Daniels | Rounding up high school football recruiting in the area

ST. JOSEPH — Shawn Skinner sums up Cameron Wagner in one brief, albeit descriptive way.

“He’s a large human,” the ninth-year St. Joseph-Ogden football coach said matter-of-factly.

Yes, he is. And Wagner is only entering his second season of high school football.

Yet the 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive lineman is already generating buzz. The grandson of legendary Tuscola football coach Stan Wienke already has three Division I offers from Illinois, Louisville and Miami (Ohio). The interest will undoubtedly pick up in the coming weeks, months and years, with Wagner fresh off a visit to reigning national champion Michigan a few weeks ago in Ann Arbor, Mich.

He won’t graduate high school until 2027, but he’s already listed as the No. 1 offensive tackle in his class by 247Sports (take those early rankings for what they’re worth).

Wagner will begin his sophomore year when SJ-O kicks off its season on Aug. 30 at Monticello with a four-star label next to his name.

Wagner is one of several area high school football players in Champaign County — like Centennial senior quarterback/safety Kellen Davis-Foltz, Unity junior quarterback Dane Eisenmenger, SJ-O senior wide receiver Coy Taylor and a trio of Mahomet-Seymour seniors in quarterback Luke Dyer, linebacker Brock VanDeVeer and wide receiver Trey Peters, among others — who are preparing for the upcoming season while also juggling recruiting responsibilities.

But Wagner is arguably the most high-profile area recruit. He became a starter at SJ-O midway through his freshman season last fall, helping the high-octane Spartans average 41.8 points, finish second in the Illini Prairie Conference and advance to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

“Cam is a great young kid, and he works hard,” Skinner said. “He’s somebody who’s still a pup. He’s getting better every day. He’s getting stronger every day. He’s another kid who has a high, high level of football IQ where he understands things very well at his position. The nice thing for Cam is — and obviously he’s a big part of our offense — but he’s not a focal point by any means.

“His freshman year, I don’t know if a lot of people realized he was a freshman because he didn’t look like a freshman. They’ll know who he is this year, but there’s so much talent around him, he doesn’t have to do anything special. He just has to be the best version of himself.”

Wagner, who got an offer from Bret Bielema at Illinois after an impressive showing at an Illinois offensive line camp in mid-June, will line up at right tackle this season for the Spartans. He’ll have more eyes trained on his No. 72 jersey this fall, from fans, media, opposing high school coaches and college coaches, but his high school coach believes Wagner can handle what’s coming.

“Thus far, he’s got a great head on his shoulders and a great support system with his family,” Skinner said. “I think that’s all part of the equation. He and I have a great relationship from a communication standpoint, and the best thing is he has a legitimate desire to be great.”

Catching onTaylor could set an IHSA state record this fall. The sure-handed receiver at St. Joseph-Ogden has 171 career catches, needing 87 receptions to break the record of 257 set last decade by Marist tight end Nic Weishar, who went on to play at Notre Dame.

Taylor is coming off a 95-catch season in 2023, which was preceded by 76 catches as a sophomore. But the 5-11, 170-pound playmaker wasn’t aware he was within range of a state record until seeing a story in The News-Gazette in early July.

“I didn’t even know the exact number until I saw that article come out,” Taylor said. “Before that, I didn’t really have a clue. At the end of each season, I can see on MaxPreps where I’m at, but I try not to focus on that. I try to focus on what’s right now.”

A handful of FCS programs, like Butler and Valparaiso, have had Taylor on visits. His college destination will sort itself out, but all Taylor said he’s worried about is having a successful senior season at SJ-O.

“We know we can accomplish great things, and we’re all setting that goal to go as far as we possibly can,” Taylor said. “Each day we’re adding new things to the offense. We’re critiquing the small things and getting prepared for Week 1 and the whole season.”

Going through the processDavis-Foltz enters his third season as the starting quarterback at Centennial.

The 6-1, 195-pound two-way starter who also contributes at defensive back for the Chargers, holds one offer from nearby Division III program Illinois Wesleyan.

But he said he’s also received interest from in-state FCS schools like Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois and Western Illinois. And he spent his summer hitting the camp circuit, working on his craft at places like McKendree, Lindenwood, EIU, Indiana State, Illinois and SIU.

“I did have a summer tour,” Davis-Foltz said with a grin. “It’s been a roller coaster, and I’ve been trying to figure out where I actually want to go.”

Some schools are recruiting Davis-Foltz as a quarterback. Some as a defensive back.

“Western Illinois talked to me about being a wide receiver,” Davis-Foltz said.

Through it all, while he searches for a college home and tries to lead Centennial to a fourth straight Class 6A playoff berth, Davis-Foltz is taking it in stride.

“It has been frustrating, but I don’t really care,” he said. “I know somebody is going to come in and pick me up, and I’ll play college football somewhere.”

Bulldogs’ trio pursuing their optionsMahomet-Seymour will rely heavily on Dyer at quarterback, Peters at wide receiver and VanDeVeer at middle linebacker to try and help the Bulldogs win their fourth straight Apollo Conference title.

All three seniors want to play college football, but haven’t found a home yet.

The 6-6, 220-pound Peters has an offer from Eastern Illinois, with Michigan State visiting Mahomet this past May and Arkansas stopping by, too. Peters said he also has interest from Illinois, along with FCS programs like Butler, Indiana State and Southern Illinois.

“The spring and June was busy with camps,” Peters said. “When the camps were going on, that was my focus, but now that the season is about to started, that’s where my focus is.”

The 5-10, 210-pound VanDeVeer and the 6-3, 205-pound Dyer echo Peters’ sentiments almost word-by-word.

VanDeVeer has an offer from Butler and Southwest Baptist, and has interest from the likes of EIU, Illinois State and Indiana State.

“In the spring, that’s what I was thinking about, but right now, it’s at the back of my mind,” VanDeVeer said. “I want to flush that out until the end of our season and accomplish our goals.”

Dyer, who threw for 2,077 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, said Butler, EIU, Indiana State and Southern Illinois are the schools who have contacted him the most. He backed up current Iowa State quarterback Wyatt Bohm as a sophomore in 2022 before becoming the Bulldogs’ starter last fall and helping them reach the Class 5A playoffs.

“The majority of coaches have told me they want to see the first couple games of my senior film, but that’s not what I’m worried about,” Dyer said. “I’m just worried about playing well my senior season with my best friends. Recruiting will take care of itself.”

Traveling Rocket manEisenmenger quickly made a name for himself in his first start at Unity, throwing four touchdown passes against Prairie Central to open the 2023 season.

The 6-4, 180-pound junior will go into this season a known commodity in the area and in the Illini Prairie Conference after he threw for 2,458 yards and 32 touchdowns as the Rockets made it to the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

This summer, he hit the road often so college coaches would know his name, too.

“I went to camps at all the Illinois schools,” Eisenmenger said. “Iowa State and Wisconsin, too, and a few mega camps at Memphis and Lindenwood. I basically spent my whole summer going to camps and wanting to get my name out there. I’ve gotten interest from all levels. I don’t have an offer yet, but the interest is definitely there. I just need to put on some weight.”

The best piece of advice he’s gleaned while going through the process so far?

“Answer every coach,” Eisenmenger said. “Even if you don’t want to go there, be respectful because you never know what coach might change schools and want to bring you there.”

Matt Daniels is sports editor at The News-Gazette. His email is mdaniels@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on X (@mdaniels_NG).