The Week in Recruiting Around Illinois and Missouri

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Business was certainly conducted over the past week. Visits were taken, opportunities were given, commitments were made and lives are being changed. Here's a snapshot of things that took place in the recruiting world around the Show Me State and Land of Lincoln.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>| Use code StopPRZ30 for 30% off your Prep Redzone subscription! |</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hawkeye and Hurricane</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fenwick 2027 safety prospect [player_tooltip player_id='811647' first='Jake' last='Thies'] took a visit to Iowa City last weekend. The highly productive two way star and state champion met with Coach Ferentz and made the decision to make the University of Iowa his future destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JakeThies2/status/2037921111002755306","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JakeThies2/status/2037921111002755306 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montini Catholic 2027 quarterback prospect [player_tooltip player_id='611846' first='Israel' last='Abrams'] is the real deal. In live observation in the 7v7 setting last year, Abrams put the type of arm talent on display that earned him interest from premier programs coast to coast in major Division I college football. Earlier today, Abrams made it known Miami was the place to be live on The Pat McAfee Show, recently calling the program his dream school and opportunity. Also included in the top 5 was Auburn, Florida State, Kentucky and Purdue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/2040116113233637658","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/2040116113233637658 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rising Seniors With Rising Opportunities</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Springs (MO) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1198810' first='Traice' last='Collier'] picked up his second Division I offer from Missouri State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bloomington Central Catholic (IL) LB [player_tooltip player_id='607399' first='Matthew' last='Brady'] offer from Northern Illinois added to his collection of G5 and FCS options.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DT [player_tooltip player_id='2134328' first='Joshua' last='Shaw'] transferred from Chicago Mount Carmel to Immaculate Conception this offseason. This week he got the call from Kansas State making that his second power conference and third Division I offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belleville East (IL) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1344621' first='James' last='Johnson'] hit double digits this week after talks with Charlotte, West Virginia and Wyoming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glenbard South (IL) OL Gianni DeFeo picked up his first from Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sterling (IL) OT [player_tooltip player_id='1334139' first='Angeles' last='Coleman'] is a rising big time prospect with growing size, great length and excellent athletic ability on the edge. Connecticut came through, adding to his list from various FBS opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>York (IL) DE [player_tooltip player_id='2053365' first='Owen' last='Roberts'] is approaching 20 offers. This week he received his first power conference option from Illinois, followed shortly thereafter by Vanderbilt. Roberts called Illinois his current hands down favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neuqua Valley (IL) DT [player_tooltip player_id='2140268' first='Dujuan' last='Hester'] also got his first offer this week from Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SLUH (MO) LB [player_tooltip player_id='1188263' first='Ty' last='Lige'] added Division II Northwest Missouri State to his list of Division I opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest Missouri State also provided good news for the first time to a handful of prospects that were on hand for a junior day last weekend.<br>Liberty North (MO) WR [player_tooltip player_id='2049977' first='Jaxen' last='Proden']<br>Rockhurst Jesuit (MO) RB [player_tooltip player_id='848166' first='Cash' last='Lewandowski']<br>Kirkwood (MO) LB Hunter Burkis<br>St. Michael (MO) SAF Reece Frederickson<br>Timberland (MO) RB [player_tooltip player_id='1188379' first='Tristan' last='Moss']<br>Monroe City (MO) QB [player_tooltip player_id='1561204' first='Wyatt' last='DeGrave'] - also received news from Jewell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Way East (IL) [player_tooltip player_id='1598833' first='Mason' last='Halliman'] picked up his fifth SEC opportunity from South Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Batavia (IL) prospects added Penn this week. WR [player_tooltip player_id='1120450' first='Darin' last='Ashiru'] is slowly picking up steam with his third from Division I. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1598818' first='Michael' last='Vander Luitgaren'] has a collection of MAC and IVY offers currently. In his recent performance at Elite 11 earned recognition for high scores in search efficiency and decision complexity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ladue (MO) CB [player_tooltip player_id='1325176' first='Evan' last='Via'] is fresh off a quality performance at the Under Armour Next Camp Series in St. Louis, and this week got the call from the in-state Tigers from Mizzou. Expect Via to be the top corner prospect in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Republic (MO) TE [player_tooltip player_id='2139107' first='Aiden' last='Bodoin'] picked up McPherson, and SAF [player_tooltip player_id='1324009' first='Keiran' last='Govan'] added West Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Bridge (MO) LB [player_tooltip player_id='1537429' first='Quentin' last='Lea'] received his first Division I offer from Dartmouth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Brothers (MO) WR [player_tooltip player_id='496060' first='Corde' last='Gage'] picked up South Dakota and Middle Tennessee State, giving him 5 Division I offers since the end of January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Zumwalt West (MO) versatile TE/LB athlete Eric Lowery got his first from Missouri Baptist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lees Summit North (MO) LB [player_tooltip player_id='408969' first='Caleb' last='Green'] now has 7 from Division I after hearing from Missouri State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Mount Carmel (IL) OL [player_tooltip player_id='2104955' first='Chase' last='Clark'] added a pair of MAC programs - Buffalo and Toledo - and now sits at double digit Division I.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Catholic (IL) OL Kash Komorowski received his first from McKendree.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kearney (MO) LS Cohen Dray received his first from McPherson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MICDS (MO) OL [player_tooltip player_id='1219381' first='Caleb' last='Otten'] received his second and third from Southwest Baptist and McPherson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/OwenRoberts886/status/2039400190302392646","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/OwenRoberts886/status/2039400190302392646 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Good News For Underclassmen</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young 2029 Ray-Pec (MO) CB [player_tooltip player_id='1591191' first='Devin' last='Hill Jr.'] pulled in his first offers over the past week and they were of the power conference variety. Iowa State came through to get the process started. Today, Kansas State followed up with more good news from the Big XII.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Bolingbrook (IL) exciting pass rusher [player_tooltip player_id='975570' first='Darieon' last='Prescott'] is making his rounds to see the top programs in America. Alabama provided him a 23rd opportunity yesterday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Loyola Academy (IL) OL [player_tooltip player_id='1621319' first='Brock' last='Thompson'] added Northern Illinois to a list that is sure to grow wildly during spring evaluation period. Thompson moved in from California and possesses Division I ready size that programs will be happy to see.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Waubonsie Valley (IL) OT [player_tooltip player_id='1629961' first='Kajus' last='Muralis'] picked up his first offer this week from Akron. This rising prospect is tall and long and has massive growth potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 St. Charles East (IL) OT [player_tooltip player_id='2140295' first='Liam' last='Barrett'] also picked up an offer from Akron, making that his second Division I after receiving his first last week from Iowa State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Brother Rice (IL) elite EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1052814' first='Kameron' last='McGee'] added Virginia Tech to his massive pile of power conference programs fighting for his pledge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 East St. Louis (IL) OG [player_tooltip player_id='2140176' first='Jerry' last='Richmond'] got things started this week with Missouri State. Expect his list to pile up quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 De Smet (MO) highly recruited TE [player_tooltip player_id='1294184' first='Ridge' last='Janes'] received his 12th SEC offer this week from Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 St. Mary's (MO) OT [player_tooltip player_id='1405389' first='Darrius' last='Smiley'] earned his second power conference offer this offseason from Iowa State. He is now up to a handful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Cardinal Ritter (MO) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1598550' first='Ryan' last='Richmond-McDavis'] had a big week with good news from Louisville, Southern California, Mississippi and Vanderbilt. His momentum is in a great place after blazing trail at Under Armour last month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Carmel Catholic (IL) OT [player_tooltip player_id='1087387' first='Wyatt' last='VanBoening'] added the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers. He now has 11 from multiple power conferences - Big Ten, SEC, Big XII and Notre Dame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Cahokia (IL) WR/DB Kenyon Logan is a versatile and bouncy rising athlete that picked up his first from Missouri Baptist. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 Rockhurst Jesuit (MO) WR [player_tooltip player_id='991750' first='Tristan' last='Johnson'] 's first offer was from the Big XII and Iowa State, who has been quite busy in the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jerry_Gohard/status/2038760032343355901","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jerry_Gohard/status/2038760032343355901 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Post of the Week</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We love to hear about players giving back. Regardless of the simplicity of the action, this indication of passion and character are personality traits that are never overlooked or overstated, especially by NFL personnel executives. The significance is paramount from the professional levels to the prep ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RedHawkFB/status/2037709070887485863","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RedHawkFB/status/2037709070887485863 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prep Redzone Exposure Series is Coming, Tap In!</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend's Easter Special will get prospects registered for half the price. Limited spots are available and registration ends April 29. Use code 26PRZEasterX at checkout!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>May 1 - Saint Louis, MO</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>May 3 - Saint Joseph, MO</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>May 16 - Lake Barrington, IL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepRedzone/status/2039940512468070705","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/2039940512468070705 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>| Use code StopPRZ30 for 30% off your Prep Redzone subscription! |</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->