In an effort to continue to give you upfront and in person evaluations....here are the Best of the Best players I saw Live in Week 1. Again I will miss some names etc and also remember...this is the best of the best.
Barrington at Warren Township Friday (look for full detailed scouting reports later this week)
Barrington
DE Lukas VanNess- 2020 3 star ranked Iowa commit has added a ton of weight a good size...yet still looks like he can add even more weight and especially bulk at the college level. VanNess was a two way starter (for the most part...he rotated in and out at OT) who no question will be an important impact player for the Broncos in 2019. Van ness at defensive end I felt played a strong game. VanNess was able to be disruptive to both the Warren run game and the play action passing game. VanNess was able to use his overall length and reach to make several key tackles and has refined his pass rush skill and technique quite a bit. Yet the more I see Van ness the more I can see Iowa potentially look at him as a OT type....VanNess has terrific feet, pretty good overall quickness and mobility and a frame that will still carry quite a bit more weight at the next level. Either way VanNess was the key name here for Barrington.
Warren Township
DT Willis Singleton Jr.- 2020 three star DT who's committed to Iowa State. Junior has made impressive gains both physically (has converted a lot of weight into muscle) and as well as improving his overall quickness and linemen technique. At times Singleton Jr. was able to pretty much eliminate the Barrington inside run game while also just bringing inside constant pressure in the pass rush against Barrington. Singleton Jr. is also in much better condition this season and only towards the very end of the game seemed a bit fatigued...as he was cramping right toward the end of the game. Has a chance to become a longer term starter at Iowa State in my opinion.
LB Malachi McNeal- This 2021 linebacker is simply all over the field for the Blue Devils. Listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and McNeal was one of the key play makers here for Warren. McNeal is able to drop into coverage while also being a sideline to sideline backer who has exceptional instincts, seems to be able to sniff out plays and goes sideline to sideline. Has an impressive motor and a terrific nose for the football while also showing some wheels and also some athleticism. McNeal also can just lay the wood and it will be interesting to see how long it takes the colleges to swarm on him.
2020 K/P Adam Saul- Huh? Yep...special teams are easily one of the most underrated and overlook parts of the game and when your team has a solid kicking and punting game it makes the different between being a good team and a title contending team. Saul (Illinois State commit) =was able to punt the Blue Devils out of trouble on multiple occasions and has 50 yard or so field goal range. Saul will no question help Warren win games this season.
Batavia
RB/LB Quinn Urwiler- Urwiler, who's already committed to North Dakota was hands down the best and most consistent player for the Bulldogs in this loss to East St. Louis. Urwiler, like most of the Bulldogs took several early knockout punches and found themselves down 19-0 in a heartbeat. Yet despite taking some serious punishment from a nasty good East St Louis defense, Urwiler never backed down, never quit or backed down and balled out all game long. Urwiler has just terrific overall instincts, has a non stop motor and again his approach and attitude was impressive to say the least. I'm still not sure where Urwiler will play in college at North Dakota...I just know he's a football player and a damn good one.
East St. Louis- I guess it would be easy to just cover myself and say "everyone" was impressive but...
QB Tyler Macon 2021 quarterback has added some height, size and muscle from a year ago, and also added some swagger, and throws an outstanding medium to deep ball that I didn't see a year ago. Macon no doubt has put himself directly at the top of the 2021 QB Class in Illinois...a class that will be one of the top I can ever remember from a FBS/FCS talent level. Macon, who's able to operate with a FBS sized offensive line in front of him won't need to run the football a ton...but when he does decide to run? Wow...just wow. The only real knock I see see against Macon is height (listed at 6-foot-0, 185 pounds) but in this day and age of the RPO quarterbacks...his height won't be much of an issue in my opinion.
S Antonio Johnson 2020 4 star ranked S and WR who is simply an athlete physically at another level above his peers. Johnson has excellent size. length and reach along with being s very speedy and fluid runner and defender. Johnson can be an impact player on either side of the football and showed his tools, skills and athletic potential in this win. Johnson's length and speed allows him to close on a receiver as well as anyone in this class and his overall ball skills and ability to play physical are just again another level or two above everyone else at the high school level. I feel Johnson has SEC and eventual NFL physical potential.
WR/S Dominic Lovett 2021 Damn...that was my first impression of Lovett in action here against Batavia...Lovett, who transferred in from Belleville west this summer has incredible tools and speed and they were on full display in the win over Batavia. Lovett more than a few times was able to literally run past the secondary and at one point shows some outstanding separation speed. Between Lovett's hands, speed and all around game and tools...this kid will be a 4 star ranked name in the class of 2021 in my opinion. I was highly, highly impressed with Lovett.
DE Kevon Billingsley 2020 Billingsley, who was a transfer in from Lutheran North out of St Louis is simply another high level athlete who has all the physical tools and upside to become a dominant player at the next level. Ranked as a three star by Rivals, Billingsley was a kid who stood out at a few winter and spring camps (Nike/Rivals Camp) and Billingsley was able to become an impact player all game here. Billingsley has great length, reach and terrific speed/quickness and has a ton of quick twitch as well. Billingsley also starts low, stays low and uses his explosiveness of the edge exceptionally well for a high school defensive end. Billingsley also just has look of a kid who has the potential to get better and better down the line. Billingsley also looks to have added more weight and size from this winter/spring yet also didn't lose any speed at all. Easily one of the most impressive kids here on Saturday.
OL Javontez Spraggins- A Tennessee commit who was dominat in various camps this winter and spring has now carried that over to the field this season. Spraggins, who's listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds by Rivals is probably closer to 330 pounds these days... yet the funny thing about Spraggins is that even with the added weight he will need to shed for the college level...Spraggins never seems to wear down...has exceptional speed and the kid just runs and moves well. Strength? Spraggins at times just seems to throw kids around and no question possesses one of the biggest and hardest punches at the high school level I've seen in quite awhile. Spraggins is also a quiet leader of an offensive line that is exceptional this season.
Barrington at Warren Township Friday (look for full detailed scouting reports later this week)
Barrington
DE Lukas VanNess- 2020 3 star ranked Iowa commit has added a ton of weight a good size...yet still looks like he can add even more weight and especially bulk at the college level. VanNess was a two way starter (for the most part...he rotated in and out at OT) who no question will be an important impact player for the Broncos in 2019. Van ness at defensive end I felt played a strong game. VanNess was able to be disruptive to both the Warren run game and the play action passing game. VanNess was able to use his overall length and reach to make several key tackles and has refined his pass rush skill and technique quite a bit. Yet the more I see Van ness the more I can see Iowa potentially look at him as a OT type....VanNess has terrific feet, pretty good overall quickness and mobility and a frame that will still carry quite a bit more weight at the next level. Either way VanNess was the key name here for Barrington.
Warren Township
DT Willis Singleton Jr.- 2020 three star DT who's committed to Iowa State. Junior has made impressive gains both physically (has converted a lot of weight into muscle) and as well as improving his overall quickness and linemen technique. At times Singleton Jr. was able to pretty much eliminate the Barrington inside run game while also just bringing inside constant pressure in the pass rush against Barrington. Singleton Jr. is also in much better condition this season and only towards the very end of the game seemed a bit fatigued...as he was cramping right toward the end of the game. Has a chance to become a longer term starter at Iowa State in my opinion.
LB Malachi McNeal- This 2021 linebacker is simply all over the field for the Blue Devils. Listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and McNeal was one of the key play makers here for Warren. McNeal is able to drop into coverage while also being a sideline to sideline backer who has exceptional instincts, seems to be able to sniff out plays and goes sideline to sideline. Has an impressive motor and a terrific nose for the football while also showing some wheels and also some athleticism. McNeal also can just lay the wood and it will be interesting to see how long it takes the colleges to swarm on him.
2020 K/P Adam Saul- Huh? Yep...special teams are easily one of the most underrated and overlook parts of the game and when your team has a solid kicking and punting game it makes the different between being a good team and a title contending team. Saul (Illinois State commit) =was able to punt the Blue Devils out of trouble on multiple occasions and has 50 yard or so field goal range. Saul will no question help Warren win games this season.
Batavia
RB/LB Quinn Urwiler- Urwiler, who's already committed to North Dakota was hands down the best and most consistent player for the Bulldogs in this loss to East St. Louis. Urwiler, like most of the Bulldogs took several early knockout punches and found themselves down 19-0 in a heartbeat. Yet despite taking some serious punishment from a nasty good East St Louis defense, Urwiler never backed down, never quit or backed down and balled out all game long. Urwiler has just terrific overall instincts, has a non stop motor and again his approach and attitude was impressive to say the least. I'm still not sure where Urwiler will play in college at North Dakota...I just know he's a football player and a damn good one.
East St. Louis- I guess it would be easy to just cover myself and say "everyone" was impressive but...
QB Tyler Macon 2021 quarterback has added some height, size and muscle from a year ago, and also added some swagger, and throws an outstanding medium to deep ball that I didn't see a year ago. Macon no doubt has put himself directly at the top of the 2021 QB Class in Illinois...a class that will be one of the top I can ever remember from a FBS/FCS talent level. Macon, who's able to operate with a FBS sized offensive line in front of him won't need to run the football a ton...but when he does decide to run? Wow...just wow. The only real knock I see see against Macon is height (listed at 6-foot-0, 185 pounds) but in this day and age of the RPO quarterbacks...his height won't be much of an issue in my opinion.
S Antonio Johnson 2020 4 star ranked S and WR who is simply an athlete physically at another level above his peers. Johnson has excellent size. length and reach along with being s very speedy and fluid runner and defender. Johnson can be an impact player on either side of the football and showed his tools, skills and athletic potential in this win. Johnson's length and speed allows him to close on a receiver as well as anyone in this class and his overall ball skills and ability to play physical are just again another level or two above everyone else at the high school level. I feel Johnson has SEC and eventual NFL physical potential.
WR/S Dominic Lovett 2021 Damn...that was my first impression of Lovett in action here against Batavia...Lovett, who transferred in from Belleville west this summer has incredible tools and speed and they were on full display in the win over Batavia. Lovett more than a few times was able to literally run past the secondary and at one point shows some outstanding separation speed. Between Lovett's hands, speed and all around game and tools...this kid will be a 4 star ranked name in the class of 2021 in my opinion. I was highly, highly impressed with Lovett.
DE Kevon Billingsley 2020 Billingsley, who was a transfer in from Lutheran North out of St Louis is simply another high level athlete who has all the physical tools and upside to become a dominant player at the next level. Ranked as a three star by Rivals, Billingsley was a kid who stood out at a few winter and spring camps (Nike/Rivals Camp) and Billingsley was able to become an impact player all game here. Billingsley has great length, reach and terrific speed/quickness and has a ton of quick twitch as well. Billingsley also starts low, stays low and uses his explosiveness of the edge exceptionally well for a high school defensive end. Billingsley also just has look of a kid who has the potential to get better and better down the line. Billingsley also looks to have added more weight and size from this winter/spring yet also didn't lose any speed at all. Easily one of the most impressive kids here on Saturday.
OL Javontez Spraggins- A Tennessee commit who was dominat in various camps this winter and spring has now carried that over to the field this season. Spraggins, who's listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds by Rivals is probably closer to 330 pounds these days... yet the funny thing about Spraggins is that even with the added weight he will need to shed for the college level...Spraggins never seems to wear down...has exceptional speed and the kid just runs and moves well. Strength? Spraggins at times just seems to throw kids around and no question possesses one of the biggest and hardest punches at the high school level I've seen in quite awhile. Spraggins is also a quiet leader of an offensive line that is exceptional this season.
