20 questions, 20 answers for 2011

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:44AM

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

Tommy Schutt, DT, Glenbard West (committed to Penn State); Jordan Diamond, OL, Simeon (uncommitted); Ryan Ward, OL, Providence (Iowa); Faith Ekakitie, DE, Lake Forest Academy (uncommitted); Dan Voltz, OL, Barrington (Wisconsin).

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

Wes Lunt, QB, Rochester (Oklahoma State); Nick Mangieri, DE, Dunlap (Indiana); Vincent Valentine, DT, Edwardsville (uncommitted); Dean Lowry, DE, Boylan (Northwestern); Mike Cotton, LB, O’Fallon (Indiana).

3. Which 2010 state champ has th e best chance to win state again?

Maine South has two big-time playmakers on offense in QB Matt Alviti and RB Paul Preston, giving the Hawks a great shot to win a fourth consecutive Class 8A title.

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

Two-time defending 7A winner Wheaton Warrenville South has some major gaps to plug because of graduation and the Tigers have the toughest nonconference schedule in the state, opening with Glenbard West and Maine South. Still, don’t count out WW South, though Glenbard West, Lake Zurich and Carmel all could be in the 7A title mix. Danville could follow Boylan as the second straight 6A champ from outside the Chicago area, but keep an eye on Crete-Monee and Prairie Ridge. Two-time defending champ Montini with its high-flying offense is the favorite in 5A, where Joliet Catholic could also contend.

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

Aurora Christian, coached by ex-NFL receiver Don Beebe, is loaded with talent and experience and hoping to improve on its run to the Class 3A quarterfinals last season.

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

QB: Robert Gregory, Simeon. RB: Malin Jones, Joliet Catholic; Jordan Kos, Carmel; Dan Vitale, Wheaton Warrenville South. WR: J.J. Robertson, Lincoln-Way East; Jordan Westerkamp, Montini. OL: Johnny Caspers, Glenbard West; Jordan
Diamond, Simeon; Dan Feeney, Sandburg; Dan Voltz, Barrington; Ryan Ward, Providence.

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

DL: Faith Ekakitie, Lake Forest Academy; Jaleel Johnson, Montini; Tommy Schutt, Glenbard West; Vontrell Williams, Mount Carmel. LB: Shaquille Joyner, Simeon; Jack Lynn, Lake Zurich; Antonio Morrison, Bolingbrook. DB: Charles Elmore, St. Rita; Maurice Fleming, Curie; Brandon Greer, Mount Carmel; Anthony Standifer, Crete-Monee.

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

Nick Campos, Wheaton Warrenville South; Matt Micucci, Stevenson; Steven O’Block, Carmel.

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

Matt Alviti, QB, Maine South; Aaron Bailey, QB; Bolingbrook; Kyle Bosch, OL, St. Francis; Ty Isaac, RB, Joliet Catholic; Ethan Pocic, OL, Lemont.

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

QB: Robert Gregory, Simeon. RB: Antoryio Burton, Harper; Brian Carter, Kelvyn Park; Jamal McDowell, Orr. WR: Shaquille Branch, Vocational. TE: Mikhail Dubose, Hubbard. OL: Jim Daniels, Young; Jordan Diamond, Simeon; Mario Jones, Hubbard; Javier Rivera, Taft; Daquan Sain, Brooks.

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

DL: Tarvaris Hampton, Manley; Isaac Johnson, Raby; Marcus Murphy, North Lawndale; Dan Murray, Lane. LB: Shaquille Joyner, Simeon; Vaughn King, Curie; Ahkeem Miller, Carver. DB: Maurice Fleming,
Curie; Demarlon Morris, Julian; Quincy Skanes, Hubbard; Jarvis Wright, Robeson.

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

Start out at the Preseason Prep Bowl at Soldier Field with a 2:30  p.m. matchup between Mount Carmel and Simeon. Stick around for a little of the 5:15 game between Morgan Park and Providence before hopping on I-55 and heading down to Joliet’s Memorial Stadium for the 7:30 showdown between Carmel and Joliet Catholic. On Saturday
afternoon, go to Dolton to see Thornridge face Crystal Lake South in an intriguing nonconference matchup at 1. And then on Sunday, swing by Wheaton Warrenville South for an 11 a.m. kickoff vs. Glenbard West in a battle for west suburban bragging rights.

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

Today: Carmel vs. Joliet Catholic at Joliet Memorial Stadium; Sunday: Glenbard West at Wheaton Warrenville South; Sept. 2: Wheaton Warrenville South at Maine South; Sept. 24: Curie vs. Simeon at Gately; Oct. 14: Mount Carmel at St. Rita.

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

Bremen senior David Smith has been overshadowed by some other south suburban backs because the Braves have been in a rebuilding mode, but he has more than a dozen offers from schools such as Illinois, Iowa, Arizona and Boston College. Don Butkus, last year’s backup to Mount Carmel quarterback Chris Sujka, brings football smarts and a strong arm to his new role as the man at the controls of the Caravan’s classic option attack. You probably have heard of his great-uncle, though: Bears great Dick Butkus.

15. What teams just missed making the Super 25?

In alphabetical order, Bolingbrook, Brother Rice, Lyons, Palatine and Thornton.

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

Can Homewood-Flossmoor keep up the momentum after going from 1-8 in 2009 to the Class 8A semis last season in coach Craig Buzea’s debut? Is this the year some team — maybe Simeon? — ends the Public League’s state title drought? How will new coach Jeremy Gold fare at Morgan Park after replacing Lexie Spurlock?

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

The Catholic League Blue has star power on the field with the likes of Loyola QB Malcolm Weaver, Mount Carmel two-way standout Brandon Greer, St. Rita defenders Charles Elmore and Will McNamara and Brother Rice running back Martez Walker. All four of those teams could not only make the playoffs, but have deep runs. And if Providence bounces back from an uncharacteristic down season, the Blue will be tougher than ever. As far as public-school conferences are concerned, there aren’t many soft touches in the DuPage Valley, North Suburban Lake or West Suburban Silver.

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

Realignment made the Fox Valley Valley even tougher this fall. The league produced a pair of Class 6A quarterfinalists last year in Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South, and added another when Prairie Ridge moved over from the Fox division.

19. Who are some notable transfers?

Two defending state champs had senior quarterbacks move in: John Rhode from Marian Catholic to Montini and Thaddeus Armstrong from Ottawa to WW South. Montini also added defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson, an Iowa recruit, from St.  Joseph, while multi-talented DaeShaun Hurley went from Morgan Park to Julian.

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

Maine South is 50-0 in the Central Suburban South during coach Dave Inserra’s tenure. Lincoln-Way East has made the IHSA playoffs all 10 seasons it’s fielded a varsity team. Coach Frank Lenti has guided Mount Carmel to 25 consecutive state playoff berths.

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