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Readers Ted Terry and Wendy Peffercorn were eager to respond to our recent blog about the state of Illinois high school football, the fact that only five products were listed among the top 250 players in the nation according to preseason college magazines. They made some interesting points. But we need to correct the record.
Terry argued that the Chicago area isn't overlooked, just overrated, claiming not as many kids are playing football today, the Public League "has dried up," the Catholic League isn't what it used to be, the talent isn't very good, there is no speed and only an average skill level compared to warm weather states.
"How many true national recruits does Chicago produce?" Terry asked. "Name an all-star team since 1990 and it is embarrassing."
Peffercorn pointed out, quite correctly, that the Illinois High School Association puts Illinois football players at a disadvantage by not offering spring practice as most of the major football-producing states do. She even notes that many of those southern states also offer spring football at the junior high school level and promote power lifting for young athletes.
Yes, Illinois is a basketball state. A lot of kids who could be outstanding prospects as running backs, wide receivers or defensive backs prefer basketball to football. Illiois could be better in football. Probably much better than it is. But it isn't as bad as some critics claim it is. Check the facts.
The Public League wasn't a good producer of football talent in the 1980s and the Catholic League isn't what it used to be when St. Laurence, Mendel, Gordon Tech, St. Rita, Mount Carmel, Fenwick, Weber and Leo annually shipped scholarship players to college powerhouses across the country.
But 48 former Chicago area players currently are playing in the NFL, more than any other metropolitan region outside of Los Angeles. College coaches still rank Illinois among the top football-producing states in the country--behind Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and perhaps New Jersey.
From a high water mark of 141 scholarship players in the class of 1986, which included Russell Maryland, Jeff Alm, Tim Grunhard, John Foley, Brad Quast, Bobby Wilson, Paul Justin, Chris Calloway, Mel Agee and Paul Glonek, the Chicago area still produces 60 to 80 annually.
"There has been no dropoff in talent," recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "Only five Chicago area players among the top 250 is a low figure. But recruiting is a cyclical thing, up and down. The Midwest in general and the Chicago area in particular is down this year. But I think the class of 2010 will be exceptional, much better than this year and maybe the best since 1990.
"The Public League was down in the 1980s but it is better now with Morgan Park and Hubbard doing so well. The Catholic League is down but Joliet Catholic and Providence are doing well. And the suburbs, particularly the Du Page Valley, have grown so fast and are doing much better than they did 20 years ago."
As for an all-star team of Chicago area players from the 1990s being an embarrassment...well, wouldn't you like to field a team that includes at least 11 All-Pro players?
Here is a partial list, most of whom have played in the NFL:
Quarterbacks: Donovan McNabb, Mount Carmel; Antwaan Randle El, Thornton.
Running backs: Mike Alstott, Joliet Catholic; Chris Brown, Naperville North; Mike Turner, North Chicago; Rocky Harvey, Dunbar; Joey Goodspeed, Oswego.
Receivers: Tai Streets, Thornton; Jon Schweighardt, Wheaton Warrenville South; Justin McCareins, Naperville North; Greg Lewis, Rich South; Eric Parker, Joliet; Matt Cushing, Mount Carmel.
Offensive linemen: Eric Steinbach, Providence; Flozell Adams, Proviso West; Ryan Diem, Glenbard North; David Diehl, Brother Rice; Tony Pape, Hinsdale South; Tony Pashos, Lockport; Matt O'Dwyer, Stevenson.
Defensive linemen: Bryant Young, Bloom; Renaldo Wynn, De La Salle; Simeon Rice, Mount Carmel.
Linebackers: John Holecek, Marian Catholic; Napoleon Harris, Jack Golden and Barry Gardner, Thornton; Matt Roth, Willowbrook; Reggie Hayward, Thornwood; Tyjuan Hagler, Bishop McNamara.
Defensive backs: Rodney Harrison, Marian Catholic; Ray Buchanan, Proviso East; Glenn Earl, Naperville North; Todd Howard, Bolingbrook; Dwayne Goodrich, Richards; Matt Bowen, Glenbard West.
Many of them may not have been national recruits. But if they were good enough to play in the NFL, they couldn't have been chopped liver. Illinois overrated? Not hardly.
Cell Phone Alerts
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GREAT COACHES IN ILLINOIS
HISTORY!
WHEN YOU HAVE ALOT OF CHANGES AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS, HOW
CAN A PROGRAM BECOME SUCCESSFUL?
TAYLOR NAME THE TOP TWENTY COACHES IN ILLINOIS HISTORY?
PLEASE GIVE THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE CREDIT FOR
REALLY PUTTING EMPHASIS ON YOUTH FOOTBALL!
SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BEING SAID IS THAT MORE YOUNG MEN
FROM VARIOUS SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS ARE BEING GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT VARIOUS LEVELS,
EVERYONE CANNOT PLAY DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL!
There will always be talent in Chicago/Illinois strictly because of numbers. But if there is no "drop off" in talent then why aren't the top national schools and BCS title contenders in here recruiting more kids? Why are they in Texas, California, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida on a more expansive level? Would you take Illinois over any of those five states? New Jersey is a very average state in terms of emphasis on high school football but because of population and demographics it will have athletes to recruit. Look what Rutgers has done by keeping a lot of those players in state. The same can be said about the DC area - a lot of good athletes that are more developmental but with big upsides and that's why Illinois spends so much time in there!
Over the last 20 years you can certainly find players who were solid and played in the NFL from Chicago. We've had our share. Again when comparing this list to other areas of the country it quickly falls pales in comparison. Look at Pittsburg for example with all the great QB's, RB's, and linemen that have come out of that area with about 1/3 the population! And when you really dissect that list from Chicago there is ONE QB, only 3 DL, no pro bowl receivers, and 2 OL that are considered upper echelon players! A number of 'recognizable names' but not a lot of depth and in the end sparse quality.
2010 looks like it can be better year but it certainly can't be any worse than the last couple of years here. Just because ND has ofered 4 kids doesn't mean it is a great year in Chicago. Let's see how the juniors play this year then put together a list based on how they produce in pads. A good measure of quality is this - how many scholarships to BCS programs. The MAC is great but it really is a place where they take what is left over and hope kids develop. And to the credit of the coaching that is done there they have had their share of stars.
I’m not so sure, but I’m willing to reconsider because you are making some fabulous points.