Land of Lincoln Sleepers: Class of 2024
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The state of Illinois is filled with some impressive talent in the game of football. With 2024 recruiting in full swing, I would not be surprised if some of these athletes landed with a big time program. Domenic Beres IL…
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Continue ReadingThe state of Illinois is filled with some impressive talent in the game of football. With 2024 recruiting in full swing, I would not be surprised if some of these athletes landed with a big time program.
Domenic Beres Domenic Beres 5’10” | 195 lbs | LB St. Francis | 2024 IL is an athlete that can flat out do it all. The St. Francis human swiss army knife excells on both sides of the ball, and is a proven playmaker. At outside linebacker, Domenic’s read and react capability is one of the best that I have seen. Beres is strong in his lateral movement and can close the gap on ball carriers trying to hit the edge very well. Lastly, Beres is an explosive tackler who shows no fear in driving down to the line of scrimmage and stuffing the run before it has a chance to develop. Beres is one of the more impressive defensive players that I have seen. With his outstanding ability, Domenic would be a huge addition to any program he joins in the future.
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Jaydon Wright Jaydon Wright 6’0″ | 230 lbs | RB Bishop McNamara | 2024 State IL is one of the more explosive running backs that I have seen out of this class. The Bishop McNamara product is fearless with the ball in his hands and moves with some mean intentions. Jaydon is very effective with his cuts and always seems to be moving forward no matter whether he needs to shake a defender or not. As a necessity for every running back, Jaydon has phenomenal breakaway speed that leads to big plays and touchdowns. Jaydon is a strong runner. With his perseverance, no one in the state can bring him down without a fight. I am excited to see how Jaydon progresses throughout his senior year, and where his career takes him.
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Parker Startz Parker Startz 6’3″ | 220 lbs | LB Mount Carmel | 2024 State IL is a linebacker who is already getting some attention from some big time programs around the midwest. The 6’3 Mount Carmel athlete helped the Caravan to a big state championship run in 2022 and is looking to do the same in his senior year. Startz is a physical player who thrives at getting downhill and stopping any inside run that comes his way. Parker is also a natural at finding where the ball is going and closing the gap to make a play on the ball carrier. Parker is also strong in pass coverage, and waits in his zone before trying to make a play on the ball. Overall, it is clear why there is so much buzz around Parker in the recruiting game. If he continues to follow this trajectory, he is going to continue to stack up offers heading into his senior year.
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Jack Cheney Jack Cheney 5’11” | 185 lbs | RB Lyons Township | 2024 IL is a running back out of Lyons Township that has some serious upside heading into his senior year. With an elite downhill rushing attack, Jack is one of the best at finding a hole in the defense and exploiting it. Jack also runs with a ferocious edge and he is always fighting to gain an extra yard when he has the ball in his hands. Jack is one of those backs who is difficult to bring down with his impressive balance and athleticism as he hits the hole. From what I have seen from Jack, it is clear that he is one of the more tenacious running backs in the state. He is always good for at least a five-yard run with the ball in his hands. As he heads into his senior year, I would not be surprised if he stacked another big season off of his Junior season campaign.
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Rico Bond Rico Bond 6’0″ | 175 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2024 State IL is a wideout for the traditional powerhouse program of East St. Louis. The 6’0 slot-type receiver is fearless over the middle of the field and thrives through several different route concepts. Rico is a smooth runner who has no problem going in and out of breaks and finds voids in the defense easily. Rico has a very natural catching ability and allows the ball to come to him, rather than fighting the ball to stick to him. Rico can also serve as a wildcat quarterback who can make big plays with his athleticism and speed as well. From what I’ve seen, Rico is a dynamic athlete who can generate offense through any position on the field. Rico is an icredibly exciting athlete to watch, will improve any offense that he is on in the future in more ways than one.
Corin Greenwell Corin Greenwell 6’2″ | 190 lbs | DB St. Francis | 2024 IL is a defensive back to keep an eye on as he heads into his senior year. Even though he had his junior season cut short due to injury, there is still a lot to be excited about with Corin’s ability. With him primarily playing corner, Corin is a very strong tackler on the edge. He does a phenomenal job driving down on the edge and making a play on the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. In pass coverage, Corin shows off the ability to turn and run with receivers and maintain a strong coverage phase. One of the most impressive aspects of Corin’s game is his high effort in chasing down plays. There are several instances where he chased down the ball from 20 or more yards and made a play to keep the opposing team from scoring. Overall, Corin is a solid athlete with a high upside. I am sure that Corin is going to continue to prove to everyone what he can do as he heads into his senior season.