Facebook App
Most college football coaches haven't completed their task of offering scholarships to the top-rated players in the class of 2009, next fall's seniors. But recruiters already are scouring the country, evaluating the leading prospects in the class of 2010, next fall's juniors.
It is a process that is never-ending. Coaches realize a fundamental rule in recruiting, something that Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest understood during the Civil War almost 150 years ago. "Get thar the firstest with the mostest," he said. Forrest might not have been eloguent but he was very effective. He didn't lose any battles.
Translated in modern terminology, coaches are aware that it is important to contact young prospects as quickly as possible because they always keep tabs on schools that show them a lot of love early. In many cases, the first school they hear from is the one they choose.
At the moment, two players stand out above the rest--6-6, 275-pound offensive tackle Chris Lombard of Fremd and 6-4, 230-pound defensive end Chance Carter of Loyola.
Veteran Fremd coach Mike Donatucci said Lombard is "as good a lineman as anyone I've seen" and recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CSTV rates him as the No. 1 player in his class in the Chicago area.
Carter could be the best athlete in the class.
Another outstanding athlete is 6-7, 228-pound wide receiver C.J. Fedorowicz of Johnsburg, who caught 76 passes for 1,046 yards and 22 touchdowns last year.
Quarterbacks to watch are Chandler Whitmer of Downers Grove South, who passed for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, John Whitelaw of Hinsdale Central, Miles Osei of Prospect and Billy VandeMerkt of Riverside-Brookfield.
Best linemen are John Thibideau (6-5, 265) and Zach Fulton (6-5, 275) of Homewood-Flossmoor, Frank Boenzi (6-3, 285) of Geneva, Shawn Afryl (6-4, 295) of Niles West, Kevin Schlitter (6-5, 245) of Maine South, Matt Mautone (6-3, 285) of St. Charles North, Laken Tomlinson (6-6, 280) of Lane Tech, Bergeau Saintil (6-2, 265) of Niles North, Austin Teitsma (6-2, 210) of Glenbard South, Danny Kiebler (6-3, 225) of Leyden and Joey Riddle (6-4, 220) of Joliet.
The list of running backs includes Cameron Gillespie of Round Lake, Julian Banuelos of Wheaton Warrenville South, Greg Kennedy of Warren, Darnell Swanigan of Proviso East and LaSteven McKinney of Nazareth.
Receivers? Dan Hohenstein of Wheaton Warrenville South, Corey Cooper of Proviso East, Daron Brown of Morgan Park, Rodney Lloyd of Fenger and Peter Houlihan of Providence.
And what about the class of 2011? Next fall's sophomores?
Victor Nelson, a 6-7, 282-pound offensive tackle at Maine South, could emerge as the best prospect the Park Ridge school has produced since All-Pro lineman Dave Butz in 1968.
Cell Phone Alerts
What about Darrell Shepard of Evasnton running back Class of2010. I know his team wasn't that good last year. But Darrell was a 1000 yard runner for a 2-7 team. Very talented, can run between the tackles and has good speed also. I think he is about 6'0 220 pounds I am not quite sure of his size. I do know he is a big running back.
Aaron Rhoads WR from Casey Il. 1200 yds rec 70 catches and 14 tds for a final four team. Oh yeah almost forgot, only junior named first team All State on the IHSCA team. Has been contatced and visited Iowa State, Illinois,Alabama and Western Illinois.
Wait until you see Jamel Martin of the Bolingbrook Raiders ,known as tailback U.He will take your breath away when you see him run the ball this year .He is a sophmore at 190,6'0" with 4.5 speed. He blocks well ,has great hands and is a elusive runner with a second gear for the open field.He is bound to be one of highest recruited players of the 2010 class , if he continues to progress under the coaching of John Ivlow .Last yr he only touched the ball about 30 times , but he had 5 touchdowns and averaged 10 yds per carry , he was playing behind another great tailback Eric Smith who was recruited by Wisconsin.
Chance Carter of Loyola is a monster. He is an Evanston kid. Very nice kid. He is a very good basketball player but I think his future is in football as a DE or LB hybrid in certain defensive schemes. He is going to have to be double teamed or he will create havoc in the offensive backfield.
What About RB Thaddeus Scott of Lane Tech?
Why is julian banuelos included in this? He has no varsity time and won't even start this year. He is a great back but not quite yet
Dominique Bell, Running Back, Morgan Park, Stonger and tougher than anyone else mentioned, if you were not convinced by his junior stats sharing the carries, wait til this fall.
Matt Perez, Maine South's junior running back next year will be better than any of the Sophomores mentioned here. The only peron capable of keeping him under 2,000 yards rushing as a junior is Charlie Bliss and his dinky little offense.
Christian Lombard of Fremd may not only be the top prospect in the state next year... but very well could be one of the top in the country... the vikings run game should be exceptional next year with D1 RB Mike Gyetvay running behind Lombard and crew
Austin Teitsma is now 6-3, 225 and has worked hard on his game this off season via college camps and workouts. He is one of those players who just likes contact. He plays defense but could easily play offense at tight end, full back or guard/tackle. I am looking for him to have a great season.
The conference he plays in, the Western Sun, is a fairly new conference that doesn't always get a lot of notice. Hopefully that will change this year.
I think your all forgetting about a certain John Higgins. He is a powerful 170 pounds of raw muscle. He is a bowling ball through the middle. And with comparisons to Jerome Bettis this kid will end up being the top back in the state of illinois.
trevian2210 doesn't know fotball. Higgins has weak sauce, and a bad case of
too-much-junk-in-the-trunk-itis.
Jonah calimee has great potential as a bolingbrook raider. His skills on defense could be alot better but calimee shows great potential. As a player his speed is amazing he would probably do better on offese.
i have to agree with todd..Calimee could possibly be up there with the erik smiths and dale martins. But that opprotunity didnt come last season at bolingbrook. With his size u would expect him to be on defense where the coaches put him. But with his speed he would do alot better on offense