Offense
OL Anthony Birsa, Joliet Catholic
Sr. 6-4, 290 pounds
Committed to Northwestern. ESCC/CCL Orange Division Lineman of the Year. Helped pace an offense that averaged more than 400 yards and 40 points.
OL TJ McMillen, St. Francis
Sr. 6-3, 275 pounds
Illinois recruit. Played almost every snap on both sides of the ball for four years. Had 108 pancakes and 68 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and 14 hurries on defense.
OL Justin Scott, St. Ignatius
Jr. 6-5, 312 pounds
Has more than 30 FBS scholarship offers including Alabama, Ohio State and USC. CCL/ESCC White Lineman of the year. Led Wolfpack to Class 6A state semifinals.
OL Chris Terek, Glenbard West
Sr. 6-5, 310 pounds
Notre Dame recruit. West Suburban Silver Offensive Lineman of the Year. Selected to play in prestigious Army All-American game.
OL Eddie Tuerk, Lyons
Jr. 6-4, 250 pounds
Helped lead Lyons to a 9-3 season and a spot in the Class 8A quarterfinals. Powerful, fast lineman that impacts both sides of the ball and special teams.
QB Blainey Dowling, Mount Carmel
Sr. 6-2, 195 pounds
Led Mount Carmel to an undefeated season and the Class 7A state championship. Threw for 2,981 yards and 43 touchdowns. CCL/ESCC Blue Lawless Athlete of the Year.
RB Andre Crews, Simeon
Sr. 5-11, 160 pounds
The area’s most dynamic running back. Led the Wolverines to a 12-1 season and the Prep Bowl title. Averaged 11.2 yards per carry and finished with 2,307 yards and 40 touchdowns.
RB Vinny Rugai, St. Ignatius
Sr. 6-0, 195 pounds
Team’s leading rusher, scorer and tackler. Let Wolfpack to conference title and first state semifinal. CCL/ESCC White Lawless Player of the Year. School’s all-time leading rusher.
WR Lynel Billups-Williams, Crete-Monee
Sr. 5-10, 170 pounds
Miami of Ohio recruit. Put together a massive season with 78 catches for 1,636 yards and 21 touchdowns. Both marks are the best in school history and seventh best in IHSA history.
WR Joshua Franklin, Crete-Monee
Sr. 5-10, 175 pounds
Western Michigan recruit. Breathtaking athlete able to change the game in an instant on offense, defense and special teams. Four-year varsity starter.
WR I’Marion Stewart, Bolingbrook
Jr. 6-1, 180 pounds
Possibly the most gifted pass-catcher in the area. Has offers from more than two dozen FBS colleges and had 63 catches, 1,001 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
ATH Tyler Vasey, Prairie Ridge
Sr. 5-11, 170 pounds
Sun-Times Player of the Year. Season total of 3,878 yards is a state record and the most rushing yards in the country this year. Also second in state history with 53 rushing touchdowns.
Defense
DL Brooks Bahr, Loyola
Sr. 6-6, 270 pounds
Michigan recruit. Dominating force on the defensive line for the Class 8A state champions. CCL/ESCC Blue Division Lineman of the Year.
DL Pat Farrell, St. Rita
Sr. 6-5, 235 pounds
Illinois recruit. Gained weight and strength and became a game changing player this season. CCL/ESCC Green Division Outstanding Defensive Player.
DL Marquise Lightfoot, Kenwood
Jr. 6-5, 215
Holds offers from more than 20 FBS colleges including Auburn, Michigan State, Notre Dame and USC. Disruptive, dominant defensive force leading Kenwood’s resurgence.
DL Roderick Pierce, Brother Rice
Sr. 6-3, 290 pounds
Uncommitted senior holds more than 20 offers from FBS colleges including Michigan, Auburn, Texas and Michigan State. He helped a young Brother Rice team remaining competitive in the loaded CCL/ESCC Blue.
LB Tyler Jansey, Batavia
Sr. 6-1, 215 pounds
Wisconsin recruit. Led Bulldogs to Class 7A state championship game while starring on offense and defense. Made more than 120 tackles and scored eight touchdowns.
LB Matt Kingsbury, St. Rita
Sr. 6-3, 230 pounds
Uncommitted senior with offers from Navy, Purdue, Illinois and more. CCL/ESCC Green Division Lawless Athlete of the Year. Finished with 131 tackles, 11 sacks and two blocked punts.
LB Jake Scianna, Lincoln-Way East
Sr. 6-0, 225 pounds
Battled through injury to lead Griffins to the Class 8A state championship game. Led the team with more than 90 tackles.
DB Malik Elzy, Simeon
Sr. 6-3, 198
Uncommitted senior holds offers from nearly 30 FBS colleges. Army All-American Game selection. Led the Wolverines to a 12-1 season and the Prep Bowl title.
DB Jyaire Hill, Kankakee
Sr. 6-1, 170
Imposing athlete that led the Kays return to prominence. Holds offers from more than 25 FBS colleges including Michigan, Notre Dame and Cincinnati.
DB John Nestor, Marist
Sr. 6-1, 190 pounds
Iowa recruit. Finished with 52 total tackles and four interceptions and was a threat on offense with 223 receving yards and a touchdown.
DB Justin Taylor, Nazareth
Sr. 6-1, 185 pounds
Wisconsin recruit. Also played receiver and running back. Had 35 tackles, 550 receiving yards and 361 rushing yards for Class 5A state champions.
P/K Conor Talty, St. Rita
Sr. 6-1, 190 pounds
Alabama recruit. Was 42 of 43 on PAT’s and 17-for-21 on field goals with a long of 51 yards. Averaged 45.8 yards per punt. Holds school record for most field goals in a season.
Honorable Mentions
Austin Alexander, Marian Catholic, DB, Jr.
Michael Barberi, Andrew, RB, Sr.
Michael Barretto, Taft, OL, Sr.
AJ Bassett, Deerfield, DE, Sr.
Carl Bew, Joliet West, QB, Sr.
Ryan Boling, Andrew, S, Sr.
Michael Cervantes, Buffalo Grove, WR/DB, Sr.
Chris Clark, Amundsen, QB, Sr.
Jovan Clark, Morgan Park, LB/SS, So.
Luke Cushing, Montini, TE/DT, Sr.
Earnest Davis, Chicago Academy, QB, Sr.
Dermerie Dean, Joliet Central, LB/TE, Sr.
Jailen Duffie, Warren, DB/WR, Sr.
Chris Durr, Morgan Park, WR, Jr.
Joep Engbers, Fenwick, DL/OL, Sr.
Tyler Erkman, Lake Zurich, WR/DB, Sr.
Davonte Evans, Argo, WR/DB, Sr.
Eddie Fleck, Mount Carmel, OL, Sr.
Denny Furlong, Mount Carmel, WR, Sr.
Collin Gerger, St. Rita, OL, Sr.
Cal Grabowski, Lake Zurich, LB, Sr.
Carson Grove, Hersey, WR/S, Jr.
HJ Grigsby, Joliet Catholic, RB, Jr.
Brandon Hansen, Mundelein, OL, Jr.
Jamel Howard, Marist, DL, Sr.
Jeremy Johnson, Joliet Catholic, DE, Sr.
Grzegorz Krupa, Taft, DL/OL, Sr.
Keshawn Lewis-Hunt, Bremen, RB/LB, Jr.
Tyler Lofton, Marian Catholic, RB, So.
Richie Marmol, Lake Zurich, OL, Sr.
Nate Marshall, Fenwick, DL, So.
Finn Merrill, Lane, RB/DB, Sr.
Kaiden Miller, Grayslake Central, WR, Sr.
Adam Muench, Amundsen, WR/S, Sr.
Cole Ostendorf, York, LB, Jr.
Anthony Palano, Buffalo Grove, WR/LB, Jr.
Antonio Russell, Eisenhower, WR, Jr.
Payton Salomon, Lemont, QB, Sr.
Vince Sciarrone, Deerfield, RB, Sr.
Zach Shashoua, Lane, LB, Sr.
Marcel Siepko, Mundelein, RB/LB, Sr.
Ryan Sims, Marist, WR, Sr.
Christian Smith, Joliet Central, RB/WR, So.
Terrence Smith, West Aurora, WR, So.
Corey Stennis, Crete-Monee, QB, Sr.
Christian Sticklen, Joliet West, DL, Sr.
Nick Strelzcyk, St. Rita, Sr., OL
Talyn Taylor, Geneva, WR, So.
Charley Thompson, Warren, RB, Sr.
Breyahn Townsend, Bremen, RB, Sr.
Matt Vezz, York, QB, Sr.
Luke Wallace, Lemont, WR, Sr.
Pierce Walsh, Benet, TE/WR, Sr.
Jenari Ward, Catalyst Maria, RB, Jr.
John Weidenbach, Benet, LB, Sr.
Bryan Wilson, Eisenhower, DE, Jr.