Recap: Top Performers PM Session

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The PM Session featured the offensive skills plus DB/LB's.

My goal is to have the PM Sessions wrapped up by tomorrow and I will be continuing to update and add to this all day today and tomorrow so check back often.

Quarterbacks

#404 Josh Beetham Yorkville- Beetham has been a well known name in recruiting circles for the past year plus. Beetham has great size and has added even a bit more muscle and cut some weight as well this winter. Beetham is a pro style pocket passer type with a big arm and tools.

#406 Nick Brown Hampshire 2022- 2022? Yep. I've never been one of these guys who will list a ton of really young kids just to get notice or attention. Yet Brown is no doubt a name to watch over the next few years. Brown has great size/frame and already is physically mature and throws a very good ball. Was one of a handful of amazing freshman perforemers at this event on Monday.

#409 Kevin Conway Providence Catholic 2021- Suffered a season ending injury early in 2018 and it was good to see Conway here working. I didn't get a ton of time to watch Conway biut he's a decent sized kid with a good arm and touch.

#417 Demarius Johns Curie- Curie and head coach Arthur Ray Jr. has a handful of top underclassmen names to watch and Johns is another name for the Condors. Nicknamed "Baby Juice" Johns does at least physically does remind me of former CVS/Illinois QB Isiah Williams and Johns has a ton of upside physically. Will also draw recruiting looks at say TE/LB and looks to go 6-foot-2, 190 pounds plus.

#420 Athan Kaliakmanis Antioch 2021- Not a lot to say that hasn't been said about Kaiakmanis...big kid great size and frame, has a terrific arm and touch and is also starting to fill out and has also added a bit more muscle and looks la bit leaner this winter. A major top ranked name in the 2021 Class.

#424 Luke Lehnen Glenwood- Had a strong 2018 season for the Titans and is a true dual threat here. I had questions regarding Luke's overall size along with his arm strength going into this event. And? Size is ok (6-foot-0, 170 pounds) and the arm strength is more than Ok here. I like Lehnen's overall game and he has a chance to play at say the FCS/D2 level in my opinion.

#426 Jack McCloskey Belleville West- Another 2020 name here that had good tape and a strong 2018 season. McCloskey's overall size will be an issue for the bigger level schools but his touch and deep ball is very solid.

#436 Jaedyn Price H-F 2022- Big, strong kid here who has a chance to become a big time athlete in a year or two.

#437 Rashad Rochelle Springfield 2022- Had a strong season at the varsity level in 2018 for the Senators. Showed a terrific arm and Rashad can just really spin it well and went toe to toe with the better top older quarterbacks here. Still a work in progress but for a freshman? Very advanced tools and upside here.

#439 Chris Selig Lakes- bigger kid who like his older brother (WMU LB Ryan Selig) plys a solid quarterback but has the physical size and tools to play say TE/LB at the higher level.

#448 Derrick Williams Jr Thornton- Another familiar name on the recruiting trail, Williams Jr. is a multi-sport athlete who has been a very strong signal caller for TT. Williams Jr. does a great job under center but will also draw additional recruiting looks at say S/WR this spring and summer. Has a chance to become say a MAC level name.

#453 Perrion McClinton Loyola 2021- Younger guy who has yet to hit the varsity level. Physically has good size and McClinton will need to add more weight and size for the next level but was able to show pretty well here.

#455 Tyler Macon East St. Louis 2021- was easily oner of the top quarterbacks and overall athletes here. Macon has seen his game progress from a year ago and really came along in 2018. Macon looks to have added a big more weight and strength and also throws a good ball with great touch. Top FBS level QB?ATH here.

#456 Phil Hirt Warren Township 2021- had a strong 2018 sophomore season and seemed to just progress well from week to week last fall. Has good size/height and threw the football pretty well here especially a strong deep ball.

Tight Ends

#701 Carter Evans Prairie Ridge 2021- Yes the younger Evans is going to become a FBS level college player. Carter is going to be bigger physically than Samson but not quite as big as oldest brother Shane, and Carter has added more size and strength from a season ago. Runs well, catches the football well and already knows how to block playing in the Wolves power run offense.

#703 Jameson Geers Providence Catholic 2021- Worked out at both Long Snapper and Tight End. Has really good size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) and showed flashes of good things to come. Also looks to be a very solid long snapper.

#709 Hunter Welcing Lake Zurich- Very good size and has the frame to add more weight and bulk at the college level. Also has good length and ran well. Showed good hands and no question Welcing will draw a lot of looks this spring and summer.

Running Backs

#516 Derrick Strongs Jr. Nazareth Academy- pointed out by the coaches as a top name in the RB positional group.

#517 Alex Sweetland SHG 2021- another familiar name on the camp circuit. Has good speed, change of direction and wiggle. Has also added a bit more size and weight and has a chance to become an lower FBS/high FCS level player down the line.

#518 Aaron Vaughn Jr. Providence Catholic 2022- Been a fan of Aaron's since last fall. Good size very good speed and is a well put together kid. Has a chance to also become a FBS level name in a year or two.

Wide Receivers

#612 Eric Darlington Jr. Barrington- didn't get to watch a ton of Eric but what I did see I liked. The same goes back to last season and Darlington jr. is also a two way play makers type.

#619 George Gumbs Jr. Simeon 2021- really big kid with good speed as well. Simeon always seems to have these 6-foot-4 long athletes at receiver and Gumbs Jr. needs to improve his hands and catching the football with his n=hands more often...yet his speed and raw potential is for real.

#625 Dino Kaliakmanis Antioch 2021- another familiar name on the camp circuit. Dino has also added a bit more size and muscle from a season ago yet still possesses terrific hands, runs well and is just a high level athlete.

#626 Antonio King Bolingbrook- speedy slot back type who always seems to catch the football no matter what, King is another smaller slot receiver type with big time game breaking abilities.

#626 Tyler Morris Nazareth 2022- speedy and high level athlete here....and the kid is still just a freshman. Damn.

#639 James Piggott Lake Zurich- another bigger receiver here who has good hands and could easily end up playing tight end at the higher college level. Will no doubt draw a lot of looks this spring from colleges for his sheer physical tools.

#652 TreShawn Watson Antioch- another kid I was interested to see in person here. Big tall receiver with impressive hands and body control. Did well in one on ones and could be in line for a big spring and early summer with college coaches.

#660 Keontez Lewis East St Louis 2021- Lewis already has several FBS offers and showed exactly why here. Big kid long lean and has impressive ball skills. Can and will go get the football in traffic and just never backs down against a defender.

#666 Jaleel Payne Kenwood- reminded me a bit at times of his older brother Leon Payne (Simeon/NIU). Decent size kid *** well and just has very good ball skills and instincts. Made some nice catches in positional work and also in one on ones.

Defense? Soon.

 

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All prospects are 2020 unless noted

Defensive Backs

#603 Dylan Appleton Belleville Althoff- Appleton is simply a baller who always looks to make plays on either side of the football. I saw Appleton play more WR at Boom the previous day and saw more action at DB here on Monday. My biggest question on Appleton going in was his size and overall speed....and his size will be an issue for the bigger level schools but his speed and quickness is very solid.

#839 Jailon Welsh Nazareth Academy- Strong physical tools, can plant and flip his hips and runs well. I saw limited reps in one on ones but had a solid day here.

#812 Donald Dillon Kenwood- this 2020 name has really strong man cover skills, plays a very physical corner and is just a high motor kid to watch here.

#827 Myles Mooyoung Kenwood 2021- younger kid here with a ton of upside. Mooyoung has really good size already and has a chance to wind up as a safety at the higher college level. Nice cover skills and very strong all around physical tools here.

#835 Arenas Tibbs Mascoutah- good sized kid here and could become a bigger corner at the FBS/FCS level. Athletic kid here with good speed and instincts in one on ones. Definitely a name to watch this spring and summer.

#837 Giovanni Volpentesta Highland Park 2021- Is now the 27th Volpentesta that I've covered over the years....ok maybe not. Yet Giovanni, much like his older cousins has a terrific nose for the football, goes all out on every rep and is a grinder.

#845 Josh Turner Warren Township- Was one of a handful of impressive kids at this event from Warren.

#851 Semaj Brown TF North- Brown already has a handful of FBS offers and it's pretty easy to see why. Brown has really good size/strength, can run well and has a high knowledge level of defensive back play. Brown is simply a high level athlete who could play a few different spots at the high college level.

Linebackers

#908 Marcus Griffin Nazareth Academy- loved shim last season and not much has changed for me. Great instincts, goes all out and is also a high motor guy. Griffin's overall height will be an issue for higher level schools but his game will no question open some recruiting doors.

#918 Xavier McKinney H-F- more of a potential OLB/S type at the next level. McKinney runs well, was able to make some nice plays in coverage and was also very strong in positional drill work.

#919 Malachi McNeal Warren Township- really impressive kid here. Has good size and tools, has a really good first few steps and just react well. Was a big time hitter in 2018 and looks primed for a big 2019 as well. Could be an interesting spring for McNeal.

#924 Bryan Sanborn Lake Zurich 2021- Yes, the younger Sanborn is as good as his older brother at this stage (Jack Sanbord/Wisconsin). Sanborn has a great combination of size, speed, quickness and is also a strong and physical kid as well. Already has a handful of Power 5 offers already and expect more to follow sooner rather than later.

#931 Michael Smith Jr. TF South- Smith Jr. also had a strong 2018 junior season for the Rebels and looks to have shed a bit of weight and looked a bit faster and leaner here. Overall Smith Jr. just runs to the ball and was able to show improved cover skills here.

#933 Elijawah Tolbert Thornton Township 2021- Here is another long, lean 2021 name to watch. Tolbert as mentioned has physical tools, runs well and covered well in one on ones. Has the frame to add even more weight and size at the next level and is no question on my radar screen after this showcase.

#937 Mojo Weerts Batavia 2021- Played mainly DL for the Bulldogs in 2018 but looks the part as more of an ILB. As mentioned Mojo has good size and like his older brother (Luke Weerts/NDSU signee) just has some really impressive instincts. I fully expect schools to visit him later this winter and spring.

#944 Myles Jones Brother Rice 2021- I honestly didn't even need to see Jones here...because I was already highly impressed with his game from the 2018 season. Jones will no question need to add a bit more strength and improve his overall speed and quickness for the college level...yet when it comes to being an impact defender and hard hitting finisher...that's Jones.