2025 Normal West Wildcats
Head Coach: Nathan Fincham
Assistant Coaches:
Darren Hess, Duane Thoennes, DT Thornton, Kyrin Tucker, Brett Werner Powell, Gavin Tellor, Rich Thoennes, Ken Frost, Wes Gaddis, Devin Doran, Robert Harris, Jamell Jamison
2025 Regular Season schedule (if known)
1: @ Peoria Notre Dame
2: vs Normal Community
3: vs Danville
4: @ Bloomington
5: @ Peoria
6: @ Waubonsie Valley
7: vs Peoria Manual
8: @ Champaign Central
9: vs Urbana
Returning Offensive Starters for 2025
Jrue Mangruem/QB/6'1/180/2026
Maliq Givens/WR/5'9/180/2026
Cody Muhlbauer/RB/5'10/185/2027
Efoe Baskins/WR/5/9/170/2027
Jordan Stovall/OL/6'2/235/2027
Returning Defensive Starters for 2025
Keagan Brown/DL/6'2/215/2026
Briar Leenerman/LB/6'2/210/2026
Maliq Givens/DB/5'9/180/2026
Efoe Baskins/DB/5'9/170/2027
Newcomers to Watch
CJ Porter/RB & DB/5'9/180/2027
Nolan Howe/LB & QB/6'2/200/2027
Cade Gonzalez/DL & WR/6'2/190/2027
Amari Lee/OL & DL/6'1/215/2026
Marquell Gibbs/OL & DL/6'2/350/2026
Caden Slagley/OL/5'10/210/2026
Devin McCloud/LB & TE/6'1/210/2026
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
Hosting 7v7s at Normal West vs Local Teams on Tuesdays in July
Joint Practice with Mahomet, Springfield, Washington @ Springfield on Wednesday, July 9th
Chatham Glenwood 7v7 on Friday July 11th
Impact Player for Normal West
Normal West always seems to have a solid talent base within the program and they will again have some higher level names to watch this coming fall. I've been fan of Normal West QB Jrue Mangruem over the past few seasons. Mangruem is an athletic dual threat quarterback who is as dangerous running with the football as he is sticking in the pocket and beating opposing teams with his arm. Mangruem also could draw recruiting looks and attention as an athlete type of prospect this fll and has the abilities to play any number of positions (QB/RB/WR/DB) at the college level.
Looking for a sleeper name to watch for the Wildcats? Keep an eye on senior two way starter WR/DB Maliq Givins who is a speedy and twitchy athlete who will again be a big play threat this season for Normal West. Givins has talent and has been drawing various FCS/D2 attention this spring.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2025 Normal West Wildcats
Year in and year out the Normal West Wildcats are in the hunt for the Big 12 conference title and has been one of the upper level teams and should remain near the top of the conference in 2025. Normal West has a good core of returning starters back for the 2025 season and also a good group of underclassmen ready to make the move up to the varsity this fall. Normal west head coach Nathan Fincham has posted a solid 53-18 record in 7 seasons and this programs hasn't missed the IHSA state playoff field in his tenure.
The biggest question facing Normal West this summer?
Can Normal West reload upfront on the lines on both sides of the football this summer? Normal West will no question need to reload on the lines with just one starter back on offense (Jordan Stovall) and one back on defense (Keagan Brown). If the Wildcats can find some answers this summer upfront this team will again make a run in the Big 12 conference and beyond.
Preseason Ranking? 2025 Preseason Class 6A Top 10 poll consideration
Head Coach: Nathan Fincham
Assistant Coaches:
Darren Hess, Duane Thoennes, DT Thornton, Kyrin Tucker, Brett Werner Powell, Gavin Tellor, Rich Thoennes, Ken Frost, Wes Gaddis, Devin Doran, Robert Harris, Jamell Jamison
2025 Regular Season schedule (if known)
1: @ Peoria Notre Dame
2: vs Normal Community
3: vs Danville
4: @ Bloomington
5: @ Peoria
6: @ Waubonsie Valley
7: vs Peoria Manual
8: @ Champaign Central
9: vs Urbana
Returning Offensive Starters for 2025
Jrue Mangruem/QB/6'1/180/2026
Maliq Givens/WR/5'9/180/2026
Cody Muhlbauer/RB/5'10/185/2027
Efoe Baskins/WR/5/9/170/2027
Jordan Stovall/OL/6'2/235/2027
Returning Defensive Starters for 2025
Keagan Brown/DL/6'2/215/2026
Briar Leenerman/LB/6'2/210/2026
Maliq Givens/DB/5'9/180/2026
Efoe Baskins/DB/5'9/170/2027
Newcomers to Watch
CJ Porter/RB & DB/5'9/180/2027
Nolan Howe/LB & QB/6'2/200/2027
Cade Gonzalez/DL & WR/6'2/190/2027
Amari Lee/OL & DL/6'1/215/2026
Marquell Gibbs/OL & DL/6'2/350/2026
Caden Slagley/OL/5'10/210/2026
Devin McCloud/LB & TE/6'1/210/2026
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
Hosting 7v7s at Normal West vs Local Teams on Tuesdays in July
Joint Practice with Mahomet, Springfield, Washington @ Springfield on Wednesday, July 9th
Chatham Glenwood 7v7 on Friday July 11th
Impact Player for Normal West
Normal West always seems to have a solid talent base within the program and they will again have some higher level names to watch this coming fall. I've been fan of Normal West QB Jrue Mangruem over the past few seasons. Mangruem is an athletic dual threat quarterback who is as dangerous running with the football as he is sticking in the pocket and beating opposing teams with his arm. Mangruem also could draw recruiting looks and attention as an athlete type of prospect this fll and has the abilities to play any number of positions (QB/RB/WR/DB) at the college level.
Looking for a sleeper name to watch for the Wildcats? Keep an eye on senior two way starter WR/DB Maliq Givins who is a speedy and twitchy athlete who will again be a big play threat this season for Normal West. Givins has talent and has been drawing various FCS/D2 attention this spring.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2025 Normal West Wildcats
Year in and year out the Normal West Wildcats are in the hunt for the Big 12 conference title and has been one of the upper level teams and should remain near the top of the conference in 2025. Normal West has a good core of returning starters back for the 2025 season and also a good group of underclassmen ready to make the move up to the varsity this fall. Normal west head coach Nathan Fincham has posted a solid 53-18 record in 7 seasons and this programs hasn't missed the IHSA state playoff field in his tenure.
The biggest question facing Normal West this summer?
Can Normal West reload upfront on the lines on both sides of the football this summer? Normal West will no question need to reload on the lines with just one starter back on offense (Jordan Stovall) and one back on defense (Keagan Brown). If the Wildcats can find some answers this summer upfront this team will again make a run in the Big 12 conference and beyond.
Preseason Ranking? 2025 Preseason Class 6A Top 10 poll consideration
