Sun-Times football preview- 20 questions

1. Who are the Fab Five prospects in the Chicago area?

DaVaris Daniels, WR, Vernon Hills; Jordan Walsh, OL, Glenbard West; Brian Bobek, OL, Fremd; Pat Flavin, OL, Benet; Evan Spencer, WR, Vernon Hills.

2. Who are the Fab Five prospects in the rest of the state?

Glen Faulkner, DB, East St. Louis; Rodney Coe, RB/LB, Edwardsville; Ryan Klachko, OL, Sacred Heart-Griffin; Clint Tucker, DT, East St.Louis; Keante Minor, WR, East St. Louis.

3. Which 2009 state champ has the best chance to win again?

Class 7A looks loaded again with Glenbard West, St. Rita and East St. Louis. But Wheaton Warrenville South has the state's top quarterback in Illinois recruit Reilly O'Toole, an offensive line that excelled in summer competitions and plenty of other impact players. The Tigers will be tough to beat.

4. How do the other big-school classes shape up?

Two-time defending 8A champ Maine South graduated its two top playmakers on offense, Matt Perez and Tyler Benz. But the Hawks have reloaded before, so bet against them at your own risk. Providence, last year's runner-up, enters the season as the 6A favorite, while a

bevy of talented skill players on offense make Joliet Catholic the pick to click in 5A.

5. Which Chicago-area team has the best chance to win a small-school title?

Bishop McNamara has a massive offensive line anchored by Northwestern recruit Matt Frazier and a star running back in Maurice Shoemaker. Plus, coach Rich Zinanni has produced championship teams before, so look for the Fighting Irish to make some noise in Class 4A.

6. Who's on the preseason All-Area offense?

QB: Reilly O'Toole, WW South. RB: Jahwon Akui, St. Rita; Mika'il McCall, Thornridge. WR: DaVaris Daniels, Vernon Hills; Evan Spencer, Vernon Hills. OL: Jake Bernstein, Crystal Lake South; Brian Bobek, Fremd; Christian Bryant, Simeon; Pat Flavin, Benet; Jordan Walsh, Glenbard West. TE: Jack Konopka, Fremd.

7. Who's on the preseason All-Area defense?

DL: Zach Colvin, Minooka; Mason Fuller, Urban Prep; Chris O'Connor, Andrew; Mike Rouse, Homewood-Flossmoor. LB: James Adeyanju, Curie; Nick Lifka, Naperville North; Blake Serpa, Kaneland. DB: Sean Cotton, Walther Lutheran; Sam Handler, Barrington; Jarrell Williams, Richards; James Wilson, Thornridge.

8. Who are the area's top kickers and punters?

Ben Falloon, Marist; Marcus Nelli, Maine South; Steven O'Block, Carmel; Nikko Rodriguez, Mount Carmel.

9. Who are the area's Fab Five juniors?

Jordan Diamond, OL, Simeon; Malin Jones, RB, Joliet Catholic; Tommy Schutt, DL, Glenbard West; Dan Voltz, OL, Barrington; Jordan Westerkamp, WR, Montini.

10. Who's on the preseason All-Public League offense?

QB: Robert Gregory, Simeon. RB: Horatio Banks, Simeon; Frederick Williams, Lane. WR: Darius Smith, Vocational; Trenton Patterson, Brooks. TE: Ezra Harris, Dunbar. OL: Christian Bryant, Simeon; Darnell Burgess, Orr; Jordan Diamond, Simeon; Dirul Muhammad, Morgan Park; Matthew Porter, Morgan Park.

11. Who's on the preseason All-Public League defense?

DL: Wilford Beard, Marshall; Darryl Jackson, North Lawndale; Ivan Mendez, Hubbard. LB: James Adeyanju, Curie; Shaquille Joyner, Simeon; David Moore, Hubbard; Dematrius Simpson, Simeon. DB: Raymond Hammond, Morgan Park; Tashaun Johnson, Harlan; Juwan Pipkins, Robeson; Quincy Skanes, Hubbard.

12. What's the ultimate prep football fan's opening weekend?

Start out tonight by taking in No. 1 Wheaton Warrenville South at Hinsdale Central. On Saturday, head to Loyola for the Ramblers' North Shore showdown with Evanston at 1:30 p.m., then shoot down to No. 3 St. Rita for a 6 p.m. interstate matchup against Portage, Ind. Then on Sunday, go to Soldier Field for a tripleheader: No. 8 Mount Carmel vs. No. 20 Simeon at noon, No. 5 Providence vs. Morgan Park at 3:15 p.m. and Notre Dame vs. Fenwick at 6.

13. What are five regular-season games to watch?

Friday: Montini vs. Joliet Catholic at Joliet's Memorial Stadium; Sept. 3: Maine South at WW South; Sept. 11: Morgan Park vs. Simeon at Gately Stadium; Oct. 1: Mount Carmel at St. Rita. Oct. 8: Evanston at New Trier.

14. Who are some players you haven't heard of but will?

Breshion Tucker, a basketball standout who didn't play football last season, will be Joliet Catholic's starting quarterback. Sophomore Matt Alviti and junior Jimmy Frankos have been so even in the preseason, Maine South will rotate them at quarterback.

15. What teams just missed making the Super 25?

In alphabetical order: Andrew, Bolingbrook, Geneva, Glenbrook South, Hinsdale Central, Minooka, Schaumburg, Stevenson, Vernon Hills, Wheaton North.

16. What are some story lines worth following this season?

Can new coach Bill Mitz revive Jacobs' fortunes after leading Stevenson to 21 straight IHSA playoff berths? How will Joliet West and Joliet Central fare? The Joliet schools combined athletic programs for financial reasons in 1993 and are the first schools to restore separate programs.

17. What's the area's best conference?

Five of the DuPage Valley's eight teams reached the IHSA playoffs last season, including 7A champ WW South and 8A semifinalist Glenbard North. The DVC has some blue-chippers this year such as WW South quarterback Reilly O'Toole and Naperville North's Matt LaCosse and Nick Lifka. But from top to bottom, it's hard to argue with the Catholic League Blue, which has game-changers such as St. Rita's Jahwon Akui, Providence's Dan Lembke and Mount Carmel's Michael Banks.

18. What is the area's most underrated conference?

The Fox Valley quietly produced a state champion (Cary-Grove in 6A) and a semifinalist (Prairie Ridge in 6A, eliminated by Cary-Grove) last year. Crystal Lake South has two linemen who already have committed: Jake Bernstein (Vanderbilt) and Fahn Cooper (Bowling Green).

19. Who are some notable transfers?

Barrington quarterback Matt LeMire, a 6-2, 190-pounder, has moved in from El Paso, Texas. Quarterback Anthony Maddie, who was Joliet Catholic's starting quarterback as a sophomore last season, is now at Aurora Christian. Junior linebacker Blake Beck is at Riverside-Brookfield after playing two years at St. Joseph.

20. What are some impressive streaks heading into the season?

Maine South is 45-0 in the Central Suburban South since Dave Inserra took over as coach. Lincoln-Way East has made the IHSA playoffs all nine years it has fielded a varsity team. Coach Frank Lenti has guided Mount Carmel to 24 consecutive IHSA playoff berths.

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