Fresh off appearances in the state finals, champion Mount Carmel and runners-up Lincoln-Way, St. Laurence and Joliet Catholic lead the way. Providence, Lockport, Morgan Park, Lincoln-Way West and Eisenhower also in the mix.
First Team Offense
AJ Abrams, Eisenhower, senior, wide receiver: Picked up football late in his career. Had 45 receptions for 1,333 yards and 18 touchdowns. All-state.
Christos Alexandros, Lockport, senior, offensive lineman: Played tackle and guard. Had 40 pancake blocks. All-state.
Aaron Ball, St. Laurence, senior, running back: Ran for 1,700 yards and 22 TDs as Vikings took second in Class 4A. Lawless Award winner. Committed to Illinois as preferred walk-on.
Joey Campagna, Lincoln-Way West, senior, running back: Ran for 1,800 yards and 22 TDs despite playing with dislocated shoulder and broken hand. All-state.
Darrion Dupree, Mount Carmel, senior, running back/receiver: Had 1,092 yards rushing, 755 yards receiving, 24 TDs. Lawless Award winner. All-state. Committed to Wisconsin.
Chris Durr, Morgan Park, senior, wide receiver: Caught 68 passes for 1,130 yards, 13 TDs. All-state. Committed to Wyoming.
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel, junior, quarterback: Threw for 3,148 yards and 34 TDs for Class 8A champion. Also ran for 847 yards, seven TDs.
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Josh Janowski, Lincoln-Way East, senior, offensive lineman: Center had 51 pancake blocks for Class 8A runner-up. All-state. Committed to Iowa.
Jacob Katauskas, Lemont, senior, offensive lineman: Averaged five knockdowns a game. All-state. Committed to Coastal Carolina.
Michael McDonough, Andrew, junior, offensive lineman: Had 20 pancake blocks. Did not allow a sack. Honorable mention all-state. Getting offers from major Division I schools.
Marcus Thaxton, Morgan Park, junior, quarterback: Threw for 2,044 yards and 26 TDs, leading Mustangs to state quarterfinals.
First Team Defense
Austin Alexander, Marian Catholic, senior, defensive back: Had 64 tackles and pair of interceptions. Conference’s defensive player of year. All-state. Committed to Kansas.
Conner Durkin, Lincoln-Way East, senior, linebacker: Had 140 tackles. Set program record with 316 career tackles. Conference’s defensive player of year.
Lebarion Gilmore, Stagg, senior, defensive back: Had 82 tackles and two interceptions. Also threw for 1,344 yards as quarterback. All-state.
Gavin Hagan, Providence, junior, defensive back: Had 47 tackles, two interceptions, six passes broken up. Conference’s defensive player of year.
Carlos Hazlewood, Tinley Park, senior, defensive lineman: Had 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles. Conference’s lineman of year. Honorable mention all-state. Decommitted from Northern Illinois.
Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic, senior, defensive lineman: Had 82 tackles, 10 sacks, seven tackles for loss. Conference’s defensive player of year. All-state. Committed to Wisconsin.
Andre Lovett, Eisenhower, junior, linebacker: Had 78 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine quarterback pressures. Honorable mention all-state.
Max Munoz, St. Laurence, senior, defensive lineman: Was stopper on defense and opened holes on offense. Conference’s lineman of year.
Parker Startz, Mount Carmel, senior, linebacker: Had 91 tackles and 11 1/2 sacks. Conference’s co-defensive player of year. Committed to Ohio.
Austin Synoga, Richards, junior, defensive back: Led Bulldogs with 92 tackles and five tackles for loss. Honorable mention all-state.
Josh Veldman, Lincoln-Way West, junior linebacker: Had 110 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles. Conference defensive player of year.
First Team Specialists
Nate Blazewski, Lockport, senior kicker/punter: Talk about perfection. Went 11 of 11 on field goals and 29 of 29 on extra points.
Jack Florentine, Lincoln-Way East, senior, long snapper: Was 100% in snap accuracy not only this season but in three-year career. On Michigan State’s radar.
Drew Schiller, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, kicker: Hit 13 of 14 on field goals, with long of 49 yards, and was 39 of 39 on extra points. All-state. Committed to Eastern Illinois.
Second Team Offense
Eduardo Antunez, Evergreen Park, senior, offensive lineman: Anchored ground game that averaged five yards a carry. Added 56 tackles on defense. Conference’s lineman of year. Honorable mention all-state.
HJ Grigsby, Joliet Catholic, senior, running back: Had 1,768 yards and 14 TDs, including 278-yard performance in Class 5A state championship game.
Conor Kenzinger, Brother Rice, senior, offensive lineman: Helped ground attack average more than 200 yards a game. Committed to Western Michigan.
Tyler Lofton, Marian Catholic, junior, running back: Ran for 1,163 yards, 17 TDs. Conference’s offensive player of year. Honorable mention all-state.
Nick Mayfield, Eisenhower, senior, quarterback: Threw for 1,906 yards, 26 TDs. Ran for 835 yards, 12 TDs. Committed to Minnesota State.
Myles Mitchell, Richards, junior, running back: Ran for 1,278 yards, 17 TDs. Added 115 yards receiving, 389 yards on kick returns. Conference’s player of year. All-state.
Owen Perez, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, offensive lineman: Despite suffering a torn labrum and missing season opener, averaged five pancakes a game. Did not allow a sack.
Charlie Snoreck, Sandburg, junior, wide receiver: Put up video game numbers with 77 catches for 1,153 yards, 11 TDs.
Braden Tischer, Lincoln-Way East, senior, quarterback: Threw for 1,837 yards and 19 TDs, helping Griffins to second straight Class 8A runner-up finish.
Vincent Vargas, Crete-Monee, senior, offensive lineman: Tough center. Receiving NCAA Division II and Division III looks.
Adrian Washington, Joliet Catholic, senior, wide receiver: Caught 38 passes for 725 yards, 10 TDs. Conference’s offensive player of year.
Second Team Defense
Justin Buckner, St. Rita, junior, linebacker: Had 73 tackles and three interceptions, including one returned for TD.
Cael DePolo, Lincoln-Way West, senior, defensive lineman: Had 63 tackles, 22 for loss, 11 sacks, 25 hurries.
Dominic Gradford, T.F. North, senior, defensive back: Had 60 tackles, two interceptions. Also passed for 947 yards and was steady punter. Conference’s player of year.
Myles Green, De La Salle, junior, defensive back: Had 36 tackles, two interceptions. Added 42 catches for 800 yards. Honorable mention all-state.
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, Joliet Catholic, junior, linebacker: Had team-high 95 tackles, nine for loss as Hilltoppers finished second in Class 5A.Brock Sperling, Chicago Christian, junior, defensive lineman: Had 57 tackles, 12 for loss, five sacks. Averaged 3.3 pancakes a game on offense.
Jordyn Stewart, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, linebacker: Had 84 tackles, 48 solos, 12 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks.
Corey Taubr, St. Laurence, senior, defensive back: Captain and three-time all-conference pick. Also strong on special teams as Vikings took second in Class 4A.
Duke White, Marist, senior, linebacker: Defensive spark plug had team-high 68 tackles, including 10 for loss.
Erimus Wright, Hillcrest, junior, defensive back: Had 57 tackles, four interceptions. Also ran for 1,172 yards, 14 TDs. Honorable mention all-state.
David Wuske, Lincoln-Way East, senior, defensive lineman: Helped stifle opposing ground games. Had 164 tackles, 21 sacks in career. Getting Division I and NCAA Division II offers.
Honorable Mention
Luke Basiorka, Sandburg, sophomore, running back.
Joshua Beringer, Reavis, senior, offensive lineman.
Caden Boersma, Chicago Christian, junior, defensive back/wide receiver.
Garry Brown, Leo, senior, offensive lineman.
Drew Gallagher, Lockport, senior, quarterback/safety.
Derrick Hampton, Eisenhower, senior, linebacker.
Steve Holmes, Argo, junior, running back.
Zach Hermanson, Lincoln-Way West, sophomore, kicker.
Tristyn Hynes, De La Salle, senior, linebacker.
Maciej Jarosz, Argo, junior, linebacker/tight end.
Cameron Juricich, Joliet Catholic, junior, offensive lineman.
Luke Leverett, Providence, junior, defensive back.
Jack LoConte, Andrew, senior, cornerback/running back.
Jimmie Maxson, St. Rita, junior, wide receiver.
John McAuliffe, Marist, junior, running back.
Randall McDonald, Homewood-Flossmoor, junior, quarterback.
Matt Mucha, Mount Carmel, junior, linebacker.
Nick Mitcheff, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, linebacker.
Randall Nauden, Brother Rice, senior, running back.
Dijon Newman, Richards, senior, quarterback.
Anthony Noto, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, running back.
Tavon Rice, Mount Carmel, senior, defensive lineman.
Michael Robinson, Thornwood, senior, linebacker.
Terrance Sandidge, Crete-Monee, senior, linebacker.
Anthony Shelton, Sandburg, junior, quarterback.
Seneca Smith, T.F. South, senior, linebacker/running back.
Conner Stack, Brother Rice, junior, defensive back.
Aramis Steward, T.F. North, senior, offensive/defensive lineman.
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, St. Rita, senior, running back.Jake Sulzberger, Lemont, junior, offensive lineman
Keshawn Tuggle, Ag Science, senior, running back/safety.
Cameren Tryon, Shepard, junior, wide receiver.
Mitch Voltz, Providence, senior, wide receiver.
Terrion White, Bloom, senior, quarterback.
Owen Winters, Marist, senior, quarterback.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.