Holding my breath on that one, I'm good with Fields but Jones from Bama would have been another bust like Trubisky.

I still don't like continuing to trade away draft picks.

I would have been most happy picking offensive linemen.with the first 4 picks.

Is ESL still 6a? Fenwick is now what ? Is naz now 7a?

It sounds like Mascoutah and Triad are joining the conf this fall and Granite City will be returning. It will be interesting to see how the split the conference for football. I can't see a scenario where they would entertain going to a 9 game closed conf.

Almost none of these basketball games are on NFHS. Very few are also on Hudltv. Benet is trying to charge to watch on HUDL TV. How could they charge for a game on another platform other than NFHS?

All.... Instead of putting general information on the old CS8 2024 thread I figured start a new one for those that follow CS8 football on this board. A couple on non con updates. Jacksonville will host Highland week 1 Friday 8-29. A nice pickup for the Crimsons.

Rochester will not be playing Cardinal Ritter again in their week two game. The Rockets have filled that date and will be on the road at Mt. Zion Friday September 5th. Rochester will play at home week 1 against Gibson Southern out of Indiana on Saturday August 30 at 2pm. Rockets will be 2-0 as they enter the following week into CS8 East play. Ratsy

Alright football board is going to be slow. Official start of IHSA season begins tomorrow. What's everyone's thoughts on the year? Teams you want to highlight?

From what I've read in off-season, teams that look to be loaded again in no particular order:

Mt. Carmel
Provi
Edwardsville
Rice
Naz
JCA

Interested in McHenry, Huntley. Fox Valley in general could be strong this year.

LWE has the Bauer train going this year, they could be better. Minooka has studs. LWW with Essenburg and other D1 arms will probably be good. Lockport looked young last year and could be very tough.

Love baseball season!

@pjjp @rocketnation @USD24 @crusader_of_90 @playboymixx @Kevin JCHS 81 @SiuCubFan8

What sport has the worst parents?

I’m going with hockey, football/wrestling then basketball
Thoughts?

Also I’m going with CC parents as the best. I think they are happy their kid just finishes the race!

Name: Braeden Jones

Position: EDGE

High School: Chicago Mount Carmel

Graduation Year: 2026

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 250 pounds

Recruiting Status: Committed to USC. Jones has been committed to the USC Trojans since October of 2024 and chose the Trojans over offers from over literally every Power 4 program in the nation. Jones very quietly made a game day visit to USC and came home the next day and committed to the Trojans.

HUDL:

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My impressions of Braden Jones: Braeden Jones first hit my recruiting radar screen during the summer of his freshman season when I saw hin live at a handful of camp and showcase events. Looking at Jones on the hoof as a freshman was in many ways like looking at a puppy.....Jones had big levers (arms and legs) with exceptional length and reach while also possessing a frame that was going to add much more needed weight and strength. Jones did not start on the Caravan varsity as a freshman but did see considerable playing time and a ton of reps that freshman season. Jones became a full time starter as a sophomore and has never looked back since that point. Jones was able to continue to add good weight and strength over the next few years led by the Caravan strength program and coach Joe Kubit. Jones really saw his recruiting stock take off early during his sophomore season when Akron was his first scholarship offer and then he was on literally everopnes recruiting radar screen by the end of his sophomore season. Jones is a very strong student in the class room and also a very outgoing, well spoken young man who I've been able to interview multiple times.

Evaluation of Braeden Jones: Braeden Jones in many ways has just about everything you look for in an elite level defensive linemen at the highest level of college football recruiting. Jones has all the physical tools including great length and reach, very good overall speed with some quick twitch combined with surprising closing speed and brute strength. Jones comes off the edge hard and has improved his overall pass rushing tools and technique considerably each season. Jones also has a great nose for the football, can and will play the run exceptionally well and his ability to make plays inside with his combination of muscle and quick feet/hands is highly impressive. Jones is truly one of those defensive linemen who can make plays either in a phone booth or from one sideline to the other on literally every down. Jones was paid the ultimate compliment in 2024 as more and more opposing offenses started to truly run away from his side of the field which became more and more evident with film study this winter. The best part of Jones game is he still has room to add a bit more good weight and strength, along with improving his overall technique, fundamentals and is also very capable of raising his game a few more levels in my opinion.


Room for improvement? Braeden Jones has a ton of upside for sure, but like every high school player he still has work to do. Jones has no question taken his game higher and higher each season...but can he become an even more dominant player down in and down out? I say he can and improving his overall pass rush technique, add a few more pass rush moves and continue to get bigger/stronger and faster....and I truly look forward to seeing Jones as a senior in 2025

Projected level: Rivals has Braeden Jones ranked as a high 4 star ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 along with being the #99th top recruit in the Nation in the Rivals Class of 2026 recruit rankings.

EDGYTIM Recommended Initial Rankings: It's pretty hard to argue with any kid that get's ranked as a high 4 star from the State of Illinois by Rivals...especially in a state that doesn't exactly get huge national props in many regards to rankings of Illinois kids on a national level over the many years. Jones no doubt has a ton to offer and I feel he is one of those few rare kids who if things go well for him at the next level could have an opportunity to pursue playing on Sundays in my opinion...and that's something I do NOT throw around lightly.

Name: Casey Thomann

Position: OT

High School: Olney East Richland

Graduation Year: 2026

Height: 6-foot-7

Weight: 280 pounds

Recruiting Status: Committed to Illinois. Thomann was a pretty heavy lean to Illinois from very early on in his recruiting process. Thomann also had offers from the likes of Iowa, Eastern Michigan plus Nebraska and Northwestern.

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My impressions of Casey Thomann: Casey Thomann has been on my recruiting radar since his freshman year when a handful of coaches around the Little Illini conference began tipping me off about a enormous kid playing for East Richland as a sophomore. Thomann has been a dominant player for the Tigers and also a multiple sport athlete as well. Thomann no question was a key player in helping the Tigers go from a 0-9 record in 2023 to a 10-1 record last season and a state playoff appearance and Round 1 win in Class 4A. Thomann overall physical tools and upsdie for development no question are big keys here and Illinois will need to have a bit of patience with Thomann early on, but I can see this kid also having a shot at making some noise down the line while at Illinois.


Evaluation of Casey Thomann: Casey Thomann is every bit 6-foot-7 and 280 plus pounds and his raw physical and God given ability will allow him to develop and become a much different and a much more effective player at the Big Ten level in a year or two. Thomann has generally just steamrolled smaller opponents in his high school career and his sheer size and strength has allowed him to just dominate anyone lined up against hm the past few seasons. Thomann has been operating in a run heavy offense and his learning curve will also include having to really focus hard on his overall, pass pro technique along with just raising his overall game and intensity level for the Power 4 level. Thomann is in many ways a bit of a project in my opinion...yet his overall physical tools, strong work ethic and his "want to" is high and will serve him well over the next year plus as he gets ready for college football. It won't come easy for Thomann or really any high school linemen to be fully prepareed for college football out of high school....and the sooner Thomann can shorten that learning curve the better for Thomann and the Fighting Illini.


Room for improvement? Again the learning curve here will be very high on several levels for Thomann most importantly getting adjusted to and ready for the sheer level of power, speed and physicality of Power 4 football. Thomann again is a smaller school level player who has seen limited competition (again nothing you can control) especially going against kids of similar size and skill set. Thomann will need to also work on and improve his overall fundamentals and technique both in the run game as well and most importantly in pass pro.

Projected level: Rivals has Casey Thomann ranked as a mid 3 star ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 along with being the #11th top recruit in the State of Illinois Class of 2026 recruit rankings.

EDGYTIM Recommended Initial Rankings: I pretty much agreee with the Rivals ranking here taking in to account everything. Yes....Casey Thomann will be a bit of a project early on and he will have a ton of work to do....yet he also has a chance to develop into a really strong player and someone who could benefit from the Illinois staff especially head coach Bret Bielema another small school kid back in the day who found a way to make it in the Big 10. Illinois continues to pile up wins on the recruiting trail and this is yet another important get for the Illinoi in my opinion.

I didn't see a thread on this, but I know they are starting to come out.
SF has Kenwood week 1 again. No week 2 game yet or at least not released. I assume looking for a home game, they have 3 home games currently in 2025.

Nm

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Mel Kiper Jr. has him at 19. I am not sure he is a first-rounder. Underwhelming junior year. Honestly, he did not explode off the ball when his number was not called, and was not a good blocker. Those things matter. I'd be curious what his 40 time will be at the combine. He will skip the bowl season to concentrate on that.

Good luck young man!

rumor has it there is QB transferring in from PA Has anyone heard this ?

Feels like a fun offseason topic. I have two favorites.

Larry Fitzgerald had more tackles than dropped passes in his career.

Ty Cobb would need to be resurrected and go 0 for 2,530 in order for his career batting average to drop below .300.

Name: Brock Williams

Position: TE

High School: Libertyville

Graduation Year: 2027

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 210 pounds

Recruiting Status: Uncommitted. Williams is already holding multiple offers from multiple Power 4 program in the nation.

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My impressions of Brock Williams: I was able to see Libertyville 2027 WR/TE Brock Williams live in game last season in a back and forth win over Warren Township ;late in the regular season. Williams was part of a stacked Wildcats offensive skills group in 2024 which also included senior QB Quinn Shambow (Oklahoma State baseball) and then junior WR Blaise LaVista who has since transferred to Lincoln Way East for the 2025 season. Williams was an instant eyeball passing athlete who has an impressive combination of height, size and length and Williams possesses a frame that will no question allow him to add much more good weight and strength over the next few seasons. Williams, who is a very strong student in the class room is a smart and well spoken kid on and off the field and a multi-sport athlete as well. Willians has really seen his recruiting stock take off this winter, especially in a very busy month of January which has seen him add multiple Power 4 offers. Look for Williams to also have plenty of opportunities to benefit from NIL at the Power 4 level playing a high in demand position along with having the overall physical tools and impressive upside from an overall developmental standpoint.

Evaluation of Brock Williams Brock Williams is also is one of the nation's top ranked tight ends in the Class of 2027 and his overall recruiting stock has just skyrocketed since the fall. Williams in many ways could easily play receiver and has the overall speed, hands and length to easily slide out wide at receiver, go more into the slot as more of a West Coast tight end and/or can also play as an additional linemen in the run game at the Power 4 level. Williams has very good speed and quickness, runs disciplined routes and his hand strength, ability to win jump balls in heavy traffic is at a very high level for the high school level. Williams again will be a much different looking player in a year or two.....he's already added a solid 10-15 pounds of muscle since last season along with his continued training will just allow him to take his game to a much higher level. What I feel separates Williams from many others at the tight end position and what makes him an elite level name you ask? Williams already impressive size, length and speed/twitch are all something you just don't see very often at the tight end position...then combine his receiver skills and bal skills and overall on the field awareness...and that skill set is no question very unique.

Room for improvement? Brock Williams will no question need to adjust to the college game including getting matched up against grown men down in and down out. He will also need to improve his overall technique and overall receiver fundamentals and be able to beat both faster and stronger defenders at both linebacker and defensive back. Williams will also need to work on his overall blocking and become much more physical both in run blocking along with just being able to match his level of physicality overall at the Power 4 level.

Projected level: Rivals has Brock Williams ranked as a high 4 star ranked recruit in the Class of 2027 along with being the #27 ranked recruit in the nation in the Class of 2027 per Rivals. Williams is also the nation's #2 ranked tight end nationally according to Rivals rankings.

EDGYTIM Recommended Initial Rankings: After seeing Brock Williams last fall I had pretty much zero question that he would become both high ranked in state along with in the Midwest as well as Nationally. Williams has all the tools to develop over the next 3-4 years into a monster and will be yet another in a long line of some very strong tight ends out of the State of Illinois. Again Williams overall size, physical tools and especially his potential growth and upside/development is simply ridiculous to be honest. William will have a very good shot at eventually being a5 star name here in my opinion.