Great day overall some of the best weather so far this late spring/early summer. An impressive turnout for this first ever Lake Park camp. I would say they wound up with around 180-190 kids in total. Also had a very impressive group of college coaches in attendance. Full staffs from Missouri, Michigan State plus multiple schools from several different levels took part.
Kudos also to Chris Roll and all at Lake Park. The event was well run and well organized, LP had plenty of help on hand and I honestly couldn't of asked for better cooperation.
Now Who Stood Out?
(note: always do my best to get around to see as many kids as I can but can and will miss as many or more than I see. Also note I'm focused a bit more on longer observations for 2018/2019 kids at this stage but always note of any 2017's that standout and I usually won't watch a ton of kids I've seen already this summer).
OL Wyatt Blake Crystal Lake Central 2018- second time seeing Wyatt in person at a camp. Has great size and will be an interior OL at the college level. Still needs a bit more work in various areas but when it's all said and done this remains a major D1 name in the 2018 class.
OL Jeff Jenkins Prairie Ridge 2018- listed and working out as an OL and I like this kids overall tools and makeup. I've said before that Jenkins is a recruit who I feel could draw more looks as say DL? Very quick and athletic for his size, has a frame to add more weight and strength. Good feet and improved each time I see him.
OL Jake Stover St. Rita- honestly I'm tired of talking about Stover, who seems to stalk me everywhere (kidding). Stover has just great overall tools, feet, power and punch. Sorta stunned more schools haven't stepped up to offer yet. I've seen him at least a half dozen times now and never disappoints.
WR Michael and Henry Marchese Stevenson- the "twins" are just good sized kids who can do a,long of good things on the field. Henry seems to have a bit more speed and athletic tools and these kids no question can play at the FCS level if not higher. Ivy kids?
WR Eric Rooks DeLaSalle- remains one of the more intriguing kids available in 2017 class. has great size and wingspan, runs well and still has a lot of upside left. Could develop into say a DE/TE down the road? Regardless Rooks body type and frame are one's you see make it to the next level or two.
WR Joseph Bonds DeLaSalle- what's the deal with DeLaSalle having all these great looking athlete types? Bonds is another kid 6-foot-2 ish around 190 pounds who just is an athlete and who does some good things on the field. No question caught FCS level eyes here.
QB Josh Bean Hinsdale Central- was just never able to get a good feel on Bean until this camp. I saw Hinsdale Central live but Bean didn't play so... Bottom line is Bean I felt had one of the best camps for any Illinois QB's here. Bean has a bit more size and length compared to the others in this class/position. Bean also is polished, throws the ball extremely well and was just impressive here. FCS level offer kid no question.
WR Jace James Glenbard North- 2017 kid who just seems to be a bit under the radar type. Jace runs very well, has great hands and body control and no doubt will be drawing offers sooner rather than later. Part of a very good GBN team loaded with athletes.
DE Olalere Oladipo Huntley- first time seeing Lere since the fall and man he's added some serious size. Oladipo has been in a wait and see first mode early on this spring with some schools but no longer. Oladipo has size, length and quickness and also possesses that "quick twitch" you look for in an elite level athlete. Only knock I see is that Oladipo needs to work on refining his pass rush moves and technique but the physical tools and upside is there no question.
DE Jackson Perkins Barrington- another name that has real upside and potential yet has been a wait and see mode with several Power 5 schools this spring. Perkins is long and pretty athletic. Perkins no question will need to add more weight and size at the college level and doesn't quite have the punch or impact potential than others here. Yet overall? Perkins is a kid who's upside is tempting enough to draw more Power 5 levels this summer.
ATH Zyon Bell Bolingbrook- All Zyon is missing honestly is tape. Bell just wasn't able to find a comfort mode last season for the Raiders and just never had anything that stood out or popped on video. Yet this kid has size, strength, speed and just looks the part. From an eyeball look/camp potential Bell is a no brainer D1/high FCS level kid. Bell could play WR/OLB/S among other spots here. No question a kid to watch in this class no and especially in say 2-3 years from now and is another kid who could develop into a prime time player down the road.
QB Derek Kyler DeKalb- been watching Derek for a few years now. From a size standpoint Kyler is unfortunately lumped in the same boat as the other 2017 QB's these days, yet Kyler is one of the few in that group who has some real tools and who could draw camp looks as say a WR/S type.
LS Joey Malinowski Bloomington CC 2018- long snapper here and my goal is to see s many specialist as I can this summer. Terrific and very accurate long snapper yes...long snappers are people too kids.
LS Joe Calcagno Fenwick- yet seen him snap live twice this summer...and I feel pretty good about that
all kidding aside another very good and very accurate LS. Ans yes long snappers are people too.
OG Jose Vazquez Glenbard North 2018- liked Jose live and liked him here as well. Does well in one on ones has above average speed and good feet and balance. Needs to continue to work on his overall pass pro technique but overall a lot to like here.
Part 2 to follow in a separate thread.
Kudos also to Chris Roll and all at Lake Park. The event was well run and well organized, LP had plenty of help on hand and I honestly couldn't of asked for better cooperation.
Now Who Stood Out?
(note: always do my best to get around to see as many kids as I can but can and will miss as many or more than I see. Also note I'm focused a bit more on longer observations for 2018/2019 kids at this stage but always note of any 2017's that standout and I usually won't watch a ton of kids I've seen already this summer).
OL Wyatt Blake Crystal Lake Central 2018- second time seeing Wyatt in person at a camp. Has great size and will be an interior OL at the college level. Still needs a bit more work in various areas but when it's all said and done this remains a major D1 name in the 2018 class.
OL Jeff Jenkins Prairie Ridge 2018- listed and working out as an OL and I like this kids overall tools and makeup. I've said before that Jenkins is a recruit who I feel could draw more looks as say DL? Very quick and athletic for his size, has a frame to add more weight and strength. Good feet and improved each time I see him.
OL Jake Stover St. Rita- honestly I'm tired of talking about Stover, who seems to stalk me everywhere (kidding). Stover has just great overall tools, feet, power and punch. Sorta stunned more schools haven't stepped up to offer yet. I've seen him at least a half dozen times now and never disappoints.
WR Michael and Henry Marchese Stevenson- the "twins" are just good sized kids who can do a,long of good things on the field. Henry seems to have a bit more speed and athletic tools and these kids no question can play at the FCS level if not higher. Ivy kids?
WR Eric Rooks DeLaSalle- remains one of the more intriguing kids available in 2017 class. has great size and wingspan, runs well and still has a lot of upside left. Could develop into say a DE/TE down the road? Regardless Rooks body type and frame are one's you see make it to the next level or two.
WR Joseph Bonds DeLaSalle- what's the deal with DeLaSalle having all these great looking athlete types? Bonds is another kid 6-foot-2 ish around 190 pounds who just is an athlete and who does some good things on the field. No question caught FCS level eyes here.
QB Josh Bean Hinsdale Central- was just never able to get a good feel on Bean until this camp. I saw Hinsdale Central live but Bean didn't play so... Bottom line is Bean I felt had one of the best camps for any Illinois QB's here. Bean has a bit more size and length compared to the others in this class/position. Bean also is polished, throws the ball extremely well and was just impressive here. FCS level offer kid no question.
WR Jace James Glenbard North- 2017 kid who just seems to be a bit under the radar type. Jace runs very well, has great hands and body control and no doubt will be drawing offers sooner rather than later. Part of a very good GBN team loaded with athletes.
DE Olalere Oladipo Huntley- first time seeing Lere since the fall and man he's added some serious size. Oladipo has been in a wait and see first mode early on this spring with some schools but no longer. Oladipo has size, length and quickness and also possesses that "quick twitch" you look for in an elite level athlete. Only knock I see is that Oladipo needs to work on refining his pass rush moves and technique but the physical tools and upside is there no question.
DE Jackson Perkins Barrington- another name that has real upside and potential yet has been a wait and see mode with several Power 5 schools this spring. Perkins is long and pretty athletic. Perkins no question will need to add more weight and size at the college level and doesn't quite have the punch or impact potential than others here. Yet overall? Perkins is a kid who's upside is tempting enough to draw more Power 5 levels this summer.
ATH Zyon Bell Bolingbrook- All Zyon is missing honestly is tape. Bell just wasn't able to find a comfort mode last season for the Raiders and just never had anything that stood out or popped on video. Yet this kid has size, strength, speed and just looks the part. From an eyeball look/camp potential Bell is a no brainer D1/high FCS level kid. Bell could play WR/OLB/S among other spots here. No question a kid to watch in this class no and especially in say 2-3 years from now and is another kid who could develop into a prime time player down the road.
QB Derek Kyler DeKalb- been watching Derek for a few years now. From a size standpoint Kyler is unfortunately lumped in the same boat as the other 2017 QB's these days, yet Kyler is one of the few in that group who has some real tools and who could draw camp looks as say a WR/S type.
LS Joey Malinowski Bloomington CC 2018- long snapper here and my goal is to see s many specialist as I can this summer. Terrific and very accurate long snapper yes...long snappers are people too kids.
LS Joe Calcagno Fenwick- yet seen him snap live twice this summer...and I feel pretty good about that
all kidding aside another very good and very accurate LS. Ans yes long snappers are people too.OG Jose Vazquez Glenbard North 2018- liked Jose live and liked him here as well. Does well in one on ones has above average speed and good feet and balance. Needs to continue to work on his overall pass pro technique but overall a lot to like here.
Part 2 to follow in a separate thread.
