2011 Sun-Times All-Area football team

Updated: May 9, 2012 10:03AM

FIRST TEAM

Jesse Bobbit

Palatine, defensive back, 6-2, 190, junior: One of the state’s top ballhawks, he had 74 tackles and six interceptions for the Class 8A playoff qualifier. Nebraska, Oregon, Illinois and Northwestern are among the schools looking at the three-year varsity mainstay.

Zach Borta

Naperville Central, defensive lineman, 6-2, 225, senior: The Redhawks’ defense stood tall in a run to the Class 8A semifinals and the leader of the pack was Borta, named the DuPage Valley’s top defensive player and top defensive lineman. Had 85 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks.

James Buss

De La Salle, 5-11, 295, defensive lineman, senior: The Catholic League White’s Defensive Player of the Year had 48 tackles this season. He’s also one of the state’s premier wrestlers, taking third in Class 3A at 285 pounds a year ago.

Ryan Callen

Hinsdale Central, offensive lineman, 6-4, 263, senior: The Miami (Ohio) recruit anchored a line that helped Red Devils average 333 yards a game and return to IHSA playoffs after one-year absence.

Jordan Diamond

Simeon, offensive lineman, 6-6, 289, senior: Big, strong and athletic, he’s one of the nation’s premier offensive tackle prospects. Has more than 20 scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Arkansas, Auburn, Ohio State and Oregon among others.

Charlie Dowdle

Loyola, wide receiver, 6-3, 190, senior: The best of a great group of receivers has 57 catches for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns for the unbeaten Catholic League Blue champ and Class 8A finalist. Also excels at water polo.

Jake Elliott

Lyons, kicker, 5-11, 150, junior: Had a spectacular first year of organized football, converting 10 of 11 field goals and going 28 of 28 on PATs. Kicked game-winning field goals of 52 and 47 yards and twice had three field goals in one game.

Faith Ekakitie

Lake Forest Academy, defensive lineman, 6-2, 255, senior: Colleges love his combination of strength and speed, as he’s collected around 20 scholarship offers from the likes of Oregon, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Had 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

Kalium Ewing

Nazareth, defensive back, 5-10, 185, senior: The East Suburban Catholic Defensive Player of the Year had 83 tackles, six tackles for loss and four interceptions as the Roadrunners won a school-record 10 games and reached the Class 6A quarterfinals.

Tyler Fahey

Maine South, linebacker, 6-2, 203, senior: A key contributor on both sides of the ball, the Central Suburban South Defensive Player of the Year had 81 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 17 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns,

Colin Goebel

Naperville North, offensive lineman, 6-4, 275, junior: Named DuPage Valley Conference’s top offensive lineman for Class 8A playoff qualifier, he has offers from NIU among others and interest from several big-time programs.

Brandon Greer

Mount Carmel, defensive back, 6-0, 195, senior: Player of the Year in the Catholic League Blue, the Central Michigan recruit was a rare two-way starter for the Prep Bowl-bound Caravan. Had 1,469 yards (9.9 per carry), 15 touchdowns and 31 tackles.

Ty Isaac

Joliet Catholic, running back, 6-2, 215, junior: Sun-Times Player of the Year averages 11.9 yards a carry and has 45 touchdowns and 2,114 rushing yards for Class 5A finalist. Arguably state’s top player regardless of class, has offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin.

Anthony Maddie

Aurora Christian, quarterback, 6-2, 203, senior: Western Michigan recruit led Eagles to Class 3A final. Has 4,631 yards of total offense (No 3 all-time in Illinois) and 64 touchdowns as a passer and runner this season.

Will McNamara

St. Rita, linebacker, 6-1, 210, senior: The Catholic League Defensive Player of the Year had 105 tackles to pace a defense that helped the Mustangs reach the Class 7A semifinals. Western Illinois has offered him and several major colleges have expressed interest.

Carl Miller

Stevenson, linebacker, 6-3, 210, senior: Piled up big numbers (169 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) against a killer schedule for a team that shared the North Suburban Lake title and reached the Class 8A quarterfinals.

Antonio Morrison

Bolingbrook, linebacker, 6-3, 220, senior: A rare Southeastern Conference recruit from Chicago, the Florida-bound Morrison led a swarming defense for the Class 8A finalist with 101 tackles and seven sacks.

Ethan Pocic

Lemont, offensive lineman, 6-7, 285, junior: One of the stars of a strong Illinois junior class, he led the Indians to a perfect regular season and Class 6A semifinal berth. Offers from most of Big Ten, plus Notre Dame.

Tommy Schutt

Glenbard West, defensive lineman, 6-3, 301, senior: Few players could cause as much havoc at the line of scrimmage as Schutt, who had 14 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in helping the Hilltoppers roll through a perfect regular season. Committed to Penn State.

Laquon Treadwell

Crete-Monee, wide receiver, 6-3, 183, junior: Michigan and Notre Dame have offered this speedy receiver, who caught 61 passes for 1,230 yards and 17 touchdowns in helping the Warriors to a perfect regular season and another Class 6A playoff berth.

Dan Vitale

Wheaton Warrenville South, athlete, 6-2, 210, senior: The Northwestern recruit’s stats (1,219 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns) don’t tell the whole story. Without his leadership, the Tigers wouldn’t be going for their third straight 7A title this weekend.

Ryan Ward

Providence, offensive lineman, 6-6, 270, senior: The Celtics were one of area’s most improved teams and Ward played a big role up front. One of the nation’s top offensive tackle prospects, he picked Iowa over Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan State among others.

Jordan Westerkamp

Montini, wide receiver, 6-1, 200, senior: The state’s career leader in receiving yards and touchdowns has it all: speed, soft hands and great instincts. The Nebraska recruit leads one of the state’s deepest groups of pass catchers for the Broncos, who go for a third straight Class 5A title this weekend.

Josh Williams

Downers South, running back, 5-9, 175, senior: After rushing for around 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, the third-year starter took it to another level and finished with 2,340 yards and 36 scores for the Class 8A quarterfinalist.

SPECIAL MENTION

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS: Matt Alviti, Maine South; Aaron Bailey, Bolingbrook; A.J. Bilyeu, Bartlett; Channing Dolliger, Bishop McNamara; Noah Gaspari, Batavia; Nick Nissen, Prairie Ridge; John Peltz, Wheaton North; Julian Russell, Gordon Tech; Chris Streveler, Marian Central; Marcus Terrell, Crete-Monee; Robert Tonyan, McHenry; Malcolm Weaver, Loyola; Ryan West, Oswego; Tim Williams, Homewood-Flossmoor; Blake Winkler, Lincoln-Way East; Ian Woodworth, Marist. RUNNING BACKS: Oshayne Brown, Niles North; Tevin Coleman, Oak Forest; Malin Jones, Joliet Catholic; Jordan Kos, Carmel; Chase Murdock, Barrington; Matt Randolph, Naperville Central; Jack Stibich, Fenwick; Joey Valdivia, Grayslake Central; Andrew Walker, Brother Rice; Martez Walker, Brother Rice. ENDS: Quinn Buschbacher, Kaneland; David Byerley, York; Artie Checchin, Rolling Meadows; Tim Manczko, Conant; JJ Robertson, Lincoln-Way East; Nic Weishar, Marist. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Robbie Bain, Bolingbrook; Pat Barrett, Maine South; Kyle Bosch, St. Francis; Johnny Caspers, Glenbard West; Mike Demos, Glenbrook South; Bobby McGivney, Nazareth; Scott Taylor, Marian Central.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Greg Johnsen, Elk Grove; Mario Jones, Hubbard; Pat O’Connor, St. Rita; Matt Solner, Lincoln-Way East. LINEBACKERS: Eric Hauser, Loyola; Shaquille Joyner, Simeon; Jack Lynn, Lake Zurich; Sean Oroni, Batavia; Mike Partyka, Bartlett. DEFENSIVE BACKS: Charles Elmore, St. Rita; Frank Kelly, Mount Carmel; Ryan Meyer, Marist; Troy Sheppard, Providence; Anthony Standifer, Crete-Monee; Tevin Teamer, Bolingbrook; Brad Walovitch, Crystal Lake South.

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