CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois finalized its 2025 signing class with the addition of linebacker Jack Paris from Fenwick High School. A three-star recruit, Paris was the 2024 Chicago Catholic League White Defensive Player of the Year and led Fenwick to the second round of the 2024 IHSA 7A State Playoffs.
Jack Paris
River Forest, Ill. / Fenwick
LB / 6-3 / 215
High School
• Three-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 8 linebacker in Illinois and No. 170 in the nation by 247Sports
• Played for head coach Matthew Battaglia at Fenwick
• 2024 Chicago Catholic League White Defensive Player of the Year
• 2024 Chicago Catholic League White All-Conference
• 2024 Shaw Suburban All-Area
• 2024 Fenwick team captain
• 2023 Academic All-State
• 2023 Chicago Catholic League Orange All-Conference
• Led Fenwick to the second round of the 2024 IHSA 7A State Playoffs
• 83 tackles, 35.0 tackles for loss, 19 pass breakups, 19 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery as a junior
• Also wrestled, played baseball, and ran track in high school
• State qualifier in wrestling
• Offers included Akron, Army, Ball State, Central Michigan, Cornell, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Navy, Northern Illinois, Penn, Princeton, Toledo, Vanderbilt, and Wyoming
| 2025 Signing Class |
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
High School |
| Grant Beerman |
LB |
6-4 |
220 |
West Chester, Ohio |
Lakota West |
| Carson Boyd |
QB |
6-0 |
185 |
St. Louis, Mo. |
Cardinal Ritter |
| Cameron Brooks |
DL |
6-3 |
280 |
Chicago, Ill. |
Homewood-Flossmoor |
| Tywan Cox |
DB |
5-11 |
170 |
Miami, Fla. |
Miami Northwestern |
| Logan Farrell |
TE |
6-3 |
240 |
Arlington Heights, Ill. |
John Hersey |
| John Forster |
RB |
5-11 |
190 |
Montvale, N.J. |
St. Joseph Regional |
| Dylan Frechette |
OL |
6-5 |
295 |
Central Falls, R.I. |
Cardinal Newman (Fla.) |
| Erik Gayle |
OLB |
6-3 |
225 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Withrow |
| JJ Hirdes |
OL |
6-6 |
280 |
Coopersville, Mich. |
Coopersville |
| RJ Jones III |
DB |
6-1 |
175 |
Fort Pierce, Fla. |
Vero Beach |
| Ismael Kante |
LB |
6-2 |
230 |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
Park Center / Iowa Central CC |
| Andre Lovett |
DB |
6-2 |
170 |
Blue Island, Ill. |
Eisenhower |
| Michael McDonough |
OL |
6-4 |
285 |
Tinley Park, Ill. |
Andrew |
| Jershaun Newton |
QB |
5-11 |
205 |
St. Petersburg, Fla. |
Clearwater Central Catholic |
| Jack Paris |
LB |
6-3 |
215 |
River Forest, Ill. |
Fenwick |
| Griffin Rousseau |
OL |
6-7 |
305 |
Stoughton, Wis. |
Stoughton |
| Xanai Scott |
DB |
5-11 |
185 |
Riviera Beach, Fla. |
Cardinal Newman |
| Grant Smith |
TE |
6-5 |
220 |
Forsyth, Ill. |
Maroa-Forsyth |
| Desmond Straughton |
DB |
6-1 |
195 |
Detroit, Mich. |
Roseville |
| Brayden Trimble |
WR |
6-1 |
175 |
Mt. Zion, Ill. |
Mt. Zion |
| Isaiah White |
DL |
6-3 |
300 |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
Ben Davis |
| Cedric Wyche II |
RB |
5-11 |
195 |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
St.Thomas Aquinas |
