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'05 Illinois recruiting

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article on Christensen

sounds like he may also like to play baseball

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After throwing for 3,800 yards and 33 touchdowns in leading Lockport to a second consecutive football championship, one would think Jake Christensen is settled in his choice for collegiate sport.

But hitting over .400 while leading your team to a 15-3 record has a way of upsetting the ball bucket, NBC5's Mark Schanowski reported.

The Porters' standout, who is this week's NBC5 High School Athlete of the Week, isn't entirely sure he wants to continue his collegiate career on the gridiron. Christensen said he'd also like to play baseball at the next level.

"The intensity in football is bar none to any other sport, in my opinion," Christensen said. "Baseball, it's a beautiful game. It's the hardest game to play, they say. So the beauty in hitting is great. In football, you take your frustrations out on the other team. There is nothing like that."

Christensen, who will be a senior in the fall, may have a tough decision to make, but family history may provide a clue to future direction. Christensen's father, Jeff, played six years in the NFL after a college career at Eastern Illinois.

"It's great to go home and talk to an ex-NFL quarterback and all his knowledge he has," Christensen said. "It seems like there's something new every day I hear from him. I could be throwing a little off, and I come home and we'd go in the back yard and he'd fix it."

Jeff Christensen, for his part, would rather see his son play baseball and avoid the kind of physical pounding that comes with playing quarterback.

Jake's baseball coach, Jim Hall, thinks he has options in both sports.

"(He's) really developed as a baseball player," Hall said. "I think he's going to be a possible draft pick out of high school. He plays right field, he's got a great arm, he's a great hitter, he's really developed as a team leader and he's a very hard worker, and he took us to the state championship in football."

Soon, the Porters football team will get together to start summer workouts, hoping for a three-peat. Christensen will take his recruiting visits with some of the nation's premier programs and then, it will be decision time.

"It's been a dream of mine to always be successful in football and go to a big college and all the glitz and glamour that you dream of when you're little," Christensen said. "I push it aside during baseball because we've got a great team and we're focused on winning out here."
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These recruits are funny. Foster tells Kurelic a couple weeks ago Ohio State is his favorite and two weeks later he commits to Wisconsin saying he knew he wanted to be a Badger all along. Too funny.
 
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another Chicago kid to keep an eye on is WR Rasheed Ward

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http://scout.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=145&p=8&c=1&nid=1174181

Ht: 6-0.5 Wt: 168 40: 4.48
Position: WR, CB
Projected as: WR
High School: Harper HS
(Chicago, IL)

Biography:
As a sophomore, Ward had 33 catches for 731 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his junior year, he recorded 47 catches for 1021 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Coach's Comments: "Rasheed is an outstanding player," says Coach Antoine Reed. "He is quick off the ball and plays with a passion to win and be the best there is. He plays very hard and practices the way that he plays."

Scouting Report: Rasheed is a versatile player in his ability to play both ways. He is better suited for offense, and has learned to play the underthrown ball to his advantage. He blocks well, and has a good burst of speed when needed.
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His favorites are LSU, FSU, USC, Miami, Iowa, Florida, Tenn and tOSU.- no offers yet
 
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Free Insiders: Illinois top 10

from Chris Pool the Insiders Midwest guru (he lives in Chicago area)

Illinois is loaded with talented prep football players. The Land of Lincoln could have as many "National Hot 100" prospects than ever before.
1. Dan Doering OL 6-6, 290, 5.1 Barrington, Illinois

Arguably one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the entire nation. Has offers from both LSU and USC. Michigan, Notre Dame and Iowa are leading the pack at this time. Over 20 scholarship offers.

2. Dace RichardsonOL 6-6, 295, 5.0 Wheaton (Ill.) Warrenville South

Don’t be surprised if you see Richardson ranked ahead of Doering in some rankings. If I had to take one offensive lineman to start as a true freshman, it would be Dace Richardson. Over 20 schools have offered a scholarship.

3. Rashard Mendenhall RB 5-11, 190, 4.4 Skokie (Ill.) Niles West

Mendenhall is good enough to be the #1 prospect in the state and School Sports Magazine has him ranked as the #1 prospect in Illinois as well as the Midwest. The state of Illinois is deep in talent and I’d take the O-Tackles first but Mendenhall could be the best running back the state of Illinois has seen in 20 years. Committed to the University of Illinois.

4. Anthony Moeaki TE 6-4, 235, 4.7 Wheaton (Ill.) Warrenville South

Every school that has come to see Richardson has come away just as impressed with Moeaki. Very good blocker, big hands and had 405 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2003. Illinois and Iowa were the first to offer a scholarship. BYU, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin have offered since.

5. David Moosman OL 6-4, 270, 5.2 Libertyville, Illinois

Moosman was named 2nd team all-state in 2003 and helped Libertyville to a runner-up finish in Class 7A. Moosman isn’t getting as much attention as Doering and Richardson but he is racking up the scholarship offers on a daily basis. Notre Dame, Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin have all offered.

6. Dion Foster RB 5-8, 190, 4.4 Oak Lawn (Ill.) Richards

Verbally committed to Wisconsin, should break school rushing and scoring record in 2004. Bulldog coach Gary Korhonen says Foster is the best running back he’s coached in 30 years. Rushed for 1,909 yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore but didn’t have the luxury of running behind All-American Mike Jones (Iowa) his junior year and still managed to rush for 1,558 and 20 touchdowns.

7 Alex Magee DT 6-5, 270, 4.9 Oswego, Illinois

Best prospect to come out of Oswego since Joey Goodspeed. In the play-offs last year, Magee owned the line of scrimmage and was a constant presence in the opposing backfield. Led the Panthers to the 7A state championship, Illinois has offered a scholarship.

8. Ryan “Bubba” Bain LB 6-2, 258, 4.8 Bolingbrook, Illinois

Led a team in tackles that included All-American Kyle Williams…Great motor, always plays with enthusiasm and makes the big hit. Could play defensive end, defensive tackle, guard, center or even fullback at the next level. Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa State, Purdue, Indiana and Michigan State have all offered a scholarship.

9. Chris Jeske LB 6-1, 220, 4.7 Joliet (Ill.) Catholic

First linebacker to start all four years on the varsity at “The Hill” since John Piazza (1975-’78). Jeske is a warrior that is terrific in the box and in between the tackles. Has a nose for the football and is a weight room monster. Has offers from Kansas, Northwestern, UCLA, Wisconsin and Indiana. Jeske is waiting on an offer from Michigan, if he gets it look for an early commitment to the Wolverines.

10. Tom McAndrew LB 6-5, 243, 4.8 Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West

Three-year varsity starter, led team in tackles and was named defensive most valuable player as a sophomore. McAndrew had 86 tackles and 300 receiving yards in 2003 and was named all-area by the Daily-Herald. Will probably move to defensive end at the next level. Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Michigan State and Indiana have offered a scholarship.
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not a mention of tOSU- 3 pretty good Olineman- the only guy we offered or has any interest in us is Doering- :(

plus it doesn't look very good for Jeske :scum4:

Rivals Ill top 10

Illinois Top 10 prospects May 2004 EdgyTim.com | last sorted on 5/9/2004
Illinois Class of 2005 Top 10 prospects May 2004
--------------------------------end description---------------------------------->
Name Pos. Rating Ht/Wt Hometown Schools
1 Dan Doering OL 6-6/300 Barrington (IL) list
Doering has more early offers and interest this spring than any prospect I can remember in Illinois. The offers and interest roll in daily for Doering, and when was the last time both LSU and USC offered an Illinois kid at all?
2 Rashard Mendenhall RB 6-0/190 Skokie (IL) Niles West Illinois
Committed to Illinois, and could potentially be the best back ever in Illinois.
3 Dace Richardson OL 6-6/300 Wheaton (IL) Wheaton South list
It's a huge year for linemen again in Illinois, and Dace is the place for many schools looking for a top notch lineman! 6-foot-6, 300 pounds of nasty here.
4 Anthony Moeaki TE 6-4/250 Wheaton (IL) Wheaton South list
Has drawn as many offers (17) as any TE in Illinois ever has, and will Moeaki stay at home or will he look West in the end?
5 Jake Christensen QB 6-2/195 Lockport (IL) list
Could very well wind up as the first Elite 11 quarterback from Illinois. Huge arm and guts here.
6 Ryan Bain LB 6-2/250 Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook list
Bain has landed offers from Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa State, Purdue and Indiana. Expect more to follow shortly.
7 David Moosman OL 6-5/270 Libertyville (IL) list
Outstanding mobility and huge upside physically with Moosman. Has 10 offers and growing.
8 Chris Jeske LB 6-1/225 Joliet (IL) Catholic Academy list
Old school player here, has offers from Northwestern, Wisconsin, Kansas and UCLA.
9 Eric Hedstrom OL 6-6/265 Arlington Heights (IL) Prospect list
Several colleges have said that "they love" Hedstrom's size and upside potential. Offers from Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern and Nebraska.
10 Alex Magee DT 6-5/270 Oswego (IL) list
Has the frame, size and defines the eyeball test. Illinois has offered, and expect several offers to come.
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http://www.suntimes.com/output/prep/cst-spt-foot30.html

Here is a look at what Wheaton South has to offer:

*Dace Richardson, a 6-6, 300-pound offensive lineman, is rated No. 3 on recruiting analyst Tom Lemming's post-May list of the top prospects in the area. He plans to visit Iowa, a noted producer of NFL linemen, but also is considering offers from more than 20 other big-time programs, including LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Maryland, Oregon, UCLA and every Big Ten school except Penn State and Indiana.

Lemming said Richardson reminds him of former Wheaton North lineman Akeem Millington, who is at Oklahoma.

"[Richardson] has a great upside,'' Lemming said. "He is in only his third year of football. He is starting to learn. He improves with every game.''

"I'm amazed by all this attention. The May evaluation period showed me how hectic the recruiting process will get in the fall,'' said Richardson, whose father was a running back with the New York Giants in the 1970s. "My dad tells me to keep my head on straight and don't take the recruiting stuff too seriously. I always feel that I have to prove something.''

*Tony Moeaki, a 6-4, 240-pounder who is rated as the No. 1 tight end in the Midwest and one of the top four tight ends in the nation by Lemming. He has 25 offers, including USC, LSU, Tennessee, Nebraska, Notre Dame, UCLA and every Big Ten school except Minnesota. He plans to make unofficial visits to USC, Tennessee and Michigan State over the summer.

"I wasn't expecting all this attention,'' Moeaki said. "No one ever explained what this would be about. But it has been fun.''

"College coaches like his ability to run-block on off-tackle plays and his ability to square up and block quicker players in the open field,'' Muhitch said. "He is a great blocker. He has a perfect body for a tight end.

"He has sure hands, runs well and has great versatility. He could be a fullback, slot receiver or tight end in college.''

*Grant Nemeth, a 6-4, 240-pound guard, is attracting interest from Mid-American Conference schools, including Northern Illinois. "If he plays well as a senior, he could go to a higher level,'' Muhitch said.

*Mike Smith, a 6-5, 315-pound guard/tackle, made a name for himself during the May evaluation period. He has no offers to date but is getting strong looks from Big Ten and MAC schools. Like Nemeth, his senior performance will be crucial in determining his future.

*Matt Stevens, a 6-5, 225-pound wide receiver, has great college potential because of his size and 4.6 speed. Northwestern is interested.

Muhitch shows the Naperville North film to recruiters. Moeaki was double- and triple-covered, leaving Stevens to showcase his receiving and blocking skills.

"My toughest job is to get recruiters past the two blue-chippers [Richardson and Moeaki] and make them aware of the other three,'' Muhitch said. "They only want to see the first two. Then I show tape of the other three, and I get their attention for the first time.''

Muhitch is prepared to give his players maximum exposure to college coaches and to prevent the recruiting process from turning into a circus.

What do you do when four Big Ten coaches walk into the building at the same time? Do you have enough film available? Where are the transcripts? Should you advise a player to make an early commitment?

"This experience has taught me that Division I football is a big business,'' Muhitch said. "They sell their schools and their programs by putting their best foot forward. Our kids see the very best. My counsel is that our kids need to go to their campuses and meet the position coach that they will work with on a daily basis. They must like them and be able to work with them.''

Meanwhile, Niles West running back Rashard Mendenhall, who is committed to Illinois, and Barrington offensive lineman Dan Doering continue to rank 1-2 among the leading prospects in the area.

The two top quarterbacks, Lockport's Jake Christensen and Maine South's Sean Price, are in demand. Christensen has offers from Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia and Arkansas. Price, the Sun-Times Player of the Year in 2003, has offers from Illinois and Washington State.

AREA'S TOP 30 FOOTBALL PROSPECTS FOR 2004

According to analyst Tom Lemming

No. Player, School Pos. Ht. Wt.
1. Rashard Mendenhall, Niles West RB 5-10 205
2. Dan Doering, Barrington OL 6-6 300
3. Dace Richardson, Wheaton South OL 6-6 300
4. Tony Moeaki, Wheaton South TE 6-4 240
5. Ryan Bain, Bolingbrook LB 6-2 260
6. Jake Christensen, Lockport QB 6-1 195
7. Chris Jeske, Joliet Catholic LB 6-2 215
8. Dion Foster, Richards RB 5-8 190
9. David Moosman, Libertyville OL 6-5 265
10. Sean Price, Maine South QB 6-2 175
11. Alex Magee, Oswego DL 6-4 270
12. Terrance Jamison, Thornton OL 6-4 240
13. Stephen Benjamin, Leo WR 6-2 205
14. Eric Hedstrom, Prospect OL 6-6 255
15. Tom McAndrew, Glenbard West TE 6-4 240
16. Garrett Seeger, Barrington QB 6-1 195
17. Orlando Moore, Morgan Park WR 6-0 170
18. Keyon Brown, Thornton DL 6-2 210
19. Scott Smith, Highland Park LB 6-4 215
20. Justin Anderson, Steinmetz QB 6-2 200
21. Andy Laue, Barrington OL 6-5 280
22. Mike Kafka, St. Rita QB 6-3 185
23. Freddie Barnes, H-Flossmoor QB 6-2 180
24. Markus Murray, Thornton WR 6-0 185
25. Doug Pilcher, Hinsdale Central DE 6-5 240
26. Jarrett Drake, Thornridge WR 6-3 195
27. Chris Clancy, Joliet Catholic RB 6-3 215
28. Sam Porter, Morgan Park LB 6-2 225
29. Omari Dollison, Hales Franciscan RB 6-2 225
30. Wade Weyer, St. Rita RB 5-10 180
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good article on Ill verbal Rashard Mendenhall
 
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IL LB Sam Porter

http://www.ohiostate.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=27255
http://scout.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=145&p=8&c=1&nid=1412483

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Sam Porter
Strongside DE / Outside linebacker
Chicago (IL)
Morgan Park

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 225 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.6 seconds
Vertical leap: 31 inches

Biography:
Porter is the best linebacker to come out of Morgan Park since Corey Mays (Notre Dame). He'll be a three-year starter in 2004 and was named all-conference as a junior.
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Rivals lists porter as the #18 player in Illinois.

http://scout.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=145&p=9&c=2&cid=277150&nid=1412483&fhn=1

In the latest Insiders update Porter mentions he doesn't have a leader but he's always liked the Buckeyes but hasn't received an Ohio State offer yet.
 
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LB/DL Ryan Bain

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http://ohiostate.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=15375

http://scout.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&cfg=null&c=1&yr=2005&nid=1069847

Inside linebacker / Defensive tackle
Bolingbrook (IL)- same HS as '04 Iowa signee Kyle Williams
Bolingbrook

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 250 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.7 seconds
Bench max: 400 pounds
Squat max: 600 pounds
GPA: 3.1
ACT: 24
'03 stats: 60 solo tackles, 35 assists, five sacks and two interceptions.
Rivals/Insiders 4 star prospect

Audibles: "I don't know what everyone else does, but I have a big commitment to football. I'm dedicated to the sport and I'm very aggressive." -Bolingbrook linebacker Ryan Bain
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Biography:
Three-year varsity starter for the Raiders. Had 128 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and five sacks as a junior. Was named all-conference and all-area in 2003.

Coaches Comments - "Ryan is always giving 110% on the practice field and during games. People are surprised at how big and thick he is. Ryan is 260-pounds right now and he's strong. He benches 400-pounds, squats 500-pounds and his dead lift is around 550-pounds. Ryan is a hitter that's always around the football." -- Bolingbrook coach John Ivlow.

Bain: "I am more aggressive than everyone on the field. I play football with a different mindset than other players. I want to work on everything. I don't think that anyone in high school can consider themself great so I want to keep working to become great."
Scouting Report - A downhill type linebacker that has decent speed. Very good at finding the ball and shedding blocks in the box. Has already gained 30-pounds since the end of his junior season. Projects as a defensive lineman at the next level but could also end up on the offensive line as well if he keeps growing. Definitely one of the top prospects in the Midwest.
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rivals premium

Bain said he will visit tOSU if they offer. tOSU will be reviewing his film. He currently has 20 schollie offers.
 
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