Steve Soucie 2024 Preseason Classification Guide for Class 7A
Teams Under Consideration for the Preseason Class 7A Top 10?
Hersey- The Huskies have some major dudes in senior QB Colton FGumino and senior TE/DE Logan Farrell (North Carolina) and if they can rebuild the OL and a few other spots this could be a dangerous team in 2024.
Batavia-Will be a bit younger in 2-024 especially on the offensive line but the talent level is never in short supply at Batavia. This seems to me to have a sneaky good Bulldog season feel to it.....keep an eye on junior OT Ryan Myers and junior LB Jacob Jansey and senior S Chase Osborne,
Bradley- Another team that always seems to out perform most "expert" opinions. Keep an eye on senior to be Gavin Kohl who is a talented multi-positional athlete. for the Boilers this fall.
Brother Rice A VERY young team in 2023 is back with a tom of starters with CCL/ESCC conference seat time. The Crusaders also have plenty of star power including senior 4 star ranked LB Christian Pierce and on the rise 2026 DT King Liggins.
Mount Carmel- The defending 7A state champs will be younger this season, but the overall depth and talent level has never been as strong in my opinion. Vanderbilt commit QB Jack Elliott leads the Caravan offensive attack along with senior TE/WR Danyil Taylor Jr. and the defense has some nbig time names with junior 3 star ranked DE Braden Jones plus on the rise 2026 DE Joey Quinn plus DB Havy Payne is a key this fall alojmg with sen ior LB Michael Mucha.
St. Rita- The Mustangs will graduate some key names, but the replacements saw significant action in 2023. The quarterback position seems to be a battle between senior Steven Armbruster along with senior Tom Perry both who saw playing time last season. St Rita senior RB Nick Herman had a nice 2023 season and is a capable and versatile weapon. The defense welcomes back 7 starters and will be led by senior LB James Kingsbury along with senior DE JP Danaher and LB Justin Buckner.
Downers Grove North The 2023 7A runner up Trojan will lean heavily on junior 3 star QB Owen Lansu who's having a big off season. Also the Trojans welcome back some key playmakersd led by senior WR/S Charlie Cruse, senior TE/DE Joe Edwards along with senior LB Jack Gregorio as a tone setter on defnse. .
Edwardsville- Edwardsville new head coach Kelsey Pickering has been a longtime assistant so the Tigers hit the ground running this winter. EVille welcomes back 16 returning starters (9 offense 6 defense) for 2024 and is led by senior 4 star ranked TE/DE Iose Epenesa who has Power 4 offers from everyone. The offense brings back 4 starting OL plus senior RB Patrick Chism and senior RB Steven Moore Jr. are very capable threats in the run game.
Hoffman Estates The Hawks will welcome back 13 returning starters (7 offense 6 defense) and Minnesota commit QB/LB Nate Cleveland is an impact player on both sides of the football and will have 4 starting OL back blocking for him this season.
Prospect The Knights and head coach Dan DeBoeuf welcome back 10 returning starters (6 offense 4 defenseZ) and senior QB Jack Skoog had a very solid 2023 season for the Knights. I as also impressed with senior RB Noah Easter last fall along with senior WR Nick Carlucci for the Knights.
Lincoln Way West The Warriors will reload this fall and West this summer has been impressive in 7on7. West has some higher level names in senior 3 star LB Josh Veldman (Northwstern) along with senior WR Austin Rowswell and this team moight has as much depth than I've seen for some time.
Lincoln Way Central - For my money..,.Central HC Dave Woodburn in his first season was the Will County area head coach of the year last season. The Knights welcome back 11 starters and for the most part need to find some kley playmakers lost to graduation, but the program sure looked to be in good shape last fall. Senior OL Chris Biel (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) is a name to along with and up and coming junior WR Lucas Anderson and junior WR Luke Tingley.
Normal Community- The Ironmen had a big 20923 season and welcome back some key names and leaders from that team this summer. Senior QB Kyle Petty has a big arm and talent and his main receiver Mar'quan Gary (Illinois State) is a b ig time threat. Also senior OL Bradyn Mazanowski anchors the NCHS offensive line this fall.
Quincy- The Blue Devils welcome back some key names a swell this fall led by senior QB Bradyn Little along with senior RB Jeraius Rice plus senior WR Ty Hammers. The biggest task for the Blue Devils this summer? Putting away the lopsided home playoff loss to eventual 7A state champion Mount Carmel and moving forward this fall.
Hononegah- The Indians year in and year out are pretty much the prohibitive favorites from the NIC-10 and will be again this preseason. Sure....I'll ask the annual question....just how good are the NIC-10 tams in the overall 7A field? Time will tell.
St Charles North- The North Stars always seem to have talent and 2024 looks much the same. Senior QB Etahn Plumb is a big time athlete and signal caller who has the capabilities of posting a huge 2024 season. Junior WR/S Keaton Reinke is an impact player and the overqall numbers and depth remain solid here.
Wheaton Warrenville South- The Tigers always have a nice core of talented players and will also remain in contention in the Dukane conference as well as jn 7A this season. Senior WR/DB Amari Williams (NIU) is a speedy game breaker to watch this fall.
Wheaton North- The Falcons and head coach Joe Wardynski is looking to reload a bit this summer with just 8 starters back (4 offense 4 defense) but this program much like it's rival always finds a way to reload and compete. WR Rich Schilling is a name to watch this fall for the Falcons.
Andrew- Andrew head coach Adam Lewandowski will lean heavily this fall on a TBolt offense that welcomes back 9 returning starters. The TBolts will rely on senior 3 star ranked OG Michel McDonough (Illinois) along with senior Jacob Palucky as Andrew will look to power past all comers in 2024.
Yorkville Shhhh. The Foxes seem to just keep getting better and bette3r and the 2024 version sure ready for bigger thing. Keep an eye this fall on Yorkville senior S Luke Zook along with senior DE Bryce Griffin (Kent State) plus senior WR Dyllan Malone (NIU). Also incoming transfer ATH Hunter Niklos is a high level athlete wioth the tools to contribute sooner rather than late for the Foxes.
Next: Who Makes the Preseason EDGYTIM Cl;ass 7A Top 10 poll
Teams Under Consideration for the Preseason Class 7A Top 10?
Hersey- The Huskies have some major dudes in senior QB Colton FGumino and senior TE/DE Logan Farrell (North Carolina) and if they can rebuild the OL and a few other spots this could be a dangerous team in 2024.
Batavia-Will be a bit younger in 2-024 especially on the offensive line but the talent level is never in short supply at Batavia. This seems to me to have a sneaky good Bulldog season feel to it.....keep an eye on junior OT Ryan Myers and junior LB Jacob Jansey and senior S Chase Osborne,
Bradley- Another team that always seems to out perform most "expert" opinions. Keep an eye on senior to be Gavin Kohl who is a talented multi-positional athlete. for the Boilers this fall.
Brother Rice A VERY young team in 2023 is back with a tom of starters with CCL/ESCC conference seat time. The Crusaders also have plenty of star power including senior 4 star ranked LB Christian Pierce and on the rise 2026 DT King Liggins.
Mount Carmel- The defending 7A state champs will be younger this season, but the overall depth and talent level has never been as strong in my opinion. Vanderbilt commit QB Jack Elliott leads the Caravan offensive attack along with senior TE/WR Danyil Taylor Jr. and the defense has some nbig time names with junior 3 star ranked DE Braden Jones plus on the rise 2026 DE Joey Quinn plus DB Havy Payne is a key this fall alojmg with sen ior LB Michael Mucha.
St. Rita- The Mustangs will graduate some key names, but the replacements saw significant action in 2023. The quarterback position seems to be a battle between senior Steven Armbruster along with senior Tom Perry both who saw playing time last season. St Rita senior RB Nick Herman had a nice 2023 season and is a capable and versatile weapon. The defense welcomes back 7 starters and will be led by senior LB James Kingsbury along with senior DE JP Danaher and LB Justin Buckner.
Downers Grove North The 2023 7A runner up Trojan will lean heavily on junior 3 star QB Owen Lansu who's having a big off season. Also the Trojans welcome back some key playmakersd led by senior WR/S Charlie Cruse, senior TE/DE Joe Edwards along with senior LB Jack Gregorio as a tone setter on defnse. .
Edwardsville- Edwardsville new head coach Kelsey Pickering has been a longtime assistant so the Tigers hit the ground running this winter. EVille welcomes back 16 returning starters (9 offense 6 defense) for 2024 and is led by senior 4 star ranked TE/DE Iose Epenesa who has Power 4 offers from everyone. The offense brings back 4 starting OL plus senior RB Patrick Chism and senior RB Steven Moore Jr. are very capable threats in the run game.
Hoffman Estates The Hawks will welcome back 13 returning starters (7 offense 6 defense) and Minnesota commit QB/LB Nate Cleveland is an impact player on both sides of the football and will have 4 starting OL back blocking for him this season.
Prospect The Knights and head coach Dan DeBoeuf welcome back 10 returning starters (6 offense 4 defenseZ) and senior QB Jack Skoog had a very solid 2023 season for the Knights. I as also impressed with senior RB Noah Easter last fall along with senior WR Nick Carlucci for the Knights.
Lincoln Way West The Warriors will reload this fall and West this summer has been impressive in 7on7. West has some higher level names in senior 3 star LB Josh Veldman (Northwstern) along with senior WR Austin Rowswell and this team moight has as much depth than I've seen for some time.
Lincoln Way Central - For my money..,.Central HC Dave Woodburn in his first season was the Will County area head coach of the year last season. The Knights welcome back 11 starters and for the most part need to find some kley playmakers lost to graduation, but the program sure looked to be in good shape last fall. Senior OL Chris Biel (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) is a name to along with and up and coming junior WR Lucas Anderson and junior WR Luke Tingley.
Normal Community- The Ironmen had a big 20923 season and welcome back some key names and leaders from that team this summer. Senior QB Kyle Petty has a big arm and talent and his main receiver Mar'quan Gary (Illinois State) is a b ig time threat. Also senior OL Bradyn Mazanowski anchors the NCHS offensive line this fall.
Quincy- The Blue Devils welcome back some key names a swell this fall led by senior QB Bradyn Little along with senior RB Jeraius Rice plus senior WR Ty Hammers. The biggest task for the Blue Devils this summer? Putting away the lopsided home playoff loss to eventual 7A state champion Mount Carmel and moving forward this fall.
Hononegah- The Indians year in and year out are pretty much the prohibitive favorites from the NIC-10 and will be again this preseason. Sure....I'll ask the annual question....just how good are the NIC-10 tams in the overall 7A field? Time will tell.
St Charles North- The North Stars always seem to have talent and 2024 looks much the same. Senior QB Etahn Plumb is a big time athlete and signal caller who has the capabilities of posting a huge 2024 season. Junior WR/S Keaton Reinke is an impact player and the overqall numbers and depth remain solid here.
Wheaton Warrenville South- The Tigers always have a nice core of talented players and will also remain in contention in the Dukane conference as well as jn 7A this season. Senior WR/DB Amari Williams (NIU) is a speedy game breaker to watch this fall.
Wheaton North- The Falcons and head coach Joe Wardynski is looking to reload a bit this summer with just 8 starters back (4 offense 4 defense) but this program much like it's rival always finds a way to reload and compete. WR Rich Schilling is a name to watch this fall for the Falcons.
Andrew- Andrew head coach Adam Lewandowski will lean heavily this fall on a TBolt offense that welcomes back 9 returning starters. The TBolts will rely on senior 3 star ranked OG Michel McDonough (Illinois) along with senior Jacob Palucky as Andrew will look to power past all comers in 2024.
Yorkville Shhhh. The Foxes seem to just keep getting better and bette3r and the 2024 version sure ready for bigger thing. Keep an eye this fall on Yorkville senior S Luke Zook along with senior DE Bryce Griffin (Kent State) plus senior WR Dyllan Malone (NIU). Also incoming transfer ATH Hunter Niklos is a high level athlete wioth the tools to contribute sooner rather than late for the Foxes.
Next: Who Makes the Preseason EDGYTIM Cl;ass 7A Top 10 poll
