; The schools making him the biggest priority right now are Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Michigan.&nbsp; Keep a close eye here as he plans on making a commitment during the month of January between the 26^th and 31^st.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL [player_tooltip player_id='901504' first='Carlos' last='Rios'] (DePaul Prep)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rios is an excellent pass protector at the offensive tackle spot.&nbsp; He was on campus this fall at Tennessee, Illinois, Western Michigan, Toledo, Iowa State, Purdue, and Northern Illinois.&nbsp; He currently holds offers from Toledo and UMass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->