Karner is one of the top tight ends in the country. He held multiple Power 5 and SEC offers and ultimately committed to Texas A&M before the start of his senior season. Karner stands at 6’5 and weighs a little over 200 lbs. He is more of a receiving tight end than a blocker, but does showcase some impressive clips when blocking on the perimeter or in the screen game. As far as his attributes as a receiver, Karner possesses the length, speed, and ball skills that make him a threat anywhere on the field. He can create separate on defensive backs and linebackers with his speed. In the red zone, Karner height allows him to tower over defenders. He has an outstanding ability to make contested catches, as he possesses fantastic body control and plus athleticism. As Karner adds weight, look for him to dominate in his senior season before heading off the College Station.

Committed: Texas A&M

I.C. Catholic Prep TE Eric Karner Eric Karner 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE IC Catholic Prep | 2024 State IL is in the discussion for the Midwest’s biggest stock-riser of the 2022-23 offseason and is in the middle of an ultra-exciting junior season that has included a 3A Illinois state championship and a boatload of FCS, FBS, and P5 college offers, including some of the nation’s blue-bloods and top contenders. What began with a Western Michigan FBS offer out of the MAC quickly expanded to Illinois State, Ohio, and Kent State, which set up the P5s to start getting involved. Beginning with Boston College in late February, Michigan State, Indiana, Minnesota, Pitt, and Purdue offered up, along with Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, and Fordham, and this is where things got interesting. Karner somewhat abruptly shut things down and committed to Purdue on March 7th, but his stock continued to rise, and SEC schools such as Texas A&M, Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas all offered, which prompted Karner to back off his Purdue commitment and open things back up. Who can blame him? Alabama coming into the Midwest for a prospect is a big deal, and since he decommitted we’ve seen more schools such as Auburn, Illinois, and Louisville officially enter the fray. It’s been an exciting recruitment to watch, and one of my favorites from this cycle, and it looks like we should stay buckled in for the rest of this ride. Karner has upped his weight from 195 to 225 since last summer, and shows off outstanding length and freakish athleticism at his size. Noticeable speed aided by long strides, soft hands that can go up and pluck the ball out of the air in traffic and through contact, great balance both during and after the catch, and a quality blocker in space offensively. Karner also has some fantastic reps defensively as a DE and even FS that shows off range, a nose for big hits, and more speed. ICCP is a must-stop on the recruiting trail for college programs in 2024 and Karner is the superstar of the bunch.

IC Cathoilic Prep in Elmhurst has a loaded and talent-ridden roster coming up in the ranks and are home to arguably the state’s biggest stock-riser in 6’5, 225 lb. TE/ATH Eric Karner Eric Karner 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE IC Catholic Prep | 2024 State IL . The rising junior had a quiet fall on the recruiting front and didn’t hold an offer until last month, but boy oh boy is that changing, and changing fast. On February 13th, Western Michigan reached out for his first offer, and since then Illinois State, Ohio, Kent State, Boston College, Fordham, Michigan State, Indiana, Minnesota, and Coastal Carolina have added to his sheet of scholarship offers. Also excitedly, he’s got a visit set to Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama on April 3rd, so we still may be at the beginning stages of Karner’s recruitment journey. In his junior season highlights, in which he was a part of the Illinois’ class 3A state championship squad, Karner looks freakishly fast for his size and was a major asset in the passing game as a TE and occasional receiver. Great hands, quickness, ball skills, balance, and overall body control are all on display as a route runner, when he plays the ball in the air, and after the catch. Also excitedly, his athleticism is on display as a 6’5, 220 lb. free safety able to read, react, and close space, and he also got reps as a DE in 2022. Additionally, he has some solid reps of him laying out DBs as a blocker out on the perimeter. A prospect of his size showing some of the movement skills and overall athleticism is a rare and eye-popping sight. What a junior year for Mr. Karner so far!

Mr. Karner works as a tight end that, in my eyes, has one of the highest potential ceilings that I’ve seen out of anyone in this state. He finished the night with a 25 yard TD reception and gets involved in-line blocking to create lanes for his teammates to hit. This young man has such a long catch radius to play above the rim and can secure contested catches on 50/50 balls with ease. What I’m very interested to see is when a team will take a shot on this young man. He has a good frame standing at 6’5 205, is a three sport athlete, and runs a 4.6 40 – oh and did I mention he’s only a Junior with one more hear of HS ball yet to go.

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