December 18, 2025 • 6 mins
Brother Rice sophomore defensive lineman Kameron McGee, a five-star prospect who recorded 21 TFLs and 10.5 sacks while guiding the Crusaders to an IHSA 7A state championship this season, is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the Year.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Twenty twenty five Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the
Year Brother Rice's Cameron McGhee. This article is being read
by an automated voice, brought to you by Everlet put
it on there five minutes, flip it over the other
five minutes. You're done. Then the key the key to this.
(00:26):
You tent it, bring it inside, tent it. Put a
couple piece of foil over it. Tanted for about five
to ten minutes. That keeps it so juicy. And I
gotta tell you, I've won my wife over on this.
My son, who did not really eat meat, absolutely loves it.
Asks for steak every week. So that is my steak advice. Seaball,
go get, Paul McGee said, that's it. McGee's performance on
(00:49):
the football field emblemized those words. The six foot three,
two hundred and forty pound defensive end consistently found the
football and wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, posting fifty four
tackles along with twenty one tackles for loss in ten
point five sacks during the twenty twenty five season, which
culminated with an IHSA seven A state title. We're just thankful,
(01:09):
McGee said, it's history for us. We've been talking about
winning since we first started in January twenty twenty five.
When we won, it's been so much of a journey
and we've built so much chemistry getting to know everybody
by their first and last name and knowing where they
come from. If somebody goes down, then the next person
can go up and have the trust from all of
(01:30):
the guys. It was the first state football title since
nineteen eighty one for the Crusaders, who went thirteen to
one and shut out Saint Rita sixteen to zero during
the state title game at NIU earlier this month. McGhee,
who helped Brother Rice blank three opponents in the playoffs,
played an integral role in Brother Rice's state championship victory
against the Mustangs, recording six total tackles, four tackles for loss,
(01:54):
and two sacks. One of the keys to success was
the extra time they gave us. McGee said, we reframed
and refocused. That was one of our mottos for the season.
We had three extra practices to see what they would
do and catch on to their tendencies. That extra time
helped us see what we needed to see in order
to shut them out E, a five star prospect who
(02:16):
broke up nine passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered one
fumble during his sophomore season, is the twenty twenty five
Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the Year, an All
CCL SCC honoree, and a Friday Night Drive All CCL
SCC player. McGee was part of a brother Rise defensive
line that collectively brought home the CCL SCC Blues Lineman
(02:36):
of the Year award. Brayden Parks, Mikey Fitzgerald, King Liggins,
those are my best friends, McGee said, I'm the underclassman,
but I looked to all of them as brothers, as friends,
and as family. They opened up one on one opportunities
for me. Braden took on double teams, King took on
double teams, and Mikey took on double teams for me
(02:58):
to go make a play, and vice versa. We had
a next man up mentality this year. Brother Rice, whose
only loss this season came against unbeaten Mount Carmel. This
year's IHSA eight A state champion finished thirteen to one
for the first time since twenty eighteen, when the Crusaders
shut out six teams en route to a State finals appearance.
(03:20):
While Liggins and Illinois recruit will be graduating early, Brother
Rice will have both McGee and Parks, a four star
prospect returning next season. Mangarin is the best player in
the country. Brother Rice coach Casey Quidenfeld said, I've coached
in five states and I've seen the best of the best.
He's mature beyond his years, and he loves the game.
He studies the game. He's so athletic and powerful. At
(03:42):
any given time, he can make a play to totally
kill momentum. With McGee's spearheading the charge off the edge,
Brother Rice held four opponents scoreless and limited teams to
an average of ten point twenty eight points this season.
The Crusaders, who climbed to number one in the AP
rankings in Class seven A, made their first men statement
of the Year during their twenty eight to six win
(04:02):
over three time defending eight AY State champion Loyola in September.
McGhee had two sacks in the win. What really made
us successful was getting off the field on third downs.
McGee said. Last year we'd get the other team to
third down, they would convert. This year, we had a
whole bunch of third and long, third and short and
fourth in short plays where we got off the field
and gave our offense more opportunities. A Bellwood native with
(04:26):
one sister and two brothers, McGhee played both ways as
a freshman, racking up around seven hundred receiving yards and
becoming a breakout star on defense. Currently rated the number
one overall prospect in the twenty twenty eight class by
two hundred and forty seven Sports, McGee has received offers
from several prestigious programs, including Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Oregon,
(04:50):
Notre Dame, Texas, and LSU. I felt like I improved in
the mental part of the game, McGee said. During my
freshman year, I could just run around and make plays.
Sophomore year, I got to really learn the defense, and
I got to know what I'm really good at and
how I could use my advantages against other people. I'm
pretty fast, explosive, and I can drop back into coverage
(05:12):
and stick on to a receiver even as a defensive lineman.
Inspired by his mother, Dessauser Banks, McGee is one of
the most disruptive pass rushers in the state who still
has two more years of high school football to play.
McGee whose favorite NFL players to watch include Green Bay
Packers and former Dallas Cowboys star Michaeh Parsons, said that
(05:33):
mental and physical growth will be among his top priorities
as he prepares for the twenty twenty sixth season next fall.
A bit role model is my mom, said McGhee, who
started playing football as a first grader. She's my everything
and she does everything for me. It's funny because my
older brother played and I didn't really want to play,
but my mom asked me to play, and I got
(05:55):
good at it, so I kept on playing and I
fell in love with it.
Twenty twenty five Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the
Year Brother Rice's Cameron McGhee. This article is being read
by an automated voice, brought to you by Everlet put
it on there five minutes, flip it over the other
five minutes. You're done. Then the key the key to this.
(00:26):
You tent it, bring it inside, tent it. Put a
couple piece of foil over it. Tanted for about five
to ten minutes. That keeps it so juicy. And I
gotta tell you, I've won my wife over on this.
My son, who did not really eat meat, absolutely loves it.
Asks for steak every week. So that is my steak advice. Seaball,
go get, Paul McGee said, that's it. McGee's performance on
(00:49):
the football field emblemized those words. The six foot three,
two hundred and forty pound defensive end consistently found the
football and wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, posting fifty four
tackles along with twenty one tackles for loss in ten
point five sacks during the twenty twenty five season, which
culminated with an IHSA seven A state title. We're just thankful,
(01:09):
McGee said, it's history for us. We've been talking about
winning since we first started in January twenty twenty five.
When we won, it's been so much of a journey
and we've built so much chemistry getting to know everybody
by their first and last name and knowing where they
come from. If somebody goes down, then the next person
can go up and have the trust from all of
(01:30):
the guys. It was the first state football title since
nineteen eighty one for the Crusaders, who went thirteen to
one and shut out Saint Rita sixteen to zero during
the state title game at NIU earlier this month. McGhee,
who helped Brother Rice blank three opponents in the playoffs,
played an integral role in Brother Rice's state championship victory
against the Mustangs, recording six total tackles, four tackles for loss,
(01:54):
and two sacks. One of the keys to success was
the extra time they gave us. McGee said, we reframed
and refocused. That was one of our mottos for the season.
We had three extra practices to see what they would
do and catch on to their tendencies. That extra time
helped us see what we needed to see in order
to shut them out E, a five star prospect who
(02:16):
broke up nine passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered one
fumble during his sophomore season, is the twenty twenty five
Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the Year, an All
CCL SCC honoree, and a Friday Night Drive All CCL
SCC player. McGee was part of a brother Rise defensive
line that collectively brought home the CCL SCC Blues Lineman
(02:36):
of the Year award. Brayden Parks, Mikey Fitzgerald, King Liggins,
those are my best friends, McGee said, I'm the underclassman,
but I looked to all of them as brothers, as friends,
and as family. They opened up one on one opportunities
for me. Braden took on double teams, King took on
double teams, and Mikey took on double teams for me
(02:58):
to go make a play, and vice versa. We had
a next man up mentality this year. Brother Rice, whose
only loss this season came against unbeaten Mount Carmel. This
year's IHSA eight A state champion finished thirteen to one
for the first time since twenty eighteen, when the Crusaders
shut out six teams en route to a State finals appearance.
(03:20):
While Liggins and Illinois recruit will be graduating early, Brother
Rice will have both McGee and Parks, a four star
prospect returning next season. Mangarin is the best player in
the country. Brother Rice coach Casey Quidenfeld said, I've coached
in five states and I've seen the best of the best.
He's mature beyond his years, and he loves the game.
He studies the game. He's so athletic and powerful. At
(03:42):
any given time, he can make a play to totally
kill momentum. With McGee's spearheading the charge off the edge,
Brother Rice held four opponents scoreless and limited teams to
an average of ten point twenty eight points this season.
The Crusaders, who climbed to number one in the AP
rankings in Class seven A, made their first men statement
of the Year during their twenty eight to six win
(04:02):
over three time defending eight AY State champion Loyola in September.
McGhee had two sacks in the win. What really made
us successful was getting off the field on third downs.
McGee said. Last year we'd get the other team to
third down, they would convert. This year, we had a
whole bunch of third and long, third and short and
fourth in short plays where we got off the field
and gave our offense more opportunities. A Bellwood native with
(04:26):
one sister and two brothers, McGhee played both ways as
a freshman, racking up around seven hundred receiving yards and
becoming a breakout star on defense. Currently rated the number
one overall prospect in the twenty twenty eight class by
two hundred and forty seven Sports, McGee has received offers
from several prestigious programs, including Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Oregon,
(04:50):
Notre Dame, Texas, and LSU. I felt like I improved in
the mental part of the game, McGee said. During my
freshman year, I could just run around and make plays.
Sophomore year, I got to really learn the defense, and
I got to know what I'm really good at and
how I could use my advantages against other people. I'm
pretty fast, explosive, and I can drop back into coverage
(05:12):
and stick on to a receiver even as a defensive lineman.
Inspired by his mother, Dessauser Banks, McGee is one of
the most disruptive pass rushers in the state who still
has two more years of high school football to play.
McGee whose favorite NFL players to watch include Green Bay
Packers and former Dallas Cowboys star Michaeh Parsons, said that
(05:33):
mental and physical growth will be among his top priorities
as he prepares for the twenty twenty sixth season next fall.
A bit role model is my mom, said McGhee, who
started playing football as a first grader. She's my everything
and she does everything for me. It's funny because my
older brother played and I didn't really want to play,
but my mom asked me to play, and I got
(05:55):
good at it, so I kept on playing and I
fell in love with it.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.