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Countdown to prep football: Nine area quarterbacks to watch

Our countdown to prep football is just getting warmed up.

Every week we’ll provide insight related to the 2025 football season for teams, players and coaches throughout our coverage area. We’ll reach No. 1 on Aug. 29 — opening night.

Last week we brought you 10 senior recruits to watch. Now, sticking with a top player theme, we’re looking at nine area quarterbacks to get out and see this season.

Israel Abrams, Montini

At 6-foot-4, it’s no wonder colleges are lining up for his services. The rising junior put on a stunning display during the playoffs last season while leading the Broncos to a state title.

His numbers weren’t earth-shattering — 2,000 passing yards and 26 touchdowns — but his late surge jumped out. Abrams threw for 225 yards and 2 scores in the title game.

Abrams has 15 scholarship offers, including from Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State and Ole Miss.

Mason Atkins, West Aurora

Atkins committed to Ball State in May after weighing six offers. It’ll be interesting to see how much his stock rises this senior season.

He was near flawless as a junior, throwing for 1,700 yards, 32 touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 72% of his passes. He also led West Aurora to a 10-0 start to the season.

Aidan Crawley, Stevenson

Crawley is eyeing a huge senior season after leading the Patriots to a 10-2 record last year. At 5-10 he’s not the prototype like other quarterbacks listed here, but he still gets the job done.

Also a strong baseball player, Crawley as a junior threw for more than 2,200 yards, rushed for nearly 500 and accounted for a total of 26 touchdowns.

Colin Ford, Waubonsie Valley

There are no offers on the table for Ford, but that should change with some solid senior tape from the 6-5, 220-pounder.

Ford is a tremendous athlete — a state qualifier in the 100 meters — and has been getting camp reps at quarterback and tight end. He certainly wouldn’t be the first area quarterback to find a future elsewhere on the field.

Owen Lansu, Downers Grove North

Lansu weighed several offers before committing last summer to Minnesota.

The rising senior has been a known name since his sophomore season when he led the Trojans to the Class 7A title game. Last year they reached the quarterfinals.

That’s a lot of success with a young quarterback, but the stage never seems too big for Lansu.

Johnny O’Brien, Fremd

It’s been a brilliant high school career for the rising senior lefty, who was named the Daily Herald’s Cook County All-Area football captain last season and followed in the spring by being named the All-Area baseball captain.

He’ll play football at Northwestern after committing last summer. As a junior, O’Brien (6-2, 190) completed 70% of his passes for 3,400 yards and 39 touchdowns while breaking more than a dozen program records.

J.T. Padron, St. Charles North

A recent transfer from St. Charles East, Padron (6-4, 205) is an interesting player to watch this upcoming season.

Injuries limited him with the Saints as a junior, but he still showed flashes while the team struggled to a 2-7 record. Padron should start seeing more college interest after a busy offseason of camps.

Jameson Purcell, Maine South

A lefty from the class of 2027, Purcell holds a whopping 31 scholarship offers.

At 6-3, 195 pounds, his frame is ideal for the next level. As a sophomore he completed 70% of his passes for more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Purcell is ranked 11th nationally among quarterbacks in his class.

Trae Taylor, Carmel

What more can we say about the player at the top of the state’s Class of 2027 rankings and near the top nationwide?

After the hype that’s built this offseason, Taylor (6-3, 180) and the Corsairs will draw crowds just to see him play. A whirlwind recruiting process ended in May when Taylor chose Nebraska over Illinois, LSU and Texas A&M.

Montini Catholic quarterback Israel Abrams reacts after winning the Class 3A State football championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
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