Chicago Sports

UNC wide receiver Josh Downs 2023 NFL draft scouting report

Wide receiver Josh Downs has been one of the most productive players in college football over the past two seasons at North Carolina. He emerged late in the 2020 season, getting a chance in the Orange Bowl against Texas A&M and carried that into a record-breaking year in 2021.

Downs put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. He may not have the notoriety as other big receivers in this class but the production in an Air Raid offense working with Sam Howell and Drake Maye is there.

The receiver will be an intriguing player to follow in the draft process, especially for teams who are looking to add talent there potentially late Day 1 or early Day 2. We have seen several receivers find success after not being selected in the first round and Downs has the make to be the latest.

He could also be a fit for the Chicago Bears who are seeking to add more weapons to their offense for Justin Fields this offseason.

Let’s get into the scouting report for Downs and take a look at his strengths, weakness and his potential fit for the Bears ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

Position: Wide receiver

Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds

Career Stats: 202 receptions, 2,483 receiving yards, 22 touchdowns; 27 punt returns, 282 punt return yards. (3 seasons)

Via NFL Draft Bible: 

A special athlete with refined technique, Josh Downs has the movement skills, flexibility, route running, run after catch ability, and versatility to be an elite offensive weapon in the league. His size and underwhelming play strength may limit him at the next level. He can start from the slot immediately.

Strengths:

– Quickness is a plus.

– Really good route runner. Has expanded route-running tree.

– Gets out of his breaks fast. Clean outs and can turn up field in a hurry.

– Very productive receiver in an Air Raid offense at North Carolina.

– Offers special teams value as well.

Weaknesses:

– Size could be a worry.

– Might be limited to just the slot on offense in NFL.

– Strength needs to get better at next level.

– Did struggle with drops at times at UNC

How does Josh Downs fit Chicago Bears?

The Chicago Bears would be wise to add a weapon on offense for quarterback Justin Fields and while they likely won’t do that early in the first round, a Day 2 option could be Josh Downs. He does fit the mold for a quick passing game scheme and the need for a slot receiver in this offense.

Downs showed his ability to get open often at North Carolina and be a legit target for both Sam Howell and Drake Maye. Bringing good route running and the ability to get open to the next level would fit the Bears need at wide receiver and give Fields a go-to target.

There’s a lot of upside in Downs’ game and his skill set fits really well with Luke Getsy’s scheme.

Projected round:

Late Day 1/Early Day 2 pick

Sports Illustrated Mock (No. 25)

Pro Football Network (No. 19)

The 33rd Team (No. 20)

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The games will go on. They always do. But Damar Hamlin’s life-threatening cardiac arrest during the Bills’ game against the Bengals on Monday night cast a pall on the NFL season like few events can.

NFL players go into this knowing that any play can be their last — whether they’re a league MVP or an undrafted free agent on the fringe of the roster. Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox was 25, an overachieving fifth-round draft pick in his third season in 2011 and three weeks removed from a career day against the Raiders — four receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown — when a devastating hit he took while trying to recover a fumble in a game against the Seahawks at Soldier Field ended his season and ultimately his career. Just like that.

The Knox episode is notable because it wasn’t just a tough football break — like Gale Sayers’ knee injury in 1968. The hit that Knox took was literally scary. It looked like it could have killed him.

It didn’t, and the brutality of the sport remains an occupational hazard that many players used to live for, but now just accept as part of the cost of playing a sport that is addictive on multiple levels. Brian Urlacher once said he would not report a concussion if it meant he would have to leave the game. In 2014, Bears safety Chris Conte told WBBM-AM’s Zach Zaidman, ‘I’d rather have the experience of playing and, who knows, die 10, 15 years earlier than not be able to play in the NFL and live a long life.” That’s how addictive this sport is.

But career-ending injuries are one thing. Actual on-the-field, life-and-death situations are another. Damar Hamlin apparently was in good health, with no pre-existing conditions when he collapsed after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins on Monday night. It appears he just took a bad hit at the exact wrong time. And how he’s fighting for his life.

Regardless of the tremendous odds against that happening, that has to shake any player who steps on the field — that a single hit can put you in a life-threatening situation.

As it turned out, Lions receiver Chuck Hughes had advanced arteriosclerosis — thickening of the arteries — when he collapsed and died late in a game against the Bears in 1971. Cardinals tight end J.V. Cain had an undetected heart condition when he died during a training camp practice in 1979. Hank Gathers had a heart condition prior to his death in 1990.

It remains to be seen if there were any underlying conditions that led to Hamlin’s situation. But right now, it appears that Damar Hamlin was in the prime of his life one moment, fighting for his life the next. The game will go on, but the brutality of football reached a frightening level of reality Monday night — for those of us who watch the game, but especially for those who play it.

2. The Hamlin tragedy surely evoked bad memories for long-time Bears fans who witnessed Hughes’ death on Oct. 24, 1971 at Tiger Stadium. The 28-year-old Hughes collapsed and died of a heart attack after running a pass route in the fourth quarter. Bears linebacker Dick Butkus was the first to realize the severity of Hughes’ condition and frantically called for medical personnel.

“Everyone thought he was faking, stalling for a time-out, but I saw his eyes .. they were rolling back. He couldn’t fake that,” Butkus wrote in his book, ‘Stop Action.’ “I turned and signaled the Lions’ bench. The officials were coming over, then they were running, the doctors were running. They were working on him, trying to get his heart going, pounding on his chest with their fists. When they carried Chuck Hughes off the field, I knew he was dead.”

Still, after Hughes was taken off the field, they played the final 1:02 of the game, which the Bears won, 28-23. It was a different time.

3. Is the 41-10 loss to the Lions the first red flag of the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus era?

Poles’ house-cleaning rebuild, the trades of Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, the injuries and considerable rookie snaps excuse a lot of what’s gone wrong this season. Their tenure has been about 2023 from the start. But even considering all that, the collapse against the Lions was an eye-opener. If that performance defines where the Bears are in their rebuild, it would take a lot more than Jalen Carter or Will Anderson to clean up that mess.

The Bears could argue that even during the losing streak, credible performances — like having possession in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie or take the lead against the Eagles and Bills — indicated progress.

The Bears figured to take one step backward to take two steps forward next season. But after collapsing against the Lions, the Bears almost need a credible performance against the Vikings to prove the Lions game was a mystifying one-off and not a sign that they are spinning their wheels heading into next season.

4. Was it just eight weeks ago that Matt Eberflus was getting questions about losing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy? The Bears had scored 33, 29, 32 and 30 points in consecutive games to improve from 31st to 20th in scoring. “He, to me, is a definite big-time [head-coaching] candidate,” Eberflus said prior to the Falcons game in Week 11.

That talk has cooled considerably in recent weeks and probably is on ice after the Bears had 30 net passing yards against a Lions defense that was allowing 264.1 passing yards per game this season.

But stranger things have happened. Mike McCarthy was hired by the Packers in 2006 as the offensive coordinator of a 49ers team that finished 32nd in total yards, 32nd in passing yards (with rookie quarterback Alex Smith having a 40.8 passer rating — the exact same rating Justin Fields had Sunday) and 30th in points in 2005.

5. If the Bears sit Fields against the Vikings in the season finale, it should be to avoid injury more than securing the No. 2 overall draft pick with a shot at the No. 1 pick. The Bears are plenty capable of losing with Fields — they’ve lost the last eight games he’s started, so …

6. Fields’ performance against the Lions was a step back — 7-of-21 for 75 yards, one touchdown, one interception, 40.8 passer rating, with seven sacks. But it’s worth noting that he had been completing 65.7% of his passes in the previous 10 games.

When he was that bad earlier in the season, he was completing 50.8% of his passes (34-of-67) in the first four games this season. Quarterback development starts with accuracy and Fields’ accuracy has improved significantly this season.

7. The Bears’ 30 net passing yards against the Lions not only was the eighth lowest in the NFL in the last 10 seasons, but also came against the worst defense. The Lions came in allowing 264.1 yards per game (30th in the NFL).

The Lions’ previous season best also was against the Bears — 150 yards at Soldier Field. So the Lions’ defense has allowed 90 net passing yards per game against the Bears this season, and 272.2 per game against the rest of the NFL.

8. Did you know? If the Bears had beaten the Redskins (a 12-7 loss), Dolphins (35-32) and Lions at Soldier Field (31-30), they’d be 6-10 and have the ninth overall pick in the draft heading into Sunday’s game.

9. Josh McCown Ex-Bears Player of the Week: 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson’s interception and 56-yard return to the 7-yard line in overtime set up Robbie Gould’s 23-yard field goal in a 27-24 victory over the Raiders.

10. Bear-ometer: 3-14 — vs. Vikings (L).

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CLEVELAND – It was the most intimidating looking set-up to draw a charge seen all evening by a member of the Bulls.

Feet were dug in the floor, base was locked, chest was out, and hands were showing.

One problem: It was coach Billy Donovan that was delivering it, and it came in a post-game press conference against a stationary table.

No tables were injured in the making of Donovan’s impromptu coaching clinic.

The Bulls? They were very injured. Or at least sick, after watching a 21-point halftime lead turn into an improbable 145-134 overtime loss in which Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points – the most in the NBA since Kobe Bryant’s 81 in 2006.

To put what Mitchell did into further historical context, his 71 points to go along with his 11 assists, accounted for 99 of Cleveland’s points. Wilt Chamberlain accounted for 104 during his 100-point game in 1962.

And while the Bulls certainly received no help from the referees, who missed a clear lane violation that led to Mitchell’s put-back off a free throw to send the game into overtime, it was a loss that continued to shine a spotlight on just how many warts this roster has, especially in clutch moments.

It starts with an unwillingness to play with physicality.

Donovan has been harping on it for two seasons, and it again reared its ugly head in the second half in Cleveland. There just aren’t enough players in the rotation that are willing to dig into the ground and make a stand with another human incoming. More iron, less Charmin.

In Donovan’s estimation, that’s why his team fouls too much, and at the worst moments.

“We’ve got to get better from a physicality standpoint,” Donovan said. “When the ball is coming at the basket we cannot slap and reach and try and deflect because we get a lot of those fouls. We’re going to have to go vertical, put our chest in plays or take charges and show our hands.”

But there’s another reason the Bulls find themselves 7-13 in games within five points and have five minutes or less left, and 5-10 within three points and 30 seconds or less left.

They’re becoming too predictable, especially when it comes down to final shots. It’s been DeMar DeRozan or bust this season, after he was an assassin at it last season. Despite the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report finding that DeRozan was fouled in his last second game-winning miss against the Cavs on Saturday, the entire Cleveland team and coaching staff knew who was taking it.

Even in Monday’s loss, it was DeRozan taking the last-second prayer at the end of regulation.

DeRozan’s been great at it – just look at last season when he shot 50% in games within two points and less than 10 seconds. All-Star Zach LaVine had his chance at it before DeRozan, and shot 28.6% in those same circumstances in the 2020-21 season.

That doesn’t mean LaVine shouldn’t at least be getting opportunities now, however.

LaVine spoke to the Sun-Times about it in Cleveland, and to his credit, continued to show why he remains a stand-up teammate.

“You give a guy like [DeRozan] the ball at the end of a game, you’re happy with the shot that he gets,” LaVine said. “That’s just the reality of it. But if I get that opportunity I’m still Zach, I’m going to shoot the ball confidently and think that I’m going to win the game or make the right play for my team.”

If there was one gripe by LaVine it was they have become too predictable at the end of games. His vote was for his coaching staff to mix it up a bit more.

“I think we have to start figuring out how we can get some different actions in those situations,” LaVine said. “But I just want to win.”

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Not an overreaction: Skip Bayless should not have a job

Love him or hate him the renowned sports columnist and sports television show host crossed the line when speaking about last night’s tragedy on Monday Night Football. Bayless took to Twitter to voice his disproval of the NFL postponing the rest of MNF’s contest between the Bills and Bengals.

The game was suspended due to Bills Safety Damar Hamlin collapsing and going into cardiac arrest on the field. Hamlin was given CPR for 8 minutes by personnel on the field and was taken to a nearby Cincinnati hospital where he is in critical condition. 

Football is a dangerous sport and people do die from playing it, but the focus when these unfortunate events occur should not be whether the game will continue or if it will be rescheduled. The focus must be on the man fighting for his life and thoughts and prayers should be with him and his family. Bayless completely dismissed and dehumanized the pain of Hamlin’s family and disregarded the young man’s life.

after immediate backlash and outrage from the entire sports world, Bayless tweeted an apology “Nothing is more important than that young man’s health. That was the point of my last tweet. I’m sorry if that was misunderstood but his health is all that matters,” Bayless has had controversial takes for years on FS1’s Undisputed and even beforehand at ESPN on First Take. Only after scrutiny did Bayless apologize and more than likely was done to save face.

Overreaction: The Eagles will choke away the division

In the absence of MVP-caliber quarterback Jalen Hurts the Eagles have struggled to hold on to their lead for the NFC East. The Eagles have dropped their last two games without Hurts and may need him for the season finale to win the division as Dallas has crept up to their lead and is one win away from taking the division if the Eagles cannot put the Giants away on Sunday.

The Eagles started the season red hot winning their first eight games before losing on MNF to the Washington Commanders. The Eagles sit at 13-3 and the highly competitive NFC will produce three playoff teams, one of which is the Dallas Cowboys which are 12-4 and are fighting Philly for the top spot in the East.

Hurts is said to be ready for next week, but the Eagles will face the New York Giants for the season finale. The Giants are a playoff team but were smacked by the Eagles 48-22 when last they played in week 14. Dallas may have already penciled in their win for their season finale against Washington as the Cowboys had no trouble with the Commanders back in October when they beat them 25-10.  Philly finds itself in another hard position after not taking care of business against a weaker Saints team and will have to give their A-game to sure up the division.

Not an Overreaction Brian Daboll is the NFL Coach of the Year.

Daboll has done the unthinkable and made the Giants a playoff team in his first year as head coach. The Giants are 9-6-1 and are one week away from their first playoff appearance since 2017. A season ago the Giants were 4-13 with no culture and no direction. Daniel Jones was on the verge of being the scapegoat and there was no light at the end of the tunnel for the franchise.

In just a year Daboll has completely changed the attitude of the team, the organization, and the fan base. He has created a culture of winning, grit, and toughness that has been evident the entire season for the G-men, winning or being within one score of winning in every game this season but three. Their three blowout losses were to the Seahawks, Cowboys, and Eagles.

However the future is bright for Daboll, he has figured out how to keep star running back Saquan Barkley healthy and contributing. The defense has transformed in a season and Daniel Jones looks like a real NFL quarterback. Time will tell if Daboll and the Giants will work in the long run, but no one can argue he is this year’s NFL Coach of the Year.

Overreaction: The Viking’s loss means nothing for their post-season goals.

After another astonishingly underwhelming performance, the Minnesota Vikings got manhandled by the Green Bay Packers 41-17 in a game where many questioned if the reign of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC North had finally come to a close. In true Vikings and Kirk Cousins fashion they folded under the pressure of the bright lights of NFL primetime.

Cousins was 18/31 for 205 yards a touchdown and three interceptions. The Vikings could not get anything going on offense and managed only three points through the first 3 quarters of play. While they struggled to score the Packers scored seemingly at will, scoring on special teams, defense, and offense to put the Vikings away early in the third quarter. Green Bay capitalized on all of Minnesota’s mistakes and with a win against Detroit will be back in the postseason.

Where does this put Minnesota? Are they destined to underachieve when the pressure is on? Cousins has had great games and he has had awful games, with the pressure of a Superbowl window closing the Vikings may look at a similar situation to the Chiefs, where they have a team capable of going the distance but because of limitations at the quarterback play they may need to consider an upgrade before the window closes on them

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The plan was altered.

That’s what can sometimes happen in recruiting when everything comes together and it just feels right. Why wait?

The high-profile recruitment of St. Rita’s James Brown came to an abrupt end with a commitment to North Carolina and head coach Hubert Davis Monday night.

“I’m not a big fan of delaying the inevitable,” Brown said. “I felt like North Carolina was the school for me and my parents were on board. So we decided there was no point in making people wait.”

Brown, a junior with an endless list of high-major programs in pursuit, had trimmed his list to 10 schools in September. He took five official visits in the fall, hitting the campuses of Missouri, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Illinois and North Carolina. He had planned to pick the recruiting all back up again this spring.

But that official visit to Chapel Hill in October left a big impression. The wheels started turning for Brown in terms of possibly speeding up the process as he developed a tight bond with both Davis and assistant coach Scott May. Those relationships stood out.

“I felt like we got extremely close in the time they recruited me,” Brown said. “We developed a little more than the typical player-coach relationship. I asked them a lot of questions with what they saw in my game, developmental stuff specifically, and they were always able to give me really, really useful answers. They helped me get better even in those conversations, and I was grateful for that.”

Brown also said he took what he called some sound advice his dad gave him during the recruiting process to help him in his decision-making. The advice he took and followed up with helped North Carolina stand out even more.

James Brown’s dad, Courtney, told his son to take time to watch each coach during games, to focus on how each coach actually coached and handled themselves during games.

“My dad wanted me to see how did they coach during adversity, and how did they coach in different situations throughout games?” Brown said. “Coach Davis never frowned when things weren’t going their way. He never seemed to get down on his guys. I loved watching him coach, to be honest. How he coached resonated with me. He also has that passion and energy and positivity I like.”

Davis and assistant coach Scott May made the trip to the Proviso West Holiday Tournament to watch Brown and St. Rita in its semifinal matchup with Young last week. Brown said he “had an idea he wanted to go to North Carolina” leading up to the Proviso West Holiday Tournament.

“Me and my family just came to that point where we were locked in on going to North Carolina,” Brown said. “Then the conversations I had with coach Davis and coach May after they came to see me play at Proviso West kind of sealed the deal that North Carolina was the school I wanted to go to.”

St. Rita coach Roshawn Russell has been no stranger to high-major recruitments in his short time as head coach of the Mustangs. Brown is just the latest.

“We are excited for James,” Russell said. “He has worked so hard to get to this point and to have these opportunities.”

Russell reiterated he believes it came together due to the relationship that was established between Brown and the North Carolina staff, particularly that of Hubert Davis.

“I really think it was a personality fit for James and the staff,” Russell said. “Their personalities, particularly Hubert Davis, matched well with James and what he was looking for.”

Brown is now locked in with a true college basketball Blue Blood, one that includes legendary coaches (Dean Smith and Roy Williams) and players (Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Vince Carter). The Tar Heels, who have won six national championships, reached last year’s national championship game in Davis’ first season as head coach.

“I’m stoked and extremely excited,” Brown said. “It’s a great school with a great basketball history. It will help me accomplish my dreams on and off the court.”

While Brown is committed to one of the biggest brands in college basketball, Russell looks at Brown as a player who can fit in just about anywhere due to the mindset his star player brings to a team.

“He’s a team-first guy who sacrifices for the greater good of the team,” Russell said. “On the floor, off the floor, James is always pulling for his teammates.”

Now Brown and his two highly-regarded teammates, juniors Morez Johnson and Nojus Indrusaitis, have all committed early. Johnson is headed to Illinois while Indrusaitis just recently committed to Iowa State.

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Tuesday, January 3, 2023

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Joliet Catholic at Notre Dame, 6:30

INTERSTATE EIGHT

Kaneland at Morris, 7:00

LaSalle-Peru at Rochelle, 7:00

Plano at Sycamore, 7:00

Sandwich at Ottawa, 7:00

KISHWAUKEE RIVER

Woodstock at Harvard, 7:00

NORTH SUBURBAN

Zion-Benton at Waukegan, 2:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Harlan at Vocational, 5:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – BLUE

Oak Forest at Tinley Park, 11:30

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE – CROSSOVER

Joliet Central at Oswego East, 6:30

Joliet West at West Aurora, 6:30

Plainfield Central at Minooka, 6:30

Plainfield East at Yorkville, 6:30

Plainfield South at Plainfield North, 6:30

Romeoville at Oswego, 6:30

NON CONFERENCE

Addison Trail at Maine East, 3:30

Andrew at Naperville North, 7:00

Calvary (Normal) at Midland, 5:30

Clemente at Kankakee, 6:30

DeKalb at Rockford Lutheran, 7:00

Dixon at Geneseo, 7:00

Eureka at Roanoke-Benson, 7:00

Glenbrook South at Glenbard West, 7:00

Hersey at Geneva, 7:00

Hiawatha at Christian Life, 7:30

Hoffman Estates at Glenbard North, 7:00

Jones at Hope Academy, 1:30

Lakes at Carmel, 7:00

Lexington at Tri-Point, 7:00

Lincoln-Way Central at Agricultural Science, 11:30

Marian Central at Grayslake Central, 7:00

Palatine vs. Vernon Hills, at Fiserve, 12:50

Perspectives-Lead at Normal West, 7:30

Perspectives-MSA at Schaumburg, 2:00

Pontiac at Dwight, 7:00

Richards (Chgo) at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30

Schurz at Lane, 11:00

South Beloit at North Boone, 7:00

South Newton (IN) at Beecher, 7:00

St. Edward at Montini, 5:00

REDFORD WESTFIELD (MI)

Longwood vs. Inkster American (MI), 1:00E

UPLIFT

Senn vs. Chicago Tech, 3:30

Legal Prep vs. Noble Street, 5:15

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

CHICAGO PREP

Northtown at Ida Crown, 7:00

FOX VALLEY

McHenry at Burlington Central, 7:30

NIC – 10

Belvidere at Hononegah, 6:30

Belvidere North at Guilford, 6:30

Boylan at Freeport, 7:00

Rockford East at Harlem, 7:00

NON CONFERENCE

Bolingbrook at Romeoville, 6:30

Corliss at Marist, 6:00

Fasman Yeshiva at Holy Trinity, 7:00

Galva at LaMoille, 6:00

Harlan at Hansberry, 5:00

Lincoln-Way Central at Downers Grove North, 6:30

Neuqua Valley at Cornerstone Christian, 7:30

Oak Lawn at Sandburg, 6:00

Reed-Custer at Serena, 6:45

Rich at Agricultural Science, 7:00

St. Bede at Earlville, 7:00

St. Francis at DePaul, 4:30

St. Laurence at Homewood-Flossmoor, 6:30

Stillman Valley at Marengo, 7:00

Woodstock North at Byron, 7:00

HOUSTON (TX)

Lindblom vs. TBA

UPLIFT

Chicago Tech vs. Legal Prep, 3:30

Noble Street vs. Senn, 5:15

Thursday, January 5, 2023

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Fenger at Vocational, 11:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – CROSSOVER

Argo at Lemont, 7:00

Evergreen Park at Bremen, 4:30

NON CONFERENCE

Crane at Bulls Prep, 3:30

Faith Christian at Christian Life, 8:00

Gary Lighthouse (IN) at Harlan, 7:30

Holy Trinity at Lycee Francais, 6:00

Leo at University High, 6:30

Marquette at Yorkville Christian, 7:00

Providence at Southland, 7:00

Richmond-Burton at Marian Central, 7:00

Sandwich at Genoa-Kingston, 7:00

HOUSTON (TX)

Lindblom vs. TBA

UPLIFT

Noble Street vs. Chicago Tech, 3:30

Senn vs. Legal Prep, 5:15

Friday, January 6, 2023

BIG NORTHERN

Byron at Rock Falls, 7:00

Rockford Christian at Oregon, 7:30

Rockford Lutheran at North Boone, 7:00

CATHOLIC LEAGUE – BLUE

Leo at Loyola, 6:30

CENTRAL SUBURBAN – NORTH

Niles North at Vernon Hills, 7:00

CENTRAL SUBURBAN – SOUTH

Glenbrook North at Glenbrook South, 7:00

Maine South at Evanston, 3:00

Niles West at New Trier, 7:00

CHICAGO PREP

Christ the King at Holy Trinity, 7:00

DU KANE

Wheaton North at Geneva, 6:00

DU PAGE VALLEY

Naperville Central at DeKalb, 7:00

Naperville North at Metea Valley, 7:00

Waubonsie Valley at Neuqua Valley, 7:00

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Benet at St. Patrick, 7:00

Joliet Catholic at Carmel, 7:00

Marist at Nazareth, 7:00

Notre Dame at St. Viator, 7:00

FOX VALLEY

Burlington Central at Cary-Grove, 7:30

ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT

Herscher at Streator, 6:45

Lisle at Wilmington, 7:00

Manteno at Peotone, 7:00

Reed-Custer at Coal City, 6:45

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Francis Parker at Northridge, 6:00

University High at Morgan Park Academy, 4:30

INTERSTATE EIGHT

Morris at Plano, 7:00

Ottawa at LaSalle-Peru, 7:00

Sandwich at Rochelle, 7:00

Sycamore at Kaneland, 7:00

KISHWAUKEE RIVER

Johnsburg at Harvard, 7:0

LITTLE TEN

Hiawatha at DePue, 7:00

Indian Creek at Newark, 7:00

Leland at LaMoille, 5:30

Somonauk at Hinckley-Big Rock, 6:45

METRO SUBURBAN – BLUE

Chicago Christian at Timothy Christian, 7:30

IC Catholic at St. Francis, 6:45

METRO SUBURBAN – RED

Elmwood Park at St. Edward, 7:00

McNamara at Westmont, 7:30

Ridgewood at Aurora Central, 7:30

MID-SUBURBAN – EAST

Buffalo Grove at Wheeling, 6:00

Hersey at Prospect, 6:00

MID-SUBURBAN – WEST

Hoffman Estates at Barrington, 6:00

Palatine at Fremd, 6:00

Schaumburg at Conant, 6:00

NIC – 10

Freeport at Belvidere North, 7:30

Guilford at Belvidere, 7:00

Harlem at Jefferson, 7:15

Hononegah at Auburn, 7:30

Rockford East at Boylan, 7:15

NORTH SUBURBAN

Lake Zurich at Lake Forest, 7:00

Stevenson at Zion-Benton, 7:00

Waukegan at Warren, 7:00

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC

Harvest Christian at Our Lady Sacred Heart, 6:00

Schaumburg Christian at Alden-Hebron, 7:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-WEST

Crane at Raby, 5:00

RIVER VALLEY

Donovan at Tri-Point, 7:00

Gardner-So. Wilmington at Beecher, 7:00

Grace Christian at Clifton Central, 7:00

Grant Park at Momence, 7:00

Illinois Lutheran at St. Anne, 7:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – RED

Eisenhower at Oak Lawn, 6:30

Reavis at Richards, 6:30

SOUTHLAND

Bloom at Crete-Monee, 6:00

Kankakee at Thornwood, 6:30

Rich at Thornridge, 6:00

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE – CROSSOVER

Minooka at Joliet West, 6:30

Oswego at Plainfield Central, 6:30

Oswego East at Romeoville, 6:30

Plainfield North at Plainfield East, 6:30

West Aurora at Plainfield South, 6:30

Yorkville at Joliet Central, 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN – CROSSOVER

Bolingbrook at Andrew, 6:00

Homewood-Flossmoor at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:

Lockport at Stagg, 6:00

Sandburg at Lincoln-Way Central, 6:30

TRI-COUNTY

Henry-Senachwine at Dwight, 7:00

Roanoke-Benson at Marquette, 7:00

Seneca at Lowpoint-Washburn, 7:30

Woodland at Putnam County, 7:00

UPSTATE EIGHT

Glenbard East at Elgin, 7:00

Glenbard South at Streamwood, 7:00

Larkin at Bartlett, 7:00

South Elgin at East Aurora, 6:30

West Chicago at Fenton, 7:00

WEST SUBURBAN – GOLD

Hinsdale South at Addison Trail, 7:30

Morton at Proviso East, 6:00

Willowbrook at Leyden, 6:00 (at West)

WEST SUBURBAN – SILVER

Downers Grove North at Lyons, 6:30

Oak Park-River Forest at Proviso West, 7:30

York at Glenbard West, 7:30

NON CONFERENCE

Amboy at Earlville, 7:00

Christian Life at Christian Liberty, 7:30

Clemente at Jones, 5:00

Dixon at South Beloit, 7:00

Downers Grove South at Hinsdale Central, 7:30

Harlan at St. Francis de Sales, 5:00

Lake Forest Academy at Latin, 6:00

Legal Prep at Providence-St. Mel, 5:00

Lycee Francais at Unity Christian, 6:00

Marengo at Huntley, 7:00

Marian Catholic at Taylorville, 7:00

Midland at Lexington, 7:00

Ogden at Dunbar, 5:00

Orr at Fenwick, 6:00

Raby at Amundsen, 1:00

Richmond-Burton at Crystal Lake Central, 7:00

St. Charles East at Marmion, 7:00

Wauconda at Dundee-Crown, 7:00

ERIE CATHEDRAL PREP (PA)

De La Salle vs. Cathedral Prep (PA), 7:30

HOUSTON (TX)

Lindblom vs. TBA

LA PORTE CIVIC AUDITORIUM (IN)

Simeon vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (IN), 4:00E

Saturday, January 7, 2023

DU KANE

Batavia at St. Charles East, 6:00

Lake Park at Wheaton-Warr. South, 7:00

St. Charles North at Glenbard North, 6:00

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Marist at Benet, 7:00

NIC – 10

Rockford East vs. Guilford, at Rock Valley, 5:45

Auburn vs. Jefferson, at Rock Valley, 7:45

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Grant at Wauconda, 4:30

Grayslake Central at Round Lake, 7:00

Grayslake North at Antioch, 1:00

Lakes at North Chicago, 5:00

WEST SUBURBAN – SILVER

Hinsdale Central at Downers Grove North, 4:45

NON CONFERENCE

Alden-Hebron at Faith Christian (WI), 4:00

Bradley-Bourbonnais at Plainfield North, 2:30

Butler at Jacobs, 12:30

Byron at Aquin, 2:30

Chicago Christian at Illiana Christian (IN), 6:30

Coal City at Morris, 6:45

Crete-Monee at Providence, 2:30

Cristo Rey-St. Martin at HRK, 5:45

Crystal Lake South at Woodstock North, 1:30

DeKalb at Champaign Central, 4:30

Don Bosco (IN) at Yorkville Christian, 2:00

Donovan at Watseka, 7:30

Downers Grove South at Wheaton North, 3:30

East Aurora at West Aurora, 4:30

Elgin Academy vs. Schaumburg, at NOW Arena, 2:0

Fasman Yeshiva at Ida Crown, 9:00

Gardner-So. Wilmington at Dwight, 7:00

Geneva at Hampshire, 4:00

Hansberry at Stagg, 11:30

Hiawatha at Ashton-Franklin Center, 4:00

Hinsdale Adventist at Cristo Rey, 7:30

Hinsdale South at New Trier, 1:15

Iroquois West at Herscher, 7:00

Johnsburg at Belvidere North, 4:00

Joliet Catholic at Pontiac, 2:30

LaSalle-Peru at Mendota, 4:30

Lincoln-Way West at Argo, 4:30

Marian Central at Carmel, 5:00

McHenry at Dixon, 2:00

McNamara at St. Francis de Sales, 4:30

Naperville Central at Lockport, 6:30

Oak Park-River Forest at Loyola, 3:00

Plano at Somonauk, 7:30

Riverside-Brookfield at Nazareth, 2:30

Romeoville at Montini, 7:00

St. Francis at Marmion, 6:00

Taft at Metea Valley, 2:30

Timothy Christian at Christ the King, 2:00

Von Steuben at Fenwick, 6:00

Waubonsie Valley at Mount Carmel, 6:00

Willowbrook at Proviso West, 6:00

Wilmington at Grant Park, 1:30

Woodland at Serena, 1:00

Woodstock at North Boone, 7:00

York at IC Catholic, 7:30

CLINTON

Seneca vs. Peoria Christian, 1:30

DE PAUL

DePaul vs. Lake Forest, 12:00

St. Ignatius vs. Glenbrook North, 1:30

Brother Rice vs. Bolingbrook, 3:30

Joliet West vs. Rolling Meadows, 5:00

ERIE CATHEDRAL PREP (PA)

De La Salle vs. TBA

HIGHLAND

Highland vs. Notre Dame (Quincy), 9:30

Belleville East vs. Hillcrest, 11:00

Bloomington Catholic vs. New Madrid Central (MO

East St. Louis vs. Staley (MO), 2:00

Sacred Heart-Griffin vs. Christian Brothers (MO), 3:

St. Rita vs. Chaminade (MO), 5:15

Imhotep (PA) vs. Simeon, 7:00

Vashon (MO) for Moline, 8:30

HOUSTON (TX)

Lindblom vs. TBA

HYDE PARK

Brooks vs. Francis Parker, 9:30

Gary Westside (IN) vs. Longwood, 10:45

Thornton vs. University High, 12:00

Danville vs. Rich, 1:20

North Lawndale vs. Lemont, 2:40

Perspectives-Lead vs. Lyons, 4:00

Hyde Park vs. Niles North, 5:20

Proviso East vs. Thornwood, 6:40

Bloom vs. Kenwood, 8:00

LORAS COLLEGE (IA)

Evanston vs. Hempstead (IA), 5:00

ROCK FALLS

Winnebago vs. Newman, 10:30

Reed-Custer vs. Bureau Valley, 12:00

Erie-Prophetstown vs. Kewanee, 3:00

Princeton vs. Rock Falls, 6:45

ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN

Beecher vs. Bismarck-Henning-RA, 11:00

Addison Trail vs. Centennial, 12:30

Mount Zion vs. Bloomington, 2:00

Newton vs. Monticello, 3:30

University High (Normal) vs. Tolono Unity, 5:00

Nashville vs. St. Joseph-Ogden, 6:30

Kankakee vs. Notre Dame (Peoria), 8:00

TAYLORVILLE

Marian Catholic vs. Normal, 7:30

Sunday, January 8, 2023

NON CONFERENCE

Fasman Yeshiva at MCC Prep, 1:30

HOUSTON (TX)

Lindblom vs. TBA

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2023 NFL Draft NFL Draft Scouting Report

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Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen look back at the busy holiday tournament week.

We go in-depth on Proviso West, York, Pontiac and the Big Dipper. Other tournaments mentioned include DeKalb, Bloomington, Pekin, Centralia, Maine East, IC Catholic, Hinsdale Central and Effingham/Teutopolis, Wheeling, Jacobs and Centralia.

The podcast is on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so please subscribe.

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Frank Galati, the Tony Award-winning director, writer and actor who helped transform Chicago theater, has died at 79.

Mr. Galati was an icon in Chicago’s theater community, winning Tony Awards for best play and best director in 1990 for “The Grapes of Wrath,” which moved to Broadway following its critically acclaimed debut production at Steppenwolf Theatre.

He was also Tony-nominated for best director for “Ragtime” in 1998 and was nominated for an Academy Award with Lawrence Kasdan for best screenplay for “The Accidental Tourist” in 1989.

His long list of works in Chicago also included productions of “The Drawer Boy,” in which he starred opposite John Mahoney in 2001, and “The Tempest,” a 2009 production in which Mr. Galati delivered an unforgettable performance as Prospero, the world-premiere stage adaptation of “Kafka on the Shore,” “East of Eden” and Haruki Murakami’s “after the quake” at Steppenwolf as well as “The Winter’s Tale,” “The Visit” and “Cry, the Beloved Country” at the Goodman.

Mr. Galati was also known for his work in opera, directing productions of “La Traviata” and “Tosca” at Lyric Opera of Chicago and “A View from the Bridge” at both the Lyric and The Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Frank Joseph Galati Jr. was born on Nov. 29, 1943, in Highland Park. He graduated from Glenbrook High School in 1961 and went on to attend Western Illinois University and Northwestern University, where he got his master’s degree and a doctorate in speech.

He became a member of Northwestern’s faculty in 1972.

He also performed in nearly two dozen productions while an undergraduate at the university.

Mr. Galati solidified his presence in Chicago’s theater scene in the 1980s, becoming a Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member in 1985 and the Goodman Theatre’s associate director a year later. He remained in that post until 2008.

Mr. Galati was inducted in to the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2004. He is the recipient of nine Joseph Jefferson Awards for his work in Chicago theater. Other accolades include the League of Chicago Theatres Artistic Leadership Award, and an NAACP Theatre Award.

Mr. Galati was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in November, an honor bestowed “on those who have made outstanding contributions to the American Theater.”

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The weeks immediately following the holidays tend to be comparatively quiet on the classical-music front as Chicago-area audiences take a break after the festivities and hole up at home to avoid the often-oppressive winter weather.

One bright and shining exception has been Northwestern University’s Winter Chamber Music Festival, which has thrived during this unlikely time period, marking its 25th anniversary last year.

“There are many regular audience members,” said Blair Milton, an associate professor of violin who directs the series. “A good number of those who made up the original audiences are still with us 26 years later. There are even quite a few who have been to every one of the 159 concerts.”

Marking its return to a full schedule after canceled and abridged offerings in 2021 and 2022, respectively, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returns Jan. 6-22 for six concerts beginning with the Calidore String Quartet and double bassist Xavier Foley.

A boon to the event has been its home venue — the 1,003-seat Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, which opened in 1975.

“Pick-Staiger is a very welcoming hall to play in and listen in,” Milton said. “It’s large enough and small enough. It’s very intimate-feeling. You always feel you are close to the stage no matter where you are sitting and the acoustic is excellent for chamber music.”

Milton, who is also a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conceived the festival in 1997 as a way for what is now known as the Bienen School of Music to mark the centennial of Johannes Brahms’ death. So, all six of the inaugural concerts featured chamber music by the famed composer.

Immediately putting the event on the map that first year was the participation of Daniel Barenboim, then the CSO’s music director. He is also an internationally renowned pianist, and he performed with four members of the orchestra.

Despite it taking place on Super Bowl Sunday in the middle of a snowstorm, demand was so high for Barenboim’s concert that Pick-Staiger staff had to set up 200 extra seats in the balcony and 75 more on stage. And even with the additional places, some people were still turned away.

Milton hoped the festival would become an annual event, but he knew that school officials would only allow it to continue if it did well. “But it was such success the first year,” he said, “that they said, ‘Ok, good, what are we doing next year?'”

Because of Milton’s connection to the CSO, many of the early concerts featured players from the ensemble. But about 15 years ago, the orchestra began scheduling international tours in January, causing the musicians to be less available.

So, the series began featuring more touring artists and ensembles, including such prominent groups as the Escher Quartet and St. Lawrence String Quartet and soloists like cellists Lynn Harrell and Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Garrick Ohlsson.

The festival has regularly presented up-and-coming winners of the prestigious Banff (Alberta, Canada) International String Quartet Competition, which is held every three years. Indeed, this year’s installment features the 2022 winner of the Banff competition, the Isidore Quartet, on Jan. 13. It was formed in 2019 as a student ensemble at the Juilliard School in New York City.

While the festival presents groups with other instrumental combinations, like wind quintets or piano trios, it has put an emphasis on string quartets, presenting 23 different such groups, with some making multiple appearances. For example, the Calidore Quartet, which received an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2018, is returning for its fifth visit.

Other string quartets featured during the 2023 festival are the New Orford String Quartet (Jan. 15) from Canada and the Jupiter String Quartet (Jan. 22). The one featured touring group that is not a string foursome is the Horszwoski Trio, a piano-anchored ensemble, which is set for Jan 20.

Harking back to 1997, four CSO musicians — associate concertmaster Stephanie Jeong, violinist Simon Michal, violist Weijing Michal and assistant principal cellist Kennith Olsen — will take part in an Jan. 8 concert, about two weeks before they leave for a North American tour.

Joined by noted pianist Adam Neiman, they will culminate their all-Brahms concert with the composer’s Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34, the same work in which Barenboim appeared.

“That will be,” Milton said, “a little way of remembering and honoring that opening season.”

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