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I don't have a vote in the final balloting but, after six games, I have to believe that the leading candidates for the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year award are quarterbacks Miles Osei of Prospect and Tommy Rees of Lake Forest, running backs Jahwon Akui of St. Rita and Matt Perez of Maine South and offensive lineman Christian Lombard of Fremd.
Lombard? An offensive lineman? Player of the Year?
"No offensive lineman in the Midwest is playing better than Lombard right now, not even Seantrel Henderson, the No. 1 player in the nation," said recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. "He is 6-6 and weighs 295 pounds and has cut his body fat down to 7 percent this year. He looks like a defensive lineman. He has a nasty attitude that offensive linemen need, that a lot of them don't have."
But an offensive lineman hasn't won the award since 1955.
Few could argue that Maine South's Charlie Goro or Naperville North's Jordan Tassio or Wheaton Warrenville South's Dan Dierking or Morris' John Dergo weren't worthy of winning the Player of the Year award in the last four years.
Two quarterbacks and two running backs.
The last linemen to earn the prize were Weber's Tim Marshall in 1979 and St. Francis de Sales' Chris Boskey in 1977. Both were defensive standouts.
And the only linebackers who achieved the honor since Dick Butkus in 1959 were Joliet Catholic's Chris Jeske in 2004, St. Rita's John Foley in 1985 and Mount Carmel's Tony Furjanic in 1981.
Sounds like a high school version of the Heisman Trophy, which has honored quarterbacks for eight of the last nine years. The last lineman to be recognized as the top player in college football was Notre Dame end Leon Hart in 1949. In fact, an interior lineman or linebacker has never been selected since the Heisman was originally awarded in 1935.
Lemming has seen them all and he gives Osei an edge.
"This is the year of the quarterback in the Chicago area and Osei and Rees are the two best," Lemming said. "If the Big 10 doesn't take Osei, they are making a mistake. He is another (former West Virginia star) Pat White. If you are looking for a quarterback to run the spread, there is no one better than Osei. If you are looking for a dropback passer, Rees is the choice."
The problem is we are hung up on statistics. Quarterbacks and running backs have them. Offensive linemen don't have them. Maybe that's why somebody came up with the idea of tallying pancake blocks, a statistic that Lombard specializes in. If Butkus couldn't win the Heisman as a senior at Illinois, it's hard to imagine how any lineman or linebacker could prevail in the voting.
Osei, Rees, Akui and Perez, a two-way player for the state's top-rated team, are legitimate candidates. Each boasts impressive statistics. It is so much easier to evaluate a player who has passed or rushed for 2,000 yards and looks good on a highlight film than it is to evaluate a lineman who blocks for him.
Somehow, some way, the system needs to be re-evaluated and revised to give everyone an equal opportunity. Or else why do running backs always go out of their way to credit their offensive line after they've scored the winning touchdown? Could they have scored without them? Surely, linemen aren't second-class citizens and shouldn't be treated as such.
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What about Matt Perez of Maine South? Nobody is mentioning him at all. Yes he doesn't play a whole game most of the time but he's the best running back I have seen in the area since Rashard Mendenhall of Niles West. Matt Perez should be Player of The Year from production so far.
Another player who gets left out of the POY conversations is Hinsdale Central's John Whitelaw. He continues to have a terrific season. He might not be the same physical talent as Osei (height, speed), but is still one extremely talented QB. He seems to be undervalued for some reason. He can run, pass, is a coach on the field, makes good decisions. Hopefully he will find a good college program that is a good fit for his skills.
Tommy Rees hands down. His leading stats is only half the picture. His football IQ and leadership are unparalled at the high school level.
After watching the St. Rita vs. MC game, I have an idea: Five people should get "Player of the year".
No disrespect to Akui (he is VERY good), but he would not have half the stats without the superior St. Rita O-line. Should Rita win state (Big if), it would be because of their offensive line creating holes for the running game.
So why not give them the "player of the year award"?
THE YOUNG MAN FROM ST. RITA HIGH SCHOOL, HANDS DOWN, HE MAY BE THE BEST BACK IN THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE SINCE THE YOUNG MAN FROM LEO HIGH SCHOOL IN 1990, THIS GUY RIPPED MT. CARMEL APART, HE IS THE FRONTRUNNER, IF HE GETS ST.RITA TO THE PROMISED LAND, AND A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, HE SHOULD WIN, PLAYER OF THE YEAR!
JAHWON AKUI IS THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR!
THE OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE BEARS NEVER RECEIVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS WHEN SWEETNESS WAS RACKING UP THE YARDS IN THE 70'S AND 80'S, SO WHY WOULD WE START NOW, THE PLAYER THAT RUNS GETS THE AWARD, JAHWON AKUI IS THE REAL DEAL, AND LIKE HE SAID HE IS GOING TO TAKE THE O-LINE OUT FOR A MEAL FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY DO FOR HIM!
I BELIEVE BILLY MAREK IS THE BEST BACK ST.RITA EVER HAD, I COULD BE WRONG, BUT HIS NAME RINGS OUT, YOU ARE IN GREAT COMPANY JAHWON, BILLY MAREK WAS THE TRUTH AS WELL!
i have not seen much outside the dvc this year, but if naperville central continues to win, and possibly do well in the playoffs. i see no reason not to consider their QB nick linne. he will have the numbers, have the wins and he is good ! i think a winning team speaks volumes about the players.
Matt Perez is a much better player in high school than Mendenhall. Perez plays on offense, defense, punt return team and kick return team. Mendenhall didn't play on defense or special teams. Mendenhall's teams never did much. Perez was instrumental in last year's 8A championship team. Perez is a dynamic and electic running back and a playmaker on special teams and on defense. Perez is the player of the year without question.
Emjeff yes Mendenhall did. He played DB,ran back kicks,punts. He did everything for Niles West. You must not have watched Mendenhall much in high school. I do agree with you Perez should be Player of The Year. He's the best running back Maine South has ever had and was the difference in them winning the State Title and finishing 2nd three consecutive years.
SO PLEASE TELL US WHERE MATT PEREZ IS GOING TO PLAY COLLEGE BALL, BECAUSE THE GUY YOU COMPARE HIM TO, IS GETTING AN NFL PAYCHECK!
After this weekend the guy who screamed to the top of the list is Matt Perez! He had an unbelievable game this weekend to lead Maine South to victory.
Last time I saw a player dominate a game like that was Morris vs. Joliet Catholic and the player was John Dergo.
I played football with Stan in 1980 at DeLaSalle h.s. and ran track&field with him also. at one time he was named "fastest" freshman in the state of illinois! I transferred to Mather highschool and made a statement of my own!(up yours Seabuck!) Flash Jackson. OH! a kid by the last name "Gorski" was the ONLY guy I've ever witnessed outrun Stan, but STANLEY FIT if you ever read this commentary,it's been an enlightening experience to have met you!