Purdue has done a great job with in-state talent. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, the Boilermakers have picked-up six verbal commitments from the Class of 2023.
Indiana’s top senior scholastic player Drayk Bowen is also staying in-state. The 4-Star linebacker has given his verbal to Notre Dame.
Two-time defending 5A champ Cathedral has plenty of talent to get a three-peat.
Junior quarterback Danny O’Neil, who led the Fighting Irish to last year’s title, is considered a 3-Star prospect with eight offers, so far. As a sophomore he completed 62.9-percent of his passes for 2,956 yards with 33 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He also ran for 10 scores last year.
O’Neil has two returning weapons in wide receiver Jaron Tibbs (No. 15/Class of ’23) and tight end Brennan Wooten (No. 19/2023). Tibbs has given his verbal to Purdue, while Wooten is eyeing Western Michigan.
Cathedral defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in Class of ’23.
Cathedral enters 2022 ranked No. 26 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Top Indiana High School Football Players in Class of 2023
Rank/Name/Position/High School/Verbal Commitment
4 Stars
No. 1 Drayk Bowen, LB – Andrean – Notre Dame
No. 2 Joshua Mickens, EDGE – Lawrence Central – LSU
No. 3 Kendrick Gilbert, DL – Cathedral – Uncommitted
No. 4 Daeh McCullough, S – St. Joseph’s – Cincinnati
No. 5 Trevor Lauck, OT – Roncalli – Iowa
3 Stars
No. 6 Luke Burgess, OT – New Palestine – Ball State
No. 7 Leighton Jones, IOL – Brownsburg – Iowa
No. 8 Sam West, TE – Greensburg – Indiana
No. 9 Aycen Stevens, LB – Decatur Central – Virginia Tech
No. 10 George Burhenn, TE – Mt. Vernon – Purdue
No. 11 Winston Berlund, S – Carmel – Purdue
No. 12 Will Heldt, EDGE – Carmel – Purdue
No. 12 Dillon Thieneman, S – Westfield – Purdue
No. 14 Justin Marshall, WR – Merrillville – Colorado State
No. 15 Jaron Tibbs, WR – Cathedral – Purdue
No. 16 TJ McWilliams, WR – North Central – Purdue
No. 17 Joseph Walker, Jr., WR – Warren Central – Western Michigan
No. 18 De’Eric Mister, OT – Gary West Side – Minnesota
No. 19 Brennan Wooten, TE – Cathedral – Western Michigan
No. 20 Ben Decker, OT – Noblesville – Miami (Ohio)
No. 21 Nicholas Thompson, CB – Bishop Luers – Toledo
No. 21 Edward Hartig, IOL – Reitz Memorial – Miami (Ohio)
No. 23 Anthony Leadford, S – Pike – Western Michigan
2 Stars
No. 24 Isaiah Thacker, WR – New Palestine – Ball State
No. 24 Patrick Kendall, DL – Cathedral – Army
No. 26 Elijah Davis, S – Pike – Ball State
No. 27 Kevion Wellington, DL – North Central – Uncommitted
No. 28 Christian Abney, QB – Zionsville – Ball State
No. 29 Brady Probst, TE – Brownsburg – Illinois State
Top Indiana High School Football Players in Class of 2024
Rank/Name/Position/High School/Verbal Commitment
4 Stars
No. 1 Brauntae Johnson, WR – Ft. Wayne North Side – Uncommitted
No. 2 Ian Moore, IOL – New Palestine – Uncommitted
No. 3 Mylan Graham, WR – New Haven – Uncommitted
3 Stars
No. 4 Jaden Hart, RB – Michigan City – Uncommitted
No. 5 Danny O’Neil, QB – Cathedral – Uncommitted
No. 6 Ransom McDermott, OT – Noblesville – Uncommitted
No. 7 Aidan Steinfeldt, TE – Bloomington North – Uncommitted
No. 8 Patrick Clacks, WR – Andrean – Uncommitted
