The Chicago area is loaded with talent this season, so it was tough to narrow our list of players to watch down to 50. That said, here are the athletes we think will have the biggest impact on the 2016 football season.
PLAYER, SCHOOL, YR, POS, HT, WT, COLLEGE, COMMENT
Micah Awodiran, Marist sr. LB, 6-1, 210, Yale. Speedy ILB had 126 tackles in 2015; chose Ivy League over SEC, Big Ten.
Jack Badovinac, Loyola sr OT, 6-1, 260, Colgate. Vintage Loyola: too short for power 5 but an absolute beast at the HS level.
Chris Bell, McNamara sr. WR, 6-1, 180, Western Mich. 15 of his 34 catches were TDs for 3A champs.
Verdis Brown, Mount Carmel jr. OL/DL, 6-3, 295, undecided. Could be state’s No. 1 recruit in Class of 2018.
Trevor Campbell, Naperville Central sr. OT, 6-3, 275, Western Mich. Only returning offensive starter for perennial power.
Logan Christopherson, Lemont sr. TE, 6-6, 220, Missouri. Growth spurt — literal and figurative — led to breakthrough junior year.
Jawon Denton, Morgan Park sr. LB, 6-3, 200, NIU. Huskies land another Public League gem.
Chris Elmore, Phillips sr. DT, 5-11, 278, Western Mich. 12 sacks, 24 TFLs in monster junior season for 4A champs.
Samson Evans, Prairie Ridge jr. QB, 6-1, 190, undecided. Rushed for 1,966 yards, 29 TDs in sensational sophomore season.
Jackson Goleash, Glenbard West sr. LB/DB/RB, 6-1, 190, Undecided. Next in long line of ‘Hitters’ defensive stars.
Izayah Green-May, Bolingbrook sr. DE, 6-6, 210, Wisconsin. Size and speed rare almost everywhere but Bolingbrook.
Justin Hall, Homewood-Flossmoor jr. RB, 5-8, 175, undecided. Heir apparent to the Harley-Hampton twins.
Isaac Hawn, St. Charles North sr. OT, 6-6, 290, NIU. Tackle was courted by Illinois, Ivies.
Tyrik Henderson, Glenbard North jr. DB, 6-0, 165, undecided. Already piling up D-I offers.
Jace James, Glenbard North sr. WR/DB, 6-0, 185, Northwestern. Leader of GBN’s lethal group of skill players.
Kevin Jarvis, Maine South sr. OL, 6-5, 340, Michigan State. Area’s top OL is Hawks’ best big man since Dave Butz.
Micah Jones, Warren jr. WR, 6-4, 194, undecided. Offers from Notre Dame, Michigan St., Northwestern, Illini and others.
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Tyler Jost, Libertyville sr. OT, 6-6, 280, Iowa State. Wildcats look to reload behind Jost and fellow lineman Ryan O’Malley.
Chris Katrenick, Jacobs sr. QB, 6-2, 205, Bowling Green. State’s top QB recruit in Class of 2017.
Ivory Kelly-Martin, Oswego East sr. RB, 5-11, 195, Iowa. Nazareth transfer rushed for 2,036 yards, 33 TDs last fall.
Michael Kennedy, Mount Carmel sr. RB, 6-2, 185, NIU. May switch sides of ball at NIU, may run wild for Caravan.
Cole Kmet, St. Viator sr. TE, 6-5, 230, Notre Dame. Sky’s the limit for athletic tight end.
Josh Maize, Deerfield sr. DE, 6-5, 230, undecided. Speedy DE has 13 D-I offers.
Jake Marwede, Loyola sr. TE, 6-5, 235, Duke. Former QB turned down Alabama, Ohio State et al.
John Mitchell, Crete-Monee sr. DT, 6-3, 260, undecided. Warriors keep churning out Division I players.
Kamari Mosby, Phillips sr. RB, 5-10, 180, undecided. Rushed for 2,397 yards, 19 TDs for 4A champs.
Greg Newsome, Glenbard North jr. DB/WR, 6-1, 165, undecided. Five INTs as a sophomore.
Olalere Oladipo, Huntley sr. DE, 6-3, 238, Illinois. One of state’s top defenders committed to the Illini on Thursday.
Zach Oles, Palatine, sr. QB, 6-0, 200, undecided. Shined while leading Pirates’ run to 8A semifinals.
Jacub Panasiuk, Lake Park sr. DE, 6-3, 266, Michigan State. Speedy pass rusher plays with an edge.
Quincy Patterson, Solorio jr. QB, 6-4, 220, undecided. Size, speed and grasp of option offense remind many of former Illini QB Juice Williams.
Tyler Pennington, Cary-Grove sr. RB/LB, 6-0, 200, undecided. It only seems like he’s been playing varsity for 8 years.
Jackson Perkins, Barrington sr. DE, 6-6, 225, Navy. One of two future Midshipmen on Broncos defense with LB Blake Holley.
Owen Piche, Neuqua Valley sr. LB, 6-3, 203, Navy. Missed summer training with dislocated left shoulder.
Tyrice Richie, Homewood-Flossmoor sr. WR, 5-11, 188, undecided. Time to shine after others got the 2014-15 glory.
Isaiah Robertson, Neuqua Valley sr. WR/DB, 6-3, 190, Notre Dame. Could be state’s best two-way player.
Eric Rooks, De La Salle sr. WR, 6-2, 208, undecided. Had 54 receptions, 750 yards, 8 TDs last year for 4-6 Meteors.
Jordan Rowell, IC Catholic sr. RB, 6-3, 195, NIU. Big, strong runner led ICCP to 3A semifinals in 2015.
Cameron Ruiz, Lakes sr. CB, 5-10, 165, Northwestern. Speed is the name of this future Wildcat’s game.
John Michael Schmitz, Homewood-Flossmoor sr. OL, 6-4, 260, Western Mich. Steady performer helps pave way for flashy offense.
Ricky Smalling, Brother Rice sr. WR, 6-0, 195, Illinois. Playmaking ability will keep defensive coordinators awake at night.
Kendall Smith, Bolingbrook sr. WR/DB, 6-2, 170, Illinois. With Smalling, became first to commit to Lovie Smith in April.
Joe Spivak, Montini sr. DT, 5-11, 282, undecided. Weightroom warrior is in second year as captain.
Ian Swenson, Loyola sr. CB, 6-1, 180, Connecticut. Won two state championships last school year, football and lacrosse.
Robert Topps, Marist sr. CB, 6-2, 180, Kansas. Will team with Bobby Gorman, Brendan Watson in dangerous secondary.
Juawan Treadwell, Crete-Monee sr. CB, 6-0, 160, undecided. Talent oozes from brother of Vikings WR Laquon.
Dalton Wagner, Richmond-Burton sr. OT, 6-9, 312, Arkansas. Huge lineman will fit right in with Bret Bielema’s hogs.
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Prince Walker, Montini sr. RB, 5-10, 180, Western Mich. Rushed for 1,399 yards, 22 TDs for 6A champs in 2015.
Dexter Warren, Phillips sr. S, 5-11, 161, NIU. One of five starters back for defense that allowed 6.7 points per game.
Mitch West, Montini sr. WR/CB, 5-10, 175, Purdue. Was one of two two-way starters for last year’s Class 6A champs.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.