Southern Illinois Spring Season Team Preview
In this article:
Preview of schools from different classes will help bring well-deserved attention. It is not easy when the boys are up against all the big schools garnering scouts’ attention. Talent down here is notable; young student-athletes who have been working hard…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPreview of schools from different classes will help bring well-deserved attention. It is not easy when the boys are up against all the big schools garnering scouts’ attention. Talent down here is notable; young student-athletes who have been working hard all winter in hopes of a season; it has fortunately paid off immensely.
There will be a 2020 season in Illinois for the regions that continue to follow COVID guidelines. It must be a conscientious effort throughout the state to maintain the ability to keep playing. The importance of everyone maintaining this season is paramount to all our young leaders of tomorrow.
East St. Louis (Sr.) Flyers, Class 6A, Enrollment: 1262, Head Coach Darren Sunkett, 2019 Record 14-0
The defending 6A State Champions are young, hungry, and extremely talented. The Flyers have shown out with an abundance of young student-athletes at every showcase. Before the pandemic, the Flyers ranked second in the country, led by QB Tyler Macon Tyler Macon 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , WR Dominic Lovett Dominic Lovett 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL , and WR Keontez Lewis Keontez Lewis 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR East St. Louis | 2021 State IL . They have left for early acceptance for the spring semester at their respective D1 schools; SEC (Missouri) Macon, Lovett, and PAC-12 (UCLA) Lewis. Now we will see a new QB take the helm for this ever-important six-game season. The entire backfield has protection by the best young offensive line in the state, led by All-American C/O 2023 Miles McVay Miles McVay 6'7" | 345 lbs | OL East St. Louis | 2023 State IL (@McVayMiles), and quite possibly will be the best balanced tackle in the country for the 2023 class. The defense is ferocious with multiple state-ranked players at every level in #2 ranked LB Jamol Molton Jamol Molton 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , (@JamolMolton7), #5 ranked LB Jalen Byrd Jalen Byrd 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , (@JalenByrd1) #2 ranked DB, Ahmad Robinson Ahmad Robinson 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , (@2_AhmadRobinson) #13 ranked DB, Lamar Box Lamar Box 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , (@LamarrBox) and #2 ranked DL, Jireh Mays Jireh Mays 6'2" | 320 lbs | DL East St. Louis | 2022 State IL , (@jirehmays75) in the Prep Redzone rankings. They have a saying on the Flyers Football Team..ALL GAS NO BRAKES lookout these flyers are here to stay.
Benton Rangers, Class 4A, Enrollment: 555, Head Coach Justin Groves, 2019 Record 9-2
Coach Groves put together a stellar season in 2019 with a strong disciplined group. Now with a five-game schedule locked in for the spring, these Benton Rangers are hungry after a blowout loss in the playoffs last year to Effingham HS. An experienced group of seniors and several juniors make for a dangerous team for the 2020-21 seasons. Prep Redzones #12 ranked QB C/O 2022 Keegan Glover Keegan Glover 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Benton | 2022 State IL , (@GloverKeegan) has big expectations for this spring and fall seasons to show off more of his stellar talent. The QB has an All-Conference WR in Ayden Newcomb C/O 2021, which has received several Illinois school interests. All-Conference tackle C/O 2021 Logan Williams leads the protection upfront. Williams has a nasty streak in the trenches with relentless determination to finish his blocks. The Rangers look to have a great spring season, aiming for a deep playoff run in the fall.
Fairfield Mules, Class 3A, Enrollment 425, Head Coach Justin Townsend, 2019 10-1
Dominating the Black Diamond Conference with authority and is likely not ending anytime soon. With pair of monster offensive tackles, C/O 2021 AJ Gonzalez, 6’8 350 (@BIGAJ_79), and C/O 2022 OT Logan Krieter, 6’9 335, (@LoganKreiter), they are athletic for their size and naturally powerful. QB Landon Zurliene (@landonzurliene) has speed, accuracy, instincts, poise in the pocket, and an absolute cannon who can play on the next level. Camden Robbins (@camdenw03) is a remarkable athlete and team leader on both sides of the ball with D-1 potential; he is an extraordinary player. Coach invited me to attend one of their practices last fall. Coach Townsend runs timely, organized practice sessions with little wasted motion. They sure play big for being a small school, and if they ever creep into the 4A class one day, they will make noise. For now, Coach will keep grinding for the 3A State Title.
Honorable Mention: Impeccable state-ranked kicker Aaron Araya (@Aaron45795977) can kick 45-55yd field goals with real power and precise accuracy. Aaron works at his craft daily with a great attitude, determination, and technique perfection.
Marion Wildcats, Class 5A, Enrollment 1083, Head Coach Kerry Martin, 2019 8-2
Kerry Martin has been the HC at Marion HS for 18 years, sporting a 119-68 record. Martin is a highly respected coach throughout southern Illinois for his long-standing success, discipline, and integrity. This spring is likely not to be any different. Led by Hunter Simmons Hunter Simmons 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Marion | 2021 IL ,(@hunt_simm), # 9 QB in Prep Redzone C/O 2021 Rankings, Simmons has D-1 tools at 6’4 215 big-time arm strength which transitions well for his confidence. C/O 2022 Johnathan Tucker, ATH is a swiss army knife with breakaway speed that can line up anywhere; he is electric and fun to watch. C/O 2022 Venson Newsome (@NewsomVenson), WR, stands tall at 6’3 with long arms, excellent hands, and he should get plenty of deep-ball opportunities. It will be tough to take down these Wildcats in the spring with this offense rolling and Kerry Martin running the show.
Murphysboro Red Devils, Class 4A, Enrollment 729, Head Coach Gary Carter, 2019 11-3
State Runner ups Coach Carters Red Devils had a great run with an experienced team in 2019. As we look forward to the 2020 spring season, it seems to have a reliable core of seniors that gained excellent experience from their junior year during the playoff run. While also having an impeccable junior league program, it’s lead to a vast amount of passionate young men steadily rolling in with ” Time to go to work attitudes.” Starting the 2020 campaign, C/O 2021 QB Ryan Finke has varsity experience with valuable rotation time in the 2019 campaign while also adding a playoff win as a starter. C/O of 2021 Gavin Kuba (@GavinKuba), the leading tackler from the safety position, is looking to showcase his ability that he has what it takes to play at the college level. Anchoring the offensive line with C/O 2021 OT, Trenton Shepard will be the big boys’ leader up front and has a high motor with finishes his blocks on any defensive level.
Notable Contributors: Kenny Hale, TE/DE, C/O 2021, Jaquan Jackson, CB C/O 2021, Ashton Caraway, LB C/O 2021
Notable Teams / Top Tier Student- Athletes
- Edwardsville Tigers 8A- DE Nasim Cairo Nasim Cairo 6'2" | 265 lbs | DL Edwardsville | 2022 State IL , (@Cairo_beast), RB Justin Johnson Justin Johnson 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Edwardsville | 2021 State IL Jr, (@J_ustin26), QB Ryan Hampton Ryan Hampton 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Edwardsville | 2021 IL ,(@r_hamp3), TE Mason Ahlers Mason Ahlers 6'2" | 210 lbs | TE Edwardsville | 2021 IL , (@ahlers_mason)
- Carterville Lions 4A- QB Eli Downen Eli Downen 6'5" | 220 lbs | QB Carterville | 2021 IL , (@DownenEli), RB Preston Sumner Preston Sumner 6'2" | 215 lbs | RB Carterville | 2021 IL , (@PrestonDSumner), LB Ivan Jones
- Carbondale Terriers 5A- ATH Darius Ragland Darius Ragland 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Carbondale | 2021 IL , (@Raglandarius), LB Will Bowlby Will Bowlby 6'5" | 200 lbs | LB Carbondale | 2021 IL , (@WillBowlby RB) Gabe Hillard Gabe Hillard 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Carbondale | 2022 State IL , (@GBucketsCEO)
- Mascoutah Indians 5A- DE Thomas Conroy Thomas Conroy 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Mascoutah | 2021 IL , (@ThomasSConroy), QB Joesph Conroy, WR Aiden Jones Aiden Jones 6'0" | 200 lbs | WR Mascoutah | 2021 IL , WR Allen Middleton, (@1AllenMiddleton)
- O’Fallon Panthers 8A- QB Ty Michael Ty Michael 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB O'Fallon | 2021 IL , DT Giovanoi Sanes, WR Latrell Bonner Latrell Bonner 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR O'Fallon | 2021 IL , (@BonnerLatrell), OL Jeremiah Hardnett, @jeremiahHardne1, DB Cyris Davis Cyris Davis 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB O’Fallon | 2022 State IL , (@ho11ywoodcy)
- Mt. Vernon Rams 6A-
Evan Leake
Evan
Leake
5'11" | 200 lbs | RB
Mt. Vernon | 2021
IL
ATH, (@evanleake2), S/ATH Anthony Lash,
(@Anthonylash10), WR Fisher Davis, (@FischerJDavis1), OL Everett Mathius, (@Everett31350664),RB/ATH, Gabe Luttinen (@gabe_luttinen), Hybrid TE, Caden Plummer, (@plummer_caden), RB/LB Gabe Taylor