Timothy Phillips

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Player Spotlight Q&A with Lachlan Smith #78 2028- Marshall (IL) Community HS - DL/OL || 16 yo 6’-240 lbs || 280 bench/ 475 squat/ 520 Dead || *What’s a moment from last season that stands out to you? Getting a big stop on a highly recruited RB in our rivalry game by splitting a double team to stop his TD attempt up the middle. *How would you describe your style of play? My style is fast paced and aggressive backed with power. I’m pretty versatile and use my quick feet to my advantage. *What was the highlight of the 2025 season? - making the playoffs last season! Our team had gone many seasons without even a win, being part of the rebuilding our program and making playoffs was a big moment! *Other than your own, which stadium do you enjoy playing in the most? Casey-Westfield. Between the rivalry and overall atmosphere between fans, it’s always fun and tough to play there. *Which road stadium is the toughest to play in? Mount Carmel. The snake pit is just crazy. It’s a great facility, but the massive hill that the home bleachers are built into, just start to push in on you making it feel claustrophobic! *Best advice you’ve received about playing your position ? Who gave it to you? That Hard work and determination will get you where you want to be. Coach Weber Also that D-Line is going to be a dog fight every play of the game. Being prepared for that has helped me shape my game. Coach Rhett- my line coach *What's the best part of being a student-athlete at your school? The pep rally’s. Getting to be a part of that really pumps you up to play! *Favorite part of practice? Defense days and end of practice scrimmage. You finally get to put it all together and see what’s working! *Has the transfer portal made recruiting tougher for high school players? Yes, because many colleges have been focused on the transfers more than the high-school kids and its affecting us to where its harder to get recruited because colleges would rather have the experienced guys over the young guys they need to train. *Favorite sports movie or show? Greater *If you could sit down with any athlete for an hour, who would it be? Aidan Hutchinson. I love his game! S

Player Spotlight Q&A with Brody Beasley Mooresville, IN | GPA 4.102 |Class of 2027 | #31 | TE/H/LB | 3 Sport Athlete/ 6-1, 215 2025 best Moment? 1. The moment that stands out to me from last year has to be week 1 against Bloomington North. We felt like we had something to prove as a team and went out and beat a really good football team. It definitely set the season off on the right note. Describe your style of play 2. I would describe my play as an all around tight end. All of my high school career I have really taken pride in my pass catching but this offseason I have put on 30 pounds to become a better blocker. The weight has come in very handy and allowed me to add that tool into my game. 2025 season hilite? 3. The highlight of the 2025 season to me was the Greenwood game in Week 4. It was a great team win that pushed us to 3-1 and I felt as if I also played really well. Favorite road stadium? 4. I feel like there are really cool things about every stadium in our conference but overall I like playing at Decatur the most. There is definitely a rivalry between us and them and I love to play in high pressure situations just like that. Toughest road stadium? 5. I feel like even though each away game has its own difficulties, I try to block out the noise no matter where I am playing. This has helped me a lot over the last couple of years just being able to go one play at a time and stay out of my own mind. Best football advice you have received? 6. The best advice I have been given is by my offensive line Coach at Mooresville Bob Denton. He has really helped me grow into a great blocker this offseason and he has really helped me with knowing each situation when blocking as well. All Star game invite? 7. It would mean so much for me to play in the North vs South game. I have been watching the game for years and it would mean so much for me to get to play. Best thing about your school? 8. I think that being a student athlete really gets to teach you how to balance everything in life which teaches a great life lesson that will be needed in all aspects of life. Favorite part of practice? 9. My favorite part of practice is the competition that is created every day. We separate into two teams for team period and that causes the two sides to go at each other every practice and make each other better. Has the portal impacted recruiting? 10. I think that the transfer portal had made the recruiting process harder for high school athletes. Favorite sports movie? 11. My favorite sports movie of all time is definitely Remember the Titans. It teaches such a good lesson of brotherhood that every team needs to be successful. Favorite athlete? 12. If I could sit with any athlete for an hour it would definitely be Michael Jordan. I would love to hear more of his mindset that helped him grow into the best athlete of all time.

Decatur Central's Hester picking up offers With a brother who plays for the Indianapolis Colts and was a standout at Duke University, it is hard to fathom there was a time where Ezekiel Hester didn't play football. Instead, the Decatur Central quarterback got his start in sports as a basketball player, but was always drawn to the gridiron due to his size, speed and athleticism. Fortunately for him and the Hawks, football won out, as Hester is following in the footsteps of his brother and current Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, Elijah Pancol. "The most exciting thing I enjoy about football is taking the field with my teammates. They really make the game fun because of the bonds we have and the brotherhood we have as a whole. Another thing is making the calls, making the defense wrong with my eyes and knowing what I've got pre snap based off of alignment and coverage," Hester told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. Over the years, Kyle Enright has enjoyed having strong quarterbacks lead the Hawks, and this season could be no different as Hester is prime to take over the keys of the offense. The 6-foot-3-inch, 195 pound, Class of '29 prospect enters this season with several offers already under his belt and a desire to get Decatur Central back to Lucas Oil Stadium Thanksgiving weekend. Since Enright arrived at Decatur Central, the Hawks have played for three state championships, winning a title in 2024. Last fall, Decatur Central lost to Brownsburg in the regional. "The thing that stands out to me from last year is we lost a lot of key players, but what people don't know about is we have a lot of great talent that were under the key players' wings last year. I feel like almost everyone is doubting us as a team, but I am going to build the connection with my teammates and lead my teammates to success," he said. The signal caller enters the 2026 season with a slew of big time goals. "My goals for the season are to throw for 1,800-plus yards, rush for 400-plus and win Player of the Week in our Week 1 game against Avon. Being one of the top uprising prospects in Indiana doesn't really bother me. I don't pay attention to critics. I just focus on me with my head down and work," Hester said. After a very successful summer that saw Hester attend several camps and get on national radars, he currently holds offers from Purdue, UConn., Western Michigan, Miami (OH) and Austin Peay. Hester, Enright and Decatur Central open the season Aug. 21 against Avon. See less

Wayne's Eldridge sees recruiting begin to take off By Paul Gable With offers from a Who's Who of top college football programs and the nickname "Hitman," Wayne standout defensive end Javontae Eldridge prides himself on ruining opposing offensive coordinator's game plans. It's been that way since he watched his brother, Tyree, play and immediately knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps. "I saw him play Metro and he was a star, so I thought to myself, I can do the same thing," Eldridge told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. And, he absolutely has. A season ago, the Class of '28 prospect, who is 6-foot-5-inches and 250 pounds with a 6-foot-10-inch wingspan, accounted for 31 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and three sacks as a sophomore, as Wayne went 0-10. Last season's results have only fueled Eldridge and his teammates, he said. "This season is personal. I've got to prove myself that I am the best that is coming out of the country. The statement I want to make is nobody can mess with me. "This offseason we all put in work. We all have put in work to the point where we could prove everyone wrong. A lot of people called us trash because we had a bad season, but we are going to change that. We are going to show everyone why we are that team," Eldridge said. And, he has a huge goal this season. "My goal is to get 20 sacks this season. I had a bad start, but now I am ready. I am ready to show people who I am. I take so much pride in being one of the top players. It means a lot. I have been grinding for this my whole life, but the grind doesn't stop," Eldridge said. The college recruiting doesn't stop either, and for Eldridge he has seen that just start to heat up. He currently holds offers from Missouri, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Purdue and Rutgers. "I am surprised. This all couldn't be me, but God made it happen. Without God, I wouldn't be here," Eldridge said. S

Recruiting starting to sizzle for McCutcheon's Leonard By Paul Gable With an uncle and father who were big time football players during their era, it only made sense that McCutcheon outside linebacker Mak Leonard would follow the family business. The 6-foot, 180-pound, Class of '27 prospect has made a name for himself on the football field and in recruiting circles around Indiana, as he currently holds multiple offers and is preparing himself for a monster senior season. "My dad got me into flag when I was a kid, and I really just fell in love with the sport since then," Leonard told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. The love and dedication has worked wonders, as Leonard had 68 tackles, seven-and-a-half tackles for loss, three sacks, three hurries, one pass deflection, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble a season ago for the Mavericks, who went 2-8 in Josh Strasser's final season. This year, Leonard and McCutcheon enter the season with a new coach in Michael Fenters, who went 20-3 at Maconaquah and has the Mavericks thinking with big aspirations. "When looking back at last year, I think it was a major breakthrough in my football career. Gaining titles like All-State, All-Area, All-Conference, as well as Academic All-Conference was relieving knowing the hard work was getting seen. This offseason has been going well. Getting a new head coach was definitely a switch up, but I feel it has given me a bigger opportunity to become a better leader and help the team out even more," Leonard said. It has also allowed him to zero in on a major goal. "One of my goals for this season is to kind of rebrand the McCutcheon football program and have a good season. I'd also like to become a leader on and off the field, just growing more personal with everyone. I take a lot of pride knowing I’m a big player in the area because it shows I’m making progress and I still have so much more to go. All thanks to the coaches and community around me as well as my family," he said. Currently, Leonard holds offers from the likes of Wabash, Trine, Taylor, Franklin, Rose Hulman, and Grove City. "I am not necessarily surprised with the success because I always tell myself hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard, so it is just a constant effort to get better, and, of course, through the help of my Lord guiding the path for me," Leonard said.

Heritage Christian looks to soar in Indiana Crossroads Conference By Paul Gable With a fourth straight season of seven wins, the Heritage Christian Eagles look to go further in the postseason and get over seven wins under second year head coach Caleb Brink in 2026 In order to make that happen, Brink's team has enjoyed a successful offseason that has seen players hungry and motivated. "The offseason has gone really well so far. We have a group of guys who are extremely motivated to make a difference and hungry for an opportunity," Brink told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. A season ago, Heritage Christian opened the season 1-2 before stringing together a series of wins and finding themselves playing for a sectional title. And, while the Eagles came up just short, falling to Lutheran, 28-24, that loss has provided plenty of motivation heading into the 2026 campaign. With that said, the Eagles have to find some replacements for a talented Class of '26 senior class. "There is nothing like playing a senior year of football. We had a group of strong seniors last year that left their mark on Heritage Christian football. We have another group of rising seniors that are hungry to do the same, and they have been leading extremely well this offseason," Brink said. Defensively, the Eagles surrendered 28.8 points per game and will look to hold opposing teams at bay this season on the play of linebacker Justus Klingerman. A season ago, he recorded over 100 stops. "I am excited to see how he develops this year," Brink said of Klingerman. Offensively, fans will need to turn their attention to the trenches, as Heritage Christian brings back a wealth of talent on the line with the likes of Daniel Gates, Josiah Shutt, Cooper Bradford, Marshall Bilsky and Dylan Cox all back. As the moratorium looms, Brink said the goal of the summer is to become obsessive about pursuing excellence in technique, effort and toughness. That mindset should bode well once the season opens on Aug. 21 against Speedway. The Eagles will have out of conference dates with Speedway, Indian Creek and Guerin Catholic before jumping into a loaded Indiana Crossroads Conference slate that features Covenant Christian, Greenwood Christian, Cardinal Ritter, Scecina and Lutheran before ending the regular season out of conference against Lapel. "I could not be more excited about our 2026 campaign. We have an incredible staff, community and Savior that we are excited to make proud," Brink said. See less

Whitko searching for wins By Paul Gable As he enters his second season as head coach of the Whitko football team, Thomas Tyree admits there is only one place for his team to go, and that is up. The Wildcats finished 1-9 a season ago, and the second-year head coach maintains this season will be a "marathon" for his squad. "I think this season is going to be a marathon for us. Our focus has to be on finding ways to improve every single week. That starts with doing the little things the right way every day—being consistent, disciplined, and committed to the process. If we can do that, we believe we’ll put ourselves in a position to be successful as the season progresses," Tyree told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. After knocking off Prairie Heights in the season opener, Whitko dropped nine straight games and were shutout in five of them. Despite the performances, Tyree notes his players responded "the right way" during the offseason. "Last season didn't end the way we wanted it to, but our kids have responded the right way. We were able to get some players back from injury late in the year, and that gave us a glimpse of what this team is capable of. The offseason has been focused on growth, development and building confidence. Our players have been motivated to get back in the weight room and on the field, and we have seen a lot of positive progress heading into the summer," Tyree said. Whitko will lean on several young players this season to help turn the tide and change the culture. "Replacing experienced players is never easy, but we have several young guys who worked extremely hard this offseason. They've dedicated themselves in the weight room and have taken significant steps toward becoming varsity football players. We are excited to see them step into bigger roles," Tyree said. While he didn't name players, the second year coach said he is expecting big things out of his quarterback, a running back and several linemen. "One player we’re really excited about is our quarterback. He started as a freshman last season before injuries derailed much of his year. He returned late in the season, and we’re expecting him to have a big impact this fall. We’re also looking for big things from a running back who was a freshman last year. He had a strong season before it was cut short by a concussion. He’s healthy now and has put in a lot of work this offseason. In addition, we have several linemen who gained valuable experience as freshmen last year. They’ve committed themselves to the weight room and are ready to take on the responsibilities that come with playing varsity football," Tyree said. Whitko, a member of the Three Rivers Conference, opens the season Aug. 21 against Caston. Until then, Tyree said the Wildcats will be focused on keeping things simple and the coaching staff trying to make football enjoyable again. "We don't want to overload them. Instead, we are focused on mastering the fundamentals and the core aspects of what we do. By building a strong foundation now, we will be in a position to refine and fine tune everything once August arrives and the season gets closer," Tyree said.

Player Spotlight Q&A with Ben Reinhart 6’6 245 TE/OT Gibson Southern HS (IN) | C/O 2027 | TE/OT/DE/ATH | 3.7 GPA | 6’6 245 | 80 inch WS Top 2025 Moment? A moment that stood out to me last year was the Heritage Hills game, and also the memorial game. That was probably the most people in the Jewell i have played in front of ever. Both games were thrillers! ———. Describe your style of play Our style of play is really fast on offense. We have tons of depth and thats how we beat a lot of opponents that may play guys both ways. ———- Hilite of the season? Highlight of the 2025 season was taking down Evansville Mater Dei in a crazy game at The Bowl. ——— Favorite road stadium? The Jungle is fun to play in. They tend to bring a big crowd and I enjoy beating up on em in front of their home crowd. ——— Toughest road stadium? The Jungle. ——- All Star Invite? It would mean a lot to me if I made the North vs South game. That represents some of the top talent in the state and i think I belong in that group! —— Best thing about your school? The best part of being a student athlete at GS is the connections you have with everyone. The whole community is just great and getting to play infront of the whole community on a friday night is honestly a dream. ——- Favorite part of practice? My favorite part of practice is team or 1on1s.

Player Spotlight Q&A with Peyton Johnson Gibson Southern WR 6-3, 203 What’s a moment from last season that stands out to you? Beating two #1 ranked teams (Heritage Hills and Evansville Memorial) How would you describe your style of play? Physical and intense What was the highlight of the 2025 season? Being down at halftime in the Sectional Championship, coming out and scoring a 50 yd touchdown to put us up. Other than your own, which stadium do you enjoy playing in the most? The Reitz Bowl Which road stadium is the toughest to play in? The Jungle Best advice you’ve received about playing your position ? Who gave it to you? Coach Rory Heltsley- keep your hips low and drive back to the ball What would it mean to play in the North vs. South All-Star game? It would be a huge honor to represent my school and Southern Indiana. What's the best part of being a student-athlete at your school? Knowing that the students, staff, and community are backing us every Friday night. Favorite part of practice? 7 on 7 Has the transfer portal made recruiting tougher for high school players? Yes Favorite sports movie or show? Rudy If you could sit down with any athlete for an hour, who would it be? Peyton Manning

Rising Underclassman Aarav Hoskeri | 2029 / QB Guerin Catholic

Player Spotlight Q&A with Hagan StJohn Columbus North OL 6-0, 280 C/O 29 2.9 GPA Biggest 2025 moment? Biggest win was when we won our conference Describe your style of play My play type as a center is I’m a IQ/ technique player but I can get physical in the run game Season hilite? The highlight of this season was beat Columbus East in our first rivalry game Favorite road stadium? Favorite road stadium was Roncalli had a lot of energy Best football advice received? Best advice I’ve gotten from football was first to grab the chest of the other lineman wins All Star invite? If I got an invite to the all star game I would be extremely grateful and would love to play in it Best thing about CN? My favorite thing about school is the academics especially how we have C4 classes so there a lot of things for everyone Has portal affected recruiting? I think the portal has kind of effected people Favorite sports movie? Favorite sport movie is Greater Favorite athlete? Favorite athlete is Jason Kelce

Bedford North Lawrence's Horton prime for breakout season A season ago, Bedford North Lawrence played for a sectional championship, and while the Stars fell just short against Martinsville, the opportunity came much in part to the legs of senior running back Brody Horton. Horton, who got his start in football in the third grade, rumbled for 897 yards and 13 trips to the end zone on the ground and added another two receiving touchdowns, as coach Brayden Tidd reeled off an 8-4 record in his first season at the helm. This season, Horton and the Stars know what to expect under Tidd and have enjoyed a productive offseason that has seen plenty of results. "Last year, we got an entire new coaching staff and offensive scheme. Adapting was hard but once we got it down, we had a lot of success. The offseason has been great, I’ve been lifting and working with a speed coach to get faster and stronger. I’ve added on weight and my numbers in the weight room have gone up by a ton," Horton told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. With his senior season rapidly approaching, Horton has set a goal to rush for 1,000 yards this season for the Stars. "My goals this season would be to develop my leadership within the team and rush for 1,000 yards. I take a lot of pride, I know I’ve worked hard to get here and I can’t wait to show it," he said. The mindset and work are paying huge dividends for the 5-foot-10-inch, 180-pound Horton, who currently holds offers from Franklin College, Hanover College, Wittenburg, DePauw, and Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods. "That first offer was amazing, knowing the effort and work I’ve put in during the offseason was being seen was a surreal feeling. I know I’ve been working hard to get here but at the same time I didn’t think I’d play football in college so it is surprising too," Horton said.

Eastern's Edwards ready for monster season By Paul Gable Already established as one of the top players in the Hoosier Heartland Conference, Eastern standout middle linebacker/defensive end/tight end Abe Edwards is ready to put the entire Hoosier State on notice in 2026 with his play. Edwards, a Class of 2027 prospect, who is 6-foot-3-inches and 220 pounds, enters fresh off a magical 2025 season that saw him amass 120 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, one pass deflection, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. However, making plays is nothing new for Edwards, who is the son of a coach. "The task of having to work hard and challenge yourself each and every day is the thing I get the most joy from playing football. The game teaches you so many good things that you can take and apply to life," Edwards told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. A season ago, Edwards and the Comets fell in the sectional final, 31-28 at Eastbrook. The loss ended Eastern's season at 10-2, and the two losses came by a combined four points. According to Edwards, the theme for the '26 campaign is "unfinished business." "Looking back on last year, we left a lot of unfinished business on the table. We had a special group of guys that had a lot of talent. We could’ve made a deep run if it wasn’t due to some injuries and some stupid mistakes. The offseason is going great. We have a great nucleus of guys back and we are looking special. We have been working hard on the field and in the weight room. We have a lot of motivation going forward from last year. As far as my offseason goes, I have been just working on my game. Staying busy in the weight room and just working as hard as I can to prepare myself to have a great senior season," Edwards admitted. With the season approaching, Edwards is starting to hone in on his goals for the upcoming season, and they center around one word -- leadership. "My goals for this season are to be a leader every day I step foot on the football field. I need to be the best version of myself each and every day I am out there. Everyone in the building knows we have a special group of talented guys but without leadership talent means nothing. We also want to win as many games as possible in the regular season to get momentum into sectional and so on. We know we can make a deep run. I am confident in my skills as a player. It starts with mentally preparing myself each week. If you know exactly what to do each and every play, it takes the mental side of the game away. You can just be a player. If you want to be the best player you have to believe it. I believe to myself I’m the best player on the field each week. I just go out there and play the game I love," he said. That mindset is paying off nicely, as Edwards recently picked up an offer from Marian University. He admits his recruiting is going well, however, admits playing high school football at this time makes the process "very hard." "Playing high school football at this time makes recruiting very hard and you never know what can happen," Edwards said.

Wheeler's Welch ready for breakout season By Paul Gable - HPG Writer A late start to football has not diminished the ability or success for Wheeler standout tight end/outside linebacker Connor Welch (2027 / 6-5, 200) . If anything, getting a start in football in the seventh grade may have helped, as it has forced him to work harder to become one of the premiere players in the Greater South Shore Conference. A season ago, Welch produced nicely for the Bearcats, playing the tight end/H position for the second year in a row and getting the hang of it. "One of our team goals at the beginning of the year was to go undefeated, which sadly didn't go as planned as we went 8-1. We also had our homecoming game cancelled but it was still a good season nonetheless. This off-season has been great, getting familiar with our new highschool coaching staff and their coaching styles and philosophies and also getting work in and feedback from college coaches as I go into my recruiting journey going to camps," Welch told Hoosier Prep Gridiron. With Nick Testa gone and new head coach Josh Wissing taking over, Welch is optimistic he can play a key role in Wheeler's offense, and the senior has set some "One of my goals this season is to lead my team and the area in a receiving stat, whether it be yards or touchdowns. That can prove to be difficult at the tight end position, but it is a challenge I welcome. I also want to improve upon my blocking so I can become a more well rounded tight end for my team and make an impact however I can. Being recognized as one of the top players is great but there is still a lot to prove and I'm still eager to get better and improve upon myself as a player and recruit this off-season and upcoming season," he said. The offseason has also seen Welch be busy with various camps, attracting the attention of college coaches and drawing a Preferred Walk-On Opportunity from Ball State. "Recruiting has been going well. I've had a busy June with camps but it's something I enjoy doing, proving myself and seeing lots of campuses and learning all I can from a variety of coaches is a blessing that I'm thankful for. I do have an offer from Ball State as a preferred walk on. but I haven't made any decisions on it yet and I'm hungry for any opportunities that come my way," Welch said