Schuckman: Killday’s message of Quincy being destination for local football talent is getting heard

QUINCY — The sign always reads “Welcome home.”

That’s how Jason Killday wants it.

Since taking over as the Quincy University football coach 14 months ago. Killday wanted high school players throughout West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri to view Quincy as a destination and not a leave-it-in-your-rear-view kind of place.

“The goal for me is for the best players in the area to know they are wanted here and have a home here,” Killday said.

That message is being heard.

Coming off a momentous first season — the Hawks won five games in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and finished 6-4 overall — Killday and his staff landed three all-state products from Adams County alone, secured commitments from some of the top talent within 100 miles and made national signing day a launching point into next season.

The Hawks inked 43 players on Wednesday, including Quincy High School quarterback Bradyn Little, Quincy Notre Dame linebacker Taylin Scott and Camp Point Central fullback Elijah Genenbacher. All three received all-state plaudits from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

“I think it’s a pretty good message not just to the local community, but throughout the state, that, ‘Hey, these guys are doing things the right way. They’re treating kids the right way, and they’re playing a pretty good brand of football,’” KIllday said.

It wasn’t just the players in the immediate backyard who caught wind of that.

The Hawks signed fullback Conner Longnecker, a first-team all-stater from Hardin Calhoun, defensive back Chaun Robinson Jr., a third-team all-stater from Fort Zumwalt North in suburban St. Louis, and linebacker Eddie Johnson, a first-team all-stater from Solon, Iowa.

The addition of Rockwood Summit tight end Chase Martin, Edwardsville defensive back Patrick Chism Jr., and Lincoln-Way West wide receiver DeAndre Coates further exemplifies the message is getting through because they help address needs of length, speed and size.

The Hawks also did a nice job of building depth at key positions such as tight end and defensive back and adding to culture by bringing in standout students like Genenbacher and pedigree guys like Chatham Glenwood tight end Jonathan Helm, whose older brother, Daniel, starred at Duke and played in the NFL.

There will be depth at quarterback, too.  The Hawks signed four quarterbacks, including Little, the record-setting QHS gunslinger who finished his career among the best statistical quarterbacks in Illinois High School Association history, and Greg Menne, a transfer from Southeast Missouri State University who has three years of eligibility remaining.

“We definitely got better,” Killday said. “We got bigger across the board and addressed some positional needs.”

More importantly, Killday and his staff got their message out.

Hired in December 2023 to replace Gary Bass, Killday had two months to put together a staff and finish recruiting before the 2024 signing day. This time, he had an entire year to see what was needed, what was available and what fit.

“We had a little bit more time to comb through prospects and really build a relationship with a lot of guys,” Killday said. “That paid off.”

It will continue to pay off in the years to come, too, as homegrown talent leads to homegrown success and top-tier talent sees home is the best place to be.