Friday night was the final camp at NIU for the summer, which was a combination of the Friday Night Lights camp along with the Big Dawg Linemen camp. The annual Big Dawg camp always seems to draw good numbers and this new format indeed drew big overall numbers. NIU had nearly 500 kids at both camps combined and this was easily the biggest camp I've covered ever at NIU which ios a real positive for the Huskies program. What was also impressive was the amount of kids who came in multiple groups from different high schools across the state.
Another key in the success of this camp on Friday night? Timing. After several top Mega Camps wrapped up last week (NCC/Lake Forest/UIndy) kids had roughly a week plus to recover and came out ready for another camp.
With nearly 500 kids spread out between Huskie Stadium and the Indoor facility, covering and getting to see as much as I wanted was pretty much impossible. I won't generally re-evaluate kids who I've seen multiple times now for just the sake of those kids getting the same ole same ole mentions etc unless I see something of note that I didn't see previously etc.
Also thanks again to all of the staff and players at NIU including head coach Thomas Hammock for truly making me feel as welcomed as any school I've ever been to covering an event. NIU goes way above and beyond to be terrific hosts and it remains greatly appreciated from me.
My big focus, especially in these large camps is to seek out kids who I have wanted to see in person but haven't yet along with seeing and focusing on more unknown underclassmen names.
Below are some names who caught my eye on Friday night.
Note: The camp roster provided unfortunately had very minimal details on the 2023/2024 kids and I did my best to fill out the details. Also the roster had several duplicate numbers listed (due to overall large numbers) so in some cases I could have a name mislabeled. I also do not re-evaluate a kid who I've now seen multiple times in person for obvious reasons unless they have made some type of major change/improvement.
Class of 2022
7 S Mason Pawelko Geneva- showed to have a decent combination of good speed, size and really good feet and quickness. Was also pretty solid in positional work.
29 DB Pervis Brunson Niles North - Not a real big kid here (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) but a kid with legit speed and quickness and who also showed to have good overall cover skills.
30 WR Ty Carlson Oswego East- Needs to add a bit more size and good weight, but Carlson also ran and tested well here and showed good hands in positional and drill work.
66 RB Darquel Sanders Oswego East- shocker....another kid from Oswego East who can run and who just looks the part. Has a chance for a big 2021 fall season who could add more looks from say the FCS/D2 level.
65 DE Derrick Parker II Rich Township
66 DE Cody Silzer Lockport- First time seeing the Silzer Twins in person and both Cody and Cole had a strong showing here. Both kids have good size, nice speed, agility, bend, quickness and strength coming off the edge. Both kids have added FCS and D2 interest and offers and that sure looks like a really good fit here.
67 DE Cole Silzer Lockport- First time seeing the Silzer Twins in person and both Cody and Cole had a strong showing here. Both kids have good size, nice speed, agility, bend, quickness and strength coming off the edge. Both kids have added FCS and D2 interest and offers and that sure looks like a really good fit here.
70 OL Colin Krzeczkowski Lockport- Just another very solid overall linemen here. Colin was pretty solid in one on ones and was able to also just move well for his size. Has the frame and length to get a big bigger and stronger down the line. Has added some D2 offers and is a good fit at that level in my opinion.
73 LB Christian Eubanks Warren Township
75 OT Tyler Uken Mahomet Seymour- Measured in at 6-foot-9, 260 pounds and while Tyler will need to add more good size and weight, he definitely is an intriguing name to watch here. Ukin was pretty solid in one on ones, showed good feet, mobility and balance and his pass pro was a positive here. In any other recruiting class I can see some FCS schools sign Ukin as more of a project type, and while that could still very much happen this is a tough class for anyone to add an offer.
81 S Benjamin Wilson Warren Township
82 S Kameron Lewis Palatine
93 OL Eddy Latanauskas Hoffman Estates- I think this was the second time I saw Eddy and he was definitely worth a mention. Eddy battles all comers in one on ones, has good strength and punch. He's strictly a OC/OG type for the college level and could be a potential D2/NAIA level name.
98 DL Kevin Frazier Brother Rice- It's been awhile since I saw Kevin Frazier live and again his overall speed, technique and motor remains unquestioned. Frazier was once again very strong in one on ones and his game is just highly advanced. In many ways he reminds me of former Brother Rice and current Eastern Michigan LB Justin Jefferson who was also a bit of a tweener positionally in high school.
99 DE Connor Murphy Glenbard South
64 DL Christian Lorenzo DeKalb
66 OL Joshua Sanders Hinsdale South
Class of 2023
QB Nacari McFarland Bolingbrook 2024- Big, tall and lanky athlete who will just get bigger and stronger from here on out. I feel McFarland has the ability to play a few different positions if/when needed and his arm talent and fundamentals keeps improving.
WR Quanterious McElroy Bishop McNamara 2023- Another interesting name from the 2024 class who has some good size. speed and physical tools. FYI Bishop Mac has some dudes....
QB Josh Holst Marengo 2023 Second time seeing Josh in person and he has a lot to offer here including a good, strong accurate arm and impressive size and is a very good overall athlete as well.
OL Luke Griskey Huntley
DL Demarcus Caston Brother Rice 2023- Demarcus has been on my radar since his freshman year. Demarcus has done a lot of work off the field, including beginning to transform bad weight into more good weight and strength. Caston has great overall hands, strength and power and possesses better feet and quickness than you'd expect. He's been flip flopping between OG and DT and longer term I see him as a DT. While he has more work left to do, in the end Damarcus could end up becoming a FBS level DT.
RB Brandon Brigham Homewood Flossmoor 2024- Good size, strong and quick back who just looked to be much more advanced physically for a 2024 name.
OL Christian Medlock Homewood Flossmoor 2023- A younger guy who also still has work to do including becoming more consistent with his hands and also getting a bit stronger. Has good size/frame and will get stronger down the line. Keep an eye on his this fall if he can crack an always stack H-F starting lineup.
OL Michael Kostantonov Loyola 2023- Another name who's been on my radar screen for some time. Missed the spring season due to injury, but Kostantonov has really good strength and hands, punch and is just fundamentally very sound.
LB Gavin Rabe St Charles East 2023- Just stood out to me in positional work.
Another key in the success of this camp on Friday night? Timing. After several top Mega Camps wrapped up last week (NCC/Lake Forest/UIndy) kids had roughly a week plus to recover and came out ready for another camp.
With nearly 500 kids spread out between Huskie Stadium and the Indoor facility, covering and getting to see as much as I wanted was pretty much impossible. I won't generally re-evaluate kids who I've seen multiple times now for just the sake of those kids getting the same ole same ole mentions etc unless I see something of note that I didn't see previously etc.
Also thanks again to all of the staff and players at NIU including head coach Thomas Hammock for truly making me feel as welcomed as any school I've ever been to covering an event. NIU goes way above and beyond to be terrific hosts and it remains greatly appreciated from me.
My big focus, especially in these large camps is to seek out kids who I have wanted to see in person but haven't yet along with seeing and focusing on more unknown underclassmen names.
Below are some names who caught my eye on Friday night.
Note: The camp roster provided unfortunately had very minimal details on the 2023/2024 kids and I did my best to fill out the details. Also the roster had several duplicate numbers listed (due to overall large numbers) so in some cases I could have a name mislabeled. I also do not re-evaluate a kid who I've now seen multiple times in person for obvious reasons unless they have made some type of major change/improvement.
Class of 2022
7 S Mason Pawelko Geneva- showed to have a decent combination of good speed, size and really good feet and quickness. Was also pretty solid in positional work.
29 DB Pervis Brunson Niles North - Not a real big kid here (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) but a kid with legit speed and quickness and who also showed to have good overall cover skills.
30 WR Ty Carlson Oswego East- Needs to add a bit more size and good weight, but Carlson also ran and tested well here and showed good hands in positional and drill work.
66 RB Darquel Sanders Oswego East- shocker....another kid from Oswego East who can run and who just looks the part. Has a chance for a big 2021 fall season who could add more looks from say the FCS/D2 level.
65 DE Derrick Parker II Rich Township
66 DE Cody Silzer Lockport- First time seeing the Silzer Twins in person and both Cody and Cole had a strong showing here. Both kids have good size, nice speed, agility, bend, quickness and strength coming off the edge. Both kids have added FCS and D2 interest and offers and that sure looks like a really good fit here.
67 DE Cole Silzer Lockport- First time seeing the Silzer Twins in person and both Cody and Cole had a strong showing here. Both kids have good size, nice speed, agility, bend, quickness and strength coming off the edge. Both kids have added FCS and D2 interest and offers and that sure looks like a really good fit here.
70 OL Colin Krzeczkowski Lockport- Just another very solid overall linemen here. Colin was pretty solid in one on ones and was able to also just move well for his size. Has the frame and length to get a big bigger and stronger down the line. Has added some D2 offers and is a good fit at that level in my opinion.
73 LB Christian Eubanks Warren Township
75 OT Tyler Uken Mahomet Seymour- Measured in at 6-foot-9, 260 pounds and while Tyler will need to add more good size and weight, he definitely is an intriguing name to watch here. Ukin was pretty solid in one on ones, showed good feet, mobility and balance and his pass pro was a positive here. In any other recruiting class I can see some FCS schools sign Ukin as more of a project type, and while that could still very much happen this is a tough class for anyone to add an offer.
81 S Benjamin Wilson Warren Township
82 S Kameron Lewis Palatine
93 OL Eddy Latanauskas Hoffman Estates- I think this was the second time I saw Eddy and he was definitely worth a mention. Eddy battles all comers in one on ones, has good strength and punch. He's strictly a OC/OG type for the college level and could be a potential D2/NAIA level name.
98 DL Kevin Frazier Brother Rice- It's been awhile since I saw Kevin Frazier live and again his overall speed, technique and motor remains unquestioned. Frazier was once again very strong in one on ones and his game is just highly advanced. In many ways he reminds me of former Brother Rice and current Eastern Michigan LB Justin Jefferson who was also a bit of a tweener positionally in high school.
99 DE Connor Murphy Glenbard South
64 DL Christian Lorenzo DeKalb
66 OL Joshua Sanders Hinsdale South
Class of 2023
QB Nacari McFarland Bolingbrook 2024- Big, tall and lanky athlete who will just get bigger and stronger from here on out. I feel McFarland has the ability to play a few different positions if/when needed and his arm talent and fundamentals keeps improving.
WR Quanterious McElroy Bishop McNamara 2023- Another interesting name from the 2024 class who has some good size. speed and physical tools. FYI Bishop Mac has some dudes....
QB Josh Holst Marengo 2023 Second time seeing Josh in person and he has a lot to offer here including a good, strong accurate arm and impressive size and is a very good overall athlete as well.
OL Luke Griskey Huntley
DL Demarcus Caston Brother Rice 2023- Demarcus has been on my radar since his freshman year. Demarcus has done a lot of work off the field, including beginning to transform bad weight into more good weight and strength. Caston has great overall hands, strength and power and possesses better feet and quickness than you'd expect. He's been flip flopping between OG and DT and longer term I see him as a DT. While he has more work left to do, in the end Damarcus could end up becoming a FBS level DT.
RB Brandon Brigham Homewood Flossmoor 2024- Good size, strong and quick back who just looked to be much more advanced physically for a 2024 name.
OL Christian Medlock Homewood Flossmoor 2023- A younger guy who also still has work to do including becoming more consistent with his hands and also getting a bit stronger. Has good size/frame and will get stronger down the line. Keep an eye on his this fall if he can crack an always stack H-F starting lineup.
OL Michael Kostantonov Loyola 2023- Another name who's been on my radar screen for some time. Missed the spring season due to injury, but Kostantonov has really good strength and hands, punch and is just fundamentally very sound.
LB Gavin Rabe St Charles East 2023- Just stood out to me in positional work.
