Scouts Football Depth Chart: Positional Standouts Heading Into Geneva Game
Week 11 has arrived and the Scouts are back home for a Round of 16 matchup with Geneva.
Here’s how Lake Forest’s depth chart stands out at each positional group heading into tonight’s game (embedded links are to a player’s football-specific social media feed):
Quarterback
Danny Van Camp — Junior
Karl Nagel –– Junior
Collin Blocki –– Senior
Analysis: By November, there are more teams not playing football than are. Quarterback play becomes that much more magnified as teams advance farther in the postseason. While every team in high school football in 2023 is somewhat QB-centric, there are differing degrees. The team the Scouts are playing tonight rely on the quarterback to do not only be productive, but to be the best player on the field at all times. Lake Forest is more tempered in their reliance on Van Camp: get guys in the right spots, make plays, don’t turn it over, otherwise be one operating lever in a much larger machine. Geneva will pressure the pocket and DVC must get the ball out quick Friday night. Be opportunistic with scrambles. But the weight of the game’s outcome is not solely on the shoulders of one player. Do your job.
Running Back/H-Back
Graham Garrigan — Senior
Marty Hippel — Junior
Ben Merfeld — Senior
Analysis: Last Saturday, the Scouts leaned into their run game more than they have in several weeks. The opponent had something to do with that but what we saw vs Lake View is more the personality of Lake Forest. When facing good teams that can score points––Geneva can score points––it takes simple math to determine that limiting their plays/time of possession is critical. Running the ball effectively means longer drives that burn clock. If the Scouts are to emerge victorious Friday, a few stats will lead the way, one of them being rush attempts and time per offensive possession. Running back is the team’s most experienced offensive positional group. Lean on them.
Receiver
Charlie Markee — Junior
Torian James –– Senior
Bink Hartline –– Junior
Nate Williams –– Junior
Collin Blocki –– Senior
James Elliott –– Sophomore
Analysis: Each week, more weapons emerge from this group. We saw Elliott catch a touchdown pass against Mundelein. In Round 1 Saturday, a Hartline toe-tapper for a touchdown. These are all positive trends. Late-season production from younger players is a testament to the athletes themselves (they are locked in) and coaching staff (WR coach Ahmad Merritt deserves a lot of credit). Who will be that guy vs. Geneva? Williams will certainly be in the mix again but the more attention paid to him or Markee leaves space on the field for other skill guys to eat.
Tight End
Trevor Diem –– Junior
Jimmy Rappel –– Junior
Finn Goodman –– Junior
Analysis: I’m out of things to say about this positional group other than: go block someone!