'10 IL WR Kyle Prater (USC Verbal)

[wadc45]

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Hillside (IL) Proviso West

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190 lbs
Forty: 4.56 secs

Panthers to rely on explosive offense :: High Schools :: YourSeason

August 27, 2008
By TIM STABLEIN tstablein@pioneerlocal.com

The Proviso West depth chart after two days of practice listed Kyle Prater as a wide receiver.

That is subject to change if the 6-foot-3, 185-pound junior isn't involved in a significant amount of plays on offense.

Proviso West coach Famous Hulbert said Prater could be moved to quarterback if that's what it takes to get the football in his hands on a regular basis.

Prater put himself on the radar screen of college recruiters after an impressive showing during a one-day camp in June at the University of Illinois.

"Unbelievable potential," Hulbert said. "He showed a lot of flashes last year. Now we are looking for consistency. He's a Division I receiver and we can't allow him to not touch the ball. He was the best receiver the day we were down there (at Illinois).

Continued...

Football Focus 2008 | Recruiters quickly turning to outstanding junior class

Wide receiver Kyle Prater of Proviso West: Prater had a very good summer, including an impressive one day camp at Illinois. Prater has good size and skills and will draw plenty of recruiting looks this fall for the 2-0 Panthers.

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9/16

From O&B News...talks about his visit to Illinois last weekend...says there is a strong change he'll go to Illinois if they offer. Also hearing from the likes of Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Minnesota, Duke, Louisville, Stanford, Indiana and Northwestern.

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10/19

From O&B News...made his second visit to C-U for an Illini game this year...going to try to make the OSU game...talks about possibly committing early to Illinois.

Rivals.com Football Recruiting - Army Analysis: National Combine standouts (free)

WR Kyle Prater, 6-4/200, Hillside (Ill.) Proviso West

ASSETS: Has excellent height, hands and body control.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to work on staying low in and out of his breaks because he is so tall.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE AT COMBINE: Ran a comeback route in which he went up and snatched the ball away from the defensive back while keeping his feet in bounds.
CONCLUSION: Has several offers, and should end up being one of the most heavily-recruited players in the entire country.

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1/10

From O&B News...talks about the combine in San Antonio where he was with his family...Wisconsin has offered joining Illinois, Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern, and Cincinnati and he feels ND and MSU are close to offering.

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1/20

From the Iowa site...made a visit to Iowa last weekend for a junior day...says academics will be most important and probably won't decide until after his senior season.

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2/2

By EdgyTim...Stanford and Penn State have offered...will go to junior days at Michigan State and to Illinois...taking prep classes for the ACT.

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2/10

By A Trieu. Prater has new offers from Stanford, Vandy, Penn State, Michigan and Minnesota. Ohio State has been talking to him more, and he feels an offer could come soon. He talks about his interest in Michigan and Penn State.

Scout.com: Hulbert Prodigy Prater Blowing Up

By Jack Lyman
InsideIllini.com staff
Posted Feb 13, 2009

Former Illini football player Famous Hulbert has his work cut out for him trying to uplift his Proviso West football program. Playing in a strong conference with a young, inexperienced team is no fun, but he is making progress. And he has a bonafide superstar in Kyle Prater to help put his program on the map.

Continued...

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2/17

By EdgyTim...talks about his latest offer from Arkansas...denies the report in a Chicago newspaper that he has any favorites...says he is enjoying the recruiting process and is in no hurry to decide.

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2/23

By EdgyTim...was supposed to visit a few schools, including MSU, with Corey Cooper but had to cancel because of weather...will be at Illinois' on 3/1 and will also be at the 7-on-7 at OSU.

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2/23

From the Northwestern site...says he is very interested in the Wildcats...talks about his skill sets and what makes him such a highly touted prospect.

[wadc45]

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2/26

From the OSU site...talks about his junior season and the San Antonio combine...talks about what he knows of OSU.

[IrishCalves]

If you guys offer - and I would if I were you, because the kid has big time game, I'd say moreso than Tai-ler Jones at WR (JMO) - I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up with him. Not that he grew up Buckeye or anything, but between Robiskie's departure, an entrenched QB in Pryor, and the way you guys have been racking up double digit win seasons, I'd say he'd be interested.

He's been palling around with the insanely soft Illini verbal that is Corey Cooper, and might end up being a package deal with him. Hardly a definite thing, and its not like they're even marketing themselves that way like other prospects do. Point remains, you guys are getting mentioned while not having offered. tOSU, U of I, and ND will all get serious looks, probably Penn State too.

[Redhawk]

YouTube - Kyle Prater (Football)

YouTube - #21 Kyle Prater - Proviso West -...

[southcampus]

5:35. Best catch on the tape IMHO. I really like this kid's skill set and his size. Would be perfectly content to see him get an offer and I hope he makes it out for the spring game as well.

[Sportsbuck28]

Reminds me a bit of Julio Jones.

[southcampus]

Originally Posted by Sportsbuck28

Reminds me a bit of Julio Jones.

I was hesitant to say that. His stiff arm and body control are both there but the speed is not from the film posted here. Big, physical receiver nonetheless. I think Julio Jones is really in a class of his own, a class without AJ Green. He is a monster. I would compare Prater to maybe Hakeem Nicks.

[FF08]

Looks like a kid that will grow into a TE. I wouldn't offer as a WR.

[westbuck04]

Originally Posted by FF08

Looks like a kid that will grow into a TE. I wouldn't offer as a WR.

Looks like a WR to me, and a good one. You don't need 4.3 speed to be a great college receiver, and he looks to have everything else you would want. Great size, leaping ability and fantastic hands. Runs with a lot of power and can do some things after the catch as well. I'm much more impressed with Prater than Marlon Brown, and he's doing this against much better competition.

I'm surprised we haven't offered. Illinois fans are supremely confident (what else is new?), but I'd LOVE to see him in this class....

[DontHateOState]

Originally Posted by FF08

Looks like a kid that will grow into a TE. I wouldn't offer as a WR.

I agree. He looks like he could man the Stoneburner-flex role in the future. His ability to catch the ball at its highest point is impressive. His speed is average. Bulk him up and make him more of an H-Back receiver than a Split End receiver.

[southcampus]

No way would anybody in their right mind move this kid to TE! He is a stud receiver, not a blocker. He isn't even 200 pounds, wasn't meant to hold a frame of 250 pounds. He will be successful as a receiver, why mess that up by moving him to TE?

[WaitingforKickoff]

Speed-wise very similar to Kevin Koger, but is 40-50 pounds lighter. I think we can do better at WR.

[DontHateOState]

Originally Posted by southcampus

No way would anybody in their right mind move this kid to TE! He is a stud receiver, not a blocker. He isn't even 200 pounds, wasn't meant to hold a frame of 250 pounds. He will be successful as a receiver, why mess that up by moving him to TE?

I think he has a lot of room to add weight on his frame. He's 6-4 and lanky. I could see 30-40 pounds more on him easily.

The real dilemma is that, at 190, his speed is still not very great. If you can add solid weight on him, will he become markedly slower? He would definitely benefit from playing in an offense other than the spread. He could be a nice "real" wide receiver.

[southcampus]

My thoughts are that you don't put a kid that athletic at TE unless he is already that big.

[Buckeyecty4]

Kyle is probably the best WR in the Midwest. I hope an offer goes out soon.