Steve Tucker's preps notebook

Another NU recruit

Oswego running back Tim Riley, a 6-3, 230-pounder who likely will play linebacker in college, orally committed to Princeton, then switched to Northwestern 10 days later when coach Pat Fitzgerald offered a scholarship. Riley, who scored 31 on his ACT and ranks No. 3 in a class of 400, and 6-7, 300-pound tackle Jordan Jeffries have led coach Dave Keely’s team.

Jordan Roberts update

The Aurora Christian senior now has 102 career touchdown passes after adding four against Luther South last Saturday. Roberts is now 407 yards away from breaking the state passing yardage record.

500th game

Glenbrook North, which opened in 1953, will play its 500th football game tonight at Maine East. The Spartans have a 276-216-7 record and six undefeated regular seasons, the most memorable being 1974, when they finished 12-0 and won the first Class 5A state title.

Think pink

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Crete-Monee varsity football players will spat their shoes in pink tape before they head onto the field for their game at 6 tonight against unbeaten Rich East.

Player of the Year?

Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming thinks Chris Watt of Glenbard West is a deserving choice for Player of the Year.

‘‘He dominates everybody he comes up against,” Lemming said. He reminds me of [former St. Laurence, Notre Dame and NFL star] Tim Grunhard. He is the best guard prospect in the country.”

Since the Sun-Times began selecting the Player of the Year in 1951, only two offensive linemen have been chosen — John Carroll of Fenwick in 1953 and John Sawin of Vocational in 1955. Two defensive linemen were picked, Chris Boskey of St. Francis de Sales in 1977 and Tim Marshall of Weber in 1979.

Illini’s top-10 class

Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber’s recruiting class for 2009 ranks No. 6 in the country going into the stretch run to the November signing period, recruiting analyst Van Coleman said.

North Carolina is the leader, followed by Oklahoma State, Marquette, Indiana, Alabama-Birmingham, Illinois, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Villanova and Minnesota. Weber has four top-100 commitments — guards Brandon Paul of Warren, D.J. Richardson of Henderson, Nev., and Joseph Bertrand of Sterling, and 6-8 power forward Tyler Griffey of Wildwood, Mo.

Contributing: Taylor Bell