Always tough to decide which part of this terrific yearly event to cover from my perspective since you have 30 plus 7on7 teams along with a ton of linemen from those schools for the linemen challenge....so I decided to spend most of my day watching the 7on7 teams which also getting arounbd to at least eyeball some linemen.
Again I try to see everyone but on occasion I somehow avoid seeing a handful of teams which I'll note below.
The event overall? This has become THE summer team event in Illinois in a few short years. Anyone who's had time to spend at WWS knows already the tremendous support from not just the school, coaches and admin but also from the boosters parents etc at WWS. Huge props to all because this is about as organized and as well run as anything I've seen in Illinois.
The 2016 Red Grange wound up being 36 teams, easily the biggest field in the history of this event and that field included a handful of OOS teams.
So Who Stood Out?
Wheaton South- wound up winning the 7on7 overall and the national bid to Hoover. This WWS 7on7 group might of had some of the best overall skills I've seen in awhile and they just seemed to have a quiet confidence and a bit of a swagger as well. Overall really liked QB Matt Doshe all day and the O skills again just very good and talented. Defense also played well all day...just a hard working group with a pretty high skill level. Also liked what I saw in the weight room from the linemen group. Pretty hard to not get a bit excited today about WWS, yet history tells me that this event, as good as it is... isn't always the predictor of better days ahead. Yet you can't help but feel pretty good right now about WWS.
Lincoln-Way Central- easily the best surprise story of the day. Kids are buying into Jeremy Cordell and his teachings and it's becoming clearer and clearer that the Knights are getting closer and closer to breaking out. Offense was on point for most of the day and QB Hunter Campbell was strong. I was also impressed with the overall skills on offense, and this is an offense with just three starters back and with only the FB returning in the skills department. The defense was expected to be a strwength and the back seven was also very impressive. Knights defense went up against some high level athlete types and more than held their own. Only potential area of concern? I didn't see a ton of size from the linemen group...yet overall a very good day for Central here.
Naperville North- someone forgot to tell HC Sean Drendel that NN doesn't do 7on7...yet this is a new NN this fall. The Huskies, much like LWC was a nice story and surprise here. North was "into" this event all week long and I saw more fired up kids on the NN sideline than in anytime I can remember in a long time. Sure summer rah rah is a bit overrated but the excitement for this team seems genuine. QB Celges had a good two days....at at times just seemed to show a ton of potential. Only real knock here was I saw a bit of inconsistency from the QB play but to get as far as NN got? Can't really knock the results whatsoever. NN defense will be strong and from the Linemen I saw along with the back seven....I've not totally bought/drinking into the Orange and Blue Kool-aid just yet....but I'm feeling it a bit more.
Montini Catholic- It's Montini...what else did you expect. Really liked what I saw early in the day and the Broncos have some big play makers (West/Walker) and QB Norgle was making some exceptionally tough passes look easy. The defense also had a good day and the Broncos linemen also had a very good day overall. 6A? No matter this team will challenge for another state title...that is as long as they can get out of the CCL schedule which includes Loyola and MC this season.
Glenbard North- The Panthers are becoming a big time pick in the DVC this season and why not? Tons of talent with a ton of experience and those skills are just exceptionally talented. Really liked what I saw from QB Shane Conway and to this day RB Vittorio Tricase will be one4 of the best and most underrated RB's in 2016. Lost it's cool against LWC and that has to get corrected heading into the regular season...yet this team has all the tools to make a deep run in 2016. Linemen? Didn't see a ton of size but that's been more than the case than not over the years at GBN....and I'm not too concerned.
Lincoln-Way East- It's gonna be interesting to say the least for Rob Zvonar in 2016. East is loaded with kids, numbers and talent. I saw two QB's rotating that could play and play well at most over schools. I saw a ton of big and strong linemen and just the sheer overall numbers and depth is crazy. LWE I felt made a good, deep run here and showed more than what it's capable both on D and in the passing game. And let's face it...LWE is gonna run the football as well. The overall talent, numbers etc is all there. Biggest concern? Can the LWE staff keep this group together after starters are announced and a ton of kids will be watching from the sidelines?
Neuqua Valley- pretty much business as usual for NV. Lots of kids, lots of speed and talent all over. Skills wise was impressed with the rotating QB's and the Wildcats have one of the better WR groups here including Isaiah Robertson who is also playing safety as well here. Defense back seven was solid. Linemen? Decent size but I also didn't see any real huge kids either. Will again be at the top of the DVC in 2016.
Waubonsie Valley- was a bit surprised that WV didn't finish higher in the 7on7 side...but that's not a huge deal. The Warriors have good talent level, alot of speed and experience and this will also be a top tier DVC team. Was impressed with the linemen group here as well led by senior OL Dan Dominiak. Really like the defensive back seven and much like last season....I just don't think Paul Murphy and WV wants to peak in July. Last season was no fluke whatsoever and this group has the makings of challenging for a state title.
Aurora Christian- didn't get to see much of the Eagles whatsoever. AC didn't have a ton of linemen here but did have a decent sized group. Hope to see AC down the July road.
Huntley- easily one of the stronger overall linemen group here for the second straight year. Not sure what's in the water in Huntley but this linemen group was power lifting strong and very impressive. Skills 7on7 also did well. Junior QB Eric Mooney to me isn't your prototypical QB kid and doesn't look to have a great throwing release or anything like that etc. However, Mooney is a gamer, made the passes he needed to make and just getting the football in his hands (especially running the ball) is no question a good move for the Red Raiders. Overall had a strong day here.
Rochester- lost it's first AM game today and looked horrible. Then the Rockets rallied and wound up making a very deep run in the losers bracket. Eliminated some good teams including a very good Maine South team. Already a big fan of the Cox twins at WR and the Rockets no question will challenge for another 4A state title. Rochester did not bring a linemen group.
St. Charles North- good overall skills group, big receivers and QB Zach Mettetal is experienced and a very solid thrower. Like the overall skills and the back seven is also pretty solid. Linemen group is huge upfront and again this is a program on the verge of breaking out in a big way I feel....it will be fun to see if this North Star team can get past... (see below)
Batavia- always solid and always plays well in this setting. Offense has some depth and good overall skills. Linemen? Huge. Again. No idea how Dennis Piron does it but Batavia just grows big kids out there. Batavia and St Charles North (and Geneva) is going to be a ton of fun to watch this season. Both St. Charles North and Batavia are on a collision course this fall. Be there.
Oswego East- It really looks like this could be a real "Up" year for Oswego East. They have a ton of skills including QB Jaylon Banks and RB Ivory Kelly-Martin and some really good sized and strong linemen. If East can get a bit mote consistent play defensively (same goes for 90 percent of the SWP) they could make some noise this fall. Senior DE Elijah James remains a big time steal for someone out there.
Maine South- saw maybe two offensive series from the Hawks here...but I also know that I'll see them later in July so no worries. I did spend time watching linemen group and the linemen group was pretty solid showed good overall strength and size. Kevin Jarvis is now the size of a 3 bedroom house yet also runs well and is fluid. Good overall linemen group for the Hawks.
More Breakdown here: Red Grange Recap Part 2
Again I try to see everyone but on occasion I somehow avoid seeing a handful of teams which I'll note below.
The event overall? This has become THE summer team event in Illinois in a few short years. Anyone who's had time to spend at WWS knows already the tremendous support from not just the school, coaches and admin but also from the boosters parents etc at WWS. Huge props to all because this is about as organized and as well run as anything I've seen in Illinois.
The 2016 Red Grange wound up being 36 teams, easily the biggest field in the history of this event and that field included a handful of OOS teams.
So Who Stood Out?
Wheaton South- wound up winning the 7on7 overall and the national bid to Hoover. This WWS 7on7 group might of had some of the best overall skills I've seen in awhile and they just seemed to have a quiet confidence and a bit of a swagger as well. Overall really liked QB Matt Doshe all day and the O skills again just very good and talented. Defense also played well all day...just a hard working group with a pretty high skill level. Also liked what I saw in the weight room from the linemen group. Pretty hard to not get a bit excited today about WWS, yet history tells me that this event, as good as it is... isn't always the predictor of better days ahead. Yet you can't help but feel pretty good right now about WWS.
Lincoln-Way Central- easily the best surprise story of the day. Kids are buying into Jeremy Cordell and his teachings and it's becoming clearer and clearer that the Knights are getting closer and closer to breaking out. Offense was on point for most of the day and QB Hunter Campbell was strong. I was also impressed with the overall skills on offense, and this is an offense with just three starters back and with only the FB returning in the skills department. The defense was expected to be a strwength and the back seven was also very impressive. Knights defense went up against some high level athlete types and more than held their own. Only potential area of concern? I didn't see a ton of size from the linemen group...yet overall a very good day for Central here.
Naperville North- someone forgot to tell HC Sean Drendel that NN doesn't do 7on7...yet this is a new NN this fall. The Huskies, much like LWC was a nice story and surprise here. North was "into" this event all week long and I saw more fired up kids on the NN sideline than in anytime I can remember in a long time. Sure summer rah rah is a bit overrated but the excitement for this team seems genuine. QB Celges had a good two days....at at times just seemed to show a ton of potential. Only real knock here was I saw a bit of inconsistency from the QB play but to get as far as NN got? Can't really knock the results whatsoever. NN defense will be strong and from the Linemen I saw along with the back seven....I've not totally bought/drinking into the Orange and Blue Kool-aid just yet....but I'm feeling it a bit more.
Montini Catholic- It's Montini...what else did you expect. Really liked what I saw early in the day and the Broncos have some big play makers (West/Walker) and QB Norgle was making some exceptionally tough passes look easy. The defense also had a good day and the Broncos linemen also had a very good day overall. 6A? No matter this team will challenge for another state title...that is as long as they can get out of the CCL schedule which includes Loyola and MC this season.
Glenbard North- The Panthers are becoming a big time pick in the DVC this season and why not? Tons of talent with a ton of experience and those skills are just exceptionally talented. Really liked what I saw from QB Shane Conway and to this day RB Vittorio Tricase will be one4 of the best and most underrated RB's in 2016. Lost it's cool against LWC and that has to get corrected heading into the regular season...yet this team has all the tools to make a deep run in 2016. Linemen? Didn't see a ton of size but that's been more than the case than not over the years at GBN....and I'm not too concerned.
Lincoln-Way East- It's gonna be interesting to say the least for Rob Zvonar in 2016. East is loaded with kids, numbers and talent. I saw two QB's rotating that could play and play well at most over schools. I saw a ton of big and strong linemen and just the sheer overall numbers and depth is crazy. LWE I felt made a good, deep run here and showed more than what it's capable both on D and in the passing game. And let's face it...LWE is gonna run the football as well. The overall talent, numbers etc is all there. Biggest concern? Can the LWE staff keep this group together after starters are announced and a ton of kids will be watching from the sidelines?
Neuqua Valley- pretty much business as usual for NV. Lots of kids, lots of speed and talent all over. Skills wise was impressed with the rotating QB's and the Wildcats have one of the better WR groups here including Isaiah Robertson who is also playing safety as well here. Defense back seven was solid. Linemen? Decent size but I also didn't see any real huge kids either. Will again be at the top of the DVC in 2016.
Waubonsie Valley- was a bit surprised that WV didn't finish higher in the 7on7 side...but that's not a huge deal. The Warriors have good talent level, alot of speed and experience and this will also be a top tier DVC team. Was impressed with the linemen group here as well led by senior OL Dan Dominiak. Really like the defensive back seven and much like last season....I just don't think Paul Murphy and WV wants to peak in July. Last season was no fluke whatsoever and this group has the makings of challenging for a state title.
Aurora Christian- didn't get to see much of the Eagles whatsoever. AC didn't have a ton of linemen here but did have a decent sized group. Hope to see AC down the July road.
Huntley- easily one of the stronger overall linemen group here for the second straight year. Not sure what's in the water in Huntley but this linemen group was power lifting strong and very impressive. Skills 7on7 also did well. Junior QB Eric Mooney to me isn't your prototypical QB kid and doesn't look to have a great throwing release or anything like that etc. However, Mooney is a gamer, made the passes he needed to make and just getting the football in his hands (especially running the ball) is no question a good move for the Red Raiders. Overall had a strong day here.
Rochester- lost it's first AM game today and looked horrible. Then the Rockets rallied and wound up making a very deep run in the losers bracket. Eliminated some good teams including a very good Maine South team. Already a big fan of the Cox twins at WR and the Rockets no question will challenge for another 4A state title. Rochester did not bring a linemen group.
St. Charles North- good overall skills group, big receivers and QB Zach Mettetal is experienced and a very solid thrower. Like the overall skills and the back seven is also pretty solid. Linemen group is huge upfront and again this is a program on the verge of breaking out in a big way I feel....it will be fun to see if this North Star team can get past... (see below)
Batavia- always solid and always plays well in this setting. Offense has some depth and good overall skills. Linemen? Huge. Again. No idea how Dennis Piron does it but Batavia just grows big kids out there. Batavia and St Charles North (and Geneva) is going to be a ton of fun to watch this season. Both St. Charles North and Batavia are on a collision course this fall. Be there.
Oswego East- It really looks like this could be a real "Up" year for Oswego East. They have a ton of skills including QB Jaylon Banks and RB Ivory Kelly-Martin and some really good sized and strong linemen. If East can get a bit mote consistent play defensively (same goes for 90 percent of the SWP) they could make some noise this fall. Senior DE Elijah James remains a big time steal for someone out there.
Maine South- saw maybe two offensive series from the Hawks here...but I also know that I'll see them later in July so no worries. I did spend time watching linemen group and the linemen group was pretty solid showed good overall strength and size. Kevin Jarvis is now the size of a 3 bedroom house yet also runs well and is fluid. Good overall linemen group for the Hawks.
More Breakdown here: Red Grange Recap Part 2
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