Jason Penza Jason Penza 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Crystal Lake Central | 2024 State IL lit up the scoreboard against McHenry this past weekend. He led his offense down the field all night accounting for 5 touchdowns on Friday. The senior quarterback was great in the pocket displaying his accuracy and touch. He does a great job keep his eyes down field looking for the big play to his receivers. He has been playing at high level this year and the wins are pilling up for Crystal Lake Central.

*Correction – this game took place week 6*

Penza has thrown for 14 touchdowns and over 1,500 yards this year. The senior quarterback from Crystal Lake Central is making a name for himself, as CLC currently sits at 3-2 with some close losses. Penza is a dual threat senior quarterback who showcases the ability to make plays with his arm and extend plays with his legs. Defenses must account for Penza in a variety of ways, as he has the ability to pick apart zone coverages while also running the rock for chunk yardage. If the Tigers are going to make a playoff push, Penza will be the reason why.

Penza kicks off our Top Performer of the week, as the senior QB led Crystal Lake Central to a big conference victory over Burlington Central. Penza, who accounted for over 300 total yards and 3 touchdowns, got it done both in the air and on the ground. Penza threw for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns, while racing for 96 rushing yards and a touchdown. The 6’2 signal caller displays tremendous arm strength, a quick release, and boasts a 4.54 40 yard dash that shows up on Friday nights. Crystal Lake Central has bounced back the last 2 games after two close losses to begin their season.

The 6’2, 185 lbs signal caller from Crystal Lake Central is a dual threat player. Penza’s legs are equally as impressive as his arm. The fear with dual threat QB’s is that they look to run too quickly before allowing the play to develop. Penza does not fit this mold. He keeps his eyes downfield and showcases a quick throwing motion that gets the ball to wide receivers with velocity. He displays solid touch on deep balls and is extremely dangerous in the QB run game or when scrambling. He is both fast and shifty in the open field and can make multiple defenders miss. Penza is a do it all quarterback and should be one of the top quarterbacks in the Fox Valley, if not one of the top QB’s in the state.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs athlete is an impressive prospect. His versatility is going to be huge for his recruitment. PRZ IL had him as a Top 10 WR during their last update. During his junior season it looks like Jason was utilized mainly at QB. There Penza was able to threaten defenses with his dual threat. As a passer, Jason is raw in terms of footwork. However, just like his overall athleticism, Penza is a natural as a passer. The ball jumps out of his hand when he needs to hit tight windows. He also has a lot of examples of pinpoint ball placement. On the ground, Jason has great speed and he runs with effective vision. The junior has been putting in offseason work at QB, so I am looking forward to seeing how he develops this summer/fall.