7A Pre-Season Top Ten Rankings
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This off-season has been like no other and has seen so many ups and downs. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven prospects to transfer out of state and even chose between playing their senior season or enrolling early at their respective…
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Continue ReadingThis off-season has been like no other and has seen so many ups and downs. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven prospects to transfer out of state and even chose between playing their senior season or enrolling early at their respective university. Truthfully, it’s been extremely hard to track who has decided to head to college a semester ahead of schedule or suit up for their high school program for one last season. We’re going to give it a whirl, though, and try to give you the most accurate Pre-season ranking possible. With being said, here is our Pre-Season Top Ten for Class 7A.
1. Mount Carmel
The defending state champs return this winter as the heavy favorites to win Class 7A. Led by their quarterback and Temple commit Justin Lynch Justin Lynch 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Mt. Carmel | 2021 IL , the Caravan are loaded on the offensive side of the football. Division I recruit Kenenna Odeluga Kenenna Odeluga 6'0" | 210 lbs | ATH Mount Carmel | 2021 IL will line up behind Lynch at Running back, and Western Michigan commit Jaali Parker Jaali Parker 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Mount Carmel | 2021 IL will be his main target on the perimeter. Their offense will be explosive and should be among the state’s best. Last fall, their defense was stellar, never giving up more than 20 points in a single game. However, it looks like they’ll have to replace their biggest playmaker in safety Benjamin Perry Benjamin Perry 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Mount Carmel | 2021 State IL , who will be enrolling early at Louisville. Perry looked to be a strong candidate to win our Defensive Player of the Year Award. Look for linebacker & St. Thomas commit Austin Haygood Austin Haygood 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Mount Carmel | 2021 IL , along with safety Sam Del Valle Sam Del Valle 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Mount Carmel | 2021 IL to be the Carvan’s focal point on defense. Mount Carmel will obviously have to get through a dreaded Catholic League schedule, but I don’t see too many issues there. They return pretty much everyone from a team that didn’t lose a game last year and have the talent & leadership to repeat in 7A. Jordan Lynch has done a spectacular job with the Caravan and already looks to be among the state’s top coaches.
2. Batavia
Batavia, to me, scored the transfer of the off-season when they picked up junior running back Josh Dornink Josh Dornink 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Batavia | 2022 State IL from Aurora Christian. He figures to be an integral part of the Bulldogs offense this winter as Batavia looks to get back to the state championship game. One of the most exciting players in all of Illinois returns in senior wide receiver & NIU commit Trey Urwiler Trey Urwiler 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Batavia | 2021 IL . He’ll be joined Northern Iowa offensive line commit Jackson Heringa & Eastern Illinois offensive line commit Jack Valente Jack Valente 6'5" | 260 lbs | OL Batavia | 2021 IL . Their defense has a star-studded cast as well, led by senior Arizona commit Mojo Weerts Mojo Weerts 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Batavia | 2021 State IL , who is one of the state’s top linebacker prospects. Senior defensive back Evan Kopf looks to be the leader of the Bulldogs secondary this winter. A name to remember is up and coming sophomore linebacker Tyler Jansey, who got varsity time as a freshman. Despite his age, he’s already flashed Power-Five type ability. Batavia has the makings of a serious contender in Class 7A. They’ll score a lot of points, play fundamentally sound on defense and win the special teams battle. Their regular-season schedule will be much easier than last fall, and I expect them to enter the playoffs with an unblemished record and nice playoff seeding, priming them for a favorable championship run.
3. Nazareth
Let’s address the elephant in the room; yes, the state’s #1 Overall player J.J. McCarthy is gone for good. McCarthy had All-American type ability and was the unquestioned leader at Nazareth. He’s not the only one, defensive lineman Ryan Keeler Ryan Keeler 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Nazareth | 2021 State IL has elected to forgo his senior season and will enroll early at Rutgers, senior tight end & Syracuse commit Landon Morris Landon Morris 6'6" | 215 lbs | TE Nazareth | 2021 IL transferred out of state to finish his career as did fellow senior tight end & Ball State commit Tanner Koziol Tanner Koziol 6'6" | 210 lbs | TE Nazareth | 2021 IL . Yes, Naz will have to replace some key pieces, but they do have some very talented players returning. The state’s #1 Overall wide receiver in the 2022 class is back in Tyler Morris Tyler Morris 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Nazareth | 2022 State IL , as is sophomore athlete Caleb Miller. On the defensive side, Ball state commit Drew Hughes Drew Hughes 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Nazareth | 2021 IL & Power-Five recruit Daine Hanson Daine Hanson 6'7" | 245 lbs | DL Nazareth | 2021 State IL will pace the defensive line. They brought in three big-name transfers in quarterback Aidan Pieper Aidan Pieper 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Nazareth Academy | 2022 State IL (St. Charles North), wide receiver Quentrell Harris Quentrell Harris 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Nazareth | 2022 State IL (Lyons), and defensive back Peter Roll Peter Roll 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Nazareth | 2022 State IL (Lake Park). Don’t sleep on this team, they still have a roster loaded with Division I prospects and can contend for a state title yet again.
4. Phillips
Phillips has become the gold standard of football programs in the CPS. All these guys do is win and send prospects to the next level. What Head Coach Troy McAllister has been able to build and sustain to me is nothing short of spectacular. This year the Wildcats should certainly be in the hunt in 7A. Their defense has multiple Divison I recruits in defensive back & Miami (OH) commit Deavion Pierce Deavion Pierce 5'11" | 200 lbs | DB Phillips | 2021 IL , defensive lineman & Toledo commit Viontrell Chairse, and future Bowling Green defensive back Willie Jones Willie Jones 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Phillips | 2021 IL . Keep an eye on senior linebacker Jason Cannon Jr., as he was a terror as a junior and has been flying under the radar in recruiting. Expect points to be few and far between for opposing offenses this winter. Their offense will be led by senior running back Jamel Brit, senior wide receiver Jahnez Williams and senior offensive lineman Torrence Gresham. Junior to be Tyler Turner will be the man behind center, after two stellar seasons on the lower levels. Keep an eye out for junior offensive linemen Damien Thomas Damien Thomas 6'3" | 300 lbs | OL Phillips | 2022 State IL & Jaylin Caldwell Jaylin Caldwell 6'6" | 300 lbs | OL Phillips | 2022 State IL , both are two very talented prospects with a bright future. It looks like business as usual for Phillips, and the Wildcats figure to have another deep playoff run in their back pocket.
5. Prospect
I think this is one of the most underrated teams in the entire state. Their roster is filled with college-level prospects who had impressive junior campaigns. Head coach Dan Deboeuf has rebuilt the Prospect program and has them back to a perennial playoff team. This year, however, they look to take it a step further after falling in the second round to Rolling Meadows last season. They most certainly have the roster to do it, as they return senior quarterback Alex Moeller Alex Moeller 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Prospect | 2021 IL , along with talented senior wide receivers Noah Marx Noah Marx 5'7" | 160 lbs | WR Prospect | 2021 IL and Tyson Splinter Tyson Splinter 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Prospect | 2021 IL . The offensive line will be anchored by senior sleeper Eric Malinowski. Do it all athlete Luke Zardzin Luke Zardzin 6'1" | 210 lbs | ATH Prospect | 2021 IL is also back and will be their workhorse at tailback and figures to be a key cog at linebacker as well. Their matchup against Hersey this year will be a big one, and it could be two undefeated teams vying for a #1 overall playoff seed. To me, Prospect has the weapons to make a serious splash come playoff time.
The Next Five
6. Lake Zurich
7. Rolling Meadows
8. Wheaton Warrenville South
9. Hersey
10. Willowbrook