Thomas Skokna has caught at least one touchdown pass in 10 of the past 11 games for North Central, earning WR1 status after catching just four passes in all of 2023. Photo by Doug Sasse, d3photography.com

By Greg Thomas
D3football.com

Making their fifth consecutive semifinal appearance on Saturday, North Central has set the standard for Division III football. Central to that dominance has been a lineage of wide receivers who have defined excellence at the position. Andrew Kamienski and DeAngelo Hardy are not just names etched into the program’s history but benchmarks against which future Cardinals are measured. 

These Cardinal legends authored a legacy of record-breaking performances, from Kamienski’s staggering 31 touchdowns in 2019 followed by Hardy’s school-record 52 career touchdown receptions. Hardy’s immense talent even earned him a shot with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this year. Their departures, however, left a sizable void in the North Central offense.

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Heading into the 2024 season, the Cardinals faced a rare question mark: their wide receiver corps. Outside of Naperville, this group was largely untested and unknown. But as has been the story of North Central football for years, new names have risen to meet the program’s lofty expectations.

North Central offensive coordinator Eric Stuedemann knew the challenge ahead. Thomas Skokna, a junior, and Jacob Paradee, a graduate student, emerged as key figures in the receiving room. Both had seen the field in previous years — Paradee as a starter with limited targets and Skokna in a reserve role — but neither had been relied upon as primary contributors. That changed over the offseason.

“You could just see their body transition over the offseason,” said Stuedemann. “The work they put in, it was like, ‘Oh, we’re going to be in great shape.’ These guys have committed to the offseason, and it shows not only in their bodies but the production on the field this year.”

Skokna, who worked extensively with quarterback Luke Lehnen during the summer, credited the preparation process for his emergence. “Our strength coaches set us up pretty well with everything we do in the weight room and on the field,” Skokna said. “I worked out a lot this summer with Luke, throwing the ball around, just trying to establish a connection before the season started.”

In previous seasons, the Cardinals had the luxury of deploying Hardy in a variety of roles that showcased his versatility. "We were able to get DeAngelo in the backfield. He was at quarterback. He was at running back, and we kind of did everything with him," Stuedemann explained. Hardy’s ability to excel in various positions added a layer of complexity to the offense.

This season, with Skokna and Paradee stepping into primary roles for the first time, Stuedemann emphasized a more straightforward approach. "With these guys, we’re focused on running the right routes, catching the ball, and blocking on the perimeter," he said. "They’ve done a great job, and they’re able to stretch the field vertically, which is what we need out of the group right now." 

For Skokna and Paradee, stepping into roles previously held by Kamienski and Hardy is both a privilege and a challenge. Skokna had only four career receptions prior to this season but leads the team this season with 47 catches. Paradee, whose role was previously centered around blocking, has matched his reception total prior to 2024 with 26 receptions this season.

“It’s obviously some big shoes to fill,” said Skokna. “I wasn’t here with Kamienski as much, but he was my coach my freshman year. And then I’ve been here with DeAngelo. I’ve been working in the shadows the past couple of years, not really playing as much but doing what they said. It’s exciting but definitely nerve-wracking trying to live up to their expectations.”

Paradee echoed the sentiment but highlighted how their complementary skills make the tandem effective. “I feel like Thomas is really good with the ball in his hands,” he said. “What we call YAC — yards after catch — I would say he’s one of the best on the team. I feel like I’m more of a possession catcher with a big catch radius. That complements each other pretty well.”

The development of these two players didn’t happen in isolation. “Coming out of high school, I didn’t have much technique,” Skokna admitted. “They brought me under their wing, showed me the basics of route running, and went into depth on how I could improve. They’re a big reason I made a jump from high school to college.”

While receptions and touchdowns grab headlines, blocking is where North Central receivers truly distinguish themselves. Their ability to spring long runs has been instrumental in the team’s explosive ground game, which leads Division III at 7.31 yards per rushing attempt.

“We talk about culture a lot, and we define it as something you can see,” Stuedemann said. “You can see it every Saturday on the field by how hard you play for the guy next to you. If you block for your teammates, the ball will find you. That’s the motto. They know that if they get off to a good start blocking, it creates confidence in the passing game for them.”

Skokna reinforced that idea. “I honestly think that’s what separates us as a football team,” he said. “Our receivers like to block, and we work on blocking a lot in practice. Our coaches like to say, ‘If you block, the ball will find you.’ We take pride in it. Blocking 10 or 15 yards downfield can turn a 15-yard run into a 60-yard touchdown.”

Despite new faces at wide receiver, North Central’s offense hasn’t skipped a beat. The Cardinals rank second in Division III in total offense and scoring offense, and fourth in passing efficiency. The names may have changed, but the results remain familiar.

Stuedemann attributes this consistency to the program’s culture of mentorship. “It’s the graduates, the seniors, the DeAngelos, the (Ethan) Greenfields who mentored the underclassmen just like they were mentored by upperclassmen,” he said. “You’re passing the torch on and trying to leave it better than you found it.”

Skokna and Paradee are writing their own chapter in the story of North Central wide receivers. While Kamienski and Hardy’s achievements remain towering, this year’s group is proving they’re more than capable of carrying the torch.

“We’ve done a really good job of just communicating as a receiver corps this year,” Paradee said. “Realizing that all of our parts are going to be critical to winning the games we need to win.”

In Naperville, the tradition of excellence marches on in pursuit of a third national championship in five seasons. As Skokna and Paradee step out of the shadows, they’re showing that the North Central standard is not just about replacing stars but building new ones.