Illinois 2026 QB Lansu Punches Ticket to UA Next Game
It’s no secret that mid-west winters can be extremely unforgiving with snow, sleet and the merciless below freezing
temperatures that can paralyze entire states. However, for Downer’s Grove, Ill. Quarterback
Owen Lansu
Owen
Lansu
6'2" | 175 lbs | QB
Downers Grove North | 2026
State
IL
, he’ll have the opportunity to escape to sunny Orlando, Fl. this winter for the UA Next All-America Game.
The 6-foot-1, 150-pound quarterback was selected to play in the game by a national committee. The UA Next All-America Game, which will feature 75 of the top 2026 athletes in the country, is the “futures” version of the Under Armour High School All-America Game which airs on ESPN around New Year’s Day every year.
“I’m so incredibly honored and blessed to be invited,” said Lansu.
The Herrick Middle School 8th grader has long been nationally recognized as a signal caller with a lot of talent and ability early on in his career. In addition to his ideal size for this level of football, he also has 9.5 inch hands and a 33 inch vertical—both of which are very impressive. As a comparison, former BYU quarterback, No.2 overall pick and current New York Jets starting QB Zach Wilson measured in a 6-foot-2 1/10th inch, had the same hand size and a 31.2 inch vertical.
The numbers may be comparable to Zach Wilson but Lansu says he likes to model his game after another AFC East quartertback, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
“I think my strengths on the field are definitely my deep ball, pocket presence, accuracy and leadership,” Lansu responded after being asked what his strengths are.
After watching some of his Elite11 scripted throws, it’s obvious to see that he’s in step with what he thinks about his strengths. What really stood out was just how accurate he was on the deep balls and how polished his mechanics were for not yet entering high school. The accuracy and polished mechanics didn’t just come overnight. Lansu puts in a lot of time with his QB coach Greg Holcomb of Next Level Athletix.
According to the Next Level Athletix website, Holcomb preaches development, leadership, humility and forward thinking. It also states that, “...if you want a coach who teaches from a simple approach to throwing the same way that the top QB’s playing on Sunday’s are throwing, then come check us out…the training and development are in the results.”
Results are obvious for QB1 of the Downers Grove Panthers, as he’s bene invited and performed at a number of camps including the Elite11 Academy and Rise & Fire Chicago camp. Furthermore, he’s already started sniffing around the college camp scene, having already thrown at Northwestern, Lake Forrest and the University of Miami
“I had a few conversations and interactions with the coaches at the University of Miami at the Miami camp,” said Lansu. I also talked to (current Miami starting quarterback) D’Eriq King while I was there. They were very positive and supportive.”
While the experience at Miami and with King were his first, they are likely not to be his list. In fact, while other 8th graders are worrying about video games and hanging out, Lansu has already started putting serious thought into the next level.
“I really want to play for a school that offers me as their first quarterback in the class. I want to go to a school that looks at me as their top choice out of all the quarterbacks in the class.”
Lansu is certainly looking to carry on the family legacy of playing quarterback at the college level, as his father played at Division III DePauw University in the early 90s. Except he’s thinking more along the lines of perennial powerhouses.
“I really enjoyed my experience at Miami and that is a great school with a great program. I have always been a Notre Dame fan living in Chicago and knowing their incredible history. I would be interested in Alabama, Ohio State and North Carolina just based on the type of offenses that they run and their success over the last several years.”
In following Lansu in social media and have the opportunity to interact with him, he seems mature way beyond his years and when asked about advice to give other young players, his answer was a strong one.
“There is no substitute for hard work. It doesn’t matter how tall or short you are or how strong or weak you are when you are starting out. Dedicate yourself to outworking everyone else and you will get where you want to go.”
Pretty wise words for a young man still several years short of having a driver’s license.
Be sure to check out Lansu this January 2nd at the UA Next All-America Game.
temperatures that can paralyze entire states. However, for Downer’s Grove, Ill. Quarterback
Owen Lansu
Owen
Lansu
6'2" | 175 lbs | QB
Downers Grove North | 2026
State
IL
, he’ll have the opportunity to escape to sunny Orlando, Fl. this winter for the UA Next All-America Game.
The 6-foot-1, 150-pound quarterback was selected to play in the game by a national committee. The UA Next All-America Game, which will feature 75 of the top 2026 athletes in the country, is the “futures” version of the Under Armour High School All-America Game which airs on ESPN around New Year’s Day every year.
“I’m so incredibly honored and blessed to be invited,” said Lansu.
The Herrick Middle School 8th grader has long been nationally recognized as a signal caller with a lot of talent and ability early on in his career. In addition to his ideal size for this level of football, he also has 9.5 inch hands and a 33 inch vertical—both of which are very impressive. As a comparison, former BYU quarterback, No.2 overall pick and current New York Jets starting QB Zach Wilson measured in a 6-foot-2 1/10th inch, had the same hand size and a 31.2 inch vertical.
The numbers may be comparable to Zach Wilson but Lansu says he likes to model his game after another AFC East quartertback, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
“I think my strengths on the field are definitely my deep ball, pocket presence, accuracy and leadership,” Lansu responded after being asked what his strengths are.
After watching some of his Elite11 scripted throws, it’s obvious to see that he’s in step with what he thinks about his strengths. What really stood out was just how accurate he was on the deep balls and how polished his mechanics were for not yet entering high school. The accuracy and polished mechanics didn’t just come overnight. Lansu puts in a lot of time with his QB coach Greg Holcomb of Next Level Athletix.
According to the Next Level Athletix website, Holcomb preaches development, leadership, humility and forward thinking. It also states that, “...if you want a coach who teaches from a simple approach to throwing the same way that the top QB’s playing on Sunday’s are throwing, then come check us out…the training and development are in the results.”
Results are obvious for QB1 of the Downers Grove Panthers, as he’s bene invited and performed at a number of camps including the Elite11 Academy and Rise & Fire Chicago camp. Furthermore, he’s already started sniffing around the college camp scene, having already thrown at Northwestern, Lake Forrest and the University of Miami
“I had a few conversations and interactions with the coaches at the University of Miami at the Miami camp,” said Lansu. I also talked to (current Miami starting quarterback) D’Eriq King while I was there. They were very positive and supportive.”
While the experience at Miami and with King were his first, they are likely not to be his list. In fact, while other 8th graders are worrying about video games and hanging out, Lansu has already started putting serious thought into the next level.
“I really want to play for a school that offers me as their first quarterback in the class. I want to go to a school that looks at me as their top choice out of all the quarterbacks in the class.”
Lansu is certainly looking to carry on the family legacy of playing quarterback at the college level, as his father played at Division III DePauw University in the early 90s. Except he’s thinking more along the lines of perennial powerhouses.
“I really enjoyed my experience at Miami and that is a great school with a great program. I have always been a Notre Dame fan living in Chicago and knowing their incredible history. I would be interested in Alabama, Ohio State and North Carolina just based on the type of offenses that they run and their success over the last several years.”
In following Lansu in social media and have the opportunity to interact with him, he seems mature way beyond his years and when asked about advice to give other young players, his answer was a strong one.
“There is no substitute for hard work. It doesn’t matter how tall or short you are or how strong or weak you are when you are starting out. Dedicate yourself to outworking everyone else and you will get where you want to go.”
Pretty wise words for a young man still several years short of having a driver’s license.
Be sure to check out Lansu this January 2nd at the UA Next All-America Game.
