Mount Carmel's Joey Quinn and Lane's Daniel Howard make college decisions
As top prep football prospects continue to lock in offers while they're still viable in the portal era, two more of the state's top 20 juniors are off the recruiting board.
Edge rusher Joey Quinn, a key member of Mount Carmel's Class 7A championship team last fall, has committed to Vanderbilt, while defensive lineman Daniel Howard of Lane has picked Iowa State.
Both are three-star prospects. Quinn, a 6-foot-6, 250-pounder, is No. 15 in the 247Sports.com composite rankings of Illinois juniors. Howard, who is 6-2 and 285 pounds, is ranked 18th in the state.
National recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove likes the fit for both players with their respective college programs.
"That's a great pickup for [Vanderbilt]," Cosgrove said of Quinn. "He's a kid, with his size and length — with his physical tools — he would have blown up next season."
But Quinn's not just a player whose measurables check the right boxes.
"You watch him play, he's a technician," Cosgrove said. "He stays with great pad level, stays connected, is able to change direction and make plays."
Plus, Cosgrove added, "he's a high-motor kid. He's an impressive pass rusher. He's really good at using his hands right now. He will get bigger and stronger.
"There's so much upside and so much to like about him. He's perfect for the defense they run."
As recruiting becomes more national and less local, Quinn is also Vanderbilt's second Chicago-area recruit in two recruiting cycles. The first was Quinn's teammate, senior quarterback Jack Elliott.
While the Caravan have produced plenty of Power Four talent in recent years — with more on the way — Howard's recruitment represents a breakthrough for Lane. The Champions enjoyed a resurgence under coach Dedrick Dewalt, who stepped down after last season, and now top college programs are starting to notice.
New Lane coach Deshon Conley, who was promoted from assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, wasn't surprised to see Howard wind up at a Power Four school.
"I saw it in Daniel his freshman year," Conley said. "He kept getting bigger, getting stronger, developing his game. He's really versatile. He's about 285 [pounds], but he can still move."
Cosgrove also is bullish on Howard.
"The thing I really love about him is he has a lot of length," Cosgrove said. "His arms are long, he's explosive off the ball."
Conley said Howard can play anywhere on the line, from nose tackle to three-technique to one-technique to defensive end. And Cosgrove said Howard's athleticism sets him apart from other interior linemen.
"You love a guy who can defend against the run and rush the passer," Cosgrove said. "He's a guy who can be in on all three downs. ... He's a kid who will continue to develop."
As for Iowa State, "I think it's a great fit," Cosgrove said. "They have the culture for Chicago kids."