Naperville Central senior linebacker Justin Skryd comes from a long line of athletes in a family with deep roots in the Naperville area.
“My dad is one of eight siblings, and they all went to (Wheaton) St. Francis,” Skryd said. “My mom went to Naperville North.”
All of the members of the family’s older generation who went to St. Francis played sports there. Skryd’s father, Dan, was a three-sport star who played baseball at Western Michigan.
“My uncles wrestled back when they had wrestling,” Skryd said. “A lot of my aunts played volleyball.”
One of Skryd’s aunts, Sara, won two state titles at St. Francis and played at Long Beach State and Western Michigan.
Now Skryd, who is an only child, is making a name for himself. He’s the first member of his family to attend Naperville Central, where he has made a lasting impression for a playoff-bound team.
“He’s just a football player,” Naperville Central coach Mike Ulreich said. “He’s a total stud. Early in the year, when we were struggling, Justin was the standard-setter each and every week. He demonstrated what it meant to play.
“So as we have gotten better, other guys have made plays and stepped up, but Justin from day one to right now has been the guy who set the standard of how we play football.”
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Skryd has a team-high 68 tackles, including four for loss, as well as three pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception for the 29th-seeded Redhawks (5-4), who will host 36th-seeded Warren (4-5) in a Class 8A opening-round playoff game at Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.
Skryd won’t take all the credit for that success.
“Mainly, it’s my coaches,” Skryd said. “They just try to give us the answers to the test, they just try to tell us everything, and I just listen.
“They do a great job of telling us what’s going to come and teaching me my technique. So I give it all to my coaches.”
Skryd’s first coach was his father, who taught him the sport and still advises him.
“He played linebacker and quarterback,” Skryd said. “All through (my career) he’s been coaching me, practicing handoffs in the living room and practicing tackles in the backyard. He’s always been my coach.”
Skryd is like a coach on the field. Teammates like junior cornerback Eron Kennedy look to follow his lead.
“He’s just so invested in us and our team,” Kennedy said. “He’s always making the right decisions, always telling us what to do.”
That’s true on and off the field.
“When we’re watching film, it’s kind of freaky,” Kennedy said. “It will be like a Tuesday, and we’re watching film on (an opponent) for the first time, and he’ll call out the play, know exactly what the call is before anyone can even react or read the defense.
“I feel like he just breeds confidence into us because we really trust him, and we love him as a friend, and we just want to rally together. He’s a great leader.”
With experience comes comfort and greater confidence. Skryd has both this season.
More Top Picks Best Safety Helmets For Electricians
“Definitely on my pass drops last year I was more antsy,” he said. “I’m definitely a lot more patient this year. It’s slowed down a little for me this year.”
At the same time, the Redhawks’ defense is speeding up. They gave up a combined 24 points in winning their final two regular-season games.
“Our defense is just balling out,” Skryd said. “Our coaches get us prepared so well, and we always know what’s coming.
“For me, definitely just leading my teammates and helping in the run game. Our D-line has been doing a great job, and they’re just taking up all the O-lineman and keeping me and Landen (Goebel) free in the middle to make tackles.”
Skryd is undecided on whether he will play in college, but he does know he has at least one more game to play as the Redhawks return to the playoffs after failing to qualify last season.
“I’m so excited,” he said. “We missed it last year, and so we are so excited to have a chance to be playing at home. I’m just as happy as can be right now. I love that I have another week with my boys.”
Perhaps someday a second Skryd will play for Naperville Central.
“It’s fun to be the first one through here,” he said. “Hopefully, eventually my kids will come through here.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.