The best things in life can often take you by surprise.
Like many high school players, Naperville Central senior Luke Hallstrom wanted to play in college.
When the Air Force Academy extended an offer on Aug. 1, it didn’t take long for him to accept.
More Top Picks Best Mens Peacoats
“I was baffled because I really wasn’t expecting it,” said Hallstrom, who committed Aug.7 to the Falcons. “I hadn’t talked to them in a little while. But after really considering it — what you have to do to go there — obviously it’s really tough.
“It’s one of the tougher things if you choose to go to college there. But what you get there, it was more of a life choice. It wasn’t about just football because graduating from Air Force will just put you in such a good place once you’re done.”
The 6-foot-2, 275-pound Hallstrom provides a stable influence on the offensive line for Redhawks coach Mike Stine.
A switch in position hasn’t fazed him, either.
“Moving from guard to center, it’ll be a little different,” Hallstrom said. “I haven’t snapped really in my whole life. I’ve played guard.
“So I don’t think it’ll be too tough, but I just have to get it down to muscle memory of snapping because the blocking part I’d say I have down.”
With Western Michigan recruit Payton Thorne at quarterback, Naperville Central (9-3) figures to reload after winning the DuPage Valley Conference title outright in 2017.
Thorne is coming off a strong junior season with 2,236 passing yards and 28 touchdowns to go with 375 rushing yards and five TDs.
Senior running back Danny Hughes and senior wide receiver Cade McDonald will be asked to help fill the void left by the graduations of AJ Deinhart and Jayden Reed, respectively.
Hughes ran for 134 yards and three TDs behind Deinhart, while McDonald’s 19 receptions for 278 yards and two TDs top the returning receivers.
Jared Suchevits and Sam Jackson, the sophomore transfer from Bolingbrook and Reed’s cousin, are two more targets for Thorne.
“I think we can be even better than last year, to be honest,” Thorne said. “I think we have the skill the talent and the will to win that we had last year, maybe even a little bit more.”
Senior safety Jack Jopes (142 tackles), cornerback Justin Agema and linebacker Matt Oliver (94 tackles) are all back to lead the way for defensive coordinator Mike Ulreich.
“I think we should be as good as last year,” Jopes said. “Although we lost some key players, there’s certainly people filling in the spots, picking up the slack. I think everything is starting to mold together.”
Blake Baumgartner is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.