Glenbard West’s Greyson Metz is feeling good about this season.
”I think our offense is full of talent,” the senior linebacker said, name-checking running backs Joey Richmond and Nic Seifert and linemen Andrew Johnson and Chase Pierce, among others.
And Metz is feeling good physically too. That’s a welcome change after he played hurt most of last year with a torn labrum and dislocated shoulder,.
There wasn’t much thought of taking a breather though.
”I think it’s just the understanding at West.” Metz said. “We have the culture that you’re going to put your body on the line. It’s a brotherhood.”
Basically, Metz appreciates the opportunity to play for one of the state’s most consistently successful programs.
”There are kids playing their last snap of football who would die for another chance,” he said.
Now Metz’s prep career is winding down and he’s excited about having a healthy shoulder in his third year as a starter.
”It’s like a breath of fresh air,” he said. “I get to play without worrying about dislocating it again.”
Something else Metz isn’t worried about is recruiting, even though he’s an elite prospect.
The 247Sports composite rankings have the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder ranked 17th among Illinois seniors and in the top 90 nationally for outside linebackers. He’s a three-star recruit whose 19 offers come from an eclectic group of colleges.
Metz has offers from such major programs as Iowa, Syracuse, Louisville and Cincinnati. And he also has offers from four Ivy League schools: Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
Little wonder that Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet calls Metz “a cerebral kid.”
On the field, Hetlet said, “he’s just really long and athletic with a wingspan of 6-5, 6-6. He’s got these long arms and he’s a really physical player.
”He’s definitely one of the best guys we’ve had outside. He could end up being the best we’ve ever had (at the position).”
That’s why Metz is in demand. But he’s not in a hurry to commit.
”I’m pretty much still open,” he said. “I’m not sure when I want to make my decision. Right now I want to focus on my season. The most important thing is the success of the team.”
Metz was a three-sport athlete earlier in his career, but gave up baseball after his freshman year and basketball after the labrum tear,
So now his focus is solely on football and on Saturday’s season opener at home against Maine South. Metz was brought up to the varsity in the wake of the Hilltoppers’ 62-34 loss to the Hawks two years ago and was on the field for last year’s 35-14 defeat.
Those two losses stung and Metz is ready for round three.
”I’ve been fired up for this game for months now,” he said. “I’m just glad it’s finally here.”
And he’s even more glad to be going into it 100 percent healthy.
