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 7A Top 10 poll
1. Chicago Mount Carmel - Sure the Caravan graduated an amazing senior class which set the bar incredibly high for all incoming classes for the next several years. The Caravan offense welcomes back just a handful of returning starters, but senior QB Jack Elliott (Vanderbilt) is one heck of a place to begin reloading. Elliott also will lean on returning senior TE Danyil Taylor back this fall along with OL Nick Lewanski plus junior OL Lamont Miller. The Mount Carmel defense will need to reload a bit as well, but junior 4 star ranked DE Braeden Jones is back and also keep an eye on senior DB Havy Payne (EIU) and senior LB Michael Mucha. Again the Caravan will need tp break in several new faces and names....but the overall talent level has never been as high or as deep as this current roster.
2. Edwardsville - Edwardsville long time assistant coach and new first year head coach Kelsey Pickering will take over the Tigers program in very good shape this season. The Tigers welcome back an impressive 16 returning starters for the 2024 season (9 offense 6 defense) and again features several impressive athletes back on both sides of the football. The Edwardsville offense will lean on 4 starters back on the offensive line this season in junior Aaron Kunz, junior Lucas Kunz pl;us senior Hayden Volz and junior Roman Janek and a strong running game with senuor RB Steven Moore Jr. and senior RB Patrick Chism. The Tigers defense is anchored by senior 4 star ranked DE Iose Epenesa (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) who is one of the top recruits in the nation this summer. Edwardsville has some questions to answer this summer including at QB and on the defensive line, but again the Tigers more often than not have answers in house.
3. Downers Grove North - The Trojans had a terrific in 2023 making it to the 7A state title game before losing to Mount Carmel in the state game. DGN and head coach Joe Hornei will rely on 14 returning starters back including 9 on the offendive side of the football. The Downers Grove North offense begins with junior 3 star ranked QB Owen Lansu who is already holding Power 4 offers this summer and who will look towards senior WR Charlie Cruse along with junior WR Oliver Thulin plus junior WR Matt Troha plus four starters are back on the Trojans offensive line. The defense for Downers Grove North will have experience back at linebacker and in the secondary, as senior LB/TE Joe Edwards is a name to watch along with senior LB Weston Waughop and senior LB Jack Gregorio.
4. Brother Rice The Crusaders are looking for bigger and better things this season and welcome back several key names from a season ago. The Brother Rice defense has several key names to watch led by senior 4 star ranked LB Christian Pierce plus senior DT Charlie Stec and junior DT King Liggins. The Crusaders offense also has key names to watch including senior WR Jimmie Maxson III (North Dakota) along with senior RB Tyler Lofton (Illinois State) and this is a hungry Brother Rice team looking for bug things this fall.
5. Batavia The Bulldogs and veteran head coach Dennis Piron graduated a pretty senior heavy roster this past spring, yet Batavia never rebuilds they simply reload. The offense will need to replace several key names especially in the offensive skills, but keep an eye on senior WR Isaiah Brown plus junior OL Ryan Myers who is already holding D1 offer this summer. The defense also welcomes back junior LB Jacob Jansey along with senior DB/RB Chase Osbourn and the defense is always a streength fore the Bulldogs year in and year out.
6. St. Rita The Mustangs and head coach Martin Hopkins welcome back 12 returning starters this summer including 7 names back on defense. The Mustangs will look towards a steady passing game led by junior QB Steven Armbruster along with senior QB Tom Kelly while senior RB Nick Herman looks ready for a big 2024 season. St Rita junior WR/DB Walter Jones is a speedy game breaker receiver to watch this fall. The Mustangs defense ha sstrength at linebacker in senior James Kingsbury along with senior LB Justin Buckner and senior DL JP Danaher.
7. Hersey The Huskies have a handful of major impact names this summer in senior 3 star ranked QB Colton Gumino (UCLA) and senior 3 star ranked TE Logan Farrell (North Carolina) and the offense could carry this team along ways this fall.
8. Normal Community The Ironmen are coming off a very strong 2023 season as head coach Jason Drengwitz led Normal Community to the Class 7A state semifinal round. Normal Community will relu heavily this season on senior QB Kyle Beaty who had an all state caliber season for the Ironmen and his two main weapons this fall include senior RB Calen Taylor along with senior WR MarQuan Gary while senior OL Bradyn Mazanowski will be a key in rebuilding the Ironmen offensive line this summer. This program has continues to make real progress over the past handful of seasons, yet the Ironmen's depth will also be tested this summer.
9. Quincy The Blue Devils and head coach Rich Little had a tremendous run in 2023 for about 11 weeks but then ran into Class 7A state champion Mount Carmel who beat Quincy in Quincy 61-14 to end the season. The good news for the Blue Devils is standout QB Bradyn Little is back this fall and a handful of his key target are also back in senior RB Jeraius Rice along with senior WR Ty Hammers. The Quincy defense also brings back some key names in junior DL/OL Todd Smith (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) plus senior S/WR Rico Clay (Illinois State).
10. Wheaton South The Tigers and head coach Sean Norris has a nice core of returning starters back for this season on both sides of the football The Tigers offense is led by multi-tear starting QB senior Luca Carbonaro along with senior TE Brady Goken, senior WR Amari Williams (NIU) and several impressive athletes to watch this summer. Look for the Tigers to be one of a handful of Dukane Confernence schools
My 5 7A Teams Who Just Missed:
St. Charles North -The North Stars are one of a handful of teams in the always tough DuKane conference worth considerations here. St Charles North and head coach Rob Pomazak has a stellar signal caller in senior QB Ethan Plumb who's a name to watch this fall.
Prospect- The Knights and head coach Dan DeBoeuf also has continued to get the Prospect Knights to the upper tier of the Mid Suburban East and should be ready to again challenge for a conference title this fall.
Bradley- The Boilermakers and veteran head coach Craig Kohl are coming off a 7-4 season in 2023 and Bradley along with the rest of the Southwest Suburban Red teams will get a new regular season test in the newly combined SWS/Dukane...survive that schedule and this could be a very dangerous team again this fall imn the post-season.
Yorkville The Foxes and head coach Dan McGuire has continued to build up this program each season and Yorkville might have one of it's better overall rosters this coming season. The Foxes also get tested come playoff time playing in the mainly 8A sized Southwest Prairie West conference.
Lincoln Way West The Warriors have also been positive strides over the past handful of seasons under head coach Luke Lokanc and the roster has some serious talent led by senior LB Josh Veldman (Northwestern) along with senior WR Austin Rowswell and a big and physical line play.
Thanks
2024 EDGYTIM Preliminary Class 7A Top 10 poll
1. Chicago Mount Carmel - Sure the Caravan graduated an amazing senior class which set the bar incredibly high for all incoming classes for the next several years. The Caravan offense welcomes back just a handful of returning starters, but senior QB Jack Elliott (Vanderbilt) is one heck of a place to begin reloading. Elliott also will lean on returning senior TE Danyil Taylor back this fall along with OL Nick Lewanski plus junior OL Lamont Miller. The Mount Carmel defense will need to reload a bit as well, but junior 4 star ranked DE Braeden Jones is back and also keep an eye on senior DB Havy Payne (EIU) and senior LB Michael Mucha. Again the Caravan will need tp break in several new faces and names....but the overall talent level has never been as high or as deep as this current roster.
2. Edwardsville - Edwardsville long time assistant coach and new first year head coach Kelsey Pickering will take over the Tigers program in very good shape this season. The Tigers welcome back an impressive 16 returning starters for the 2024 season (9 offense 6 defense) and again features several impressive athletes back on both sides of the football. The Edwardsville offense will lean on 4 starters back on the offensive line this season in junior Aaron Kunz, junior Lucas Kunz pl;us senior Hayden Volz and junior Roman Janek and a strong running game with senuor RB Steven Moore Jr. and senior RB Patrick Chism. The Tigers defense is anchored by senior 4 star ranked DE Iose Epenesa (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) who is one of the top recruits in the nation this summer. Edwardsville has some questions to answer this summer including at QB and on the defensive line, but again the Tigers more often than not have answers in house.
3. Downers Grove North - The Trojans had a terrific in 2023 making it to the 7A state title game before losing to Mount Carmel in the state game. DGN and head coach Joe Hornei will rely on 14 returning starters back including 9 on the offendive side of the football. The Downers Grove North offense begins with junior 3 star ranked QB Owen Lansu who is already holding Power 4 offers this summer and who will look towards senior WR Charlie Cruse along with junior WR Oliver Thulin plus junior WR Matt Troha plus four starters are back on the Trojans offensive line. The defense for Downers Grove North will have experience back at linebacker and in the secondary, as senior LB/TE Joe Edwards is a name to watch along with senior LB Weston Waughop and senior LB Jack Gregorio.
4. Brother Rice The Crusaders are looking for bigger and better things this season and welcome back several key names from a season ago. The Brother Rice defense has several key names to watch led by senior 4 star ranked LB Christian Pierce plus senior DT Charlie Stec and junior DT King Liggins. The Crusaders offense also has key names to watch including senior WR Jimmie Maxson III (North Dakota) along with senior RB Tyler Lofton (Illinois State) and this is a hungry Brother Rice team looking for bug things this fall.
5. Batavia The Bulldogs and veteran head coach Dennis Piron graduated a pretty senior heavy roster this past spring, yet Batavia never rebuilds they simply reload. The offense will need to replace several key names especially in the offensive skills, but keep an eye on senior WR Isaiah Brown plus junior OL Ryan Myers who is already holding D1 offer this summer. The defense also welcomes back junior LB Jacob Jansey along with senior DB/RB Chase Osbourn and the defense is always a streength fore the Bulldogs year in and year out.
6. St. Rita The Mustangs and head coach Martin Hopkins welcome back 12 returning starters this summer including 7 names back on defense. The Mustangs will look towards a steady passing game led by junior QB Steven Armbruster along with senior QB Tom Kelly while senior RB Nick Herman looks ready for a big 2024 season. St Rita junior WR/DB Walter Jones is a speedy game breaker receiver to watch this fall. The Mustangs defense ha sstrength at linebacker in senior James Kingsbury along with senior LB Justin Buckner and senior DL JP Danaher.
7. Hersey The Huskies have a handful of major impact names this summer in senior 3 star ranked QB Colton Gumino (UCLA) and senior 3 star ranked TE Logan Farrell (North Carolina) and the offense could carry this team along ways this fall.
8. Normal Community The Ironmen are coming off a very strong 2023 season as head coach Jason Drengwitz led Normal Community to the Class 7A state semifinal round. Normal Community will relu heavily this season on senior QB Kyle Beaty who had an all state caliber season for the Ironmen and his two main weapons this fall include senior RB Calen Taylor along with senior WR MarQuan Gary while senior OL Bradyn Mazanowski will be a key in rebuilding the Ironmen offensive line this summer. This program has continues to make real progress over the past handful of seasons, yet the Ironmen's depth will also be tested this summer.
9. Quincy The Blue Devils and head coach Rich Little had a tremendous run in 2023 for about 11 weeks but then ran into Class 7A state champion Mount Carmel who beat Quincy in Quincy 61-14 to end the season. The good news for the Blue Devils is standout QB Bradyn Little is back this fall and a handful of his key target are also back in senior RB Jeraius Rice along with senior WR Ty Hammers. The Quincy defense also brings back some key names in junior DL/OL Todd Smith (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) plus senior S/WR Rico Clay (Illinois State).
10. Wheaton South The Tigers and head coach Sean Norris has a nice core of returning starters back for this season on both sides of the football The Tigers offense is led by multi-tear starting QB senior Luca Carbonaro along with senior TE Brady Goken, senior WR Amari Williams (NIU) and several impressive athletes to watch this summer. Look for the Tigers to be one of a handful of Dukane Confernence schools
My 5 7A Teams Who Just Missed:
St. Charles North -The North Stars are one of a handful of teams in the always tough DuKane conference worth considerations here. St Charles North and head coach Rob Pomazak has a stellar signal caller in senior QB Ethan Plumb who's a name to watch this fall.
Prospect- The Knights and head coach Dan DeBoeuf also has continued to get the Prospect Knights to the upper tier of the Mid Suburban East and should be ready to again challenge for a conference title this fall.
Bradley- The Boilermakers and veteran head coach Craig Kohl are coming off a 7-4 season in 2023 and Bradley along with the rest of the Southwest Suburban Red teams will get a new regular season test in the newly combined SWS/Dukane...survive that schedule and this could be a very dangerous team again this fall imn the post-season.
Yorkville The Foxes and head coach Dan McGuire has continued to build up this program each season and Yorkville might have one of it's better overall rosters this coming season. The Foxes also get tested come playoff time playing in the mainly 8A sized Southwest Prairie West conference.
Lincoln Way West The Warriors have also been positive strides over the past handful of seasons under head coach Luke Lokanc and the roster has some serious talent led by senior LB Josh Veldman (Northwestern) along with senior WR Austin Rowswell and a big and physical line play.
