It was good to have a little bit of normalcy this winter as college coaches made their rounds to Indiana high schools during the NCAA contact period that started on January 14th and ended on the 31st. Several rising Indiana prep ballers landed offers.

Kendrick Gilbert, 2023 DE | Danny O’Neil, 2024 QB – Cathedral

Gilbert entered the contact period holding several Power 5 offers. The 6’5 250 prospect added more to his resume, including Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Boston College and Toledo. When the Eval Period resumes in the Spring, Gilbert could have as many as 25+ scholarship offers. The time has come for Danny O’Neil to start reeling offers after one of the best seasons by a sophomore quarterback in Indiana history. A visit to Florida State has catapulted his name to national recognition. Miami OH took the first leap and then Purdue came calling. Hard to ignore that the “Cradle of Quarterbacks” consider O’Neil worthy to play the position in West Lafayette. Expect his offer list to expand in the next two years.

Luke Burgess, 2023 OL | Ian Moore, 2024 OL – New Palestine

Head Coach Kyle Ralph has not only built the New Pal program into a respected and winning program, his accomplishments include getting his players to the next level. Power 5 programs have the Dragons’ program circled when it comes to recruiting the halls of Indiana. Ralph may have the two best offensive linemen in the state in Luke Burgess and Ian Moore, respectively. Burgess (6’8 280) and Moore (6’6 290) collected several Power 5 offers this winter. Burgess and Moore each added 7 offers during the period, including Tennessee, Minnesota, and West Virginia. The Cincinnati Bearcats offered Ian Moore while Duke and Vanderbilt extended offers to Burgess. Several MAC offers added to both player’s list.

Will Heldt, 2023 OLB | Winston Berglund, 2023 S/OLB – Carmel

The playmaking duo of Will Heldt and Winston Berglund kept the Greyhounds’ John Hebert busy fielding phone calls and hosting coaches this winter. Heldt is a rising 2023 prospect in the Midwest, started the contact period with a plethora of MAC offers and ended with offers from the likes of Purdue, Iowa State and Wake Forest. Teammate Winston Berglund experienced the same attention this winter, offers coming from Purdue and Iowa State as well.

Trevor Lauck, 2023 OL – Roncalli

Roncalli standout lineman Trevor Lauck has been on the recruiting boards of Power 5 programs for quite some time. The 6’6 280 lineman entered the contact period holding offers from national powers like Michigan and Ohio State. Not much going on for Lauck during the winter, but did add offers from Duke and Boston College, respectively.

Justin Marshall, 2023 WR | Phillip Roche, 2023 DB – Merrillville

Marshall is a great talent and his playmaking abilities are attracting Power 5 coaches to the halls of Merrillville High School. Nebraska, Indiana, Purdue extended offers, as did MAC program Kent State. Marshall is on the cusp of adding more Power 5 offers. Teammate Philip Roche has burst onto the recruiting scene with Power 5 offers from Boston College, Indiana and Purdue, and added MAC offer from Central Michigan. Roche is a big time player with tremendous field skills that will have coaches throwing out offers over the next 3-4 months.

De’Eric Mister, 2023 OL – Gary West Side

Evaluating his performance at the Indiana Winter Showcase in Crown Point back in December, it was a matter of time for 6’7 285 De’Eric Mister to start getting the attention from college coaches. Mister moves very well for his size and plays with a tenacity that college OL coaches covet. Western Michigan was first to offer and Mister ended the contact period on a junior day visit to Purdue. Illinois State, Ball State and Central Michigan have extended scholarship opportunities.

Leighton Jones, 2023 DE/TE – Brownsburg

When he’s not tossing his opponents around on the mat, Leighton Jones is staying busy fielding calls and visits from college coaches. The heavyweight sectional champion is a good on the field as he is on the mat, wrestling with offers from Kent State, Toledo, Ball State, Miami OH, Illinois State, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, and Ohio during the contact period. Look for Jones to add Power 5 offers from now until summer.

Sam West, 2023 ATH – Greensburg

Contact Period Offers: Western Michigan, Kent State, Miami OH

Aycen Stevens, 2023 LB – Decatur Central

Contact Period Offers: Nebraska, Minnesota, Toledo, Bowling Green, Ball State, Western Michigan

Joshua Mickens, 2023 DE – Lawrence Central

Contact Period Offers: Illinois (Already holds multiple Power 5 offers)

TJ McWilliams, 2023 WR – North Central

Contact Period Offers: Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami OH

Ransom McDermott

Contact Period Offers: Central Michigan, Miami OH, Toledo

Desmond Duffy, 2023 WR – Carmel

Contact Period Offers: Western Michigan, Central Michigan

Dillon Thieneman, 2023 DB – Westfield

Contact Period Offers: Central Michigan, Toledo, Ball State

Ben Decker, 2023 OL – Noblesville

Contact Period Offers: Western Michigan, Kent State

Patrick Kendall III, 2023 DL – Cathedral

Contact Period Offers: Southern Illinois

Luke Skartdvedt, 2023 OL – Roncalli

Contact Period Offers: Northern Illinois

CJ Davis, 2023 DB – Northrop

Contact Period Offers: Princeton, Western Michigan

Edward Hartig, 2023 OL – Reitz Memorial

Contact Period Offers: Western Michigan

Jaron Tibbs, 2023 WR – Cathedral

Contact Period Offers: Eastern Michigan