Deuce McGuire is next in line among talented Marist linemen going to a Division I school for football.
It’s a list that includes 2019 graduate George Fanelli (Dayton), 2020 graduate Sean Quarterman (Bucknell) and 2021 graduate Pat Coogan (Notre Dame).
McGuire, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior, is heading next year to Northwestern.
“There have been so many good linemen at Marist, and there is a good foundation,” McGuire said. “I’m just trying to carry that legacy on the best way I can.”
That legacy could be made even more special with a deep run in the Class 8A state playoffs for Marist, which is No. 4 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings.
The RedHawks will be led by Coastal Carolina-bound quarterback Dontrell Jackson Jr., whose running and passing should be on point with a good line in front of him. And Marist has big plans, hoping to bring home a state championship to add to the program’s haul of three second-place finishes.
More Top Picks Best Walking Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
Offensive line coach Jim Looney knows McGuire has developed into a leader but also believes seniors Matt Sheehan, Justin Loera and Wyatt Levins can play in college.
“We’ve been together since freshman year,” McGuire said. “We worked our way up through the program and we are super close. We couldn’t honestly be any closer than we are.”
Looney enjoyed watching Coogan and McGuire challenge each other in practice the past couple of years.
“Obviously, they are extreme competitors and they are trying for perfection,” Looney said. “They have set quite the standard — these younger guys have seen that.”
McGuire said he learned a lot from working with Coogan in the trenches.
“He went through the recruiting process before me, and I followed his lead and how we went about it,” McGuire said. “He did everything the right way. He taught me all that little stuff on the field and stuff that you can always work on.
“He definitely made me a way better player.”
Marist coach Ron Dawczak said having McGuire and Coogan interact in recent years was a perfect situation
“Deuce learned a lot, especially on how to conduct himself on a daily basis and what hard work looks like,” Dawczak said. “Now, he’s taken that leadership role and he’s the guy everybody looks up to.
“It’s great to see that progression from that next class — from Coogan to Deuce to the guys coming up behind him.”
Dawczak said it’s too early to tell if there is another Division I lineman in the pipeline. He added growth spurts in some players can help determine that, so it’s tough to predict at this point.
Besides, he doesn’t have time to think too much about that aspect. He’s busy preparing for a schedule that will feature Curie, Richards, Nazareth, Mount Carmel, Marmion, Loyola, Montini and Carmel.
Plus, the RedHawks will finish it up with Brother Rice, their biggest rival.
“It’s a great schedule,” Dawczak said. “It’s an exciting season. Every week you have to bring you’re ‘A’ game. If you don’t, you are going to suffer defeat.
“It makes our kids focus and pay attention to details because they know if they have an off week, they will be coming home with a loss.”
According to McGuire, Marist’s players are getting geared up for tackling it.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “We would like to say that we’re a very good program in Illinois and we want to play the best. We feel we can prove and keep proving that we can win on this schedule and win in 8A.”
? ? ?
Team: Marist
Spring record: 4-2
Offensive leaders: Deuce McGuire, senior, OL; Dontrell Jackson Jr., senior, QB; Jaylen Johnson, senior, RB; Ak’Tavion Whitlock-Agee, senior WR.
Defensive leaders: Jimmy Rolder, senior LB; Sammy Laurencell, senior, DB; Nicholas Verzoni, senior, DB; Jayson Harris-Woodard, senior, DL.
Playoff history: Twenty postseason appearances, including 11 of the last 12 full seasons. Class 6A state runner-up finish in 1986. Class 8A runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2015.
More Top Picks Behavioral Optometrist Vs Regular Optometrist Explained
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.