Chicagoland Showcase: Receiver & Athlete Standouts To Know

Comed Rec Center welcomed Coach Holcomb to run a Showcase that brought in QBs and WRs to put their abilities on display. In this group was a much wider age gap across the board but these young men below stood out no matter where they were. Let's dive into the who and what made them so special at this event in Chicago.    Matteo was the obvious choice for MVP in this group. He brought his deep skill bag to the showcase and went to work. He has a lean muscular build that makes him seem taller than the numbers on the sheet, but his vertical makes up for it. Matteo is explosive, agile, and has phenomenal body control. This was evident in his route running. Getting in and out of back was not an issue and I favored him seamlessly driving out of breaks to attack the ball for a reception. He will be a name to know in high school.     Donovan is a Downers Grove Panthers product with a lot of potential. Like Matteo he stood out in his group by attacking drills, but he's a Class behind at a taller size. He has good height, long arms, and a wide range to track down balls. Right away you could see his willingness to learn, then execute. Throughout the showcase you could see him concentrating on the minute details, and it showed when it was time to run routes for the quarterbacks. This young mans ceiling is very high.     LFC Tiger [player_tooltip player_id='1568645' first='Giffin' last='Wojtulewicz'] came in as a raw athlete with some grit to him. He challenged himself through all the drills trying to be consistent sinking his hips and utilizing little nuances that was being taught. I believe he did just that. By showcase end Giffin was catching balls away from his body and snapping in and out of breaks like it was routine. Smaller receiver that I see playing slot and not afraid to his hands dirty blocking on the perimeter.     Pierce was one of the most impressive athletes all day. He showed a high level IQ and didn't flinch when around the older guys. Wide receiver is his first position with defensive back being secondary. The footwork displayed during drills was solid, and he got from point A to point B with controlled urgency. This kid will be a monster if he keeps his head down and works. I don't see that being an issue, by the time he hits high school we will be very familiar with him. Watching him catch the ball with his eyes first then finish with speed separated himself.     Owen has a great build already to be on the outside as a receiver. His skill set was impressive at his age and he competed with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1568648' first='Steven' last='Pierce'] who shares similar dispositions. Very mature and about his business. Attacked redirection points during drills and showed up during route running. As he continues to grow, I believe he's a future threat to all smaller defensive backs. A possession receiver? Maybe, but I think he will work to be a longer wideout who can route you up and stretch the field.

Comed Rec Center welcomed Coach Holcomb to run a Showcase that brought in QBs and WRs to put their abilities on display. In this group was a much wider age gap across the board but these young men below stood out no matter where they were. Let's dive into the who and what made them so special at this event in Chicago.