The Underclassmen Report was too long to include all four teams so here you go.
O'Fallon Panthers
Top Underclassmen to Watch
2023 QB Colt Michael (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) - Michael is a well known name in recruiting circles who has been at various college camps and showcase events since his freshman season. Michael, along with the rest of the Panthers did not have a good day here in a 48-2 loss to East St. Louis. Michael has an advanced game including a strong arm and plays with a quiet confidence. Look for Michael to add more weight and size over the next year plus and I'm expecting his game to continue to develop this fall and beyond.
2023 OL Marcus Hansen (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) Good sized kid were who I will definitely take a closer look at over the next few weeks.
2023 WR Jalen Smith (6-foot-4, 175 pounds)
2024 WR/DB Jordan Suggs (6-foot-2, 185 pounds)
2023 OL Marcus Hansen (6-foot-5, 300 pounds).
2023 DL Kaleb Randolph (6-foot-1, 270 pounds)
2024 LB Stephen Tolliver (6-foot-0, 225 pounds)
2023 LB Hunter Graham (6-foot-0, 180 pounds)
2024 LB Leo Bisesi (5-foot-11, 190 pounds)
Senior Eye Opener
2022 RB Deandre Lawrence (5-foot-7, 170 pounds)- Lawrence also had a rough day of sledding here against the East St. Louis defense, but he kept coming back for more and when he did have a few holes he showed good speed, power and balance.
2022 OT Jack Eberhart (6-foot-6, 325 pounds)- Big kid on the hoof who again had his hands full in this lopsided loss to East St. Louis. Eberhart showed some positives here and is drawing interest and attention this fall from FCS/D2 schools. Eberhart will need to continue on improving his overall quickness.feet and balance but he is already a college ready player physically.
East St. Louis Flyers
Top Underclassmen to Watch
2023 OT Miles McVay (6-foot-7, 345 pounds)- McVay is one of the most sought after names in the nation. McVay's physical transformation is incredible to witness over the past few years. McVay has transformed baby fat into muscle, has gotten quicker, more athletic while also maintaining and adding more strength. McVay is a very low key, happy go lucky kid off the4 field who can flip the switch when needed and become a monster on the field. Highly impressive here.
2023 OL Paris Patterson Jr. (6-foot-5, 330 pounds) Another underclassmen linemen who just gets bigger, stronger and better. Patterson Jr. overall game keeps improving including having better overall punch, feet and balance. Patterson Jr.s also seems to have been able to maintain his weight while remaining pretty mobile.
2023 WR Ryan Boyd (6-foot-0, 180 pounds)- Just another high level athlete type who has a ton to offer. Boyd has impressive hands, runs great routes and on really almost any other team would be a go to guy....yet Boyd also manages to get his catches even with this stacked receiver group. Huge upside over the next two seasons here.
2024 QB Robert "Pops" Battle (6-foot-0, 170 pounds)- Quarterback recruiting is a fickle beast...and while Pops still has to get bigger and stronger physically I was impressed at how much his game has developed since the spring. Battle has advanced his game several ways, including looking off his primary receiver, finding multiple other options on each play while remaining clam under pressure in the pocket. Battle can and will run with the football when needed and the progress he's made from the spring until now is really impressive.
2024 SB Jesse Watson (5-foot-9, 150 pounds)
2025 RB Christopher Bennett (5-foot-7, 160 pounds)
2023 WR Ryan Boyd (6-foot-0, 180 pounds)
2023 OL Timothy Pitts (6-foot-2, 230 pounds),
2023 OL Brandon Henderson (6-foot-5, 308 pounds).
2023 DL Keshawn Hayden (6-foot-2, 250 pounds)
2023 LB Antwon Hayden (6-foot-3, 210 pounds)
2024 LB Dominic Dixon (6-foot-0, 185 pounds)
2024 DB Leontre Bradford (6-foot-0, 185 pounds)
Senior Eye Opener
2022 WR Luther Burden III (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) A 5 star ranked player who has yet to not blow me away in person. Burden III has incredible tools, is a very smooth route runner who has crazy start/stop, change of direction and burst. Burden III's downfield speed is legit and he's as dangerous as any ranked WR in this class.
2022 WR/DB Toriano Pride (5-foot-11, 190 pounds)- Another incoming name into East St Louis who is already committed to Clemson. Will play defensive back at Clemson who has all the physical tools, speed, smarts and game to live up to his 4 star ranking. A very versatile athlete who you could slot into any number of positions and not skip a beat.
2022 RB Ali Wells (5-foot-11. 1190 pounds)- Another incoming transfer who is just an all around impressive player. Wells runs hard, has good speed and also runs with power. Isw part of a very strong Flyers running back rotation this season. Like the others, Wells could play several positions if needed.
O'Fallon Panthers
Top Underclassmen to Watch
2023 QB Colt Michael (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) - Michael is a well known name in recruiting circles who has been at various college camps and showcase events since his freshman season. Michael, along with the rest of the Panthers did not have a good day here in a 48-2 loss to East St. Louis. Michael has an advanced game including a strong arm and plays with a quiet confidence. Look for Michael to add more weight and size over the next year plus and I'm expecting his game to continue to develop this fall and beyond.
2023 OL Marcus Hansen (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) Good sized kid were who I will definitely take a closer look at over the next few weeks.
2023 WR Jalen Smith (6-foot-4, 175 pounds)
2024 WR/DB Jordan Suggs (6-foot-2, 185 pounds)
2023 OL Marcus Hansen (6-foot-5, 300 pounds).
2023 DL Kaleb Randolph (6-foot-1, 270 pounds)
2024 LB Stephen Tolliver (6-foot-0, 225 pounds)
2023 LB Hunter Graham (6-foot-0, 180 pounds)
2024 LB Leo Bisesi (5-foot-11, 190 pounds)
Senior Eye Opener
2022 RB Deandre Lawrence (5-foot-7, 170 pounds)- Lawrence also had a rough day of sledding here against the East St. Louis defense, but he kept coming back for more and when he did have a few holes he showed good speed, power and balance.
2022 OT Jack Eberhart (6-foot-6, 325 pounds)- Big kid on the hoof who again had his hands full in this lopsided loss to East St. Louis. Eberhart showed some positives here and is drawing interest and attention this fall from FCS/D2 schools. Eberhart will need to continue on improving his overall quickness.feet and balance but he is already a college ready player physically.
East St. Louis Flyers
Top Underclassmen to Watch
2023 OT Miles McVay (6-foot-7, 345 pounds)- McVay is one of the most sought after names in the nation. McVay's physical transformation is incredible to witness over the past few years. McVay has transformed baby fat into muscle, has gotten quicker, more athletic while also maintaining and adding more strength. McVay is a very low key, happy go lucky kid off the4 field who can flip the switch when needed and become a monster on the field. Highly impressive here.
2023 OL Paris Patterson Jr. (6-foot-5, 330 pounds) Another underclassmen linemen who just gets bigger, stronger and better. Patterson Jr. overall game keeps improving including having better overall punch, feet and balance. Patterson Jr.s also seems to have been able to maintain his weight while remaining pretty mobile.
2023 WR Ryan Boyd (6-foot-0, 180 pounds)- Just another high level athlete type who has a ton to offer. Boyd has impressive hands, runs great routes and on really almost any other team would be a go to guy....yet Boyd also manages to get his catches even with this stacked receiver group. Huge upside over the next two seasons here.
2024 QB Robert "Pops" Battle (6-foot-0, 170 pounds)- Quarterback recruiting is a fickle beast...and while Pops still has to get bigger and stronger physically I was impressed at how much his game has developed since the spring. Battle has advanced his game several ways, including looking off his primary receiver, finding multiple other options on each play while remaining clam under pressure in the pocket. Battle can and will run with the football when needed and the progress he's made from the spring until now is really impressive.
2024 SB Jesse Watson (5-foot-9, 150 pounds)
2025 RB Christopher Bennett (5-foot-7, 160 pounds)
2023 WR Ryan Boyd (6-foot-0, 180 pounds)
2023 OL Timothy Pitts (6-foot-2, 230 pounds),
2023 OL Brandon Henderson (6-foot-5, 308 pounds).
2023 DL Keshawn Hayden (6-foot-2, 250 pounds)
2023 LB Antwon Hayden (6-foot-3, 210 pounds)
2024 LB Dominic Dixon (6-foot-0, 185 pounds)
2024 DB Leontre Bradford (6-foot-0, 185 pounds)
Senior Eye Opener
2022 WR Luther Burden III (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) A 5 star ranked player who has yet to not blow me away in person. Burden III has incredible tools, is a very smooth route runner who has crazy start/stop, change of direction and burst. Burden III's downfield speed is legit and he's as dangerous as any ranked WR in this class.
2022 WR/DB Toriano Pride (5-foot-11, 190 pounds)- Another incoming name into East St Louis who is already committed to Clemson. Will play defensive back at Clemson who has all the physical tools, speed, smarts and game to live up to his 4 star ranking. A very versatile athlete who you could slot into any number of positions and not skip a beat.
2022 RB Ali Wells (5-foot-11. 1190 pounds)- Another incoming transfer who is just an all around impressive player. Wells runs hard, has good speed and also runs with power. Isw part of a very strong Flyers running back rotation this season. Like the others, Wells could play several positions if needed.
