Jacob Tunstill has faced his share of adversity, so maybe he was due for a break.
The Kennedy junior missed most of his sophomore football season with a broken collarbone before coming back last fall and playing a key role for the Crusaders, who won seven games and qualified for the IHSA playoffs.
Now he’s preparing for his final year of high-school football and trying to catch the attention of college recruiters.
Mission accomplished at the combine hosted by Morgan Park on May 11, when Tunstall earned an offer from Division III Knox.
“It’s a sign to just keep going with my journey in football and everything,” Tunstill said. “One step forward in making my dreams happen. And I’m just kind of blessed that it’s happening.”
The combine was one of a series being held around the state in recent weeks. Coaches Ryan Crissey of Glenbard South and Sean Drendel of Naperville North spearheaded the first-year effort to get more high-school players in front of college coaches in the free events, which are sanctioned by the IHSA.
Kennedy and Goode were the two local high schools at the Morgan Park combine, which drew college coaches from the FCS level (Chicago State and Valparaiso) down to Division II, Division III and NAIA.
The local combines made the recruiting process easier for high-school players, who previously would often have to pay to go to college summer camps to be seen.
Tunstill, a receiver and defensive back, just wanted a chance to showcase his skills.
“I know what I could do,” he said. “I know that I’ve been putting all the work in, I know that hard work pays off every time.”
New Kennedy coach Deandre Mosley was thrilled for Tunstill and glad to showcase other players, including sophomore linebacker Sergio Medina.
“This was definitely a big boost for Kennedy High School,” Mosley said. “… I really hope the IHSA and CPS (Chicago Public Schools) keep this going for the long term.”
Goode coach Terrence McClarn feels the same way.
“Yeah, it’s a big help to the kids,” he said. “Like they’re saying, everybody can’t afford a (college) camp. It’s great to have something that’s free for inner-city kids to be able to showcase their self and get their self out there….
“Money shouldn’t be an issue for stopping a kid to excel and achieve their dreams and try to get a scholarship.”
One of the Goode players looking for a college home is junior offensive lineman Ryan Ogburn.
“I feel like something like this could help me tremendously,” Ogburn said, “because we’re here with some of the best teams in the city. So it would be good to put ourselves on the map (so) colleges recruit us more.”