PrepRedzoneIL 2026 Rankings Update: Top-20 Breakdown
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I am fortunate and thrilled to take over this cycle of the PrepRedzoneIL rankings. Professionally, it’s a major and important Midwestern state recruiting-wise that P5-JUCO programs around the country rely on to fill their recruiting classes year to year, as…
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Continue ReadingI am fortunate and thrilled to take over this cycle of the PrepRedzoneIL rankings. Professionally, it’s a major and important Midwestern state recruiting-wise that P5-JUCO programs around the country rely on to fill their recruiting classes year to year, as well as a fertile and talented stomping ground for prep football products at all positions, so it presents a crucial assignment for a recruiting analyst like myself to take on and do right. Personally, my soon-to-be wife is from Edison Park, Chicago, so I have my own growing roots in the state and have seen a lot of these programs up close and in-person, so between the work & play dynamics I feel I am up to the task and respect the state’s talent to the point that I can do the Land of Lincoln justice. After more than a week of research, gathering names, ranking & reranking, and doing my due diligence as an evaluator, I am more than excited to present the inaugural PrepRedzoneIL 2026 rankings. Stacked with talent across the state and covering every position on the gridiron, the 2026 class is already looking fantastic, particularly at the top end. To kick off the coverage, we’re starting with a straightforward breakdown of the Top 20, where P5 flair, ability, and potential run wild, and the future superstars of the state currently reside. Get to know them below! You’ll be hearing a lot about these names over the next three years in the Great State of Illinois.
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The Big Dog of the initial 2026 rankings release goes to Bolingbrook 6’3, 195 lber. Jonas Williams Jonas Williams 6’3″ | 195 lbs | QB Bolingbrook | 2026 State IL . A well-known name in the Land of Lincoln for a couple of years now, Williams mans the all-important quarterback position, and although there’s a lot of talent at a lot of different positions in this 2026 class, I’d be surprised if Williams ever relinquishes that #1 spot in the Illinois 2026 big board. He’s a national, blue-chip type recruit, and big-time schools haven’t been hesitant to reach out, despite his age. He’s a week off becoming the first offer from the Fighting Bret Bielema’s at the University of Illinois. Before that, Williams had received offers from Michigan, Pitt, Tennessee, Louisville, Marshall, Purdue, and Kent State. Not bad for a rising sophomore going into the summer. As a freshman, Williams finished the season with 2,737 yards and 37 TDs in 10 games of action against Illinois big-sch00l competition. Strong arm, accuracy to all three levels of the field, great pocket awareness and footwork, timing, and a quick release & a clean, consistent throwing motion are just a few of the things I enjoy from his tape as a first-year high schooler, and he looks & plays far above his age would suggest. We have a long and sensational ride left to go in this, folks! Buckle up and enjoy it.
Coming in at #2 overall in the Illinois 2026 rankings update, 6’7, 220+ pound Mt. Zion TE/DE and stud hooper JC Anderson is a different type of freshman and one you don’t come across very often. As a varsity contributor in 2022, Anderson sports an extremely long frame with similarly long strides that generate good speed and can step & slip through tackle attempts at his lower body after the catch. Also has soft hands and a huge catch radius, is tough, and is willing to go over the middle and secure the ball through traffic and potential contact. Anderson can also break his routes off well for a big guy and is overall coordinated and balanced as a 14-15-year-old kid of his size. It presents a potential matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and one that Mt. Zion is going to fully unleash this fall, as well as an eye-catching blend of measurables and athletic gifts that college programs are always in need of and on the lookout for. With the basketball background on top of everything else, Anderson has a ton going for him, and the in-state Illini have taken notice, as the rising sophomore visited Champaign during the fall for a gameday and a couple of weekends ago for another unofficial. Additionally, the Braves are well represented on the 2026 big board and watchlist and is a program you should keep an eye on for the next few cycles. Their pass-catching room is stacked.
Highlights
Our #3 overall prospect in the PRzIL 2026 rankings update was called a “no-brainer Power-5 receiver” by our NSD and General Manager Jake Lemming, Carmel Catholic High School and Carpentersville product Kai Owens Kai Owens 6’2″ | 170 lbs | WR Carmel Catholic | 2026 State IL is currently gripping the WR1 spot in what is a LOADED class of pass catchers from the Land of Lincoln 2026s. I’m telling you again, the WR position group in the 2026 PRzIL rankings is stacked, and it is no small feat heading the pack, and Owens is going to continue to have to grind and develop his skillset to keep some of these guys off his heels. Good thing he’s got game, and with good speed and size and soft hands, the 6’2, 165 lber. is quick at the top of the route and out of his breaks, and a good, natural route runner who has the ability to both move his offense downfield in methodical fashion or take the top off the defense and create explosive plays downfield. Sadly, Carmel Catholic saw a fantastic freshman starter transfer to Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in linebacker Phillip Goodrich Jr., but their star power in the 2026 class remains strong in the hands of Owens. Can’t wait to see these receivers ball out in 2023!
Highlights
Coming out of 2022 5A state runner-up Peoria, 6’4, 300 lb. offensive lineman Jaquarius Green Jaquarius Green 6’4″ | 300 lbs | OL Peoria | 2026 State IL is our #4 overall prospect and #1 offensive lineman in the inaugural 2026 PRzIL rankings update. The sizeable freshman opened a ton of holes for his productive Lions RB room last fall, and he’s set to be even more of a road grader this fall with a year in a high school weight room and conditioning program under his belt. Like all the #1 positional prospects right now, Green has some talented and top-tier peers nipping at his heels but has a good foundation of strength, technique, and experience after starting on Peoria’s OL all of 2022. Although he could benefit from a little more weight loss, the big fella is still balanced, quick, and can get out of his stance and move well laterally, which allows him to get out of his stance quickly and pull or trap effectively and impressively across or around the LOS. What’s more impressive is his explosiveness and strength at the point of attack, where he routinely sends opponents flying backward and onto their butts like they bounced off a medicine ball. He’s a battering ram at the contact point and is athletic enough to stay upright and on his feet through contact and looking for more action. Green is also experienced in pass pro and can successfully work laterally as well. Although he has to still work on developing his body, the important pieces are present and visible and he’s a beast for his age. Keep an eye on how this OL class keeps growing and changing going forward.
The fantastic freshman out of Carl Sandburg heads our top-notch PRzIL 2026 defensive line positional class and possesses one of my favorite highlight tapes in all of the freshman class. A varsity starter last fall, 6’3, 240 lb. Jaden Weaver Jaden Weaver 6’3″ | 240 lbs | DL Carl Sandburg | 2026 State IL played NG, 3T and 5T in 2022 and also competes in basketball and lacrosse for the Eagles. Weaver has a dynamic and physically impressive skillset for his age, which includes an eye-popping get-off and great twitch, a powerful & sturdy base, and good strength that can hold his ground, fight off 1-on-1 and double teams, and make tackles through contact. I also love his motor, his punch can turn blockers hips when it finds paydirt, and he’s a powerful tackler who crumples and sends ball carriers backwards when he puts his pads on them. The more I watch Weaver’s tape the more I like it. Big things coming for this young man, I can’t wait to watch him in 2023.
Wheaton’s St. Francis High School has one of the best freshman classes in the entire Land of Lincoln and have a monster of a WR in 2026 6’2,, 175 lber. Zachary Washington Zachary Washington 6’2″ | 175 lbs | WR Wheaton St. Francis | 2026 State IL . The pass catcher posted a whopping 23 TDs last fall, three of which came on varsity for the 4A heavyweight, which made up more than half of his five varsity receptions as a freshman. Washington has been putting in work and sharpening his skills on the 7-on-7 circuit this offseason, and I’m excited to see what the results yield, as Washington already laid the foundation of a big play wideout from his play last fall. Splash-play speed downfield, quick feet in his releases at the LOS and top of the route, and burst and shiftiness after the catch, Washington was too talented for non-varsity competition last fall and looked like a man amongst boys with the ball in his hands. He already displayed some commanding reps against varsity DBs as a young freshman and will take his rightful place as a full-time varsity WR this upcoming season. With stud QB Alessio Milivojevic Alessio Milivojevic 6’1″ | 205 lbs | QB St. Francis | 2024 State IL throwing him the pigskin, I see production and a ton more TDs on the horizon for the Spartans passing game this fall. You’ll be hearing about some more St. Francis 2026s in the upcoming PRzIL rankings coverage. Stay tuned!
Highlights
Continuing a long line of Hinsdale Central Red Devil gifted offensive linemen over the last decade, which includes Brian Allen (Michigan State/LA Rams), Doug Kramer (Illinois), Tristan Nevotne (Fordham), Nick Piker (Holy Cross), Matt Allen (Michigan State), Mike Johnson (Army), Stefan Ivanisevic (Princeton), Brian Foley (Holy Cross), Nikola Ivanisevic (Princeton), Drew Christensen (WashU), and Jack McGarry (Mizzou), who together make a star-studded and accomplished crop of maulers that make the Red Devils a must-stop on the Land of Lincoln OL recruiting trail. Continuing the tradition is 6’4, 270 lb. freshman Gene Riordan Gene Riordan 6’4″ | 270 lbs | OL Hinsdale Central | 2026 State IL , who possesses as much upside as any of the aforementioned studs on this list and comes in as the current OL #2 and #7 overall ranked prospect in the Illinois 2026 big board. Also a standout lacrosse defender, Riordan split time between varsity and the sophomore team of Hinsdale Central and looks bendy, comfortable, and effective working at the second level of the defense, and can fly out of his stance to pull or trap across the LOS. I also love his strength and leg drive once he gets engaged with an opponent, and he’s particularly nasty when working a double team on a helpless defensive lineman or linebacker. You can see the athleticism in his LAX highlights as well, where he can start/stop and flip his hips well in defense, and for his age and size Riordan moves very well and is light on his feet in impressive fashion. Hinsdale Central has another standout mauler on their hands!
The #1 ranked athlete in the PRzIL 2026 inaugural rankings introduction, 6’1, 170 lb. Aurora Christian WR, DB, and occasionally quarterback Jalen Carter Jalen Carter 6’1″ | 165 lbs | ATH Aurora Christian | 2026 State IL brings his dynamic athleticism to multiple sports for the Eagles and is also a gifted hooper and baseball player out of the Chicago suburb around an hour west of downtown. The Eagles made a noticeable effort to get the ball in his hands on offense, and Carter made some tremendous gains on simple two-step out routes as a flexed-out wing, many of which were well-defended and saw LBs/DBs in position to wrap him up for minimal gains. However, Carter’s vision and exceptional ability in space allowed him to turn what looked like 1-2 yard gains into long TD runs filled with broken tackles. He also showed off a big catch radius as a wideout, and as a defensive back, I liked how he used his speed to pursue and track down ball carriers all over the field, as well as make beautiful plays on the ball when it’s in the air. Carter also was more than able to step in at QB and keep his offense humming, which is yet another testament to his overall dynamic ability and athleticism. Now, he’s the #1 ranked athlete in the state of Illinois’ freshman class, and I’m interested to see where college programs project him to at the next level. Given the talent, this should happen sooner rather than later.
Highlights
It’s hard not to get excited about Marist High School’s 6’7, 330 lber. Rico Schrieber Rico Schrieber 6’7″ | 325 lbs | OL Marist | 2026 State IL , our current #9 overall prospect and #3 ranked offensive lineman. A former PrepRedzoneNEXT OL MVP from last spring, Schrieber is already on the home state Illini’s recruiting board and is fresh off an unofficial visit to Champaign earlier this month. The only real knock I had against him in 2022 was the lack of varsity action, but as a representative at heavyweight CCL competitor Marist, that’s not a huge deal, although it does put more pressure and more of a spotlight on his upcoming sophomore season. However, Schrieber showed he has the tools to find success at the varsity and future college level last fall, as he was a man amongst boys against non-varsity competition and was especially crushing at the point of attack. Already a good athlete at his size, the 6’7, 330 lber. showed he can break down and change direction in space to handle smaller, quicker defenders, as well as bend, work laterally, and adjust/use opponents momentum against them in his already impressive pass set. I also love his finishing ability, and he created some huge hits when he made clean contact on a defender. The body control and flexibility for his size & age is a rare find when evaluating freshman and if he continues to develop and add muscle while shedding some of the bad weight he’s a surefire P5 offensive tackle. Big fall for the big boy as he makes a push for varsity action with the Redhawks.
Highlights
Another classic downstate Illinois giant along the offensive line, Olney High School has a freshman phenom on their hands in 6’7, 260 lb. OT Casey Thomann Casey Thomann 6’7″ | 285 lbs | OL Olney | 2026 State IL . A varsity starter as a freshman, Thomann is one of a few standout first years already distinctly on the radar of the Illini, as the massive lineman already has three visits to Champaign under his belt, one in the fall and two more this spring. A four-sport athlete who also competes in basketball, baseball, and track & field, Thomann had a strong first year of high school ball on the gridiron, and displayed mobility and brute strength as the Tigers right tackle. Sends defenders flying when he extends his arms into contact, is fluid moving and blocking laterally along the LOS, and can effectively pull as the backside tackle and mirror and shut down LBs at the second level of the defense. If he can continue to work on adding strength and flexibility he’s going to be a big-time collegiate prospect and another monster out of southern Illinois.
Highlights
Another popular and well-known name coming out of the Illinois youth football ranks, quarterback Owen Lansu Owen Lansu 6’2″ | 175 lbs | QB Downers Grove North | 2026 State IL took his talents to Downers Grove North after earning a boatload of awards and distinctions as a middle school gunslinger. He kept the momentum going into high school and has been a hot name on the spring 7v7 and workout circuit, and toughed it out through injuries this fall to help his JV/sophomore teams to a 7-2 record while showing off a big, live arm with a tight & consistent spiral, pocket awareness and impressive scrambling ability, and accuracy. He’s on the radars of a ton of P5 programs with some big names mixed in there and makes for another special Illinois native at the QB position in this 2026 class. When things blow up for this kid it’s going to be cosmic.
6’2, 220 lb. linebacker Leon Howard Leon Howard 6’2″ | 220 lbs | LB East St. Louis | 2026 State IL out of powerhouse East. St. Louis is a heat-seeking missile and was a fun tape to watch for defensive-minded scouts like yours truly. Howard has made waves both with pads during the fall and in camp settings this spring, showing off his legit & powerful build, change of direction ability, and speed. In 2022, his varsity reps primarily came on special teams and kickoff coverage, but there are definitely LB reps mixed in, and no matter where he’s lined up, Howard plays like a bat out of hell and is my pick for the hardest hitter in the PRzIL c/o 2026 rankings. Dudes with his strength and hair-on-fire mentality are the reasons corporate football is trying to phase out the kickoff, as Howard laid some massive, bone-crunching hits on both returners and helpless blockers that are more than worth a watch and give you a good sense of his play-style and aggression. As a LB, Howard reads his keys and locates & closes on the ball quickly, and I also like his sideline-to-sideline range and comfortability when tackling in space. To no surprise, he’s also a crushing tackler and does a great job of minimizing gains on opposing ball carriers, plus the added bonus of leaving a physical impression on his opponents that can psych them out over four quarters. I cannot wait to get more padded reps of our LB1.
Dunlap, Illinois, a town of around 1,500 located less than a half-hour north of Peoria, is home to a fantastic freshman in Mack Sutter Mack Sutter 6’6″ | 220 lbs | ATH Dunlap | 2026 State IL , our 13th-ranked overall prospect and #2 rated athlete in the PRzIL inaugural 2026 rankings. At 6’5, 215+ pounds, there’s obvious physical upside in his strong and still-growing frame, and although he’s currently a promising prep QB with the arm strength to fit the ball into tight windows and accurately complete tougher out-breaking throws, mobility, and touch on his downfield passes, I’m not ready to categorize him into one position just yet. When he takes off and runs he can run through tackle attempts with frightening ease, and when you combine it with his size and overall athleticism as a young buck, there’s just too much potential at too many positions to lock him into the QB spot just yet. It’s not a bad thing, as versatility is a huge asset and gives a player an easier path to playing time, no matter the level. When a kid is as young, athletic, and big as the Dunlap Eagle is, the potential seems endless, and I’m especially intrigued to see what the future has in store for Sutter, whether it’s at QB or somewhere else on the gridiron.
Highlights
The younger brother of current Valpo linebacker Wade Abrams, who was a key cog in the Trojan’s magical 2021 6A state title run and 14-0 record, 6’3, 220 lb. freshman DE Logan Abrams Logan Abrams 6’3″ | 220 lbs | DL Cary-Grove | 2026 State IL has a bright future ahead of him and is already bigger than his older brother, a fact I’m sure does not sit comfortably with Wade! Logan makes his debut as the 14th-ranked overall 2026 Illinois prospect and the #2 defensive lineman and brings a useful wrestling background to the table as a DL, TE, FB, and LS for Cary-Grove. As a varsity contributor last fall as a freshman, Abrams shows off length and a frame that can easily hold significantly more good weight and muscle, as well as a heavy punch that can freeze blockers when he makes contact and extends. He can get skinny to slip through combo attempts between the tackles and has a noticeable, nonstop motor, and pursuit speed that allows him to track the ball down all over the field. He’s a still bit raw technique-wise and will benefit from a year in the Trojan’s weight room, but the physical and mental tools are present and flash impressively in his limited freshman tape. The Abrams boys can ball!
Highlights
Yet another baller of a WR at the top-end and overall in the inaugural PRzIL 2026 rankings, Carbondale Community 6′, 160 lber. Damar’eon Cawthon Damar’eon Cawthon 6’0″ | 160 lbs | WR Carbondale Community | 2026 State IL is a speedster on the perimeter of the Terrier’s offense and electric after the catch. Sudden and twitchy when cutting and changing direction, Cawthon’s vision and burst out of his cuts help him turn simple screens and receptions into exciting, momentum-changing gains for his offense, and his speed can torch man coverage and take the top off the defense. He also uses that speed impressively as a gunner on punt coverage, and he also showed he can tackle in space and out on the edge as a cornerback. I do think offense suits him the best at this point though, as his cutting ability and skills at making the first man miss, plus that top-end speed are game-changers and quite impressive for a young buck of Cawthon’s age and size. Gosh, this WR class is loaded, and our 15th-ranked overall prospect and current WR3 are up there with the best of them.
Highlights
Of all the fun, impressive, and stirring freshman film I watched in preparation for the inaugural PRzIL 2026 rankings unveiling, I believe my favorite tape goes to Fenwick 5’11, 175 lb. RB/LB/DB hybrid Tommy Thies Tommy Thies 6’0″ | 180 lbs | ATH Fenwick | 2026 State IL . I got to see the Friars take on JCA during the abbreviated spring season a couple of years back and came away impressed with their tough, scrappy, and athletic defenders, and I see a lot of those parallels in our #16 ranked overall freshman. Thies has more upside than the Fenwick defenders I saw on that cold spring day however, and he joined his varsity counterparts in the state playoffs last fall as a testament to his talent. Although he’s currently categorized as an athlete, Thies projects to the defensive side of the ball in my opinion but sits between a LB and DB at this point given his size. He does have good offensive reps however, showing off top-end speed, vision, and shiftiness in the open field, but the defensive highlights are what really get me fired up. This dude flies to the ball like he’s shot out of a cannon, and shows off phenomenal pursuit & closing speed that helps him get to the ball in the blink of an eye and before a play can really develop. Thies possesses sideline-to-sideline range, game-changing speed on both sides of the ball, and is a total thumper at the point of contact, easily able to dish out big hits above his weight class. No matter where he’s at on the field he makes good things happen, and if you take your eye off him for a second you’ll be sorry. No wonder the Friars wanted him as close to the ball as possible. PRzIL is pumped to see how he continues to develop.
Highlights
Already an accomplished high school athlete on the gridiron and wrestling mat, Belleville East freshman lineman Jonathan Rulo Jonathan Rulo 6’2″ | 285 lbs | DL Belleville East | 2026 State IL earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a defensive lineman and placed 3rd at the recent 2023 3A state wrestling tournament as a heavyweight. Coming out of the talent-rich St. Louis area, you should already know Rulo possesses ability and flair in droves, and the 6’2, 285 lber. is still right at the beginning of his athletic journey after posting 34 tackles, a sack, and a defensive TD in 2022. I absolutely love wrestler/football hybrids, particularly in trenches, and Rulo has all of the skills you’d hope for in a dual-sporter of his mettle. With a good get-off, strength at the point of attack, and heavy hands, Rulo is very disruptive in run support and gets opponents on their heels in preparation for his power. Luckily, he’s got some twitch as well, and has a good rep of him beating a double team against two accomplished East St. Louis OL before pressuring the QB into an errant pass. I also like his playmaking mentality from the DL spot (see his scoop-and-score for evidence), and he’s a strong tackler who can make plays in the backfield when given the opportunity. He can keep that pad level consistently low and add a bit more quickness to his game than Rulo is going to be a matchup nightmare for iOL and OTs alike. He’s just getting started!
A product of the fertile and talent-rich Frankfort area and Lincoln Way high school systems, 6’4, 215 lb. Lincoln Way-East DE Jacob Alexander Jacob Alexander 6’4″ | 210 lbs | DL Lincoln Way East | 2026 State IL saw varsity, sophomore, and freshman action last fall and made his mark no matter the level of competition he was up against. Can bend at the top of the arch or beat OTs with power rushes, Alexander is long, displays a non-stop motor, and is a good tackler who can pursue, cut off, and defend the edge of his defense against scrambling QBs and loose RBs alike. I also really enjoy his punch and how much separation he can create when he extends his arms after making initial contact. All the makings are there Alexander, and you can bet your butt he’s been working hard to avenge that 2022 8A state runner-up finish.
My choice for runner-up for the c/o 2026’s coolest name, Libertyville 6’2, 185 lb. WR Blaise Lavista Blaise Lavista 6’3″ | 185 lbs | WR Libertyville | 2026 State IL is yet another talented freshman pass catcher from the Land of Lincoln 2026 rankings and brings a bigger body and three-sport background to the position. Rounding out the Top-20 and currently holding the title of WR4, LaVista split time between varsity and JV in 2022 and showed off impressive speed, contact balance, and a ton of juice after the catch. The Libertyville freshman was dominant and a bully against non-varsity competition, and really flexed his muscle when the ball was in his hand, especially as a returner. Would-be tacklers wanted zero parts in taking him head on, and he showed he could easily run through or over tackle attempts while also possessing the juice to cut by, take the corner, and outpace pursuit angles in effortless fashion. He also shows off a little bit of shake at the top of the route and ball skills. The ability to make tacklers miss in a variety of different ways is my favorite part of his tape, and LaVista is an obvious playmaker who is only scratching the surface of what he can do on the gridiron. What a way to round out the Top-20!