Chicago Morgan Park Mustangs
Head Coach: Chris James
Assistant Coaches:
Debo Olaleye Jareem Flemming Kenneth Smith Matt Bryant Demetrius Cooper Tyler Tucker Darren Brady Demarion Hampton Brandon Brooks Ryan Binion
School Nickname/Mascot: Mustangs
Conference: Chicago Public League Red
Team Twitter Handle: @_MP_Football
2024 Regular Season schedule (if known):
Week 1 Marist
Week 2 OPRF
Week 3 Westinghouse
Week 4 Kenwood
Week 5 Johnson college prep
Week 6 lane tech
Week 7 Phillips
Week 8 Brooks
Week 9 Simeon
Returning Offensive Starters for 2024:
Roman Wellington center 5’11 230 2025
Marcus Enoch Guard/Tackle 6’1 230 2025
Logan Drakeford Guard 5’11 230 2025
Langston Waithe Guard 6’0 260 2027
Marcus Thaxton QB 6’0 190 2025
Terrance Gurley ATH 5’10 180 2025
Stanley Thompson WR 6’0 175 2025
Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:
Ahmad Grayer DB 5’11 175 2025
Jovan Clark ATH 5’11 200 2025
Jahmare Washington ATH 6’2 170 2025
Quince Shearer DB 5’8 165 2025
Jermaine Erving DB 5’11 165 2025
Jacob Ware LB 5’11 185 2025
Andre Smith DL 6’1 220 2025
Geordan Pettie DL 6’0 260 2025
Nigel Waller DL 6’0 215 2025
Newcomers to Watch
Demetrius Rule LB 6’1 224 2025
Nasir Rankin ATH 6’0 180 2026
Kendall Griffin DB 5’11 170 2026
Daijon DT 6’2 305 2027
RJ Smtih Jr. QB 5’11 175 2028
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
U of I 7v7
Eisenhower 7v7 (MC, LWE)
Batavia Dual practice
Week 0 vs Sandburg
Impact Player for Morgan Park
Morgan Park head coach Chris James has done a tremendous job of developing talent along with keeping the Mustangs at the top of the Chicago Public League and beyond. While the Mustangs no question have some key losses to replace including the loss of standout RB/DB Tysean Griffin (Illinois) plus WR Chris Durr (Wyoming)...the Mustangs for the 2024 season still have a handful of major dudes to watch this fall. Senior QB Marcus Thaxton has been a starter for Morgan Parl since his sophomore season and his overall game and ability to make plays continues to get better each season. Senior S/OLB Jovan Clark is a major hitter, ball hawk and impact player for the Mustangs again this season. Clark has several D1 level offers this spring. Senior ATH Jahmare Washington is truly an impact player on either side of the football. Washington already has several major Power 4/D1 offers and has ther physical size, potential and upside to become a maonster at the high college level and Washington can and will play S/WR/CB/OLB and DE this fall.
Looking for a potential sleeper names for Morgan Park this coming fall? Incoming transfer 2026 ATH Nasir Rankin (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) comes in from Whitney Young and is one of the top overall two sport athletes (football/basketball) in the Chicagoland area. Senior DB Ahmad Grayer is another speedy and athletic defender and is another name to watch this summer and fall.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2024 Chicago Morgan Park Mustangs
Morgan Park and alum and head coach Chris James has continued to build up the football program into not just a city power but also a Class 5A power. Morgan Park under James has made the IHSA state playoffs in four straight seasons and James has posted a record of 39-18 in his 6 seasons in charge. The Mustangs made it to the Cl;ass 5A state quarterfinal round in the last two seasons posting losses in the quarterfinals in 2023 to St Francis and in 2022 to Nazareth Academy.
The biggest question for Morgan Park in 2024? Can the Mustangs get past the awaiting Catholic suburban school powers in Class 5A and win a state title this fall? The Mustangs no question have some question marks, but I also like some of the answers here this preseason. Can the Mustangs can establish a handful of new weapons in the offensive skills while getting a big season from QB Marcus Thaxton along with the veteran Mustangs offensive line? The Morgan Park defense brings back experience, speed and toughness and will be a definite strength this fall. If the offense finds those early questions on offense along with the kicking game/special teams....this squad has a very real chance of making a potential deep run in 2024.
Preseason Ranking? Top 30 Chicagoland/Class 5A Top 10 caliber team.
Head Coach: Chris James
Assistant Coaches:
Debo Olaleye Jareem Flemming Kenneth Smith Matt Bryant Demetrius Cooper Tyler Tucker Darren Brady Demarion Hampton Brandon Brooks Ryan Binion
School Nickname/Mascot: Mustangs
Conference: Chicago Public League Red
Team Twitter Handle: @_MP_Football
2024 Regular Season schedule (if known):
Week 1 Marist
Week 2 OPRF
Week 3 Westinghouse
Week 4 Kenwood
Week 5 Johnson college prep
Week 6 lane tech
Week 7 Phillips
Week 8 Brooks
Week 9 Simeon
Returning Offensive Starters for 2024:
Roman Wellington center 5’11 230 2025
Marcus Enoch Guard/Tackle 6’1 230 2025
Logan Drakeford Guard 5’11 230 2025
Langston Waithe Guard 6’0 260 2027
Marcus Thaxton QB 6’0 190 2025
Terrance Gurley ATH 5’10 180 2025
Stanley Thompson WR 6’0 175 2025
Returning Defensive Starters for 2023:
Ahmad Grayer DB 5’11 175 2025
Jovan Clark ATH 5’11 200 2025
Jahmare Washington ATH 6’2 170 2025
Quince Shearer DB 5’8 165 2025
Jermaine Erving DB 5’11 165 2025
Jacob Ware LB 5’11 185 2025
Andre Smith DL 6’1 220 2025
Geordan Pettie DL 6’0 260 2025
Nigel Waller DL 6’0 215 2025
Newcomers to Watch
Demetrius Rule LB 6’1 224 2025
Nasir Rankin ATH 6’0 180 2026
Kendall Griffin DB 5’11 170 2026
Daijon DT 6’2 305 2027
RJ Smtih Jr. QB 5’11 175 2028
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
U of I 7v7
Eisenhower 7v7 (MC, LWE)
Batavia Dual practice
Week 0 vs Sandburg
Impact Player for Morgan Park
Morgan Park head coach Chris James has done a tremendous job of developing talent along with keeping the Mustangs at the top of the Chicago Public League and beyond. While the Mustangs no question have some key losses to replace including the loss of standout RB/DB Tysean Griffin (Illinois) plus WR Chris Durr (Wyoming)...the Mustangs for the 2024 season still have a handful of major dudes to watch this fall. Senior QB Marcus Thaxton has been a starter for Morgan Parl since his sophomore season and his overall game and ability to make plays continues to get better each season. Senior S/OLB Jovan Clark is a major hitter, ball hawk and impact player for the Mustangs again this season. Clark has several D1 level offers this spring. Senior ATH Jahmare Washington is truly an impact player on either side of the football. Washington already has several major Power 4/D1 offers and has ther physical size, potential and upside to become a maonster at the high college level and Washington can and will play S/WR/CB/OLB and DE this fall.
Looking for a potential sleeper names for Morgan Park this coming fall? Incoming transfer 2026 ATH Nasir Rankin (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) comes in from Whitney Young and is one of the top overall two sport athletes (football/basketball) in the Chicagoland area. Senior DB Ahmad Grayer is another speedy and athletic defender and is another name to watch this summer and fall.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2024 Chicago Morgan Park Mustangs
Morgan Park and alum and head coach Chris James has continued to build up the football program into not just a city power but also a Class 5A power. Morgan Park under James has made the IHSA state playoffs in four straight seasons and James has posted a record of 39-18 in his 6 seasons in charge. The Mustangs made it to the Cl;ass 5A state quarterfinal round in the last two seasons posting losses in the quarterfinals in 2023 to St Francis and in 2022 to Nazareth Academy.
The biggest question for Morgan Park in 2024? Can the Mustangs get past the awaiting Catholic suburban school powers in Class 5A and win a state title this fall? The Mustangs no question have some question marks, but I also like some of the answers here this preseason. Can the Mustangs can establish a handful of new weapons in the offensive skills while getting a big season from QB Marcus Thaxton along with the veteran Mustangs offensive line? The Morgan Park defense brings back experience, speed and toughness and will be a definite strength this fall. If the offense finds those early questions on offense along with the kicking game/special teams....this squad has a very real chance of making a potential deep run in 2024.
Preseason Ranking? Top 30 Chicagoland/Class 5A Top 10 caliber team.
