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 Defensive linemen position group? This class is pretty much the opposite of the Offensdive liune class in many ways in my opinion.....meaning that while the OL class is pretty light so far on offensive line talent )Especially light on OT body types) the Defesnvie Line class here in Illinois for the Class of 2025 is stacked! This event also had several impressive defensive linemen who will be playing at a pretty high level in college, then combined with the already multiple Power 5 caliber names already identified makes this a pretty special DL group.
EDGYTIM/The Good Game Showcase: My Top Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
135 Gavin Tinch Prairie Ridge 2025-I've been a big fan of Gavin since last season as a two way starter for the Wolves. Tinch for me answered the all important question which is....is he a OG or a DT at the college level? Measured in at nearly 6-foot-4 and 309 pounds, Tinch no question is an athletic and very quick and twitchy DT. Tinch showed very good strength and power, was able to shed opposing blockers with his speed and quickness along with sheer brute force. Love his motor and is in impressive shape for this time of the year. Anytime I see a kid with this type of size, frame physical make up and skill set they usually end up with multiple offers and it's only a matter of time for Tinch.
245 Caleb Brown East St. Louis 2027- Still a very young guy here who still has room to grow, but his overall strength, power and quickness caused issues all day for the opposing offensive linemen. Measured in at just over 6-foot-0 and 240 pounds and I fully expect Brown to continue to develop into a kick ass interior defensive linemen for the Flyers. Was one of multiple very young underclassmen who had a very good day at this showcase....and yes the Flyers are still stacked for the near future.
291 Tyler Fortis Maine South 2025-Fortis is a well known entity on the camp circuit and I felt this was a much more mature and a much more polished young man who I saw a season ago. Fortis just seems to have an advanced degree in technique and fundamentals and between his combination of speed, quickness, strength and power he consistently finds a way to win reps. At this event Fortis to me was much more willing to take coaching, was a quick take and adjusted really well on the fly. Fortis in many ways will be a bit of a tweener positionally, but his overall ability, motor and want to/desire will be hard for schools to ignore down the line this year.
253 Jarve Bey Homewood Flossmoor 2025- Another well known name in the camp circuit and Bey, who is already holding D1 offers and attention this winter just showed up and showed out here. Measured in at 6-foot-2, 291 pounds Bey is an inside mauler who also has a ton of pass rush moves along with really impressive hand fighting and technique. Bey will continue to add more D1 level looks and eventual offers this winter and spring and hios grinder mentality serves him very well here.
125 Jack Burzynski Barrington 2025- Year in and year out we seem to always find a Barrington kid who has a great camp. Over the last handful of years it was some kid named Van Ness (Lukas) and then another kid named Van Ness (Devan) who was an impressive combination of speed, power and explosiveness. So who is this year's Barrington standout? Jack Burzynski checked in at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and was highly impressive all day at this camp. Burzynski has really good speed, quickness and first step, showed some burst and explosiveness and is a twitchy athlete who will get many more looks as either a rush end or as a linebacker at a higher college level. Burzynski also still has room to grow and add morer strength and muscle and just a lot to like here.
Others who caught my attention?
154 Saif Kokoszak Glenbard South 2025- Another camp regular who came very close toi making Best of the Best. Saif is a long, lanky and twitchy athlete type who is a growth spurt and weight room/training table work away from developing into a major outside rush threat. Has an impressive combination of work ethic, motor and positive attitude.
152 Brayden Parks Brother Rice 2027 - A young guy from Brother Rice who could very well become an impact player and the next high level D1 defensive linemen for the Crusaders. Parks was able to separate from opposing linemen with a combination of speed and power. Parks also showed good hand usage for a young guy and he just never seemed phased going against older kids here. Measuring in at nearly 6-foot-2, 288 pounds Parks will no question be a name to watch from here on out.
195 Brady Hill St Francis 2026- Impressive overall performance here from Hill who also has good strength and power (6-foot-0. 270 pounds).
306 DE/TE Josh Crandall Oregon 2025- Small school athlete who's tape I really liked from the 2023 season...but I just wasn't sure on the measurables. Crandall checked in at a very solid 6-foot-4, 245 pounds and overall had a very solid day here. Crandall, who is also drawing recruiting looks at tight end is no question an intriguing name to watch this winter and spring. I'm hoping to get a chance to see Crandall also play some tight end later this winter/spring because I have a feeling he will also be impressive on the offensive side of the football as well.
279 Alexander Gorbenko Maine West 2025- Great looking athlete on the hoof here....measured in at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and has the frame to get even bigger and stronger at the next level. Made some nice moved in one on ones and while he's still a big raw at times....his physical tools will no question draw more looks this winter and spring.
178 Luke Injaychock Nazareth Academy 2027- Another just stunning looking athl;ete where who I joked with at the camp "No way you are a freshman in high school." Checked in at nearly 6-foot-5, 255 pounds and while he's understandably raw for such a young guy fir now....this kid has the physical size and tools to develop into a big time name on the rise. Wow.
Next: Running Backs/Linebackers/QB2
The Defensive linemen position group? This class is pretty much the opposite of the Offensdive liune class in many ways in my opinion.....meaning that while the OL class is pretty light so far on offensive line talent )Especially light on OT body types) the Defesnvie Line class here in Illinois for the Class of 2025 is stacked! This event also had several impressive defensive linemen who will be playing at a pretty high level in college, then combined with the already multiple Power 5 caliber names already identified makes this a pretty special DL group.
EDGYTIM/The Good Game Showcase: My Top Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
135 Gavin Tinch Prairie Ridge 2025-I've been a big fan of Gavin since last season as a two way starter for the Wolves. Tinch for me answered the all important question which is....is he a OG or a DT at the college level? Measured in at nearly 6-foot-4 and 309 pounds, Tinch no question is an athletic and very quick and twitchy DT. Tinch showed very good strength and power, was able to shed opposing blockers with his speed and quickness along with sheer brute force. Love his motor and is in impressive shape for this time of the year. Anytime I see a kid with this type of size, frame physical make up and skill set they usually end up with multiple offers and it's only a matter of time for Tinch.
245 Caleb Brown East St. Louis 2027- Still a very young guy here who still has room to grow, but his overall strength, power and quickness caused issues all day for the opposing offensive linemen. Measured in at just over 6-foot-0 and 240 pounds and I fully expect Brown to continue to develop into a kick ass interior defensive linemen for the Flyers. Was one of multiple very young underclassmen who had a very good day at this showcase....and yes the Flyers are still stacked for the near future.
291 Tyler Fortis Maine South 2025-Fortis is a well known entity on the camp circuit and I felt this was a much more mature and a much more polished young man who I saw a season ago. Fortis just seems to have an advanced degree in technique and fundamentals and between his combination of speed, quickness, strength and power he consistently finds a way to win reps. At this event Fortis to me was much more willing to take coaching, was a quick take and adjusted really well on the fly. Fortis in many ways will be a bit of a tweener positionally, but his overall ability, motor and want to/desire will be hard for schools to ignore down the line this year.
253 Jarve Bey Homewood Flossmoor 2025- Another well known name in the camp circuit and Bey, who is already holding D1 offers and attention this winter just showed up and showed out here. Measured in at 6-foot-2, 291 pounds Bey is an inside mauler who also has a ton of pass rush moves along with really impressive hand fighting and technique. Bey will continue to add more D1 level looks and eventual offers this winter and spring and hios grinder mentality serves him very well here.
125 Jack Burzynski Barrington 2025- Year in and year out we seem to always find a Barrington kid who has a great camp. Over the last handful of years it was some kid named Van Ness (Lukas) and then another kid named Van Ness (Devan) who was an impressive combination of speed, power and explosiveness. So who is this year's Barrington standout? Jack Burzynski checked in at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and was highly impressive all day at this camp. Burzynski has really good speed, quickness and first step, showed some burst and explosiveness and is a twitchy athlete who will get many more looks as either a rush end or as a linebacker at a higher college level. Burzynski also still has room to grow and add morer strength and muscle and just a lot to like here.
Others who caught my attention?
154 Saif Kokoszak Glenbard South 2025- Another camp regular who came very close toi making Best of the Best. Saif is a long, lanky and twitchy athlete type who is a growth spurt and weight room/training table work away from developing into a major outside rush threat. Has an impressive combination of work ethic, motor and positive attitude.
152 Brayden Parks Brother Rice 2027 - A young guy from Brother Rice who could very well become an impact player and the next high level D1 defensive linemen for the Crusaders. Parks was able to separate from opposing linemen with a combination of speed and power. Parks also showed good hand usage for a young guy and he just never seemed phased going against older kids here. Measuring in at nearly 6-foot-2, 288 pounds Parks will no question be a name to watch from here on out.
195 Brady Hill St Francis 2026- Impressive overall performance here from Hill who also has good strength and power (6-foot-0. 270 pounds).
306 DE/TE Josh Crandall Oregon 2025- Small school athlete who's tape I really liked from the 2023 season...but I just wasn't sure on the measurables. Crandall checked in at a very solid 6-foot-4, 245 pounds and overall had a very solid day here. Crandall, who is also drawing recruiting looks at tight end is no question an intriguing name to watch this winter and spring. I'm hoping to get a chance to see Crandall also play some tight end later this winter/spring because I have a feeling he will also be impressive on the offensive side of the football as well.
279 Alexander Gorbenko Maine West 2025- Great looking athlete on the hoof here....measured in at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and has the frame to get even bigger and stronger at the next level. Made some nice moved in one on ones and while he's still a big raw at times....his physical tools will no question draw more looks this winter and spring.
178 Luke Injaychock Nazareth Academy 2027- Another just stunning looking athl;ete where who I joked with at the camp "No way you are a freshman in high school." Checked in at nearly 6-foot-5, 255 pounds and while he's understandably raw for such a young guy fir now....this kid has the physical size and tools to develop into a big time name on the rise. Wow.
Next: Running Backs/Linebackers/QB2
