Illini West Chargers
Head Coach: Jacob Calvin
Assistant Coaches:
Micheal Lafferty (OC)
Tim Lafferty IHSA Hall of Fame Coach (Special Teams)
Landon McKeown
Ashton Gronewald
Sid Huls
Tyler Bruns
Zach Burling
School Nickname/Mascot: Chargers
Conference: Lincoln Trail Prairieland (Large)
Team Twitter Handle:
@IW_Football
2024 Regular Season schedule (if known):
Week 1 @ Farmington
Week 2 Vs. Elmwood/Brimfield
Week 3 Vs. Macomb
Week 4 @ South Fulton
Week 5 @ Lewistown
Week 6 Vs. Knoxville
]Week 7 Vs. Bureau Valley
Week 8 @ West Hancock
Week 9 Vs. Tuscola Played at Sacred Heart Griffin
Returning Offensive Starters for 2024:
Stephen Sparks WR 6-2 165 25
Izik Jones LT 6.2 210 26
Isaiah Knotts RB 5'7 160 26
Shawn Watkins LG 5'10 200 25
Johnny Ravenscraft RT 6'0 250 25
Max Kinnamon QB 5'11 155 25
Isaiah Geissler (Started towards the end of the season) C 6 275 26
Nick Johnson RB 5'9 160 25
Returning Defensive Starters for 2024:
Izik Jones DE 6'2 210 26
Roan Jackson DE 6'2 175 25
Brady Blanton LB 6 135 25
Max Kinnamon DB 5'11 155 25
Nick Johnson LB 5'9 160 25
Shawn Watkins LB/DL 5'10 200 25
Tre Neiderman DB 5'8 135 25
Isiaiah Geissler (Started at the beginning of last year) NG 6 275 26
Stephen Sparks LB/DB 6'2 165 25
Newcomers to Watch
Ethan Carlisle
Isiah Knotts
Khile Stonger
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
In talks to join a 7 on 7 league ran by Quincy University Sprint Football.
Impact Player for Illini West
The Chargers will welcome back an impressive 17 starters (8 offense 9 defense) and most positions are covered from a talent and experience standpoint. Senior RB/LB Nick Johnson (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) will be asked to provide leadership and production on both sides of the football and his season will be a key for the Chargers in 2024.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2024 Illini West Chargers
The Titans and then first year head coach Jacob Calvin just missed makin g the IHSA state playoff field in 2023, dropping a heartbreaking Week 9 29-26 loss to Moweuqua A&M that kept the Titans home for the playoffs. With a roster stacked with experience back for the season, look for the Chargers to be highly motivated to return to the IHSA state playoff field along with being in contention in the Lincoln Trail/Prairieland Large conference title in 2024,
Preseason Ranking? 2024 Class 2A Top 10 consideration
Head Coach: Jacob Calvin
Assistant Coaches:
Micheal Lafferty (OC)
Tim Lafferty IHSA Hall of Fame Coach (Special Teams)
Landon McKeown
Ashton Gronewald
Sid Huls
Tyler Bruns
Zach Burling
School Nickname/Mascot: Chargers
Conference: Lincoln Trail Prairieland (Large)
Team Twitter Handle:
@IW_Football
2024 Regular Season schedule (if known):
Week 1 @ Farmington
Week 2 Vs. Elmwood/Brimfield
Week 3 Vs. Macomb
Week 4 @ South Fulton
Week 5 @ Lewistown
Week 6 Vs. Knoxville
]Week 7 Vs. Bureau Valley
Week 8 @ West Hancock
Week 9 Vs. Tuscola Played at Sacred Heart Griffin
Returning Offensive Starters for 2024:
Stephen Sparks WR 6-2 165 25
Izik Jones LT 6.2 210 26
Isaiah Knotts RB 5'7 160 26
Shawn Watkins LG 5'10 200 25
Johnny Ravenscraft RT 6'0 250 25
Max Kinnamon QB 5'11 155 25
Isaiah Geissler (Started towards the end of the season) C 6 275 26
Nick Johnson RB 5'9 160 25
Returning Defensive Starters for 2024:
Izik Jones DE 6'2 210 26
Roan Jackson DE 6'2 175 25
Brady Blanton LB 6 135 25
Max Kinnamon DB 5'11 155 25
Nick Johnson LB 5'9 160 25
Shawn Watkins LB/DL 5'10 200 25
Tre Neiderman DB 5'8 135 25
Isiaiah Geissler (Started at the beginning of last year) NG 6 275 26
Stephen Sparks LB/DB 6'2 165 25
Newcomers to Watch
Ethan Carlisle
Isiah Knotts
Khile Stonger
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
In talks to join a 7 on 7 league ran by Quincy University Sprint Football.
Impact Player for Illini West
The Chargers will welcome back an impressive 17 starters (8 offense 9 defense) and most positions are covered from a talent and experience standpoint. Senior RB/LB Nick Johnson (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) will be asked to provide leadership and production on both sides of the football and his season will be a key for the Chargers in 2024.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2024 Illini West Chargers
The Titans and then first year head coach Jacob Calvin just missed makin g the IHSA state playoff field in 2023, dropping a heartbreaking Week 9 29-26 loss to Moweuqua A&M that kept the Titans home for the playoffs. With a roster stacked with experience back for the season, look for the Chargers to be highly motivated to return to the IHSA state playoff field along with being in contention in the Lincoln Trail/Prairieland Large conference title in 2024,
Preseason Ranking? 2024 Class 2A Top 10 consideration
