Chicago Taft Eagles
Head Coach: Zach Elder
Assistant Coaches:
Matt Zilz, Miguel Villegas, Dimitrije Milutinovic, Mario Olivella, Marty Shine, Patrick McCarthy, Ryan Bullock, Scott Hoffman and Terence Young.
School Nickname/Mascot: Eagles
Team Twitter Handle: @TaftFootball CHI
Conference: Chicago Public League Red West
2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):
8/25 at Crown Point 7:00
9/1 vs Stevenson 7:00
9/8 vs Brooks 7:00
9/15 at Lane 7:00
9/22 vs Nobel Bulls 7:00
9/30 at Kenwood(Lane) 3:00
10/6 at Amundsen(Winnemac) 4:00
10/13 vs Whitney Young 7:00
10/21 at Westinghouse 1:00
Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:
Jaiden Padilla RB 5'9 195 2025
Jayden Harris WR/RB 5'10 160 2024
Steven Tantchev WR 6'0 190 2024
Jorge Roman WR 5'10 160 2024
Stephen Carrera RB 5'8 175 2025
Wellington Jaramillo FB 6'1 210 2024
Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:
Jayvon Evans CB 6'1 170 2024
Jayden Harris S 5'10 160 2024
Steven Tantchev CB 6'0 190 2024
John Pavlakis S 5'10 185 2024
Chris Roszak 6'4 220 2024
Newcomers to Watch for 2023:
Diesel McFadden RB/LB/DE 6'1 200 2026
Josiah Ramirez G/DT 6'1 275 2025
Josh Mam T/DT 6'2 225 2025
Kuba Wierzchowiak TE/DE 6'3 210 2025
Logan Roman QB 5'8 160 2026
Aaron Mills WR 6'3 175 2024
Jacob Szymanski RB/LB 6'2 210 2024
2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
6/20 at Deerfield
6/21 at Evanston
7/12 CSL 7 on 7 at Maine West
Impact Player for Taft:
Taft has a really strong core of offensive skills players to watch for the 2023 season. Senior WR/RB/DB Jayden Harris is a player that basically never leaves the field for the Eagles and his versatility and athletic ability is a big plus for Taft in 2023. I also like a few others here including junior RB Jaiden Padilla, junior RB Stephen Carrera and senior DE Chris Roszak will all be asked to provide production and leadership this fall for Taft.
EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Taft Eagles:
Chicago Taft, led by head coach Zach Elder had a down season in 2022 (3-6 overall record) but this program has been one of the better larger enrollment CPL programs and I don't anticipate the Eagles being down for very long. Taft welcomes back a nice core of experienced starters on both sides of the football for 2023 including some key names in the offensive skills department. If the Eagles can reload in a few key spots (offensive line/defensive line) look for Taft to once again return to the IHSA state playoff field in 2023.
I can see Taft getting back to winning football in 2023 however....the non conference portion of the schedule is tough with both Crown Point Indiana (led by former HF HC Craig Buzea) and also Stevenson. Get past the non conference games and the Eagles pretty much have a pretty winnable remaining schedule (minus a loaded Kenwood team) and should wind up as say a 6-3 team in 2023.
Head Coach: Zach Elder
Assistant Coaches:
Matt Zilz, Miguel Villegas, Dimitrije Milutinovic, Mario Olivella, Marty Shine, Patrick McCarthy, Ryan Bullock, Scott Hoffman and Terence Young.
School Nickname/Mascot: Eagles
Team Twitter Handle: @TaftFootball CHI
Conference: Chicago Public League Red West
2023 Regular Season schedule (if known):
8/25 at Crown Point 7:00
9/1 vs Stevenson 7:00
9/8 vs Brooks 7:00
9/15 at Lane 7:00
9/22 vs Nobel Bulls 7:00
9/30 at Kenwood(Lane) 3:00
10/6 at Amundsen(Winnemac) 4:00
10/13 vs Whitney Young 7:00
10/21 at Westinghouse 1:00
Returning Offensive Starters for 2023:
Jaiden Padilla RB 5'9 195 2025
Jayden Harris WR/RB 5'10 160 2024
Steven Tantchev WR 6'0 190 2024
Jorge Roman WR 5'10 160 2024
Stephen Carrera RB 5'8 175 2025
Wellington Jaramillo FB 6'1 210 2024
Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:
Jayvon Evans CB 6'1 170 2024
Jayden Harris S 5'10 160 2024
Steven Tantchev CB 6'0 190 2024
John Pavlakis S 5'10 185 2024
Chris Roszak 6'4 220 2024
Newcomers to Watch for 2023:
Diesel McFadden RB/LB/DE 6'1 200 2026
Josiah Ramirez G/DT 6'1 275 2025
Josh Mam T/DT 6'2 225 2025
Kuba Wierzchowiak TE/DE 6'3 210 2025
Logan Roman QB 5'8 160 2026
Aaron Mills WR 6'3 175 2024
Jacob Szymanski RB/LB 6'2 210 2024
2023 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
6/20 at Deerfield
6/21 at Evanston
7/12 CSL 7 on 7 at Maine West
Impact Player for Taft:
Taft has a really strong core of offensive skills players to watch for the 2023 season. Senior WR/RB/DB Jayden Harris is a player that basically never leaves the field for the Eagles and his versatility and athletic ability is a big plus for Taft in 2023. I also like a few others here including junior RB Jaiden Padilla, junior RB Stephen Carrera and senior DE Chris Roszak will all be asked to provide production and leadership this fall for Taft.
EDGY's Quick Take on the 2023 Taft Eagles:
Chicago Taft, led by head coach Zach Elder had a down season in 2022 (3-6 overall record) but this program has been one of the better larger enrollment CPL programs and I don't anticipate the Eagles being down for very long. Taft welcomes back a nice core of experienced starters on both sides of the football for 2023 including some key names in the offensive skills department. If the Eagles can reload in a few key spots (offensive line/defensive line) look for Taft to once again return to the IHSA state playoff field in 2023.
I can see Taft getting back to winning football in 2023 however....the non conference portion of the schedule is tough with both Crown Point Indiana (led by former HF HC Craig Buzea) and also Stevenson. Get past the non conference games and the Eagles pretty much have a pretty winnable remaining schedule (minus a loaded Kenwood team) and should wind up as say a 6-3 team in 2023.
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