Please note.....I'm using Steve Soucie's Preseason Playoff Projections with his permission. Please DO NOT share this anywhere on social media including Steve's projections along with my thoughts. Any violation of this simple rule will immediately void your subscription status with no questions asked. Any questions please refer to the Message Board rules and Yahoo Terms and Conditions pinned at the top of this board or email me edgytim@edgytim.com I will re-release this for free a little bit down the road and again this is NOT a final poll.
Thanks
2024 EDGYTIM Preliminary Class 6A Top 10 poll
1. Cary Grove - The defending Class 6A state champion Trojans and head coach Brad Seaburg have won the 6A state title in two out of the last three seasons over 6A and state wide power East St. Louis...and in my eyes this program has been (admittedly) under valued in the team rankings over the past decade or so. No longer. The Trojans welcome back 9 returning starters (6 offense 3 defense) led by the state's biggest bad ass fullback/linebacker in junior Logan Abrams along with QB Peyton Seaburg plus a handful of starters back on the offensive line. The defense will need to reload.....but this program just finds a way year in and year out. Again....no one in this preseason 6A poll is overwhelming and all teams have questions and holes to fill this summer. In the end gives props to a program that has gotten it done at the highest level.
2. East St Louis - I remember in the not too distant past when East St. Louis head coach Darren Sunkett was questioned and second guessed more than a Chicago Bears head coach...yet Sunk and his staff found a way and have never looked back since those early days. The Flyers for the 2024 season you ask? The Flyers will as usual have a roster filled with promise and high level talent....yet this will also be a much less experienced team to kick off the season that we will see in a handful of years for the East Side. The offense will lean on sophomore QB Kendrick Lyons who looks the part along with senior RB Laverious Woods and a healthy senior RB TaRyan Martin who will run behind two starter back upfront on the offensive line. The Flyers defense welcomes back 6 returning starters including an All Star level secondary led by senior 4 star ranked S Charles Bass (Missouri) plus three starting linebacker return from a season ago. Once the Flyers survive it's annual grueling regular season slate....look out.
3. Kankakee - The Kays as expected really didn't skip a beat in 2023 as new head coach Miles Osei stepped in and kept the Kays program rolling along. Kankakee welcomes back 18 returning starters (9 offense 9 defense) and features a ton of speed and high level athletes all over the field. Keep an eye this fall on senior ATH James Stampley Jr. who is a do it all type along with senior LB Kennyan Chandler plus junior QB Cedrick Terrell Jr. and an offensive line anchored by four returning starters.
4. Providence Catholic The Celtics and head coach Tyler Plantz in 2023 played a ton of underclassmen and this year looks like the time that patience should pay off on the Emerald Isle. Providence will lean on 17 returning starters back including 10 starters on defense. The Celtics offense is led by junior QB Leo Slepski who made big strides as the season progressed in 2023 along with big and physical line play led by junior OL Bryce Tenca and senior OL Brendan Grohn. The remaining skill position players are again young but highly talented and keep an eye on sophomore ATH Xavier Coleman along with sophomore ATH Curtis Stubbs. Again think returning experience and loaded underclassmen here for the Celtics in 2024.
5. Lake Zurich This could very well change at the end of the regular season and Lake Zuricxh could wind up back in 7A...but for our purposes they are listed as a 6A team. Lake Zurich and head coach Ron Plantz welcomes back 13 returning starters and this Bears team will lean on a big, strong and experienced offensive line. The Lake Zurich defense, always a staple of this program for decades will again have some key names back this fall including senior LB George DiCanio along with senior DSL Nape Snep.
6. Simeon The Wolverines begin the Sinque Turner era after longtime Simeon legendary HC Dante Culbreath decided to retire after last season. Senior QB Kaleb Sinms is a name to watch along with senior 4 star ranked DE Christopher Burgess Jr, (Notre Dame) and incoming transfer DE McHale Blade who played last season at Hillcrest and will key a potentially dominant Wolverines defensive line.
7. Crete-Monee The Warriors and veteran head coach John Kornecki played a ton of underclassmen in 2023 and welcomes back 15 returning starters including 9 on the offensive side of the football. Keep an eye on junior WR/DB Jayden Marshall who's already on multiple recruiting radar screens this summer along with junior QB Derrin Crouch plus 4 starters back on the Warriors offensive line.
8. Glenwood The Titans and head coach Davide Hay also went the youth route in 2023 and finished the season with 12 returning starters back including 7 back on the offensive side of the football. The Titans offense is also keyed by an impressive group of offensive skills led by junior QB Colten Lnoedler along with senior WR Gavin Simmons plus senior TE Jonathan Helm, junior WR Blake Lehnen, senior WR/TE Mason Neumann and senior RB/QB Brady Dwyer.,
9. Geneva Geneva and head coach Boone Thorgesen continues to move the Vikings program forward and are looking to build off it's 9-3 record last season. The Vikings offense features one of the nation's top prep receiver in Geneva four star ranked WR Talyn Taylor (Georgia) and an offense that welcomes back 9 returning starters. The defense also has experience this fall and if the Vikings can settle at a handful of positions this summer and this program can again makes some post-season noise in 6A.
10. Libertyville Libertyville is looking to build upon it's 2023 5-5 record as the Wildcats have made the IHSA state playoff field in 8 out of the last 9 playoff seasons. The Wildcats welcome back several key names including senior OG Rhett Van Boening (Army) along with junior WR Blaise LaVista who is drawing more and more recruiting attention this summer. I just got a feeling about this team in 2024.
My 5 Class 6A Teams Who Just Missed:
Blue Island Eisenhower The Cardinals will look to move forward minus former head coach Sheamus Murphy wjo took an admin job at his alma matter Sandburg. The Eisenhhower roster is far from bare this summer and kep an eye on Illinois commit senior 3 star ATH Andre Lovett plus sophomore OL/DL Sincere Harris.
Antioch The Och no question graduated several key starters from a season ago, yet they still welcome back 11 returning starters (6 offense 5 defense) and this team will still be a favorite in the Northern Lake County conference this fall.
Dunlap The Eagles also bring back 11 returning starters including 7 back on offense this fall. Dunlap junioor 4 star ranked TE Mack Sutter will play multiple positions again for the Eagles and is one of the state's top impact players and junior QB John Bargen is a key name to watch this fall.
Niles Notre Dame The Dons just beat up everyone they play week in and week out. If they can survive the always loaded CCL/ESCC regular season schedule they can be a very dangerous team to watch in 6A regardless of the regular season record.
Washington The Panthers have a new head coach in longtime assistant coach and DC Todd Stevens and look for this proud program to reload just fine this fall. The Panthers poffense welcomes back 7 returning starters anf this offense also added a new/old face and big time weapon in junior WR Adrian AJ Jones who played last season for Bolingbrook.
Next? My 2024 Preseason Class 5A Top 10 and 5 Who Just Missed.
Thanks
2024 EDGYTIM Preliminary Class 6A Top 10 poll
1. Cary Grove - The defending Class 6A state champion Trojans and head coach Brad Seaburg have won the 6A state title in two out of the last three seasons over 6A and state wide power East St. Louis...and in my eyes this program has been (admittedly) under valued in the team rankings over the past decade or so. No longer. The Trojans welcome back 9 returning starters (6 offense 3 defense) led by the state's biggest bad ass fullback/linebacker in junior Logan Abrams along with QB Peyton Seaburg plus a handful of starters back on the offensive line. The defense will need to reload.....but this program just finds a way year in and year out. Again....no one in this preseason 6A poll is overwhelming and all teams have questions and holes to fill this summer. In the end gives props to a program that has gotten it done at the highest level.
2. East St Louis - I remember in the not too distant past when East St. Louis head coach Darren Sunkett was questioned and second guessed more than a Chicago Bears head coach...yet Sunk and his staff found a way and have never looked back since those early days. The Flyers for the 2024 season you ask? The Flyers will as usual have a roster filled with promise and high level talent....yet this will also be a much less experienced team to kick off the season that we will see in a handful of years for the East Side. The offense will lean on sophomore QB Kendrick Lyons who looks the part along with senior RB Laverious Woods and a healthy senior RB TaRyan Martin who will run behind two starter back upfront on the offensive line. The Flyers defense welcomes back 6 returning starters including an All Star level secondary led by senior 4 star ranked S Charles Bass (Missouri) plus three starting linebacker return from a season ago. Once the Flyers survive it's annual grueling regular season slate....look out.
3. Kankakee - The Kays as expected really didn't skip a beat in 2023 as new head coach Miles Osei stepped in and kept the Kays program rolling along. Kankakee welcomes back 18 returning starters (9 offense 9 defense) and features a ton of speed and high level athletes all over the field. Keep an eye this fall on senior ATH James Stampley Jr. who is a do it all type along with senior LB Kennyan Chandler plus junior QB Cedrick Terrell Jr. and an offensive line anchored by four returning starters.
4. Providence Catholic The Celtics and head coach Tyler Plantz in 2023 played a ton of underclassmen and this year looks like the time that patience should pay off on the Emerald Isle. Providence will lean on 17 returning starters back including 10 starters on defense. The Celtics offense is led by junior QB Leo Slepski who made big strides as the season progressed in 2023 along with big and physical line play led by junior OL Bryce Tenca and senior OL Brendan Grohn. The remaining skill position players are again young but highly talented and keep an eye on sophomore ATH Xavier Coleman along with sophomore ATH Curtis Stubbs. Again think returning experience and loaded underclassmen here for the Celtics in 2024.
5. Lake Zurich This could very well change at the end of the regular season and Lake Zuricxh could wind up back in 7A...but for our purposes they are listed as a 6A team. Lake Zurich and head coach Ron Plantz welcomes back 13 returning starters and this Bears team will lean on a big, strong and experienced offensive line. The Lake Zurich defense, always a staple of this program for decades will again have some key names back this fall including senior LB George DiCanio along with senior DSL Nape Snep.
6. Simeon The Wolverines begin the Sinque Turner era after longtime Simeon legendary HC Dante Culbreath decided to retire after last season. Senior QB Kaleb Sinms is a name to watch along with senior 4 star ranked DE Christopher Burgess Jr, (Notre Dame) and incoming transfer DE McHale Blade who played last season at Hillcrest and will key a potentially dominant Wolverines defensive line.
7. Crete-Monee The Warriors and veteran head coach John Kornecki played a ton of underclassmen in 2023 and welcomes back 15 returning starters including 9 on the offensive side of the football. Keep an eye on junior WR/DB Jayden Marshall who's already on multiple recruiting radar screens this summer along with junior QB Derrin Crouch plus 4 starters back on the Warriors offensive line.
8. Glenwood The Titans and head coach Davide Hay also went the youth route in 2023 and finished the season with 12 returning starters back including 7 back on the offensive side of the football. The Titans offense is also keyed by an impressive group of offensive skills led by junior QB Colten Lnoedler along with senior WR Gavin Simmons plus senior TE Jonathan Helm, junior WR Blake Lehnen, senior WR/TE Mason Neumann and senior RB/QB Brady Dwyer.,
9. Geneva Geneva and head coach Boone Thorgesen continues to move the Vikings program forward and are looking to build off it's 9-3 record last season. The Vikings offense features one of the nation's top prep receiver in Geneva four star ranked WR Talyn Taylor (Georgia) and an offense that welcomes back 9 returning starters. The defense also has experience this fall and if the Vikings can settle at a handful of positions this summer and this program can again makes some post-season noise in 6A.
10. Libertyville Libertyville is looking to build upon it's 2023 5-5 record as the Wildcats have made the IHSA state playoff field in 8 out of the last 9 playoff seasons. The Wildcats welcome back several key names including senior OG Rhett Van Boening (Army) along with junior WR Blaise LaVista who is drawing more and more recruiting attention this summer. I just got a feeling about this team in 2024.
My 5 Class 6A Teams Who Just Missed:
Blue Island Eisenhower The Cardinals will look to move forward minus former head coach Sheamus Murphy wjo took an admin job at his alma matter Sandburg. The Eisenhhower roster is far from bare this summer and kep an eye on Illinois commit senior 3 star ATH Andre Lovett plus sophomore OL/DL Sincere Harris.
Antioch The Och no question graduated several key starters from a season ago, yet they still welcome back 11 returning starters (6 offense 5 defense) and this team will still be a favorite in the Northern Lake County conference this fall.
Dunlap The Eagles also bring back 11 returning starters including 7 back on offense this fall. Dunlap junioor 4 star ranked TE Mack Sutter will play multiple positions again for the Eagles and is one of the state's top impact players and junior QB John Bargen is a key name to watch this fall.
Niles Notre Dame The Dons just beat up everyone they play week in and week out. If they can survive the always loaded CCL/ESCC regular season schedule they can be a very dangerous team to watch in 6A regardless of the regular season record.
Washington The Panthers have a new head coach in longtime assistant coach and DC Todd Stevens and look for this proud program to reload just fine this fall. The Panthers poffense welcomes back 7 returning starters anf this offense also added a new/old face and big time weapon in junior WR Adrian AJ Jones who played last season for Bolingbrook.
Next? My 2024 Preseason Class 5A Top 10 and 5 Who Just Missed.
