EDGY MLK Underclassmen Showcase: Under the Radar Performers
In this article:
There was great competition in each position group in the EDGY MLK Underclassmen Showcase. It was filled with guys going head to head with top competition from their class and an overall great competitive field. Here are your under the…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere was great competition in each position group in the EDGY MLK Underclassmen Showcase. It was filled with guys going head to head with top competition from their class and an overall great competitive field. Here are your under the radar performers from the showcase.
DL
Justice Chapman @JusticeChapman10 – St. Teresa Catholic 2022: Chapman caught my eye during “INDY” time (Individual drills) where he was able to keep his hips low and explode out. I kept my eye on him throughout the camp from this point onward, during one on one’s he beat the O-lineman on more than one occasion with his speed rush. He has a solid jump off the ball where he stays low to the ground and uses his hands ripping through the O-lineman’s arms getting past him. Chapman was also in the LB group, he’s changing positions to OLB this season, where he got a good chuck on the receiver re-routing him. He’s a highly coachable player who is eager to learn how to improve his skillset and one that is flying way under the radar.
Frank Wilson @FrankWi60759179 – Clayton 2022: Wilson came all the way from Missouri to be at this showcase, he went up against the top competition showing his skillset. He stays low to the ground in his pass rush where he sinks his hips, uses his hands at the point of attack, and was able to get into the backfield winning in one on ones. Wilson can be a deadly Edge/DE player with further development by incorporating different pass rush moves, he has the potential to do so and there’s no doubt that he will put in the work to do so.
Boston Bowler @boston_bower – Huntley 2023: I’ve scouted Bowler previously on film and have seen his other showcase highlights as well, it was nice to finally get a chance to see him play in person. The film doesn’t do his pass rush justice, he has a solid get off of the ball where he can utilize a multitude of moves to choose from. He has the strength to overpower the O-lineman with a bull rush, the speed and use of hands to use a swim move, and the quickness to get low by sinking the hips and ripping through to get to the ballcarrier. He’s only class of 2023, he has room to develop his skillsets further and to hone his craft.
RB
Jadon Wilson @jadonwilson_ – Richards 2022: Wilson is a big back that gets it done in both the running and passing game for Richards High School. He has quick feet which help him accelerate quickly getting past defenders and this was shown in one on ones. Wilson was able to catch coming out of the backfield where he ran solid routes and made contested catches. He’s very eager to play this season as there hasn’t been one in Illinois yet, he has a highly competitive nature and can’t wait to get on the field to showcase his skills.
Trey Gipson @treygibson_3 – Wheeler 2023: This is the second time that I’ve seen Gipson in action at a showcase, as with the first showcase he is a dual-threat RB that gets it done in the running and passing game. He had over 1,300 All-Purpose yards this season and over 20 touchdowns to go along with the yardage. Gipson has a solid stick at the top of his route where he creates separation from defenders. He’s able to do so from his solid body control, he’s able to stop and go full speed with ease as this is where his quick acceleration comes into play. He currently has no offers, he’s good enough to play college football Gipson just needs the chance for a program to give him an opportunity to do so.
Dawson Piper @Dawson_Piper23 – Peotone 2023: Piper is dominant in the running attack for Peotone, he is a hard runner with solid jump cuts and runs through players by lowering his shoulder. At the showcase, he was able to also showcase his route running ability and his change of direction/body control. Piper is able to plant his foot in the ground and change directions in a heartbeat without losing a big chunk of speed. During one on ones, he was able to get a solid stick at the top of his routes creating separation from the defender and making the catch. He has room to develop further and hone his craft, a name to keep an eye on with Peotone’s dominant running game attack over the next few years.
LB
Carson Eggebraten Carson Eggebraten 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Saint Viator | 2022 State IL @CEggebraten – St. Viator 2022: I saw Eggebraten at a showcase last month and finished scouting his film last week, he doesn’t disappoint. He takes a solid read step which helps him stay with his man in coverage during one on ones, he also gets hands on to chuck and re-route the receiver. Eggebraten has a fluid turn on the hips and was shown in INDY drills for Linebackers, he reacted quickly and had solid footwork. Keep an eye on his development, he’s putting in the work in the weight room and has a high ceiling.
Christian Eubanks @EubanksChris8 – Warren 2022: Eubanks won Best LB at last month’s showcase, he had a solid showing during this showcase as well. He’s able to stay with his man in coverage, has fluid turn on the hips, and if he gets broken off at the top of the receiver’s route Eubanks has the speed to catch up to the receiver to make the play by deflecting the pass. Eubanks is a solid coverage LB where he only let up one or two pass completions.
QB
Keegan Glover Keegan Glover 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Benton | 2022 State IL @GloverKeegan – Benton 2022: Glover has been all over the place lately with going to showcases no matter what state it’s in. He’s a solid QB who doesn’t get much recognition, he has a nice touch on the deep ball and solid dropback footwork. Glover puts the ball in the WR basket, has a solid spiral on the ball, and completed all of the passes that I saw him throw. He’s a talented QB with solid arm talent and can also scramble for the first down.
James Burford Jr @james1burfordjr – Richards 2022: Burford is a dual-threat QB that gets it done in the passing and rushing attack. His passing abilities were on display at Monday’s MLK showcase. He has solid pocket footwork and has the arm to make the deep throws. He’s accurate on short to intermediate throws making those with ease, with the deep throws he has a cannon but he’s less accurate which is where he needs to develop further. Overall, Burford is going to be a solid QB this year and one that looks to lead Richards’ offensive attack.
Hayden Timosciek @18Timosciek – Lockport Township 2022: I’ve scouted and seen Timosciek in person previously, he won Best QB at the BOOM showcase last month and it’s no surprise why. He has nice arm talent that is still being developed, he is able to make short, intermediate, and deep balls with accuracy on top of having a zip on the ball. His pocket footwork is solid and he doesn’t take any false steps. He’s more of a traditional pocket passer and can also pull the ball down to scramble for the first down if need be. Timosciek has a high ceiling, keep an eye on his development as he can have a breakout season putting him on the map.
Notables:
2022
Austin Massat @AustinMassat DL Peotone
Javin Lowe @jnucentsjr88 DL Elkhard
Mustafa Washington @Mwashington56 DL Richards
Cade Culp Cade Culp 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Maroa-Forsyth | 2021 IL @cadeculp RB Maroa Forsyth
Jaden Hale @iamjadenhale RB East St. Louis
Cole Brannigan @ColeBrannigan LB Lemont
Mohammad Khalil @momo_khalil12 LB Lemont
Aiden Pieper @PieperAidan QB Nazareth Academy
Lamarr Box @LamarrBox DB East St. Louis
Mark Cannon @MarkCannonJr1 DB Evanston
Dameon Hall @HallDameon DB Brother Rice
Sean Kinard @seankinard5 DB Brother Rice
Bryce Llewellyn @LlewellynBryce DB Cathedral
Khary Shaw @KharyShaw DB Brother Rice
Sterlen Henton @GSterlo WR St. Laurence
Santiago Rios @sriosv1 WR Richards
Wade Abrams @wade_abrams WR Cary-Grove
2023
Noah Taylor Noah Taylor 6'1" | 205 lbs | DB Lemont | 2023 State IL @nbt2234 DB Lemont
Andrew Laurich @AndrewLaurich DL Yorkville
2024
Evan Hamende @EvanHamende DL Lincoln-Way West
Alonzo Manning @alonzo_manning9 RB Marist
These players were able to showcase their skills against the competition in their respected class. Keep an eye on these names, as they develop further they have the potential to pop up on scouts radars in the recruiting process.