2025 Kaneland Knights
Head Coach: Mike Thorgesen
Assistant Coaches
Crick SantAmour
Ed Morrissey
Kevin Gorgal
Eric Josupait
Tony Frakes
Greg Ventris
Eli Simmons
Tyler Olson
Darren Phelps
Darrick Reaves
Derek Butts
Adam Rasche
Tyler Rasche
Tim McCullom
Noah Ross
2025 Regular Season schedule (if known)
Week 1: Rock Island
Week 2: Lemont
Week 3: Dekalb
Week 4: Ottawa
Week 5: Morris
Week 6: Sycamore
Week 7: Rochelle
Week 8: Lasalle Peru
Week 9: Althoff Catholic
Returning Offensive Starters for 2025
RB - Carter Grabowski 6’0” 180 2026
WR - Brady Brown 5’10” 175 2026
WR - Nolan Claesson 5’11” 175 2027
WR - Ryan Majerus 6’2” 195 2027
OL - Jake Buckley 6’4” 270 2026
OL - Jake Parker 6’0” 215 2026
OL - Jackson Valentini 5’11” 220 2027
Returning Defensive Starters for 2025
LB - Rogan O’Neil 6’0” 210 2027
LB - Jackson Slifka 5’9” 210 2027
LB - Jackson Little 6’0” 205 2027
LB - Jack Parker 6’0” 215 2026
DB - Carter Grabowski 6’0” 180 2026
DB - Brady Alstott 5’11” 175 2026
DB - Luke Gadomski 5’11” 185 2026
DL - Jake Buckley 6’4” 270 2026
DL - Reiss Thompson 6’2” 210 2027
Newcomers to Watch
Jalen Carter QB/DB
Ty Weiersheuser OL/DL
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
July 8th, 15th, 22nd - 7 on 7 @ Kaneland Multiple Teams 5-8 pm
Team Camp Vs. Burlington @ Kaneland July 29th.
Other Team camps TBD.
Impact Player for Kaneland
Kaneland senior OL/DL Jake Buckley (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) is a big, strong and very talented two way starter for the Knights this coming season. Buckley, who has been drawing FCS and D2 level interest and offers this summer on both sides of the football will again be asked to provide3 leadership and production on both sides of the football in 2025.
Looking for a sleeper name to watch for Kaneland? Keep an eye on both incoming transfers in Kaneland senior DB/ATH Jalen Carter along with Kaneland senior OL/DL Ty Weiersheuser. Carter (6-foot-1, 175 pounds), who played a terrific corner for Wheaton St. Francis last season is on board along with two way linemen Ty Weierscheuser (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) will both have a chance to become immediate contributors and impact players for the Knights in 2025.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2025 Kaneland Knights
Kaneland and head coach Mike Thorgesen is looking to improve upon it's 2024 5-5 record as the Knights made the Class 5A state playoff field and lost to Belvidere North in opening round action. The Knights welcome back an impressive 16 returning starters (7 offense 9 defense) and the incoming transfers as mentioned have a real chance at adding to an already strong starting lineup here. Look for the Knights to again challenge all comers in the strong Interstate 8 conference then to make the Class 5A state playoff field this post-season.
The biggest question facing Kaneland this summer?
Can the Knights get back into the state playoff field and make a deeper run? Kaneland has been a consistent winner for many years now as the Knights have missed the IHSA state playoff field just three times (2017/2007/1994) since the 1994 season. It's been a while since the Knights posted a double digit win season (2012) and also made a deep post run (2011 and 2012 back to back 12-1 seasons). Can the Knights continue to build up starting this fall and reach that higher level? I look for this program under a good, young head coach and staff to begin to make some real noise this fall and beyond.
Preseason Ranking? 2025 Preseason Class 5A Top 10 consideration
Head Coach: Mike Thorgesen
Assistant Coaches
Crick SantAmour
Ed Morrissey
Kevin Gorgal
Eric Josupait
Tony Frakes
Greg Ventris
Eli Simmons
Tyler Olson
Darren Phelps
Darrick Reaves
Derek Butts
Adam Rasche
Tyler Rasche
Tim McCullom
Noah Ross
2025 Regular Season schedule (if known)
Week 1: Rock Island
Week 2: Lemont
Week 3: Dekalb
Week 4: Ottawa
Week 5: Morris
Week 6: Sycamore
Week 7: Rochelle
Week 8: Lasalle Peru
Week 9: Althoff Catholic
Returning Offensive Starters for 2025
RB - Carter Grabowski 6’0” 180 2026
WR - Brady Brown 5’10” 175 2026
WR - Nolan Claesson 5’11” 175 2027
WR - Ryan Majerus 6’2” 195 2027
OL - Jake Buckley 6’4” 270 2026
OL - Jake Parker 6’0” 215 2026
OL - Jackson Valentini 5’11” 220 2027
Returning Defensive Starters for 2025
LB - Rogan O’Neil 6’0” 210 2027
LB - Jackson Slifka 5’9” 210 2027
LB - Jackson Little 6’0” 205 2027
LB - Jack Parker 6’0” 215 2026
DB - Carter Grabowski 6’0” 180 2026
DB - Brady Alstott 5’11” 175 2026
DB - Luke Gadomski 5’11” 185 2026
DL - Jake Buckley 6’4” 270 2026
DL - Reiss Thompson 6’2” 210 2027
Newcomers to Watch
Jalen Carter QB/DB
Ty Weiersheuser OL/DL
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
July 8th, 15th, 22nd - 7 on 7 @ Kaneland Multiple Teams 5-8 pm
Team Camp Vs. Burlington @ Kaneland July 29th.
Other Team camps TBD.
Impact Player for Kaneland
Kaneland senior OL/DL Jake Buckley (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) is a big, strong and very talented two way starter for the Knights this coming season. Buckley, who has been drawing FCS and D2 level interest and offers this summer on both sides of the football will again be asked to provide3 leadership and production on both sides of the football in 2025.
Looking for a sleeper name to watch for Kaneland? Keep an eye on both incoming transfers in Kaneland senior DB/ATH Jalen Carter along with Kaneland senior OL/DL Ty Weiersheuser. Carter (6-foot-1, 175 pounds), who played a terrific corner for Wheaton St. Francis last season is on board along with two way linemen Ty Weierscheuser (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) will both have a chance to become immediate contributors and impact players for the Knights in 2025.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2025 Kaneland Knights
Kaneland and head coach Mike Thorgesen is looking to improve upon it's 2024 5-5 record as the Knights made the Class 5A state playoff field and lost to Belvidere North in opening round action. The Knights welcome back an impressive 16 returning starters (7 offense 9 defense) and the incoming transfers as mentioned have a real chance at adding to an already strong starting lineup here. Look for the Knights to again challenge all comers in the strong Interstate 8 conference then to make the Class 5A state playoff field this post-season.
The biggest question facing Kaneland this summer?
Can the Knights get back into the state playoff field and make a deeper run? Kaneland has been a consistent winner for many years now as the Knights have missed the IHSA state playoff field just three times (2017/2007/1994) since the 1994 season. It's been a while since the Knights posted a double digit win season (2012) and also made a deep post run (2011 and 2012 back to back 12-1 seasons). Can the Knights continue to build up starting this fall and reach that higher level? I look for this program under a good, young head coach and staff to begin to make some real noise this fall and beyond.
Preseason Ranking? 2025 Preseason Class 5A Top 10 consideration
