Which Positions on the Offensive Side Get Top Grades?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your subscription***</em><br><br>How has the 2028 class in Illinois progressed or regressed since our previous rankings?&nbsp; We examine it after a busy spring and summer by looking at how we graded the positional groups in debut, March 2026, and how we look at it now on the offensive side of the ball!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterback</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: B-<br>August 2026 Grade: B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loyola's [player_tooltip player_id='422465' first='Matthew' last='Lee'] is still the headliner of the class as he looks to take the full time reigns for the Ramblers this season as one of the best pure arm talents in the state.&nbsp; The class got a boost with the addition of QB2 [player_tooltip player_id='998519' first='JJ' last='Chapman'] at Nazareth who moved in from Wisconsin and appears to have power 4 talent.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1683690' first='Archie' last='Goewey'] (Centralia) and [player_tooltip player_id='427474' first='Jadon' last='Wilson'] (Wheaton St. Francis) remain top 5 at the position with Moline's [player_tooltip player_id='1956684' first='Kasen' last='Ponder'] making a move into the rankings at the 5^th spot.&nbsp; Three other top 100 guys to track are [player_tooltip player_id='971616' first='Marion' last='Persich'] (Morris), [player_tooltip player_id='992492' first='Dominic' last='Vita'] (Providence), and [player_tooltip player_id='971614' first='Malik' last='Carter'] (Huntley).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Running Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: A<br>August 2026 Grade: A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running Back is absolutely STACKED in 2028!&nbsp; With [player_tooltip player_id='1565277' first='Quincy' last='Fulton'] from Newton moving from ATH to RB1 the position gets even stronger with a P4 back that is big, fast, and can catch the ball.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1856080' first='Jamar' last='Lewis'] (King), [player_tooltip player_id='1052579' first='Ky'ren' last='Edmon'] (Bradley Bourbonnais), and [player_tooltip player_id='2140174' first='Jayden' last='Garrett'] (Loyola) are close behind him all ranking inside the top 20 overall!&nbsp; There is another tier of high level backs right behind that quartet in [player_tooltip player_id='887187' first='Logan' last='Lennon'] (Antioch), [player_tooltip player_id='1687796' first='Lamar' last='Osterhues'] (Barrington), [player_tooltip player_id='1642374' first='Jalen' last='Callaway'] (Aurora Christian), and [player_tooltip player_id='1617798' first='Jaquel' last='Edmonds'] (Carmel) who with big seasons could be in the top grouping as well.&nbsp; Overall 15 running backs in the top 100.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wide Receiver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: A-<br>August 2026 Grade: B+</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wide receiver group has a pair of superstars at the top of the board in [player_tooltip player_id='1659180' first='Marshaun' last='Thornton'] (Mt. Carmel) and [player_tooltip player_id='974585' first='Jordan' last='McKinley'] (Loyola).&nbsp; The CPS duo are two of the premier prospects in the class regardless of position with game changing ability every time they touch the ball.&nbsp; Each brings physicality, speed, and ball skills in the air.&nbsp; Love the upside of Centralia's [player_tooltip player_id='1683691' first='Kenny' last='Bratton'] with his wiry frame, smooth route running, and top tier speed!&nbsp; Gregory Bess-Henning (Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='1624418' first='Jaxon' last='Saint Paul'] (Hersey), [player_tooltip player_id='992443' first='Jahmori' last='Ware'] (East St. Louis), and [player_tooltip player_id='1688392' first='DeAngelo' last='Coates'] (Providence) are a strong next group of pass catchers with high ceilings at the next level.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2219344' first='Mark' last='Williams'] (West Aurora) and [player_tooltip player_id='2325163' first='Kyle' last='Spears'] (Kenwood) made high debuts while sleepers in top 100 include [player_tooltip player_id='2140189' first='Bryce' last='Kidd'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='1146723' first='Shea' last='Wells'] (Rolling Meadows), Blayke Lohman (Wheaton St. Francis), [player_tooltip player_id='1682068' first='Kamryn' last='Farlow'] (Evanston), [player_tooltip player_id='1290118' first='Jack' last='Murphy'] (Lincoln Way East), and [player_tooltip player_id='977321' first='Jaedyn' last='Harris'] (Richards).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tight End</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: B-<br>August 2026 Grade: C</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tight end group is pretty thin.&nbsp; If we moved ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2140165' first='Grant' last='Bowen'] (IC Catholic) to TE he would give the position a top 10 prospect.&nbsp; With him at athlete clear TE1 is [player_tooltip player_id='1682020' first='Jack' last='McNamara'] of Brother Rice.&nbsp; He has all the physical, athletic, and football tools you look for in a P4 tight end.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2139870' first='Milton' last='Sivels'] is the only other tight end in top 100 from Rich Township.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Lineman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: B+<br>August 2026 Grade: A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group has some dudes!&nbsp; 12 of the top 40 prospects in the class are on the offensive line!&nbsp; There are a ton of tackles and guards that will be playing at the power 4 level in this group.&nbsp; It is led by Carbondale offensive tackle <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joseph-frierdich/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='1361835' first='Joseph' last='Frierdich']</a> who blew up this spring going from fringe top 100 to inside the top 10 and the top tackle in the class.&nbsp; There are some massive guys right behind him in [player_tooltip player_id='2140295' first='Liam' last='Barrett'] (St. Charles East), [player_tooltip player_id='2234980' first='Antonio' last='Grayes'] (East St. Louis), [player_tooltip player_id='1052306' first='Javell' last='Donley'] (East St. Louis), [player_tooltip player_id='1087387' first='Wyatt' last='VanBoening'] (Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='1621319' first='Brock' last='Thompson'] (Loyola), [player_tooltip player_id='1289319' first='Stephen' last='Caxton-Idowu'] (Sandburg), [player_tooltip player_id='2140176' first='Jerry' last='Richmond'] (East St. Louis), [player_tooltip player_id='2140278' first='Liam' last='Pagan'] (Willowbrook), Kajus Maralis (Waubonsie Valley), [player_tooltip player_id='1682057' first='Brayden' last='Weaver'] (Tuscola), and [player_tooltip player_id='1682045' first='Ben' last='Coleman'] (Providence) who are already priority players at big time programs.&nbsp; Returning top 100 prospects include [player_tooltip player_id='1060615' first='Joshua' last='Larsen'] (Hope), [player_tooltip player_id='1687793' first='Tyler' last='Houlf'] (Brother Rice), [player_tooltip player_id='2140742' first='Connor' last='Nielsen'] (Loyola), and [player_tooltip player_id='1688649' first='Jeremy' last='Shelton'] (Brother Rice).&nbsp; Three massive debuts come in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='2169239' first='Florians' last='Naglins'] (Glenbrook North), [player_tooltip player_id='2325165' first='Charles' last='Booker'] (Lake Park), and [player_tooltip player_id='2223515' first='Tayden' last='Goodwin'] (East St. Louis).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->