Here is my breakdown of the Best of the Best award winners by position selected by a group of coaches and media from the event. The amount of names listed was dependent on the total amount of campers by position (more kids=more awarded). Look for even more breakdowns here all this week.
The Running Back/Tight End position group? These are generally positions that are somewhat limited when it comes to showcase events. The overall drill and position work in many ways will tell you more than any passing one on ones. It's hard to really get a feel for a running back unless they are in pads and live hitting. Also for whatever reason we have over the past several years struggled with getting good overall numbers of tight ends. Why? Again many high school aged tight ends are playing basketball at this time of the year and this seemed to be the case again this camp.
EDGYTIM/The Good Game Showcase: My Top Offensive Linemen
EDGYTIM/The Good Game Showcase: My Top Defensive Linemen
Running Backs
340 Hudson Ault Prairie Central 2025-One of a handful of kids I would have liked to see a 40 yard dash time on here (we don't test in January). Ault looked really quick in positional work and showed really good hands and straight line speed as well.
258 Sean Ford Hoffman Estates 2026- Quick, shifty s[peed back who just looked the part here. Still need to see more especially on video but the little I did watch of Sean Ford I was impressed.
265 Zion Gist Lincoln Way East 2025- Been a fan of Zion Gist going back to last off season. Gist has good size, strengthtand runs well. I can see Gist drawing recruiting looks at both RB and WR. Gist showed to have very good hands in one on ones, has very quick feet and fluid change of direction.
124 Jaeven Guillermo Chicago Corliss 2025- Corliss and head coach Keith Brookshire, who was a long time assistant under Morgan Park HOF HC Lexie Spurlock had a handful od speedy athlete here on Monday. Guillermo is more of s slot in my eyes who runs hard, has very good speed and showed some wiggle and change of direction.
413 Christian Smith Joliet Central 2026- I was able to see Christian play live last season and he showed well here on Monday. Smith has good awareness, ball skills and just seems to make some really nice catches in positional and one on ones. Snmith also seemed a bit faster this off season to me.
396 AmirTillman East St. Louis 2027- One of several highly impressive East St Louis young skill position players at this event. The Flyers have always been well represented at my camps and Tillman has really impressive speed and burst.
416?
302 Stephen Carrera Chicago Taft 2025- Carrera has been a regular at my camps and his story is an interesting one. Carrera, who suffered a serious hand injury during a 4th of July incident after his sophomore year wasn't even sure he would play football ever again. Carrera has worked hard and is you didn't know his story you'd never realize he
is playing with part of his hand. Love this kid's motor and effort at all times.
397 Emmanuel Ellis Cardinal Ritter 2026- Ellis is more of a slot back type who showed to have very good speed and quickness and is a dangerous player in the open field. Ellis will need to add a bit more size and power but his awareness, speed and quickness will play well in 2024.
285 Keon Sloan Cardinal Ritter 2025- Sloan is a bigger back who runs hard, has a nice combination of speed and power and was pointed out for his ability to learn quickly and make adjustments on the fly per the positional coaches.
Tight End
339 Bryce Tencza Providence Catholic 2026- Big, strong and a hard nosed kid who just went hard all day at this event. Tencza worked out at OL then moved over to TE for session 2. Tencza measured in at 6-foot-2, 270 pounds but ran well for his size and was able to make some highly impressive catches in one on ones. Tencza came off the field with a bloody nose after face planting to make a catch (he made it!) and his overall game and effort was really impressive.
Next: Quarterback 2 and Linebackers
The Running Back/Tight End position group? These are generally positions that are somewhat limited when it comes to showcase events. The overall drill and position work in many ways will tell you more than any passing one on ones. It's hard to really get a feel for a running back unless they are in pads and live hitting. Also for whatever reason we have over the past several years struggled with getting good overall numbers of tight ends. Why? Again many high school aged tight ends are playing basketball at this time of the year and this seemed to be the case again this camp.
EDGYTIM/The Good Game Showcase: My Top Offensive Linemen
EDGYTIM/The Good Game Showcase: My Top Defensive Linemen
Running Backs
340 Hudson Ault Prairie Central 2025-One of a handful of kids I would have liked to see a 40 yard dash time on here (we don't test in January). Ault looked really quick in positional work and showed really good hands and straight line speed as well.
258 Sean Ford Hoffman Estates 2026- Quick, shifty s[peed back who just looked the part here. Still need to see more especially on video but the little I did watch of Sean Ford I was impressed.
265 Zion Gist Lincoln Way East 2025- Been a fan of Zion Gist going back to last off season. Gist has good size, strengthtand runs well. I can see Gist drawing recruiting looks at both RB and WR. Gist showed to have very good hands in one on ones, has very quick feet and fluid change of direction.
124 Jaeven Guillermo Chicago Corliss 2025- Corliss and head coach Keith Brookshire, who was a long time assistant under Morgan Park HOF HC Lexie Spurlock had a handful od speedy athlete here on Monday. Guillermo is more of s slot in my eyes who runs hard, has very good speed and showed some wiggle and change of direction.
413 Christian Smith Joliet Central 2026- I was able to see Christian play live last season and he showed well here on Monday. Smith has good awareness, ball skills and just seems to make some really nice catches in positional and one on ones. Snmith also seemed a bit faster this off season to me.
396 AmirTillman East St. Louis 2027- One of several highly impressive East St Louis young skill position players at this event. The Flyers have always been well represented at my camps and Tillman has really impressive speed and burst.
416?
302 Stephen Carrera Chicago Taft 2025- Carrera has been a regular at my camps and his story is an interesting one. Carrera, who suffered a serious hand injury during a 4th of July incident after his sophomore year wasn't even sure he would play football ever again. Carrera has worked hard and is you didn't know his story you'd never realize he
is playing with part of his hand. Love this kid's motor and effort at all times.
397 Emmanuel Ellis Cardinal Ritter 2026- Ellis is more of a slot back type who showed to have very good speed and quickness and is a dangerous player in the open field. Ellis will need to add a bit more size and power but his awareness, speed and quickness will play well in 2024.
285 Keon Sloan Cardinal Ritter 2025- Sloan is a bigger back who runs hard, has a nice combination of speed and power and was pointed out for his ability to learn quickly and make adjustments on the fly per the positional coaches.
Tight End
339 Bryce Tencza Providence Catholic 2026- Big, strong and a hard nosed kid who just went hard all day at this event. Tencza worked out at OL then moved over to TE for session 2. Tencza measured in at 6-foot-2, 270 pounds but ran well for his size and was able to make some highly impressive catches in one on ones. Tencza came off the field with a bloody nose after face planting to make a catch (he made it!) and his overall game and effort was really impressive.
Next: Quarterback 2 and Linebackers
