Counting down to prep football: 10 senior recruits to watch this season
If it seems too early to start breaking down the 2026 prep football season, you’re right. And you’re wrong.
Keep in mind the looming expansion of the IHSA playoffs shortened the summer and bumped up the IHSA calendar by a week. Besides, around here it’s never too early to talk about prep football.
So we’re also moving up our annual countdown to the season opener by a week. From now until opening night on Aug. 21, every Friday we’ll provide insight related to the 2026 IHSA football season for teams, players and coaches throughout our coverage area.
Let’s begin at our traditional starting point, with 10 of the area’s top senior recruits.
Israel Abrams, QB, Montini
With two state titles already under his belt, Abrams seeks a third with the Broncos this fall.
After a lengthy recruiting process for the nation’s No. 2 quarterback recruit, as ranked by Rivals, the 6-foot-5 talent committed to Miami in April from among two dozen scholarship offers.
An impressive showing at the Elite 11 Finals last month bodes well for Abrams this season.
Gavin Ericson-Staton, OL, Montini
Ericson-Staton’s recruiting stock vaulted in the offseason, and the added attention caused him to flip his commitment from Iowa State to Illinois earlier this month.
Maybe it was a February trip to Champaign for the IHSA wrestling tournament that swayed the 6-foot-5, 275-pound tackle. He finished fourth at 285 pounds.
Brady Johnson, TE, Glenbard West
With family ties to Northwestern — his dad played for the Wildcats — it’s no surprise Johnson jumped on his first offer from a Power Four program.
At 6-3 and 200 pounds, Johnson is an impressive target in a football world increasingly reliant on tight ends in the passing game. While other colleges talked to Johnson about playing elsewhere, like on defense, Northwestern coaches told him he’s going there as a tight end.
Bennett Konkey, WR, Geneva
This kid has speed to burn. The 6-1, 185-pound receiver showed it at the state track and field meet while winning titles in the 100 and 200 meters.
A hamstring injury suffered as a junior hampered Konkey last football season, but he finished strong with 8 catches for 152 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Vikings’ season finale.
Konkey recently committed to Illinois among 16 scholarship offers.
Jake Nawrot, QB, Hersey
No area player saw his recruiting stock rise more in the offseason than Nawrot, who committed to Kentucky in April.
Nawrot, 6-4 and 200 pounds, exploded onto the national scene with impressive performances at the Elite 11 camps. After throwing for 3,078 yards and leading the Huskies to the quarterfinals as a junior, Nawrot aims for bigger things this fall.
Jameson Purcell, QB, Maine South
Let’s not forget about Purcell in the area’s crowded quarterback class.
The latest in a long line of talented Maine South signalcallers, the 6-1, 200-pounder thrives in the Hawks’ high-powered offensive system. Purcell had the cream of the crop in the SEC asking for his services, but he committed to defending national champion Indiana.
Tommy Riordan, DL, Hinsdale Central
While we’re talking about family ties, let’s discuss the Riordans.
Tommy, 6-4 and 200 pounds, committed to Iowa in April. He spurned a bunch of other Big Ten offers to join his older brother Gene, a freshman offensive lineman who just completed spring ball with the Hawkeyes.
It’ll be interesting to watch those two go head to head in the trenches a year from now.
Owen Roberts, DL, York
Roberts arrived late to the sport of football, but it didn’t take long for him to develop into a college-caliber talent. With two dozen offers on the table, Roberts earlier this month gave his verbal commitment to Purdue.
At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Roberts offers a lot of quickness off the edge. But once he adds good weight to that frame, he could become a monster. And a steal for the Boilermakers.
Josiah Wallace, OL, Glenbard West
Wallace committed to Northwestern at about the same time Johnson did, giving the Wildcats a pair of players from one of the state’s premier high school programs.
Wallace is an awesome presence on the line at 6-8 and 300 pounds. He transferred to Glenbard West from Mt. Carmel before his junior season, and now the Hilltoppers have a cornerstone contributor at left tackle.
Brock Williams, TE, Libertyville
Can you picture Williams playing on Sundays someday in the NFL? You’re not alone.
He’s the fourth-rated player in the state and the fourth-rated tight end in the nation by Rivals, and he’s got a ton of room to grow with a 6-5, 230-pound frame. More than two dozen Power Four offers came his way before he committed last month to Texas.