RB/ LB Elmore garnering attention
RECRUITING
Phillips running back and linebacker Craig Elmore is a threat no matter where he is on the field. The senior is turning heads and colleges are noticing.
“I am excited that the coaches have trust in me to play both sides of the ball and I am thankful that I have the ability to actually play both ways,” Elmore said. “I am glad the team trusts me to do it as well.”
The 5- 9, 215- pound helped lead the Wildcats into the Class 5A semifinals after a 15- 3 victory over Lemont in the quarterfinals Saturday.
“I never really think that I’mgoing to have a huge day on this side of the ball and not the other, I just try to play as hard as I can every play,” Elmore said. “Lemont’s defense was great and the game was hard.”
As for recruiting, it’s moving forward.
“Recruiting is going,” Elmore said. “I have talked to coaches and I hear from them that everything will happen in December.”
Elmore has improved and changed his game. He has added weight and power. As a freshman, he weighed only 180 pounds, He also has worked on an intangible.
“I’ve improved my leadership a lot this season,” Elmore said. “Last year I was told I was a good player and people would say that next year itwas my team. I didn’t want to hear that because I wanted to focus on the present. Now that I’m here though I’m happy to get that respect from the guys.”
Thompson, McCray updates
Marist receiver Jadon Thompson has seen his recruitment take off over the last several weeks. He has received newoffers, most notably from Indiana and Illinois. The Illini were the first to offer the 6- 2, 160- pound sophomore. Thompson was a major contributor to the quick- strike Marist offense.
Another young athlete adding offers is Phillips receiver Fabian McCray. The junior had two touchdowns and two interceptions against Lemont.
“Recruiting is going well, I’ve got a lot of coaches talking to me and I’m trying to get down for some visits,” McCray said. “But right now, the days that we play on are the same days that they are playing on so it’s been kind of hard to get out to visits recently.”
McCray has scholarship offers from Toledo and Western Michigan, along with interest from several other schools.
“I am trying to visit Minnesota and Cincinnati as soon as possible,” McCray said.
McCray has been playing on varsity since he was a freshman and since then, he has been able to pinpoint the areas where he has improved the most.
“My footwork and route running, for sure,” McCray said.