FYI this is still a work in progress I will have this story completed later this afternoon!
Listed below are my 2025 running list of tight end prospects to watch including my quick take on several of the players listed here who I've seen in person either this past season or at various camps etc. No mention or comment on a specific prospect yet? No worries I'll be breaking down all of the names listed here via film/camp observations. Stay tuned.
Class of 2025 Defensive Linemen
DE/TE Tommy Ghislandi Loyola 6-foot-5, 215 pounds 2025
DE Jaylen Williams Palatine 6-foot-6, 280 pounds 2025- A monster Power 5 level recruit with already college ready size and frame. Williams played mainly defensive end but did also see time at DT along with some time on the Pirates offensive line when needed. Williams still is a work in progress and has work to do including adding more good weight/strength along with improving his overall technique and pass rush tools. Williams again has the length/size and reach to develop into a big time prospect. While his overall game is still in need of work and improvement....I have no question Williams has the potential to become a major dude at the Power 5 level who could also someday play on Sunday's.
DE/OLB Gabe Kaminski Nazareth Academy 6-foot-3, 225 pounds 2025- Kaminski has been on college recruiting radar screens since his freshman season. Kaminski has the look and physical tools to develop into an OLB/Rush End and his overall motor and mentality is unmatched. Kaminski has a nose for the football and was able to show this past season he has the ability to take over a game at times. Look for Kaminski to continue to add more Power 5 looks and offers this winter and spring and you'll be hard pressed to find a more productive player in the State of Illinois in 2023.
DL Ke’Andre McClendon East St. Louis 6-foot-2, 245 pounds 2025
DL Cameron Brooks Homewood Flossmoor 6-foot-3, 250 pounds 2025- Steady playmaker for the Vikings who's game has continued to grow and develop. Brooks has good size and strength and is playing defensive end for H-F, yet he also has the frame and build to grow and develop into a much bigger and stronger player at the college level. Brooks can play either end or tackle and has impressive overall instincts and a very good motor. Brooks no question will need to keep getting bigger, stronger along with adding more pass rush moves to his gamer. yet overall Brooks has a lot to like here.
DL Nathaniel Marshall Fenwick 6-foot-4, 240 pounds 2025- Nathaniel Marshall is already a major Power 5 recruit and someone who could wind up being in talks as a possible 5 star caliber recruit in the Class of 2025. Marshall also has pretty ideal physical tools and in many ways is already college ready physically. Marshall highlight video starts with him playing wide receiver and tight end and Marshall shows off his pure athletic ability on offense....and then the fun begins on the defendive line. Marshall has an incredible nose for the football, has the ability to use his strength and quickness to beat opposing linemen down in and down out (and more often than not is beating double and triple teams). Marshall's overalll game and upside is pretty incredible and we will again have a highly in demand defensive linemen in this state for the second straight season.
DE/TE Iose Epenese Edwardsville 6-foot-5, 240 pounds 2025- Incredible family bloodlines here and Epenesa is another Power 5 bname who will be another National ranked recruit. Epenesa has a combination of impressive speed, power and quickness and is a player who opposing teams need to game plan against week in and week out. Epenesa's pass rush moves and tools are very high level and uses his hands and quickness to beat and disengage the opposing blocker.
DL Christopher Burgess Jr. Simeon 6-foot-3, 225 pounds 2025- Christopher Burgess Jr. who just committed to Notre Dame is another high level Power 5 rush end who jsut has the look and physical tools of another name from this Class who will play big for the Fighting Irish. Burgess Jr. had a solid 2023 season despite dealing with varilus injuries and his combination of speed, quickness and strength is quickly evident. Burgess Jr. also has a high motor and is a player who can be dominant at times.
DL John Behmer Rockford East 6-foot-3, 185 pounds 2025
DL/OL Gavin Tinch Prairie Ridge 6-foot-4, 290 pounds 2025 -Big, strong and very physical two way linemen for the Wolves who has been a varsity starter since his freshman season. Tinch has the look and physical tools to play say DT at a very high level but he's a very fundamentially sound OL and will draw looks and attention on both sides of the football. Tinch plays hard noised anbd very physical, his strength and technique are strengths in his game and I'm excited to see his development this winter.
DL Tony Galloway Romeoville 6-foot-3, 250 pounds 2025
DL Caden O’Rourke Lincoln Way East 6-foot-5, 215 pounds 2025- O'Rourke has good bloodlines (his older brother Sean played for Northwestern) and has been a key player and impact performer for the state ranked Griffins since his sophomore season. O'Rourke has impressive size and length, showed his versatility and athletic skills by playing pretty much anywhere on the defensive line. O'Rourke was a terrific pass rusher and closer in 2023 and opposing defenses needed to game plan him week in and week out. O'Rourke, who is also a strong student in the class room has a ton of upside and also a ton of room to grow physically.
DE Declan Walsh Benet Academy 6-foot-3, 230 pounds 2025
DL Charlie Stec Brother Rice 6-foot-2, 220 pounds 2025
DL Jason Dowell Belleville Althoff 6-foot-3, 275 pounds 2025- I was able to see Jason Dowell when he was a freshman at Cahokia and even then Dowell showed to have the potential to become a dominant defensive linemen and Dowell is already a highly sought after Power 5 recruit. Dowell is now at Althoff and was able to show his overall strength, quickness and Dowell plays with a terrific motor down in and down out. Dowell also just seems to get better and better wqith his overall technique and fundamentals every timne I see him.
DL Joseph Reiff York 6-foot-5, 220 pounds 2025 - Yes...yet another Power 5 player here who is committed to Notre Dame. Reiff is as tall. long and lanky athlete who just seems to be starting to get a handle on his impressive physical growth and development. Reiff was simply impressive this past fall on both sides of the football. Reiff has good sixe and quickness, has greastly improved his bag of pass rushing tools and he will just get bigger, stronger and better from here on out.
DE Jace Chamberlain St Laurence 6-foot-1, 215 pounds 2025- A bit of a tweener positionally at ther colleger level in my eyes...but Chamberlain was a highly effective this past season for the Vikings. Chamberlain has decent size and strength along with good quickness while also being advanced in his overall dline fundamentals.
DL Tyler Fortis Maine South 6-foot-3, 270 pounds 2025- A non stop grinder type who just loves the game....Fortis was able to at times make big stop and tackles in 2023 and his game continues to develop and evolve well. Fortis is a name to watch this spring and he has a chance to rise up the recruiting depth chart...something that will be very hard to do in this tremendous defensive linemen class.
DL Brad Fitzgibbon Marist 6-foot-4, 250 pounds 2025- A kid who has a ton to offer physically who should continue to draw more looks and attention this winter and spring. Fitzgibbon has good sixe and frame, is built to play inside and shows really well on video. Fitzgibbon has good quickness and first step, knows hand usage and technique and once he adds a bit more power and quickness has a chance to play at the very high college level.
DL Jack Murzyński Barrington 6-foot-4, 220 pounds 2025
DL Mason High Monticello 6-foot-3, 230 pounds 2025
Listed below are my 2025 running list of tight end prospects to watch including my quick take on several of the players listed here who I've seen in person either this past season or at various camps etc. No mention or comment on a specific prospect yet? No worries I'll be breaking down all of the names listed here via film/camp observations. Stay tuned.
Class of 2025 Defensive Linemen
DE/TE Tommy Ghislandi Loyola 6-foot-5, 215 pounds 2025
DE Jaylen Williams Palatine 6-foot-6, 280 pounds 2025- A monster Power 5 level recruit with already college ready size and frame. Williams played mainly defensive end but did also see time at DT along with some time on the Pirates offensive line when needed. Williams still is a work in progress and has work to do including adding more good weight/strength along with improving his overall technique and pass rush tools. Williams again has the length/size and reach to develop into a big time prospect. While his overall game is still in need of work and improvement....I have no question Williams has the potential to become a major dude at the Power 5 level who could also someday play on Sunday's.
DE/OLB Gabe Kaminski Nazareth Academy 6-foot-3, 225 pounds 2025- Kaminski has been on college recruiting radar screens since his freshman season. Kaminski has the look and physical tools to develop into an OLB/Rush End and his overall motor and mentality is unmatched. Kaminski has a nose for the football and was able to show this past season he has the ability to take over a game at times. Look for Kaminski to continue to add more Power 5 looks and offers this winter and spring and you'll be hard pressed to find a more productive player in the State of Illinois in 2023.
DL Ke’Andre McClendon East St. Louis 6-foot-2, 245 pounds 2025
DL Cameron Brooks Homewood Flossmoor 6-foot-3, 250 pounds 2025- Steady playmaker for the Vikings who's game has continued to grow and develop. Brooks has good size and strength and is playing defensive end for H-F, yet he also has the frame and build to grow and develop into a much bigger and stronger player at the college level. Brooks can play either end or tackle and has impressive overall instincts and a very good motor. Brooks no question will need to keep getting bigger, stronger along with adding more pass rush moves to his gamer. yet overall Brooks has a lot to like here.
DL Nathaniel Marshall Fenwick 6-foot-4, 240 pounds 2025- Nathaniel Marshall is already a major Power 5 recruit and someone who could wind up being in talks as a possible 5 star caliber recruit in the Class of 2025. Marshall also has pretty ideal physical tools and in many ways is already college ready physically. Marshall highlight video starts with him playing wide receiver and tight end and Marshall shows off his pure athletic ability on offense....and then the fun begins on the defendive line. Marshall has an incredible nose for the football, has the ability to use his strength and quickness to beat opposing linemen down in and down out (and more often than not is beating double and triple teams). Marshall's overalll game and upside is pretty incredible and we will again have a highly in demand defensive linemen in this state for the second straight season.
DE/TE Iose Epenese Edwardsville 6-foot-5, 240 pounds 2025- Incredible family bloodlines here and Epenesa is another Power 5 bname who will be another National ranked recruit. Epenesa has a combination of impressive speed, power and quickness and is a player who opposing teams need to game plan against week in and week out. Epenesa's pass rush moves and tools are very high level and uses his hands and quickness to beat and disengage the opposing blocker.
DL Christopher Burgess Jr. Simeon 6-foot-3, 225 pounds 2025- Christopher Burgess Jr. who just committed to Notre Dame is another high level Power 5 rush end who jsut has the look and physical tools of another name from this Class who will play big for the Fighting Irish. Burgess Jr. had a solid 2023 season despite dealing with varilus injuries and his combination of speed, quickness and strength is quickly evident. Burgess Jr. also has a high motor and is a player who can be dominant at times.
DL John Behmer Rockford East 6-foot-3, 185 pounds 2025
DL/OL Gavin Tinch Prairie Ridge 6-foot-4, 290 pounds 2025 -Big, strong and very physical two way linemen for the Wolves who has been a varsity starter since his freshman season. Tinch has the look and physical tools to play say DT at a very high level but he's a very fundamentially sound OL and will draw looks and attention on both sides of the football. Tinch plays hard noised anbd very physical, his strength and technique are strengths in his game and I'm excited to see his development this winter.
DL Tony Galloway Romeoville 6-foot-3, 250 pounds 2025
DL Caden O’Rourke Lincoln Way East 6-foot-5, 215 pounds 2025- O'Rourke has good bloodlines (his older brother Sean played for Northwestern) and has been a key player and impact performer for the state ranked Griffins since his sophomore season. O'Rourke has impressive size and length, showed his versatility and athletic skills by playing pretty much anywhere on the defensive line. O'Rourke was a terrific pass rusher and closer in 2023 and opposing defenses needed to game plan him week in and week out. O'Rourke, who is also a strong student in the class room has a ton of upside and also a ton of room to grow physically.
DE Declan Walsh Benet Academy 6-foot-3, 230 pounds 2025
DL Charlie Stec Brother Rice 6-foot-2, 220 pounds 2025
DL Jason Dowell Belleville Althoff 6-foot-3, 275 pounds 2025- I was able to see Jason Dowell when he was a freshman at Cahokia and even then Dowell showed to have the potential to become a dominant defensive linemen and Dowell is already a highly sought after Power 5 recruit. Dowell is now at Althoff and was able to show his overall strength, quickness and Dowell plays with a terrific motor down in and down out. Dowell also just seems to get better and better wqith his overall technique and fundamentals every timne I see him.
DL Joseph Reiff York 6-foot-5, 220 pounds 2025 - Yes...yet another Power 5 player here who is committed to Notre Dame. Reiff is as tall. long and lanky athlete who just seems to be starting to get a handle on his impressive physical growth and development. Reiff was simply impressive this past fall on both sides of the football. Reiff has good sixe and quickness, has greastly improved his bag of pass rushing tools and he will just get bigger, stronger and better from here on out.
DE Jace Chamberlain St Laurence 6-foot-1, 215 pounds 2025- A bit of a tweener positionally at ther colleger level in my eyes...but Chamberlain was a highly effective this past season for the Vikings. Chamberlain has decent size and strength along with good quickness while also being advanced in his overall dline fundamentals.
DL Tyler Fortis Maine South 6-foot-3, 270 pounds 2025- A non stop grinder type who just loves the game....Fortis was able to at times make big stop and tackles in 2023 and his game continues to develop and evolve well. Fortis is a name to watch this spring and he has a chance to rise up the recruiting depth chart...something that will be very hard to do in this tremendous defensive linemen class.
DL Brad Fitzgibbon Marist 6-foot-4, 250 pounds 2025- A kid who has a ton to offer physically who should continue to draw more looks and attention this winter and spring. Fitzgibbon has good sixe and frame, is built to play inside and shows really well on video. Fitzgibbon has good quickness and first step, knows hand usage and technique and once he adds a bit more power and quickness has a chance to play at the very high college level.
DL Jack Murzyński Barrington 6-foot-4, 220 pounds 2025
DL Mason High Monticello 6-foot-3, 230 pounds 2025
