December 23, 2025 • 6 mins
Montini junior quarterback Israel Abrams, who threw for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns and led the Broncos to a 14-0 record and the Class 4A state championship, is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the Year.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Twenty twenty five Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the
Year Montini's Israel Abrams. This article is being read by
an automated voice brought to you by Everlett. Montini junior
quarterback Israel Abrams is building an impressive football resume. Abrams,
who transferred from Saint Viader to Montini after his freshman season,
(00:29):
already is among the elite quarterbacks in the country. His
goal is to be among the best all time in
state history. Was a twenty four zero record as a
starter in piloting the Broncos to back to back state championships.
Abrams is working his way up the record books. Abrams,
a four star recruit with multiple powerfour offers, said he
(00:50):
would love to close out his storied career with a
thirty eight and oh record, which would ensure a third
straight state title for the Broncos. Easy to think of
thirty eight wins in a row, Abrams said, I may
have that chance. I just stay humble and work hard.
My family, my teammates, and my team have helped me
get to this place. We've all worked together as a
(01:12):
team over the last two years and picked each other up.
I want to win another state championship. If I get that,
that helps my case one hundred percent to be one
of the better quarterbacks in Illinois state history. Like several
pass quarterbacks such as JJ McCarthy, Abrams is excited to
add to his growing state legacy. Capping his sensational season
(01:33):
by completing two hundred and thirty three of three hundred
and forty passes for four thousand, seventy two yards and
forty touchdowns while tossing only six interceptions. He ran for
two hundred and twenty four yards and ten touchdowns and
was named the MVP of the Chicago Catholic League White Division.
He is the Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the Year.
(01:55):
In his first full season as a starter, Abrams lived
up to his vast potential by leading the Broncos fourteen
zero to the Class four A state championship. The six
foot four, one hundred and ninety pound Abrams, a four
A All State selection, completed twenty of thirty two passes
for four hundred and eighteen yards and two touchdowns and
scored a rushing TD to power the Broncos to a
(02:17):
forty seven to thirty three victory over Rochester in the
Class four A final. November twenty eighth at Hancock Stadium.
My goal always has been to win every game I can,
Abrams said, I hate losing and will try and do
everything I can to win. I'm blessed to be in
this position. I definitely can't say that I thought I
would be in this position when I started my career.
(02:39):
It's cool to see when you put all your chips
in one basket and reap the fruit of your labor.
Broncos coach Mike Bukovski was happy to see Abrams enroll
at Montini still Iva, Bukowski, a veteran multi sport coach,
couldn't have predicted Abram's impact on the Broncos. After winning
the Class six A state title in twenty fifteen, the
Bronco endured a title drought until Abrams led the team
(03:02):
to the three A state crown last season. To this day,
Bukovsky said Abrams made a big impression on him during
their first meeting when he was a freshman at Saint Viator.
Bukovsky said he was fully aware of Abram's physical talents
and long range potential, but his poise, confidence and mental
makeup caught him by surprise for someone so young. I
(03:25):
was immediately impressed with his maturity. Bukovsky said he was
looking into several factors in terms of choosing a school.
My job is in admissions, so I talked to a
lot of kids who want to come here. When he
got there, he was a team guy. He took it
all in stride and never wanted any special treatment. He
was a very supportive teammate and handled coming off the bench.
(03:46):
That was an indicator to me about his maturity. He
wasn't entitled when he got here. He took everything in
stride and developed. He's a very infectious personality, a bundle
of energy, poised and calm. He goes out of his
way to help other players. He never makes it about himself. Abrams,
a captain is not shy about the spotlight it comes
(04:07):
with the position. But Abrams prides himself on being a
team first player, spreading positivity to his teammates and providing
support and encouragement while crediting them for his success. Good
leaders don't always have to tell people what to do,
Abram said, you can listen to command. Captains can look
like a bunch of different things, like staying after practice
(04:28):
and putting the balls in the bag. I've had some
really bad games, but my teammates have picked me up
or the defense played great. After last season's meteoric rise,
Abrams worked on his game during the offseason to handle
the pressure of being the focal point of opposing defenses.
Bukovsky said Abrams made a big jump this season. This year.
(04:49):
One of the things is he's very elite in his
ability to extend plays. Bukovsky said some of his best
plays or highlights are when he runs around and retraces
steps things back in the pocket. The unsung thing is
the way he climbs the pocket and navigates within the pocket.
He has the ability to keep his vision downfield, which
(05:10):
to me, for a high school quarterback, that's the separator.
He can see the field and move at the same time.
He's got so much better at that this year. His
arm strength is off the charts. I've been around a
lot of high school and college coaches. They all say
it's rare to see someone his age with his arm strength.
(05:30):
Abram said he was excited to showcase a new and
improved version of himself for his junior season. I get
it a lot about how slight I am and how
I throw the ball. He said, just keep practicing and
constantly I'm throwing the ball almost like the same thing.
By practicing hitting a baseball, I worked on my pocket
presence and reading defenses. Next up for Abrams is narrowing
(05:52):
his long list of college suitors. His list of offers
is approaching twenty schools, with Indiana, Michigan State, Ole, miss Tennessee, Northwestern,
Mississippi State, and Kentucky among the schools. I've got a
few new schools on the list, Abrams said. Auburn, Duke,
usc and Texas have been more active. Bukovsky said he's
(06:16):
happy to have one more season with Abrams under center
for his program. Bukovsky said Abrams is among the elite
quarterbacks in state history. There's so much hype surrounded around
a lot of players, especially at quarterback. Bukovsky said, the
separator at quarterback is that he has two state titles.
That's the ultimate measure of a winner. He's a winner.
(06:37):
That's the best stat
Twenty twenty five Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the
Year Montini's Israel Abrams. This article is being read by
an automated voice brought to you by Everlett. Montini junior
quarterback Israel Abrams is building an impressive football resume. Abrams,
who transferred from Saint Viader to Montini after his freshman season,
(00:29):
already is among the elite quarterbacks in the country. His
goal is to be among the best all time in
state history. Was a twenty four zero record as a
starter in piloting the Broncos to back to back state championships.
Abrams is working his way up the record books. Abrams,
a four star recruit with multiple powerfour offers, said he
(00:50):
would love to close out his storied career with a
thirty eight and oh record, which would ensure a third
straight state title for the Broncos. Easy to think of
thirty eight wins in a row, Abrams said, I may
have that chance. I just stay humble and work hard.
My family, my teammates, and my team have helped me
get to this place. We've all worked together as a
(01:12):
team over the last two years and picked each other up.
I want to win another state championship. If I get that,
that helps my case one hundred percent to be one
of the better quarterbacks in Illinois state history. Like several
pass quarterbacks such as JJ McCarthy, Abrams is excited to
add to his growing state legacy. Capping his sensational season
(01:33):
by completing two hundred and thirty three of three hundred
and forty passes for four thousand, seventy two yards and
forty touchdowns while tossing only six interceptions. He ran for
two hundred and twenty four yards and ten touchdowns and
was named the MVP of the Chicago Catholic League White Division.
He is the Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the Year.
(01:55):
In his first full season as a starter, Abrams lived
up to his vast potential by leading the Broncos fourteen
zero to the Class four A state championship. The six
foot four, one hundred and ninety pound Abrams, a four
A All State selection, completed twenty of thirty two passes
for four hundred and eighteen yards and two touchdowns and
scored a rushing TD to power the Broncos to a
(02:17):
forty seven to thirty three victory over Rochester in the
Class four A final. November twenty eighth at Hancock Stadium.
My goal always has been to win every game I can,
Abrams said, I hate losing and will try and do
everything I can to win. I'm blessed to be in
this position. I definitely can't say that I thought I
would be in this position when I started my career.
(02:39):
It's cool to see when you put all your chips
in one basket and reap the fruit of your labor.
Broncos coach Mike Bukovski was happy to see Abrams enroll
at Montini still Iva, Bukowski, a veteran multi sport coach,
couldn't have predicted Abram's impact on the Broncos. After winning
the Class six A state title in twenty fifteen, the
Bronco endured a title drought until Abrams led the team
(03:02):
to the three A state crown last season. To this day,
Bukovsky said Abrams made a big impression on him during
their first meeting when he was a freshman at Saint Viator.
Bukovsky said he was fully aware of Abram's physical talents
and long range potential, but his poise, confidence and mental
makeup caught him by surprise for someone so young. I
(03:25):
was immediately impressed with his maturity. Bukovsky said he was
looking into several factors in terms of choosing a school.
My job is in admissions, so I talked to a
lot of kids who want to come here. When he
got there, he was a team guy. He took it
all in stride and never wanted any special treatment. He
was a very supportive teammate and handled coming off the bench.
(03:46):
That was an indicator to me about his maturity. He
wasn't entitled when he got here. He took everything in
stride and developed. He's a very infectious personality, a bundle
of energy, poised and calm. He goes out of his
way to help other players. He never makes it about himself. Abrams,
a captain is not shy about the spotlight it comes
(04:07):
with the position. But Abrams prides himself on being a
team first player, spreading positivity to his teammates and providing
support and encouragement while crediting them for his success. Good
leaders don't always have to tell people what to do,
Abram said, you can listen to command. Captains can look
like a bunch of different things, like staying after practice
(04:28):
and putting the balls in the bag. I've had some
really bad games, but my teammates have picked me up
or the defense played great. After last season's meteoric rise,
Abrams worked on his game during the offseason to handle
the pressure of being the focal point of opposing defenses.
Bukovsky said Abrams made a big jump this season. This year.
(04:49):
One of the things is he's very elite in his
ability to extend plays. Bukovsky said some of his best
plays or highlights are when he runs around and retraces
steps things back in the pocket. The unsung thing is
the way he climbs the pocket and navigates within the pocket.
He has the ability to keep his vision downfield, which
(05:10):
to me, for a high school quarterback, that's the separator.
He can see the field and move at the same time.
He's got so much better at that this year. His
arm strength is off the charts. I've been around a
lot of high school and college coaches. They all say
it's rare to see someone his age with his arm strength.
(05:30):
Abram said he was excited to showcase a new and
improved version of himself for his junior season. I get
it a lot about how slight I am and how
I throw the ball. He said, just keep practicing and
constantly I'm throwing the ball almost like the same thing.
By practicing hitting a baseball, I worked on my pocket
presence and reading defenses. Next up for Abrams is narrowing
(05:52):
his long list of college suitors. His list of offers
is approaching twenty schools, with Indiana, Michigan State, Ole, miss Tennessee, Northwestern,
Mississippi State, and Kentucky among the schools. I've got a
few new schools on the list, Abrams said. Auburn, Duke,
usc and Texas have been more active. Bukovsky said he's
(06:16):
happy to have one more season with Abrams under center
for his program. Bukovsky said Abrams is among the elite
quarterbacks in state history. There's so much hype surrounded around
a lot of players, especially at quarterback. Bukovsky said, the
separator at quarterback is that he has two state titles.
That's the ultimate measure of a winner. He's a winner.
(06:37):
That's the best stat
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