The South Bend area has been on a hot streak producing future Division-I football players. It seems the talent is spread out more each year with multiple schools producing players that have reached the highest level of college football.
Who are some of those top names this fall? While there are several players getting the opportunity to play football in college, these eight are either committed or being recruited by Division-I programs.
Concord senior running back Jaron Thomas
Thomas committed to Purdue in the summer after a breakout junior season that saw him rush for 1,207 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also led the Minutemen in tackles with 77. Thomas displayed his elite speed in the spring when he qualified for the 100-meter dash at the state track and field finals.
Concord junior quarterback Bo Brunner
Brunner doesn’t have any official offers yet (or ones made publicly, at least), but he has impressed at various camps throughout the summer. His 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame makes him one of the best collegiate quarterback prospects in the area.
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Elkhart senior defensive end Mariyon Dye
One of the top prosects in the country, the four-star defensive lineman committed to the University of Tennessee at the end of June. Dye is the fourth-best prospect in Indiana and 110th overall in the country, per 247 Sports.
Elkhart senior defensive end Carmine Orozco
A transfer from Mishawaka, Orozco committed to Miami (Ohio) in late June. Orozco had seven sacks for the Cavemen defense in 2023 and will look to replicate that success now with the Lions in the fall.
Elkhart senior defensive end Cordarrll McFee
McFee gives Elkhart a three-headed monster along its defensive line. Although not committed yet, McFee has moved up to a three-star prospect by 247 Sports. He has picked up offers from Bowling Green, Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Grand Valley State, among others. McFee and Dye have been named two of the four captains for Elkhart football this year.
Michigan City senior defensive end Adrian Holley
For the second-straight season, Michigan City has a Division-I commit on its defensive line. After Dion Smith went to Ball State after last year, Holley has committed to the University of Kansas this season. He was an all-conference defensive end in the Duneland Conference last year and was named to the preseason all-state team.
NorthWood senior offensive lineman Max Parciak
Parciak will follow 2023 NorthWood graduate Ethan Evers to Ball State to play college football once his high school career wraps up. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder – ranked as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports – helped the Panthers reach the Class 4A state championship game a season ago.
Penn senior quarterback Kellen Watson
Watson is one of the more intriguing prospects in the state. He’s a dynamic athlete that competed at several major football camps throughout the summer. Watson was one of the fastest runners during track season, finishing third at state in the 100-meter dash despite nursing an ankle injury the final three weeks. While no offers have been made public, expect plenty to roll in if Watson excels for the Kingsmen this fall.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Top high school football prospects from the South Bend area
