Recruiting Happenings in The Show Me State and Land of Lincoln

There was plenty of news to digest in the recruiting universe around the region this week.   <<< Use code StopPRZ30 for 30% off your Prep Redzone subscription! >>>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rior Bird</h2>   For the third straight week this spring, a Greater Chicagoland prospect gave his pledge to a Big Ten program. This week, it was Hinsdale Central's [player_tooltip player_id='1304474' first='Tommy' last='Riordan'] issuing a commitment to the Coach Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Riordan is a defensive end reportedly over 6 foot 4, tipping 245 on the scale, a wingspan reaching 80 inches, a 34 inch vertical, and 4.8 GPA. He was in the double digits in Division I offers, including several from the Big Ten and Big XII. Development was a paramount talking point that made a difference in his recruitment.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/2041540845535400153 </div></figure>   PRZ's Scotty Burgess had more on the story earlier this week: https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/hawkeyes-land-a-pair-of-defensive-standouts-from-illinois/     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offers in the Land of Lincoln</h2>   OT [player_tooltip player_id='1361835' first='Joseph' last='Frierdich'] - 2028 - Carbondale (IL) - There is no shortage of tall, long, lean tackle frames with growth potential in the State of Illinois. Illinois this week became the third offer this particular specimen.   iOL [player_tooltip player_id='1598833' first='Mason' last='Halliman'] - 2027 - Lincoln Way East (IL) - Tennessee became the latest to reach out to this talented versatile offensive lineman prospect who is now at 25+ suitors.   iOL [player_tooltip player_id='2104955' first='Chase' last='Clark'] - 2027 - Mt. Carmel (IL) - Clark brought in Bryant on Tuesday and is steadily rising.   TE [player_tooltip player_id='2105166' first='Thomas' last='Prescott'] - 2027 - Batavia (IL) - Prescott was the biggest gainer of the week after hearing from Cornell, Kent State and Northern Illinois, nearly doubling his options over a 24 hour period.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1661734' first='Keysan' last='Taylor'] - 2027 - Guilford (IL) - Taylor is into the 30s now and added the Huskies from Washington on Tuesday. Taylor has been touring around the SEC and B1G this spring.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='2169239' first='Florians' last='Naglins'] - 2028 - Glenbrook North (IL) - Another big trench warrior with raw size is rising in the month of April. Standing at 6070 275, Naglins picked up Arizona State after seeing his first come through from Akron just days ago.   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1598818' first='Michael' last='Vander Luitgaren'] - 2027 - Batavia (IL) - Vander Luitgaren visited FCS power North Dakota State this week and left with an offer in the pocket. MVL is getting power conference interest and currently holds offers from programs in both Division I subdivisions.   WR/TE [player_tooltip player_id='1718268' first='Lucas' last='Matykiewicz'] - 2027 - Sandburg (IL) - Matykiewicz visited with Minnesota over Easter Weekend and added Temple on Tuesday. That is the first reported FBS level offer for the rising pass catcher from southside Chicagoland.   WR [player_tooltip player_id='1344621' first='James' last='Johnson'] - 2027 - Belleville East (IL) - From the Greater St. Louis area, Johnson brought in his fourth power conference offer from Utah.   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1598810' first='Reece' last='Shanklin'] - 2027 - East St. Louis (IL) - Another from the Greater St. Louis area received news this week, with Lehigh giving Shanklin another Division I opportunity. Shanklin is still highly underrecruited relative to his overall athletic ability and arm talent. Having observed him live multiple times, Shanklin has much to offer Division I programs. Easter Eggs Found On Easter Weekend: DL [player_tooltip player_id='1335328' first='Corey' last='Randolph'] Jr - 2027 - Simeon (IL) - Northern Illinois DE [player_tooltip player_id='2053365' first='Owen' last='Roberts'] - 2027 - York (IL) - Rutgers RB [player_tooltip player_id='2169235' first='Jamere' last='French'] - 2027 - Zion-Benton (IL) - Illinois State WR [player_tooltip player_id='1120450' first='Darin' last='Ashiru'] - 2027 - Batavia (IL) - Northern Iowa, Air Force DB [player_tooltip player_id='2169237' first='Henry' last='Sakalas'] - 2027 - Nazareth Academy (IL) - Southeast Missouri RB [player_tooltip player_id='1303748' first='Jameson' last='Davis'] - 2027 - Brother Rice (IL) - Navy OL [player_tooltip player_id='1335452' first='Ethan' last='Posey'] - 2027 - Brother Rice (IL) - Navy OL [player_tooltip player_id='1188459' first='Barrett' last='Armbruster'] - 2027 - Rochester (IL) - Kent State WR [player_tooltip player_id='2169242' first='Donovan' last='Evans'] - 2027 - St. Rita (IL) - Eastern Michigan   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/FloriansNaglins/status/2041495627347972330 </div></figure>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Situations in the Show Me State</h2>   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1591172' first='Harlan' last='Futrell'] - 2030 - Vianney (MO) - Received North Dakota on Wednesday. Spring ball and junior days aren't the only thing that's in high gear, we also have track season, and Futrell is showing out appropriately against peers. He has serious speed for his age group.   QB [player_tooltip player_id='1265525' first='Carter' last='Temple'] - 2027 - Kearney (MO) - Arkansas State and Northern Illinois came through this week for Temple, who is now in double digit offers after a state championship season where he dominated through the air and on the ground.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='408969' first='Caleb' last='Green'] - 2027 - Lees Summit North (MO) - We just released the top handful of off the ball linebackers in the State of Missouri, and Green is certainly one that is making his case for top inside backer prospect in the state after his performance at Under Armour last month. This week, Tulsa gave him the call.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1590220' first='Josh' last='McCarthy'] - 2027 - Farmington (MO) - Air Force joined Illinois State, Army, and South Dakota this week for the good sized athlete south of St. Louis. McCarthy's production in 2025 of 119 tackles, 33 TFL, 9.5 sacks was absurd. This outside backer plays like a heat seeking missile to the ball and will impress in the camp and combine setting this offseason.   CB [player_tooltip player_id='1325176' first='Evan' last='Via'] - 2027 - Ladue (MO) - Via expects to be the top corner prospect in the state, and this week added a pair of new power conference options in Stanford and Kansas State. Via has been also making his rounds to the top programs in America, and will undoubtedly begin to have some increasingly serious conversations with those coaching staffs.   DE [player_tooltip player_id='2142843' first='Jackson' last='Wooden'] - 2027 - Hallsville (MO) - It wasn't long ago we unveiled a list of new names to watch in the trenches, and Wooden was certainly one of those that look to have a good deal of promise. Navy provided the rising senior d-end with his second Division I offer.   WR [player_tooltip player_id='1590182' first='Deng' last='Tong'] - 2027 - Oak Park (MO) - The fight for Tong appears to now be a 'Border War' as Missouri came in this week to offer the Kansas commit.   SAF [player_tooltip player_id='2169246' first='Travon' last='Flowers'] - 2027 - Park Hill South (MO) - Washburn was the first program to jump on board with the good sized DB from the KC area. Flowers plays single high and strong safety and goes about his business with the type of reckless abandon and motor that coaches want from their deep half intimidators.   SAF [player_tooltip player_id='2152013' first='Miles' last='Lowe'] - 2027 - Chaminade (MO) - Lowe was another safety prospect that got a call from Washburn. Lowe is a really good all around football player who is a heavy hitter and ball hawker. This is his first offer of what is expected to be quite a few.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1188354' first='Lake' last='Sutton'] - 2027 - Oak Park (MO) - Sutton was just released earlier today as a prospect underrated and on the rise. Drake became his first Division I offer on Monday.   OL [player_tooltip player_id='2049968' first='Mahooll' last='Deng'] - 2027 - North Kansas City (MO) - Drake also came through NKC to give Deng his first Division I offer on Monday. Deng loves some pancakes at right tackle, reports himself at 6060 300, and carries a 3.87 GPA.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1260477' first='Kobe' last='Rhymes'] - 2027 - North Kansas City (MO) - Another NKC prospect received positive news on Monday as Auburn came through to add to an offer list that includes the top programs from every power conference in America.   Happy Easter to all these prospects that found an Easter Egg on Saturday afternoon: TE [player_tooltip player_id='1294184' first='Ridge' last='Janes'] - 2028 - De Smet Jesuit (MO) - Georgia WR [player_tooltip player_id='419226' first='Royce' last='Searcy'] - 2027 - De Smet Jesuit (MO) - Northern Iowa OL [player_tooltip player_id='1405389' first='Darrius' last='Smiley'] - 2028 - Saint Mary's (MO) - Kansas SAF [player_tooltip player_id='1188256' first='Kyren' last='Evans'] - 2027 - Lutheran North (MO) - Northern Iowa ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1188251' first='Noah' last='Williams'] - 2027 - Vianney (MO) - Northern Iowa LB [player_tooltip player_id='1598516' first='Blake' last='Nesbitt'] - 2028 - Kirkwood (MO) - Indiana OL [player_tooltip player_id='2067366' first='Liam' last='Davis'] - 2028 - Hallsville (MO) - Kansas State WR [player_tooltip player_id='1160667' first='Malahn' last='Green'] - 2027 - Cardinal Ritter (MO) - Northern Illinois DB [player_tooltip player_id='1591191' first='Devin' last='Hill Jr.'] - 2029 - Ray-Pec (MO) - Iowa CB [player_tooltip player_id='1131048' first='Josiah' last='Robinson'] - 2027 - Ray-Pec (MO) - Air Force   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LiamDavis2028/status/2040576310133620749 </div></figure>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PRZ EXPOSURE SERIES</h2>   The Prep Redzone Exposure Series is fast approaching with NFL-style combine testing!   Saint Louis (MO) - May 1   Saint Joseph (MO) - May 3   Lake Barrington (IL) - May 16   Spaces are limited, secure yours before the registration deadline!   Reach out to <a href="https://x.com/nielstopczynski">@nielstopczynski</a> for more information and promo codes!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzone/status/2032236251961577716 </div></figure>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Post of the Week</h2>   "Definitely felt like a top priority" says top 2028 player in the State of Illinois, Brother Rice EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1052814' first='Kameron' last='McGee'], on his recent visit to see Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KameronMcGee202/status/2042014959643639988 </div></figure>     <<< Use code StopPRZ30 for 30% off your Prep Redzone subscription! >>>

There was plenty of news to digest in the recruiting universe around the region this week.