IL Camp SZN Standouts: Biggest Winners so Far
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We made it! The dead period is finally lifted and “Camp SZN” has officially begun. Because it has been so long since recruits and college programs were allowed campus visits, in-person meetings, workouts, camps, and all of the other joys…
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Continue ReadingWe made it! The dead period is finally lifted and “Camp SZN” has officially begun. Because it has been so long since recruits and college programs were allowed campus visits, in-person meetings, workouts, camps, and all of the other joys normally associated with the summer recruitment process, things have really kicked off hard since June 1st. Whether it’s a college or university’s official camp, a mega camp hosted by a school that allows dozens of programs and coaches from all levels of college football in to evaluate, or even an unofficial or official visit, stud high school football players from around the state of Illinois have been traveling all over the country to get themselves in front of the eyes of college football teams, and for some, it has been a very lucrative summer so far. Despite it being close to just two weeks since the dead period ended, we’ve seen some Land of Lincoln preps really capture some attention due to their performances or visits, and I have some of the biggest winners so far. Find out who is showing up and showing out this summer below, and thank you for reading.
Luke Dalton Luke Dalton 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Marian Central Catholic | 2022 State IL (Marian Central Catholic) OT. 6’5, 290 lbs. C/o 2022
A PrepRedzone Showcase veteran and one of my favorite prospects in the class of 2022, Dalton has a high-ceiling and is a great athlete for his size who is nimble on his feet and physical at the point of attack. His recruitment began this past winter with his first offer coming from Bowling Green State in November, but by the time June rolled around he was still lacking in that coveted P5 opportunity and held offers from MAC, Ivy, and Missouri Valley competitors. He started things off with a bang by heading to the Florida State Sunshine Showcase where he was offered by PAC12 Arizona State. About time, baby!! He followed it up with an in-person evaluation from Illini OL coach Bart Miller as well as a live workout with Kansas OL coach Scott Fuchs, which led to his second P5 offer from the Kansas Jayhawks. Hopefully, some B1G schools will hop on the Dalton train next.
After a great talk with @CoachPGill and @CoachBobbyWade I am blessed to announce that I have received an offer from Arizona State University!! @ASUFootball @AllenTrieu @LemmingReport @EDGYTIM @SWiltfong247 pic.twitter.com/Okiju4Jrbc
— Luke Dalton (@LukeDalton_) June 6, 2021
Malachi Hood Malachi Hood 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Joliet Catholic | 2022 State IL (Joliet Catholic Academy) LB. 6’2, 210 lbs. C/o 2022
The JCA Hilltoppers linebacker got the summer going with a bang for the entire state of Illinois as he unofficially visited the University of Illinois on June 1st, worked out for the Illini, and subsequently earned his first offer. It was a big one to start things off with, and he took an official visit on the 6th and committed the next day to play some B1G football! Not exactly a camp, but it couldn’t have happened without the dead period being lifted and I am excited for his future career in Champaign.
Why wait? #Committed #famILLy22 pic.twitter.com/Nw7q8PuV6n
— Malachi Hood (@Malachiloading) June 7, 2021
Maurice Edwards Maurice Edwards 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Warren Township | 2022 State IL (Warren Township) RB. 6’, 198 lbs. C/o 2022
One of the best running backs in the state of Illinois has continued to raise his stock after dominant performances at the Lindenwood mega camp, Iowa’s individual camp, and the UIndy mega camp. His showings have led to offers this month from North Dakota, Kent State, Southern Illinois, Yale, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Indiana State, and at the UIndy mega camp, he jumped 11 feet in the broad jump! He now holds 13 D1 offers.
https://twitter.com/asapmoe20/status/1401217553901436934?s=20
Brian Allen (Woodstock/St. Thomas More Prep School) DL. 6’4, 250 lbs. C/o 2022
A Woodstock native who made the move to St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Connecticut this past February to play for of the premier prep schools in the United States, Allen held FBS offers and an Iowa State offer prior to his transfer but has really seen things blow up since returning to Illinois for the summer camp season. He has so far competed at the Lindenwood mega camp, Purdue’s official camp, and the North Central mega camp, and after Lindenwood, he received an Arkansas State offer. That was only the beginning though, as he followed up the North Central event by being offered by Rhode Island as well as P5 opportunities from Illinois and Purdue. The next day he also was offered by Kansas to cement a really impressive start to the month of June, and tomorrow he will be at the University of Kentucky to try and reel in some SEC interest. Good luck, Brian!
After a amazing call with @CoachJamison I am blessed to announce I have received a offer from @IlliniFootball 🟠🔵⚪️ #AGTG pic.twitter.com/2wTTFVNT6F
— Brian Allen Jr (@BrianAllenJr21_) June 10, 2021
Tyler Jansey Tyler Jansey 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Batavia | 2023 State IL (Batavia) LB. 6’1, 215 lbs. C/o 2023
The North Central mega camp got the recruitment of Batavia’s sideline to sideline rising junior LB Jansey jumping as his standout performance led to his first offer from Western Michigan as well as an FCS offer from Eastern Illinois. The soon-to-be upperclassman is great at starting and stopping, is a relentless pursuer that can close ground and get to the hip of the ball-carrier quickly, and finishes tackles with authority. I love watching him play football and some big-time schools are going to get involved before it’s all said and done.
Honored and thankful to receive an offer from Western Michigan tonight at the North Central camp. Thanks @CoachTimLester and @CoachEricEvans. I’m excited to get out on campus. #LetsRide 🐴 pic.twitter.com/1owppiaGDE
— Tyler Jansey (@TylerJansey) June 10, 2021
Grant Larkin Grant Larkin 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL (Neuqua Valley) ATH. 6’, 180 lbs. C/o 2023
Although the rising junior still hasn’t received an offer he has a lot of time left in his recruiting process and he really caught some attention after his North Central mega camp showing where he clocked a 4.53 and 4.58 in the 40, a 10’2 broad jump, and a 4.06 short shuttle. He also competed at NIU’s camp on the 11th and will be at Illinois on the 16th and South Dakota State on the 24th. Big things coming for Grant.
Had a great time at North Centrals Mega Camp yesterday! Was clocked at a 4.53 and 4.58 on my 40! Also had a 10’2 broad jump and 4.06 shuttle. Thanks to all the coaches who invited me to camps and more! @EDGYTIM @NVHS_Football @BillEllinghaus @AllenTrieu @Lemmingscouting pic.twitter.com/Ns3G3OIzH7
— Grant Larkin (@GrantLarkin1) June 10, 2021
Roderick Pierce III Roderick Pierce III 6'3" | 280 lbs | DL Brother Rice | 2023 State IL (Brother Rice) DL. 6’3, 260 lbs. C/o 2023
There’s a very bright future ahead of the rising junior defensive lineman Pierce III, who has so far attended the Lindenwood mega camp, the Iowa State official camp, and the North Central mega camp, where things really got real. After balling out he received his second offer from Western Michigan and followed it up with a huge in-state offer from the hot on the recruiting trail University of Illinois. He also caught the eye of our national scout Jake Lemming at North Central, who noted that he “has been dominant during 1 on 1s. Pierce can put speed to power, has compact hands and a strong lower half.” He also competed at Iowa’s camp today but hasn’t reported any offers from the performance.
After a great camp at North Central College, I am extremely blessed to announce that I have received an offer from the University of Illinois! @CoachJamison @BretBielema @BrotherRiceFB @OLineDlineFact1 @NLAPerform @EDGYTIM @lemminginsider @DeepDishFB @dclay1889 @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/HRGwtwUin2
— Trey Pierce (@treypierceiii) June 10, 2021
Pierce Walsh Pierce Walsh 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL Benet | 2023 State IL (Benet Academy) WR/TE. 6’5, 205 lbs. C/o 2023
The lengthy pass-catcher burst onto the recruiting scene after his Lindenwood mega camp outing led to his first scholarship from FCS big-boy Illinois State offered up. He followed it up by camping in Madison with the Wisconsin Badgers, then went to North Central and earned an Eastern Illinois offer, and then really popped things open by camping in Dekalb and earning an offer from FBS competitor Northern Illinois. With great measurables and a lot of athleticism, I’m very intrigued to see where this process takes him!
After a great camp and talk with @NIUCoachHammock I’m excited to announce that I have received an offer from Northern Illinois University! pic.twitter.com/HZTdNptrWL
— Pierce Walsh (@PierceWalsh7) June 12, 2021
Eddie Tuerk Eddie Tuerk 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Lyons Township | 2024 State IL (Lyons Township) DE. 6’4, 240 lbs. C/o 2024
Boy oh boy, what a freshman we got on our hands from Lyons Township. The PrepRedzoneIL Showcase standout got himself on the national radar after the North Central mega camp, where he received a huge first offer from one of the Group of 5’s best in the Cincinnati Bearcats. The performance also led to him meeting with coaches from Ole Miss and the University of Michigan and earned his first SEC and B1G offers, respectively. He may be having the biggest summer of any prospext on this entire list.
I’m honored and excited to have received my first #BIG10 offer from THE University of Michigan @CoachNua @Coach_SMoore @UMichFootball @CoachJim4UM pic.twitter.com/FM7blZObJJ
— Eddie Tuerk (@eddietuerk78) June 13, 2021
Thomas “Bubba” Hubbard (Bartlett) OL. 6’4, 260 lbs. C/o 2022
Coming into the summer the rising senior held DII offers from Wayne State, Southwest Minnesota State, Northwood University, and Upper Iowa, but finally solidified himself as a D1 prospect as he earned his first D1 offer from South Dakota six days ago. The following day he competed at North Central’s mega camp and has since been offered by Illinois State and Eastern Illinois. He also made a trip to St. Paul, MN to visit the FCS Pioneer League St. Thomas Tommies, where he was offered an official roster spot. We’ll see if FBS schools start taking notice soon.
After a great call with @CCarp1622, thankful to say I have received my 4th D1 offer from the University of St. Thomas! Thankful for the staff for a great camp last week and a great opportunity! @BartlettFootba1 @UST_Football @Coach_Caruso @OLine_TEK @EDGYTIM @Lemmingscouting pic.twitter.com/8Q5zkYeNzS
— Thomas “Bubba” Hubbard (@bubbahubbard1) June 10, 2021
Xavier Slayton Xavier Slayton 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Crete Monee | 2022 State IL (Crete-Monee) DE. 6’3, 240 lbs. C/o 2022
A PrepRedzone Showcase standout and veteran comes out of the powerhouse Crete-Monee program and their soon to be senior pass-rusher Slayton. The bendy DE showed up and showed out in Missouri at the Lindenwood mega camp and added his first FBS offer from the Eastern Michigan program. He also had a strong showing at North Central, where our national scouting director Jake Lemming tweeted about his explosiveness (9’ broad), motor, and bend. More offers coming, sir!
https://twitter.com/SlaytonXavier/status/1400972131240906755?s=20
Malik Armstrong Malik Armstrong 6'2" | 165 lbs | WR Minooka | 2022 State IL (Minooka) WR. 6’2, 165 lbs. C/o 2022
It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for the Minooka wideout. He began things with the Iowa State camp, moved onto the Lindenwood mega camp, traveled to ccompete at the Central Michigan camp, and then returned home for the North Central mega camp. It was that North Central event where he got things going and quickly was offered by Eastern Illinois, Western Michigan, and Northern Iowa. However, two days ago he visited DeKalb, was offered by NIU, and committed to the Huskies after the visit. He’ll now play some FBS football in the MAC at the next level, and it must have been a whirlwind of a few days for the Minooka product, who committed four days after receiving his first college offers. Go Huskies!
@NIUCoachHammock @tonysorrentino1 @NIU_Football @illini197 @coachslusher @NxtLevelAtx @QBCoachHolc @EDGYTIM @MikeFChen @Jamaskane @PrepRedzoneIL pic.twitter.com/TyPeVlgGHu
— Malik Armstrong (@_Marmstrong14) June 12, 2021
Cam Pickett (Brooks) WR/DB. 6’, 180 lbs. C/o 2022
The CPS All-City pick held two Ivy League offers coming into the summer but showed that he is an FBS prospect no doubt after clocking a blazing 4.48 40 at the Iowa State camp on the first of the month. He then used a strong Lindenwood apperance to earn Eastern Illinois and Illinois State offers, as well as his first FBS opportunity from the defending MAC champs in the Ball State Cardinals, who he just took an unofficial visit to last Friday. Love seeing Chicago boys thrive, keep it up Cam!
Had a great unofficial visit Friday with the MAC champs! 🔴⚫️ @BallStateFB @maknight3 pic.twitter.com/9IU77FUGEe
— Cameron Pickett ™ (@CamPickett4) June 14, 2021