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How long have you been watching high school football? Who are the best players you ever saw? Well, I have been covering high school football in the Chicago area since 1968. In the last 40 years, here are the best players I have observed. Do you agree? Who are your choices?
Remember, we're talking about performance at the high school level, not what they accomplished in college for the NFL. For example, Thornridge's Quinn Buckner was an outstanding high school football player but opted to concentrate on basketball after his freshman year at Indiana. Some players didn't play in college because of injuries or academic problems.
OFFENSE
TE: Johnny Mitchell, Simeon, 1989.
WR: Jon Schweighardt, Wheaton Warrenville South, 1999.
FL: Jimmy Smith, Blue Island Eisenhower, 1973.
L: Dennis Lick, St. Rita, 1972.
L: Jim Juriga, Wheaton North, 1982.
L: Mike Kenn, Evanston, 1974.
L: Tom Thayer, Joliet Catholic, 1979.
L: Art Riley, Thornridge, 1971.
QB: Kent Graham, Wheaton North, 1987.
B: Howard Jones, Evanston, 1973.
B: Billy Marek, St. Rita, 1972.
DEFENSE
L: Keena Turner, Vocational, 1976.
L: Chris Boskey, St. Francis de Sales, 1978.
L: Dave Butz, Maine South, 1969.
L: Bryant Young, Bloom, 1990
LB: John Foley, St. Rita, 1986.
LB: Clay Matthews, New Trier East, 1974.
LB: Oliver Gibson, Romeoville, 1990.
B: Mike Prior, Marian Catholic, 1980.
B: Quinn Buckner, Thornridge, 1972.
B: Brian Wise, Tinley Park, 1987.
B: Tom Zbikowski, Buffalo Grove, 2003.
K: Nick Setta, Lockport, 1999.
P: Ryan Donahue, St. Rita, 2006.
KR: Jimmy Smith, Kankakee Westview, 1979.
Sure, there are some noteworthy omissions, including Mount Carmel's Simeon Rice, St. Laurence's Paul Glonek, Oak Park's Eric Kumerow, East Leyden's Kurt Bankson, Farragut's Otis Armstrong, Marshall's Darryl Stingley, Joliet Catholic's Mike Alstott,Thornton's Napoleon Harris, Tilden's Dempsey Norman, Richards' Kenny Carrington and Dwayne Goodrich, St. Viator's Scott Zettek and Thornton Fractional North's Mike Tomczak.
But I think I could go to war with the 25 players I selected and not have to hide in a foxhole.
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How can you not include Tony Furjanic. The Suntimes had him all-state on offense and defense and made him player of the year.
The fact is that Chicago area football is vastly overrated. The fact that so many of the best never plaed in the NFL, or played sparingly, is indicative to the few athletes outside of OL being produced.
Billy Marek was good at Wisky, but '72 was the last good RB with him and Otis? Wow.
Taylor Bell,
First of all, let me say that almost everyone I came in contact with whether in high school, college, or my attempts at pro ball, all gave you "props" and respect for what you did for high school sports period. I know you took great pride in whatever your job asked. But you spent a lot of time (when some others wouldn't) in the public league giving us needed exposure. I personally thank you for that. But I look at conditions that some of us had to go through but still excelled. Darrin Tate, my all-state teammate could just as well have won player of the year in the right circumstances. Darrin and myself had to fight white racists going to and from our practice as well as three different gangs before we got home. We had homeless people on our team that started and played vital roles in our attempt to take state! We played with fractures, muscle pulls, and all kinds of sicknesses just to win and make a name for ourselves. I know that I got off the subject but I missed talking to you and I missed that super team that we had.
I don't know some of the people you've listed, but I know that they had to be great if you said so. Some of the players I think should have been mentioned; Darrin Tate, Mike Jones, (Robeson) Rocky Harvey, Bob Westerkamp, Carter Hill, Nate Cole(Tilden79) Russel Maryland and many more.
Now I know that was an educated and experienced decision on who to pick for the list, and to read it from someone of your legendary status, I'm satisfied. Hey Taylor you're the greatest! Take care and keep in touch, Dempsey Norman.
Mr. Bell,
How could you leave Butkus off your list -- was there just no logical place to put him? Maybe he didn't dominate at the high school level? Or was it that he was just before your time? I'm curious ...
Respectfully,
Mark Vruno
1980 Sun-Times Little All State QB
Ridgewood H.S. (Norridge)
how could you forget about mike jones 1981 robeson, tim green 1986 robeson
I totally agree with you on Jon Schweighardt. I played with him and he was the best player I ever saw.
Could you post your top 10 high school football teams of all time? I have to think that the WWS 1999 has to be at or very near the top of that list!
furjanic should be in there for sure he was one of the best high school players i ever saw play.
Not including Paul Glonek in that list is ridiculous. He was the best player in the state his Jr and Sr years. He dominated every lineman we went up against, he took over games.
I would say Kevin King (1974).
Taylor ,
You have always done a great job in high school sports and have been a class act your whole life .I did not know you have to be a pro player to be named the best in high school ? ( as one reader put it ) I played against a lot of pro's and to this day i laugh that they made it . take care John
Former track coach at Tilden Hi to Dempsey Norman, Nate Cole two of the best ever I am still coaching at Foreman HS
As a backs coach for the past 27 years, I have seen, as I'm sure anyone else here has, backs come and go. From the start of my career to this day, Dan Dierking is probably the best back I have ever witnessed.
I can't see how Eric Kumerow is not on that list. Either as a QB or safety. I know he was better than Graham. Kumerow was the Sun-Times Athlete of the Year. Kumerow could have been All-State in any position in football. Plus he was an High School All-American. You guys missed a biggie.
The best tackle and defensive end was Steven Lee Watts of fenger in 1980 if he whe didn't get kill in 1981. he would have been the next Lawrence Taylor.
I would definitely have Montini's Bob Westerkamp on that team.
Joe
Mr.Bell,
I have been a big hs football fan since my playing days back in the 70's and I have seen a lot of the players you have list playing, but to put Kurt Bankson in the "Noteworthy" category is sad. Pound for Pound he was one of the best to play his position. He demanded triple teams every play and anchored a defense that held teams to under 3 pts/game. You want to build a defense, start with the line and your first pick, should be Kurt Bankson
I attended richards from 1994-1998 and Kenny Carrington was the number 1 reciever in the country and dwayne goodrich was the number 1 db in the country and Kenny Carrington used to destroy him in practice everday Carrington is by far the best reciever the state of illinois has ever seen hands down.
Hi Taylor,
Where would you rank Loyola RB Jack Spellman?
Thanks, Jim Wehrheim
Greetings! Very good tip on this page!
Love the articles, keep them coming
Having read this I thought it was extremely informative.
I appreciate you spending some time and energy to
put this article together. I once again find myself
personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments.
But so what, it was still worthwhile!