Chicago Mount Carmel finished the 2023 season as the Illinois 7A State Champions. The Caravan beat Downers Grove North 35-10 to secure their 15th state title. This ties Joliet Catholic for the most state championships in Illinois High School Football history.
Mount Carmel ended the season with a 13-1 overall record. Their only loss was to rival Loyola Academy (8A State Champs) 23-21 in week 9 of the regular season, breaking their 22-game win streak. The Caravan won the 2022 7A State Title and had a perfect 14-0 record.
Jordan Lynch is entering his seventh season as Mount Carmel’s head coach. The former Heisman Trophy finalist has been outstanding since taking over in 2018. He has won three state championships and has a 64-8 record.
The Caravan had signature non-conference wins against East St. Louis in Week 1 and Morgan Park in Week 2. In the Catholic League, they beat St. Rita twice, Chicago Brother Rice, and a talented Fenwick team.
Offense
The Caravan’s offense was nearly unstoppable last season, averaging 42.35 points per game. They lost one of the best players to ever wear the brown and white jersey in running back Darrion Dupree. Dupree was a huge threat on the ground and in the passing game. He racked up 3,856 (2,692 Rushing, 1,164 receiving) all-purpose yards and 49 touchdowns in his 3-years on varsity. He signed with Wisconsin.
Mount Carmel also graduated offensive starters Darrion Gilliam (Kent State), Alonzo Manning (Navy), Rahfeeq Katumbusi (Eastern Illinois), and Maurice Densmore (Winona State).
Before last season, Jordan Lynch said quarterback Jack Elliott was the future of their program. Elliott is going into his final year, has two state championships, and is seeking his third straight. The future is now, and Elliott is one of the best in the Midwest. The 6’0”, 205-pound senior broke the school passing record last season with 3,184 yards. He connected on 68% of his passes and threw 34 touchdowns. Elliott can air it out with the best quarterbacks in the country, but he is also a huge threat moving the chains with his legs. He rushed for 940 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Along with Elliott, the Caravan has talented receivers and tight ends with experience and playmaking ability. Jackson Barrins (5’10”, 175) and Cooper Lehman (6’0”, 170) are two seniors who will be Elliott’s go-to guys. Barrins is a slot receiver and return man on special teams. He made some big plays as a junior and will have a larger role in the offense this season. Lehman picked up a couple of Division 1AA offers this offseason and has all the tools to excel as a senior. Quentin Burrell (6’3”, 185) is a 2027 wide receiver who will be in the rotation.
Mount Carmel has two big-time tight end prospects in Joey Quinn (6’5”, 245) and Danyil Taylor Jr. Quinn has picked up a few Division 1 scholarship offers this offseason. He doesn’t have much varsity experience but has all the traits to be a rising star this year. Conversely, Taylor is a 3-year varsity player and was a key starter last season. He is a relentless blocker on the perimeter and has been a reliable option for Elliott in the passing game. We expect both tight ends will be major contributors to the offense.
In the trenches, Mount Carmel has one of its best 2026 blue-chip prospects returning in Lamont Miller. Miller is a 6’4”, 290-pound left guard who is a punishing run blocker who overwhelms opposing defenders. A sleeper prospect that will emerge during his senior season is John Jones. Jones is a 6’7”, 325-pound offensive tackle with loads of potential and a player the Caravan needs to step up big and help anchor the line. Jack Welsh (6’3”, 245) returns at right guard. Declan Gill (6’4”, 270) is a 2026 center who is projected to start. Chukwuebuka Odeluga (6’4”, 295) is a big junior offensive lineman ready to make an impact this season.
Defense
The Caravan defense was fast, aggressive, and tough to score on in 2023. They only gave up 13.6 points per game. The top graduating players from last season are Parker Startz (Ohio University), CJ Miles (Western Michigan), Jayden Jones (North Dakota), Tavon Rice (Bemidji State), and Dillon Conway (Eastern Illinois).
The 2024 Caravan defense will rely heavily on seniors Le’Javier Payne and Matt Mucha (5’11”, 205). Both were first-team All-Chicago Catholic League (Blue Division) performers last season. Payne is a 5’10”, 180-pound defensive back with several Division 1AA scholarship offers. Mucha has great instincts as an inside linebacker and the speed and range to track down opposing ball carriers.
Braeden Jones is the defensive player climbing up the rankings on all the national recruiting websites. Jones is a 6’5”, 250-pound defensive end in the 2026 recruiting class. He has all the physical traits of a future four- or five-star recruit. He showed enough last season to earn offers from Notre Dame, Texas A&M, USC, Tennessee, Florida, and more than 15 other Power 4 colleges. We expect him to dominate off the edge and be the difference maker up front.
Tristan Pusateri (5’11”, 210), Derek Murray (6’1”, 280), and Zander Gorman (5’11”, 190) are all seniors who started and excelled last season. Garrett Mann (6’1”, 200) is a 2026 linebacker who is projected to start alongside Mucha and Pusateri. Sophomore Tavares Harrington (6’2”, 170) and junior Gabe Spencer (6’0”, 160) are two defensive backs who will contribute and each have a lot of potential.
2024 Schedule
Last season, the Caravan opened up with East St. Louis in a 36-33 thriller. This year, they get an East Coast powerhouse playing The Hun Academy. Hun finished with an 8-1 record and won a third straight Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship in New Jersey in 2023. Hun has over 12 players committed to or have offers from Division 1 colleges. This team is legit and one of the best in the nation. Mount Carmel will have tough catholic league games in week 2 and 3 against St. Rita and Nazareth Academy. The classic rival game against Loyola Academy will be on October 25.
2024 Outlook
In the last two seasons, the Caravan had one of the nation’s best running backs in Darrion Dupree. With him gone, this offense will be turned over to Jack Elliott. Elliott can pick defenses apart in the passing game and will keep them honest with his ability to scramble. Lehman, Taylor, and Barrins are his top receiving targets. They are his playmakers and need big seasons. Lamont Miller is the anchor on the offensive line. Joey Quinn and John Jones didn’t play much last season, but must be impact players for the offense.
Defensively, they have a lot of team speed and experience returning. Braden Jones has blossomed into a national recruit and will need to ignite this defense. Mucha and Pusateri will be flying all around, causing havoc. Le’Javier Payne is a special talent and is underrecruited based on his performance from last season. Mann and Harrington are two promising newcomers who will stand out and help this defense.
Mount Carmel has a challenging schedule each week during the regular season. This is life in the Chicago Catholic League and Jordan Lynch is establishing his program as a national power. The tough regular season sets them up for success when playoff time comes around. The Caravan skated through the 7A playoffs last year. We expect a similar outcome in 2024 and a 3-peat in the making.
