Senior linebacker Kellen Younie understands there can be strength in numbers when it comes to building a football team, but quality goes a long way as well for West Aurora.
It’s why Younie, a third-year varsity starter and the leader of the defense, is excited about entering a 2025 season featuring a more challenging nonconference schedule for the Blackhawks.
Despite heavy graduation losses, West Aurora has a core of six seniors who gained varsity playing time as sophomores, ranging from full-time starters to rotation players to one late-season addition.
“Our defense looks really good,” said Younie, who has added 15 pounds of muscle. “We have a strong bond that helps and we have a lot of people who pick up easy on what they’re doing.”
It includes a group of juniors who went 7-2 last season as sophomores.
That should help boost West Aurora (10-1), which went 7-0 in conference last year and checks in at No. 6 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings.
“We don’t have a lot of returning players, but we have a lot of talent,” said Younie, who finished second on the team last fall with 52 tackles, one less than senior safety Azuriah Sylvester.
Younie added one interception and two sacks, then hit the weights hard in the offseason, bulking up his 6-foot, 205-pound frame.
“Kellen is like the Derek Jeter of our program,” Eimer said. “He does everything right.”
As a sophomore, Younie played outside linebacker alongside first team all-state selection Luis Estrella. Last season, Younie moved to the weak side or Will linebacker.
He will be joined on the strong side at Mike linebacker by the 6-3, 210-poud senior Will Gray, who came up as a sophomore and played the regular-season finale and playoff game at Edwardsville when Younie was out with an elbow injury.
Junior Darius Stewart will start at outside linebacker, according to Pat Stremel, who’s in his third year as the defensive coordinator.
“This is probably the most well-rounded group we’ve had,” Stremel said.
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Younie has NCAA Division III roster-spot offers from Carthage and Grinnell and a Division II scholarship offer from Olivet Nazarene, while Gray has offers from Carthage and Mount Union.
The other three-year senior veterans include Ball State quarterback commit Mason Atkins, cornerback Jayden Garcia and offensive linemen Kieran Duncan and Alfonso Aguilar, who also figure to see more time this season on the defensive line.
“We’ll have to find a creative way to do it, but we’ll probably have more guys go both ways than in the past,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “We get so stuck on guys playing one way.
“It’s high school football. Guys can learn and definitely play situationally in two spots. Our biggest question this year may be, ‘Can we stay healthy? Is our depth good enough?’”
Younie’s twin brother Bryce, who is 6-2 and 170 pounds, will start at safety after backing up Atkins last season.
“Bryce really helped us out with that,” Eimer said. “We gave him a shot at safety and he’s had a great summer.”
The twin brothers also are reserve players in basketball for West Aurora.
“Kellen’s a little louder,” Eimer said. “Kellen makes a play — he lets you know about it a little more. Bryce just goes about his business.
“They get along great, but I’m sure they’d probably argue about who has the better jump shot.”
Stremel said his seniors have emerged as vocal leaders, especially Kellen.
“He’s the guy who gets super excited for everybody,” Stremel said. “He gets everybody going.”
Younie’s athleticism and work ethic stand out for Eimer.
“He got done with winter hoops and I don’t think he missed a day lifting or morning workouts, which isn’t surprising,” Eimer said. “On Sundays, I’d come out here and he’d be running through drills with the linebackers on his own. He’s very locked in.
“He’s become more of a complete player but he’s always been tough and able to find the ball. The extra weight will help him take on some big blocks. He covers as well as anybody but could play receiver, too. He’s got great hands and moves really well.”
Quick hits
Team: West Aurora.
2024 record: 10-1.
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Offensive leaders: Mason Atkins, senior, quarterback; Bryce Riley, senior, running back; Zach Toma, senior, wide receiver; Kieran Duncan, senior, offensive lineman.
Defensive leaders: Alfonso Aguilar, senior, defensive lineman; Jayden Garcia, senior, defensive back; Will Gray, senior, linebacker; Kellen Younie, senior, linebacker.
X-factor: Bryce Younie, senior, safety.