High School Football Notebook
Recruiting News
Lincoln-Way East junior Jacob Alexander has committed to the University of Illinois for the class of 2026.
From Basketball to Football
Football was not on Jacob Alexander’s radar when he was in junior high.
“I was a basketball kid,” the Lincoln-Way East junior said.
He did play a little with the Joliet Ravens youth football program as an eighth-grader. But Alexander didn’t really take the sport seriously until an encounter with Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar.
“He told me to come to camp and try out,” Alexander said.
One thing led to another, and now Alexander is one of the newest members of Illinois coach Bret Bielema’s 2026 recruiting class. He’s the second local junior to commit to the Illini, following DeKalb receiver Davon Grant.
Alexander, a 6-4, 240-pound edge rusher, is a three-star prospect ranked 13th among Illinois juniors in the 247Sports composite ratings.
He picked the Illini from among more than a dozen Power Four offers, including eight in the Big Ten.
What made Illinois the right fit?
“I would say it was the defensive scheme,” Alexander said. “I see myself fitting in well…. And also the people in the building; everybody there was genuine.”
It’s early in the 2026 recruiting cycle to commit, but Alexander saw no reason to wait.
“I just went off when the time was right,” he said. “After the visit, it felt like the right time.”
Coaching News
Evanston Hires Osei
Evanston has hired Miles Osei as its new head coach to succeed Mike Burzawa, who stepped down after 17 seasons.
Osei went 21-3 over the past two seasons at Kankakee, reaching the Class 6A quarterfinals both years. Before that, he spent six seasons at Elk Grove, leading the Grenadiers to their first playoff berth in seven years in his final season,
The Wildkits were 3-6 last season and last made the IHSA playoffs in 2021.
St. Laurence Picks Swanson
Pat Swanson, the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator at Mount Carmel, has been hired as St. Laurence’s head coach.
Swanson also has college coaching experience at Wisconsin-Platteville (where he was a four-year letter winner), North Dakota and Northern Illinois.
He succeeds Adam Nissen, who was let go after six seasons, including a Class 4A runner-up finish in 2023.
Transfer News
LaVista and Mueller to Transfer
Two top junior prospects have announced on social media their plans to transfer.
Receiver Blaise LaVista is going from Libertyville to Lincoln-Way East.
Last season, LaVista was the favorite target of Wildcats quarterback Quinn Schambow, who threw for 52 touchdowns. Twenty-four of them went to LaVista, who had 60 catches for 1,447 yards.
Now LaVista will team with Williams, who is the state’s top-ranked junior and the No. 85 player nationally.
Tight end Gavin Mueller, the No. 15 junior in Illinois, left St. Francis for South Elgin. His offers include Illinois, Indiana, Florida and Texas A&M, among others.
Conclusion
As the high school football season approaches, many teams are gearing up for the new season with new coaches, players, and strategies. This article highlights some of the notable recruiting and coaching news from the state of Illinois, including the commitment of Lincoln-Way East junior Jacob Alexander to the University of Illinois and the hiring of Miles Osei as Evanston’s new head coach.
FAQs
Q: Who did Jacob Alexander commit to?
A: Jacob Alexander committed to the University of Illinois for the class of 2026.
Q: Who is the new head coach at Evanston?
A: Evanston has hired Miles Osei as its new head coach to succeed Mike Burzawa, who stepped down after 17 seasons.
Q: Who did St. Laurence hire as its new head coach?
A: St. Laurence hired Pat Swanson, the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator at Mount Carmel, as its new head coach.
