The annual Rise and Fire Camp took part on Sunday as the Class of 2022/2023 Top QB's took the field at Wheaton St. Francis High School. The Rise and Fire Camp is the creation of QB Coach Greg Holcomb and this was the last of several camps held over the past weekend. Rise and Fire held a Youth Level camp along with a 2024/2025 player camp as well separate from Sunday's event. The Rise and Fire camp has been highly successful on several levels. Holcomb is a very hands and very personable coach and teacher and this camp is no question very quarterback focused. The overall talent level is always impressive and this camp draws various quarterback from Illinois and beyond. The positions here includes QB/WR/LB and DB and all of the positions have several top coaches and lots of teaching and instruction goes on besides one on ones.
I was at this campo from 930AM until roughly 1PM and had to leave a bit earlier than I expected due to a family obligation (Fathers Day) but felt I had more than adequate time to see and evaluate all in attendance, and in particular I focused heavily on the QB position.
So Who Stood Out?
Quarterback
1 Ashton Gondeck Lake Zurich 2023- Had no idea about Ashton until this camp, but overall I felt he had a good showing here. Gondeck is a very mobile and athletic dual threat who also showed to have a pretty strong and accurate arm here. The Bears have seemed to struggle at times with the QB position over the past few years and hopefully Ashton could become a name to watch this fall.
1 Aidan Pieper Nazareth Academy 2022- Yet another really impressive, fundamentally sound signal caller here. Pieper is one of several remaining available names in the 2022 class who I feel in most any other "normal" recruiting landscapes could become a FCS/D2 level talent. All I can see missing for Pieper is a bit more live game action film, otherwise not much to not like here.
2 Jimmy Makuh Hersey 2022- Another steady and consistently strong showing here for Jimmy Makuh. Makuh has a strong arm and throws a very good deep ball. Best of all he's already proven his game is at it's best under the lights. Jimmy still needs to still add a bit more weight, fill out a bit and more strength for the next level, but Makuh has the frame and length to make that happen.
4 Keegan Glover Benton 2022- Highly productive downstate QB who could very well become a POY candidate this fall. Glover has added a bit more weight and muscle since I saw him last. Glover throws the football with a strong arm and just has a great overall feel for the game. Can and will make every throw and is a highly competitive kid who also has a bit of a quiet swagger and confidence. I still feel Glover has FCS/D2 level potential.
6 Aidan Voss Joliet Catholic 2022- Very strong overall athlete here who is in line for a big fall season. Voss is capable of beating teams with both his arm and his legs and his overall arm strength and touch is a plus here. Voss overall height could be an issue for the bigger level schools, but his drive and overall confidence will play well on Saturdays next fall at the college level.
9 Payton Soske Barrington 2023- An interesting name to watch this coming fall. Soske has good size and did some solid things here including picking things up pretty quickly in positional work. Has yet to hit the varsity level and I'll be looking for his game video this coming fall.
11 Gavin Dooley Minooka 2023- I've seen Dooley a few times now live and he no question has a live arm and in particular has really good touch on his deep ball. Dooley's height (5-foot-11) for now could be an issue for larger level schools but his game, improved strength, arm talent and high motor are real positives going into the fall season.
12 Mark Mennecke Neuqua Valley 2023- Lefty gunslinger who showed to have very good touch and feel here. Mennecke is coming off a pretty strong spring season for NV and will have a chance to really open up some eyes this coming fall.
13 CJ Carr Ann Arbor 2023- Ok not an in state kid but CJ is the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. CJ Carr was simply one of the top overall quarterback names to watch here. Great size, physical tools and a very fluid overall athlete and thrower.
15 NaCari McFarland Bolingbrook 2024- Was one of the more intriguing kids I've seen over the summer. Played for ICCP last spring bit has since transferred to Bolingbrook. McFarland is truly all arms and legs (6-foot-6?) who still is a work in progress as a quarterback....yet NaCari has some impressive size/length and will continue to be a athlete on the rise starting this fall.
16 Jake Stearney Loyola Academy 2023- Just keeps getting better and better each time I see him live. Stearney was able to get some nice reps at the varsity level this past spring (a rarity for any sophomore QB to play varsity at Loyola) and his game continue to develop and improve. Stearney is for the most part already college ready physically and all he need now is consistent varsity game reps. Stearney has a good chance to become a FBS level quarterback.
18 Nick Brown The Taft School 2023- Brown started his high school career at Hampshire. left for The Taft School in Connecticut and has never looked back. Brown will be a high level name to watch regionally and nationally in the Class of 2023, and Brown at this stage should not be allowed to leave this state anymore. Brown has a ton of upside, his game is highly advanced while also being about as college ready physically as any QB I've seen in the 2023 class.
18 Cole Teschner Montini Catholic 2023- Again a very steady performer here who has a nice arm, makes good reads and can also throw it as well as anyone here. Teschner had limited spring season live reps and once he's able to get some additional live game action under his belt, I fully expect his recruiting process to ramp up.
24 Ryan Dawson Downers Grove South 2023- Another advanced kid physically who has a ton of potential and upside. Dawson was able to make some good throws here and was an equal with the top group of quarterbacks at this camp I was impressed with Dawson's mobility here, since he was very much a pretty stationary pocket passer during the spring season.
25 Alessio Milivojevic St. Francis 2024- I remember seeing Alessio at this camp in the past and just not being very impressed at all. His arm and motion just didn't look/seem right and his throws and it just didn't add up to me. A year later I find out that Alessio indeed was having an arm issue at that camp. I was much more impressed with this kid on Sunday, and Milivojevic threw the football well, has really good arm strength and was also accurate all day. Milivojevic will have a chance to make some noise this fall and is no question a name to watch in the 2024 class.
Next Up? Rise and Fire Top WR/DB's
I was at this campo from 930AM until roughly 1PM and had to leave a bit earlier than I expected due to a family obligation (Fathers Day) but felt I had more than adequate time to see and evaluate all in attendance, and in particular I focused heavily on the QB position.
So Who Stood Out?
Quarterback
1 Ashton Gondeck Lake Zurich 2023- Had no idea about Ashton until this camp, but overall I felt he had a good showing here. Gondeck is a very mobile and athletic dual threat who also showed to have a pretty strong and accurate arm here. The Bears have seemed to struggle at times with the QB position over the past few years and hopefully Ashton could become a name to watch this fall.
1 Aidan Pieper Nazareth Academy 2022- Yet another really impressive, fundamentally sound signal caller here. Pieper is one of several remaining available names in the 2022 class who I feel in most any other "normal" recruiting landscapes could become a FCS/D2 level talent. All I can see missing for Pieper is a bit more live game action film, otherwise not much to not like here.
2 Jimmy Makuh Hersey 2022- Another steady and consistently strong showing here for Jimmy Makuh. Makuh has a strong arm and throws a very good deep ball. Best of all he's already proven his game is at it's best under the lights. Jimmy still needs to still add a bit more weight, fill out a bit and more strength for the next level, but Makuh has the frame and length to make that happen.
4 Keegan Glover Benton 2022- Highly productive downstate QB who could very well become a POY candidate this fall. Glover has added a bit more weight and muscle since I saw him last. Glover throws the football with a strong arm and just has a great overall feel for the game. Can and will make every throw and is a highly competitive kid who also has a bit of a quiet swagger and confidence. I still feel Glover has FCS/D2 level potential.
6 Aidan Voss Joliet Catholic 2022- Very strong overall athlete here who is in line for a big fall season. Voss is capable of beating teams with both his arm and his legs and his overall arm strength and touch is a plus here. Voss overall height could be an issue for the bigger level schools, but his drive and overall confidence will play well on Saturdays next fall at the college level.
9 Payton Soske Barrington 2023- An interesting name to watch this coming fall. Soske has good size and did some solid things here including picking things up pretty quickly in positional work. Has yet to hit the varsity level and I'll be looking for his game video this coming fall.
11 Gavin Dooley Minooka 2023- I've seen Dooley a few times now live and he no question has a live arm and in particular has really good touch on his deep ball. Dooley's height (5-foot-11) for now could be an issue for larger level schools but his game, improved strength, arm talent and high motor are real positives going into the fall season.
12 Mark Mennecke Neuqua Valley 2023- Lefty gunslinger who showed to have very good touch and feel here. Mennecke is coming off a pretty strong spring season for NV and will have a chance to really open up some eyes this coming fall.
13 CJ Carr Ann Arbor 2023- Ok not an in state kid but CJ is the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. CJ Carr was simply one of the top overall quarterback names to watch here. Great size, physical tools and a very fluid overall athlete and thrower.
15 NaCari McFarland Bolingbrook 2024- Was one of the more intriguing kids I've seen over the summer. Played for ICCP last spring bit has since transferred to Bolingbrook. McFarland is truly all arms and legs (6-foot-6?) who still is a work in progress as a quarterback....yet NaCari has some impressive size/length and will continue to be a athlete on the rise starting this fall.
16 Jake Stearney Loyola Academy 2023- Just keeps getting better and better each time I see him live. Stearney was able to get some nice reps at the varsity level this past spring (a rarity for any sophomore QB to play varsity at Loyola) and his game continue to develop and improve. Stearney is for the most part already college ready physically and all he need now is consistent varsity game reps. Stearney has a good chance to become a FBS level quarterback.
18 Nick Brown The Taft School 2023- Brown started his high school career at Hampshire. left for The Taft School in Connecticut and has never looked back. Brown will be a high level name to watch regionally and nationally in the Class of 2023, and Brown at this stage should not be allowed to leave this state anymore. Brown has a ton of upside, his game is highly advanced while also being about as college ready physically as any QB I've seen in the 2023 class.
18 Cole Teschner Montini Catholic 2023- Again a very steady performer here who has a nice arm, makes good reads and can also throw it as well as anyone here. Teschner had limited spring season live reps and once he's able to get some additional live game action under his belt, I fully expect his recruiting process to ramp up.
24 Ryan Dawson Downers Grove South 2023- Another advanced kid physically who has a ton of potential and upside. Dawson was able to make some good throws here and was an equal with the top group of quarterbacks at this camp I was impressed with Dawson's mobility here, since he was very much a pretty stationary pocket passer during the spring season.
25 Alessio Milivojevic St. Francis 2024- I remember seeing Alessio at this camp in the past and just not being very impressed at all. His arm and motion just didn't look/seem right and his throws and it just didn't add up to me. A year later I find out that Alessio indeed was having an arm issue at that camp. I was much more impressed with this kid on Sunday, and Milivojevic threw the football well, has really good arm strength and was also accurate all day. Milivojevic will have a chance to make some noise this fall and is no question a name to watch in the 2024 class.
Next Up? Rise and Fire Top WR/DB's
