Ok so as promised I'm going to first release a bunch to Top 5's via position. Again these are who I feel are the Top 5 recruits via each position. Please understand that these are not necessarily the Top 5 players per position. If you have any questions or need to understand better the differences feel free to post or email me anytime edgytim@edgytim.com I will run these out into a free story in a week or so, but in the meantime DO NOT release or republish on any social media whatsoever. Violating this request will automatically terminate your access to this board. Also note I'm basing position off of the Rivals.com database profiles...and if I feel someone could/should draw looks/offers at another spot I will make mention of it in the ranking.
Thanks
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Quarterbacks
Overall Position Grade: C- It's maybe slightly better than what I thought back in the last fall, yet I still see only aa handful of kids at the most eventually signing to play at the FBS/FCS level. It's not that we don't have good quarterbacks here because we do. This is just going to be one of those classes here unfortunately the quarterbacks heading into spring evaluation have more questions than answers. That's never a good thing. The top few kids are easy but then the picture gets very cloudy and quite honestly you can slot in any of say 8-11 names into the top few slots of my Top 5.
1. Chris Katrenick Jacobs (6-foot-2, 200 pounds)- It's been a pretty easy call for me with Chris Katrenick and from the first time I watched him live I was impressed. Katrenick has all the tools and attributes to play at the FBS level. Katrenick has good size and also is a leader on and off the field. Katrenick plays with poise and confidence and just seems to carry himself well no matter the down or situation. Katrenick has terrific overall skills and fundamentals, throws a very good ball and can make all the required throws. Katrencik on video doesn't show his running ability much but after seeing him live his feet are a better threat than many might think. I also like Katrenicks's overall pocket patience and he also can and will make multiple reads. Katrenick also shows good accuracy in and out of the pocket and his overall decision making is a positive.
My Guess on Chris Katrenick College of Choice: Bowling Green verbal commitment
2. Rey Estes East St. Louis (6-foot-0, 170 pounds)- Estes I feel is more of an athlete when it comes to an eventual college position but again I go according to the Rivals database position listing. Estes is a very quick and speedy athlete. Just watch Estes tuck the football and run and you get a pretty easy picture of his overall ability and potential at the next level. Estes is just an explosive runner with great wiggle and burst. Throwing the football? Estes has a very good arm and touch, especially in his deep ball. Estes is also a terrific leader who according to the East St Louis coaches has a great work ethic and attitude. Areas of improvement? Can Estes stay in the pocket and throw the football effectively against a bigger opposing defensive line? Also Estes accuracy at times has been an issue the few times I've seen him live. Regardless this is a very athletic and talented kis who has a ton of upside regardless of his eventual position.
My Guess on Rey Estes College of Choice: Western Michigan verbal commitment
3. Jacob Keller Fenwick (6-foot-4, 200 pounds)- Keller is a multi-sport athlete for the Friars and Keller is another kid with terrific size and a ton of upside. Keller to me is a bit more advanced in his overall quarterbacking skills and mechanics and just seems to handle pressure well. Keller is a very dangerous runner with good speed and also has the ability to run out of tackles. In the pocket Keller has good patience, can and will make multiple reads and check downs and is also accurate. Keller also shows good footwork and balance and he's just a high level athlete to me. Areas of improvement? It's hard to judge on tape Keller's deep ball and overall arm strength and I'm guessing several college coaches will be in school this spring to se that for themselves.
My Guess on Jacob Keller College of Choice: MAC level/High FCS schools
4. Jeremy Hunt OPRF (6-foot-3, 205 pounds)- Got a heads up on Hunt last summer from Next Level Athletix QB coach Greg Holcomb. Hunt has the size and all the on the hoof positives your looking for in a quarterback. Hunt was also on his way to a strong junior season for the Huskies until he suffered a season ending injury. Hunt no question still has a ton of work to improve most importantly just getting his overall QB fundamentals in order. At times Hunt was able to make plays off of his sheer athletic ability and that was eye opening. Yet Hunt also needs to improve his overall technique and I'm guessing several college coaches will come to see him throw this spring. Yet as an overall athlete/recruit bases on his physical tools? Has the most overall upside of anyone listed here.
My Guess on Jeremy Hunt College of Choice: Lower FBS/High FCS schools
5. Derek Kyler DeKalb 6-foot-1, 185 pounds- To say coming up with the #5 quarterback here was a struggle is a huge understatement. I went with Derek Kyler here and I feel pretty good about it to be honest. Kyler has been extremely productive and his junior tape is very impressive. Kyler makes good rwads, shows good patience and feet in the pocket and I also looks to have a quick release. Kyler throws a good ball, has touch and I was pretty impressed with his arm strength especially is 15-20 yard out ball. Kyler is also a pretty athletic kid who s a threat with the run. I wouldn't be shocked to see Kyler also draw looks this summer as say a safety type. Questions? I haven't seen Kyler live so not sure of his actual size but if the size listed checks out he has a chance to play at a pretty high level in college.
My Guess on Derek Kyler College of Choice: FCS schools/High D2
One Who Just Missed:
One? More like ones. I see a decent sized group of kids who have potential but for whatever reason also have some important questions to answer this spring and summer. Below are just some of the names to watch this spring and summer.
Jaylon Banks Oswego East- good sized kid strong and athletic could draw looks as an athlete type.
Tommy Herion Loyola Academy- didn't have a real junior season because of a transfer. Very strong this off season.
Jonathon Gladstone DePaul Prep- does a lot of things well. Could be in line for a big spring/summer
Tyler Ward Plano- another strong thrower who has upside.
Josh Bean Hinsdale Central- very solid yet also had limited reps in 2015
Zach Oles Palatine- tough as nails but size?
Jake Vincent Hampshire- has a real chance to open up eyes this spring/summer
Johnny Carnagio Minooka- has size and tools no question a sleeper to watch.
Luke Anthony Wheaton North
Zach Mettetall St. Charles North
Cameron Thomas Marian Catholic- athlete type has huge physical upside. WR?
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Next up? Defense
Thanks
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Quarterbacks
Overall Position Grade: C- It's maybe slightly better than what I thought back in the last fall, yet I still see only aa handful of kids at the most eventually signing to play at the FBS/FCS level. It's not that we don't have good quarterbacks here because we do. This is just going to be one of those classes here unfortunately the quarterbacks heading into spring evaluation have more questions than answers. That's never a good thing. The top few kids are easy but then the picture gets very cloudy and quite honestly you can slot in any of say 8-11 names into the top few slots of my Top 5.
1. Chris Katrenick Jacobs (6-foot-2, 200 pounds)- It's been a pretty easy call for me with Chris Katrenick and from the first time I watched him live I was impressed. Katrenick has all the tools and attributes to play at the FBS level. Katrenick has good size and also is a leader on and off the field. Katrenick plays with poise and confidence and just seems to carry himself well no matter the down or situation. Katrenick has terrific overall skills and fundamentals, throws a very good ball and can make all the required throws. Katrencik on video doesn't show his running ability much but after seeing him live his feet are a better threat than many might think. I also like Katrenicks's overall pocket patience and he also can and will make multiple reads. Katrenick also shows good accuracy in and out of the pocket and his overall decision making is a positive.
My Guess on Chris Katrenick College of Choice: Bowling Green verbal commitment
2. Rey Estes East St. Louis (6-foot-0, 170 pounds)- Estes I feel is more of an athlete when it comes to an eventual college position but again I go according to the Rivals database position listing. Estes is a very quick and speedy athlete. Just watch Estes tuck the football and run and you get a pretty easy picture of his overall ability and potential at the next level. Estes is just an explosive runner with great wiggle and burst. Throwing the football? Estes has a very good arm and touch, especially in his deep ball. Estes is also a terrific leader who according to the East St Louis coaches has a great work ethic and attitude. Areas of improvement? Can Estes stay in the pocket and throw the football effectively against a bigger opposing defensive line? Also Estes accuracy at times has been an issue the few times I've seen him live. Regardless this is a very athletic and talented kis who has a ton of upside regardless of his eventual position.
My Guess on Rey Estes College of Choice: Western Michigan verbal commitment
3. Jacob Keller Fenwick (6-foot-4, 200 pounds)- Keller is a multi-sport athlete for the Friars and Keller is another kid with terrific size and a ton of upside. Keller to me is a bit more advanced in his overall quarterbacking skills and mechanics and just seems to handle pressure well. Keller is a very dangerous runner with good speed and also has the ability to run out of tackles. In the pocket Keller has good patience, can and will make multiple reads and check downs and is also accurate. Keller also shows good footwork and balance and he's just a high level athlete to me. Areas of improvement? It's hard to judge on tape Keller's deep ball and overall arm strength and I'm guessing several college coaches will be in school this spring to se that for themselves.
My Guess on Jacob Keller College of Choice: MAC level/High FCS schools
4. Jeremy Hunt OPRF (6-foot-3, 205 pounds)- Got a heads up on Hunt last summer from Next Level Athletix QB coach Greg Holcomb. Hunt has the size and all the on the hoof positives your looking for in a quarterback. Hunt was also on his way to a strong junior season for the Huskies until he suffered a season ending injury. Hunt no question still has a ton of work to improve most importantly just getting his overall QB fundamentals in order. At times Hunt was able to make plays off of his sheer athletic ability and that was eye opening. Yet Hunt also needs to improve his overall technique and I'm guessing several college coaches will come to see him throw this spring. Yet as an overall athlete/recruit bases on his physical tools? Has the most overall upside of anyone listed here.
My Guess on Jeremy Hunt College of Choice: Lower FBS/High FCS schools
5. Derek Kyler DeKalb 6-foot-1, 185 pounds- To say coming up with the #5 quarterback here was a struggle is a huge understatement. I went with Derek Kyler here and I feel pretty good about it to be honest. Kyler has been extremely productive and his junior tape is very impressive. Kyler makes good rwads, shows good patience and feet in the pocket and I also looks to have a quick release. Kyler throws a good ball, has touch and I was pretty impressed with his arm strength especially is 15-20 yard out ball. Kyler is also a pretty athletic kid who s a threat with the run. I wouldn't be shocked to see Kyler also draw looks this summer as say a safety type. Questions? I haven't seen Kyler live so not sure of his actual size but if the size listed checks out he has a chance to play at a pretty high level in college.
My Guess on Derek Kyler College of Choice: FCS schools/High D2
One Who Just Missed:
One? More like ones. I see a decent sized group of kids who have potential but for whatever reason also have some important questions to answer this spring and summer. Below are just some of the names to watch this spring and summer.
Jaylon Banks Oswego East- good sized kid strong and athletic could draw looks as an athlete type.
Tommy Herion Loyola Academy- didn't have a real junior season because of a transfer. Very strong this off season.
Jonathon Gladstone DePaul Prep- does a lot of things well. Could be in line for a big spring/summer
Tyler Ward Plano- another strong thrower who has upside.
Josh Bean Hinsdale Central- very solid yet also had limited reps in 2015
Zach Oles Palatine- tough as nails but size?
Jake Vincent Hampshire- has a real chance to open up eyes this spring/summer
Johnny Carnagio Minooka- has size and tools no question a sleeper to watch.
Luke Anthony Wheaton North
Zach Mettetall St. Charles North
Cameron Thomas Marian Catholic- athlete type has huge physical upside. WR?
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Next up? Defense
