Sophomore Risers
Miles McVay Miles McVay 6'7" | 345 lbs | OL East St. Louis | 2023 State IL , OL, 6’5, 315, East St. Louis
This is a massive, offensive line prospect with a ton of upside. On Friday, McVay picked up his first FBS offer from the Ole Miss Rebels & I have a feeling it’s not going to be his last. Miles, started at right tackle for the 6A State Champions last fall and played exceptionally well for a freshman. McVay uses a mixture of good interior hand placement and a violent punch to overwhelm defenders. He has exceptional strength for a kid his age and rarely lets anyone out of his grips. McVay never drops his head and naturally passes on stunts and twists. He has a smooth vertical set and does a fine job keeping his shoulders square when facing elite pass-rushing talent.
Carnell Tate Carnell Tate 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR IMG Academy | 2023 State FL , WR, 6’1, 175, Marist
If we released a class of 2023 ranking, I have to say Mr. Tate would be pushing for the #1 overall spot. Tate already holds offers from the likes of Michigan State, Vanderbilt, and Cincinnati, with certainly more coming. As a wide receiver, Carnell’s releases are quick and compact, making cornerbacks look silly in press coverage. Tate does a great job of getting out of his breaks on routes, whether it be on a vertical or intermediate concept. He’s a poised route runner, who constantly sets up defenders to jump his routes on double moves. Tate’s hands are exceptional, and it was not uncommon to see him making one-handed grabs look almost effortless.
Kaleb Miller Kaleb Miller 5'8" | 170 lbs | ATH Nazareth | 2023 State IL , ATH, 5’8, 165, Nazareth
The other day I compared Brown’s playing style to Eagles defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman. Both are smaller in stature, but premium playmakers, with phenomenal instincts at the defensive back position. However, after sleeping on it, I think Brown’s style of play could be more compared to Chiefs DB Tyrann Mathieu. Brown is so physical for a kid his size and quite honestly plays fearless. Brown understands route concepts and has the confidence to jump in front of opposing wide receivers. He also lined up in the slot on offense last fall and was a master of catching the shallow cross and finding a way to turn it into a big play. He understands coverages and knows when and where to sit down in them. To me, he has Power-5 ability and should be one of Illinois’ most highly touted prospects.
Omarion Gooden Omarion Gooden 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Cahokia | 2023 State IL , DB, 6’1, 170, Granite City
Gooden, may not be as well known as the other three prospects, but trust me, the talent is most certainly there. This kid plays downhill and will come up and smack opposing offensive players. He has the muscle to fight off blocks and speeds his feet once an opponent is in his grasp. Omarion is comfortable playing man in the slot and understands how wide receivers are going to attack his leverage. On the offensive side, Gooden is a lefty with a quick release that knows how to get the ball out fast. He’s athletic enough to improvise when things breakdown and turns into a punishing runner in the open field. I think Gooden is an ideal fit at the strong safety position in college and will begin to see his recruitment heat up in the near future.