Who is the No. 1 team in the Aurora/Elgin area? Here are our rankings before the high school football season kicks off.
- Chicagoland high school football rankings: Get Mike McGraw’s Top 25 for Week 1
- Rick Armstrong’s 5 high school football games to watch in the Aurora-Elgin area — and his Week 1 predictions
- Rick Armstrong’s top 10 football teams and 50 players to watch from Aurora-Elgin area for the 2026 season
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No. 10: West Aurora
If busy hands are indeed happy hands, it’s no wonder that West Aurora’s Bryce Riley sports a smile these days preparing for his third varsity season.
The senior running back and standout on special teams will have a full plate this fall for the Blackhawks. At 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Riley is adding outside linebacker to his list of duties.
“Coach (Nate Eimer) is always telling me, ‘If you’re tired, let me know, let me know,’” Riley said. “But I honestly never get tired. I don’t think I’d ever come out if it was up to me.”
Riley won’t be alone as a two-way player for the Blackhawks, who come in at No. 10 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Eimer and his staff have a plan in place. Read more here.
No. 9: South Elgin
With the experience senior quarterback Carter McDonald has gained over the past two seasons for South Elgin, his dream of playing at the next level is getting closer.
In the two times that Pat Pistorio has been the head coach for the Storm, nearly every quarterback he’s had has played in college. And after a solid offseason and some college offers? McDonald could be the next in line.
He looks to lead South Elgin, which comes in at No. 9 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. The Storm need to replace Gavin Mueller, the highest-profile player in program history who’s now a tight end in college for Miami. Read more here.
No. 8: Aurora Christian
The genes have to be a factor.
That Justin Douglas Jr. emerged last season for Aurora Christian as a sophomore who played linebacker, fullback and on the offensive line probably shouldn’t have been a big surprise.
His father, Justin Sr., is a sergeant in the Kane County Sheriff’s Department who also serves as the Eagles’ strength coach and works with the team’s offensive and defensive linemen.
“He’s strong as an ox,” Aurora Christian coach David Beebe said. “But off the field, he’s one of the nicest kids you’re ever going to meet. Talk with him and you’d never know he’s a monster on the field.”
It comes with the territory, according to Douglas, whose return helps Aurora Christian come in at No. 8 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
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No. 7: Jacobs
Jacobs’ Jack Coates was always one of the biggest kids in his age group. It led him to dream big, so the junior linebacker/tight end wanted to start on varsity as a freshman for the Golden Eagles.
That’s a lofty ambition, but with the work he put in leading up to entering high school, he turned that desire into a reality. But once there, he had other things on his mind for the varsity.
Coates went from precocious freshman starter to Jacobs’ defensive stalwart last season, recording 122 tackles. Now, while trying to attract college interest, Coates takes on a leadership role for the Golden Eagles, who check in at No. 7 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 6: Kaneland
It’s some of the best news from Kaneland’s offseason.
Senior Rogan O’Neil is back with the football team, better than ever and ready to shoulder the load at his usual inside linebacker spot for the Knights after undergoing an unexpected surgery. The injury was worse than originally thought, with a subsequent MRI revealing a torn labrum and bone fragments from an apparent clavicle fracture.
“I graduated from physical therapy early and was 100% ready to go about a month sooner than expected,” O’Neil said. “My shoulder strength is back and better than it was before the injury.”
O’Neil’s return to form helps Kaneland come in at No. 6 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 5: Burlington Central
Burlington Central’s Tobi Oduwa entered high school as a raw prospect with tantalizing physical abilities. It took some time, but early last season in football, something clicked for him.
And now, the senior defensive tackle is ready to take advantage,
“I started getting tackles for loss and I was like, ‘Yes, I’ve got it now,’” Oduwa said. “I understand how to play now. My eyes were wide open then.”
Colleges began to take notice as well. In the offseason, the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Oduwa picked up offers from Butler and St. Thomas. His presence will be big this fall for the Rockets, who are No. 5 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 4: Geneva
One thing about senior defensive back Tate Beran, he’s never going to be intimidated for Geneva.
As a sophomore, Beran faced Georgia receiver Talyn Taylor in practice. For the past three years, Beran has lined up against Illinois-bound Bennett Konkey, one of the state’s fastest receivers.
When he hits the field on Friday nights, Beran has already seen the best around.
“It for sure helps a lot, being able to see a lot of good talent through the years,” he said. “I’m able to go up against some of the best guys in the state. I’m able to work on my technique. Practice sets me up for the game. I’m not going to go up against much better people than here.”
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That experience has pushed Beran to become one of the premier cornerbacks in the area for Geneva, which checks in No. 4 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 3: St. Charles North
Senior running back Tommy Vendl wants to change a narrative this season for St. Charles North. As high school football has evolved, the days of 2,000-yard rushers have gone by the wayside.
After splitting time with Carsen Durante in what turned into a very fruitful pairing last fall, Valente now see this as his time to shine. And he isn’t just ready to carry the load for the North Stars.
Vendl even took a look at the program’s rushing records when practice started. It’s not like Vendl wasn’t productive last season for the North Stars, who come at No. 3 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 2: Batavia
Brennon Zeng could be described as the quiet one among Batavia’s talented trio of senior receivers but expect to be hearing plenty more about him this season.
His coaches already have.
This summer, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Zeng became the team’s third senior receiver to receive a Division I scholarship, committing to Northern Illinois. He joins wideout Darin Ashiru and tight end Thomas Prescott, who had earlier committed to Western Michigan and Wyoming, respectively.
Zeng, Ashiru and Prescott are part of a loaded skill group for the Bulldogs, who are No. 2 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 1: Oswego
Feed the beast.
Since complacency doesn’t appear to be in the DNA of junior running back Ammar Banire, Oswego’s coaches have been preparing to turn their backfield standout loose.
You probably thought Banire had his coming-out party last season, didn’t you? Even though his recruiting stock took off like a rocket this spring and summer, he insists there’s more to come.
For the team. And for him.
Banire, who did not start a single game last fall, has 11 Division I scholarship offers, including four from Power Four programs Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Arkansas. He should end up being a headliner among the returnees for Oswego, which comes in at No. 1 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings. Read more here.