Illinois’ Pre-Season #1 Overall Team: East St. Louis
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Head Coach: Darren Sunkett Mascot: Flyers Twitter: @Football_Flyers IHSA Enrollment: 1,1662 2019 Record: 14-0 (Class 6A State Champions) Star Player: WR, Dominic Lovett Dominic Lovett 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , SR Breakout…
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Continue ReadingHead Coach: Darren Sunkett
Mascot: Flyers
Twitter: @Football_Flyers
IHSA Enrollment: 1,1662
2019 Record: 14-0 (Class 6A State Champions)
Star Player: WR, Dominic Lovett Dominic Lovett 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , SR
Breakout Star: RB: Jaylen Reed Jaylen Reed 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB East St. Louis | 2021 IL , SR
Overview
East St. Louis, is loaded with talent returning from 2019’s state title squad. Offensively, they’ll be led by Missouri commit Tyler Macon Tyler Macon 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , four-star wide receiver Dominic Lovett Dominic Lovett 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL & one of the nations premier rising prospects in wide receiver Keontez Lewis Keontez Lewis 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL . Defensively, you have to look at rising junior’s Ahmad Robinson Ahmad Robinson 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL and Jireh Mays Jireh Mays 6'2" | 320 lbs | DL East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , both of whom should see their recruiting take off in the next few months. Last fall, East St. Louis was dominant, averaging 51 points on offense and only giving up 14 on defense. The only test they had was a 50-48 week three win at Neuqua Valley; every other win was by double digits. Head coach Darren Sunkett does a tremendous job with his program and consistently sends multiple prospects to the division one level each season. He’s won three state titles in his eighteen seasons and could very well capture his 4th this fall.
Offense
2019 Offensive PPG: 51.0
Notable Returners:
QB: Tyler Macon Tyler Macon 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , SR
WR: Keontez Lewis Keontez Lewis 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , SR
WR: Kenneth Cotton, 5’10, 165, SR
WR: Dominic Lovett Dominic Lovett 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , SR
OL: Miles McVay Miles McVay 6'7" | 345 lbs | OL East St. Louis | 2023 State IL , SO
ATH: Jaylen Reed Jaylen Reed 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB East St. Louis | 2021 IL , SR
OL: Paris Patterson Paris Patterson 6'4" | 325 lbs | OL East St. Louis | 2023 State IL , SO
Transfer: TE, Scott Presson Scott Presson 6'3" | 235 lbs | TE East St. Louis | 2021 IL , SR
Notable Departures:
OL: Javontez Spraggins
WR: Lawaun Powell
RB: DaMonta Witherspoon
Defense
2019 Defensive PPG: 14.0
Notable Returners:
DB: Ahmad Robinson Ahmad Robinson 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , JR
DB: Lamarr Box, JR
LB: Jamol Molton Jamol Molton 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , JR
DL: Jireh Mays Jireh Mays 6'2" | 320 lbs | DL East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , JR
LB: Jalen Byrd Jalen Byrd 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , JR
Notable Departures:
DB: Antonio Johnson
DL: Kevon Billingsley
DL: Kendrick Scarbrough
2020 Schedule
@ Christian Brothers (MO), 8/28
vs. De Smet (MO), 9/5 (Class 6 State Champions)
@ St. John Bosco (CA), 9/11 (2019 CIF State Champions & 2019 National Champions)
@ Belleville West, 9/18
vs. Alton, 9/25
@. Edwardsville, 10/2
vs. O’Fallon, 10/9
@. Belleville East, 10/17
vs. Naperville Central, 10/23
Opponents 2019 Record: 59-36
Opponents Win Percentage: 62.1%
Top Storyline
Can the state’s most talented team get through the toughest schedule in Illinois healthy before playoff time rolls around?
Thoughts
I truly believe this is the state’s most talented squad, and it could be the flyer’s most talented team in a very long time. However, we all know talent alone won’t just win you games. The flyers are going to have to battle week after week. I gotta hand it to head coach Darren Sunket; he’ll play anyone, anywhere, at any time. Their 2020 schedule has an SEC type feel to it, including two state champions from two different states. The big one will be week three on the road against reigning National Champion St. John Bosco out of California. If the Flyers are able to win that game and run the table in Class 6A, I think you’d have to put them in the conversation for the greatest squads in Illinois history. I believe East St. Louis is the favorite in Class 6A and has an excellent chance of repeating as state champions. If the flyers don’t enter the playoffs with an unblemished record, there’s no reason to freak out. This team is well versed and has plenty of experience with deep playoff runs. One thing is for sure; the 2020 East St. Louis flyers are going to be fun to watch.