OFFENSE
QB – Marcus Terrell, Crete-Monee
6-2, 175, Sr.
2011 Stats: 199-of-301 passing, 2,822 yards, 29 TDs, 4 INTs; 44 carries, 193 yards, 5 TDs.
Notable: Terrell was a Times all-area selection who led the Warriors to their first undefeated regular season since 1952. He completed 66 percent of his throws and boasted an amazing 7-to-1 TD-to-interception ratio.
RB – Jamal Towns, Thornton
5-7, 155, Sr.
2011 Stats: 207 carries, 1,452 yards, 14 TDs; 9 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs receiving.
Notable: He will be one of the area's top runners as he averaged 7 yards per carry and almost 14 yards per reception. Towns was a Times first-team member least fall.
RB – Draco Smith, Mount Carmel
5-9, 180, Sr.
2011 stats: 116 carries, 756 yards, 5 Tds.
Notable: The Northern Illinois recruit will be a three-year starter and will carry the load for the Caravan's ground game. Smith averaged 6.5 yards per carry. He will also see action as a defensive back.
TE – Willie Ross, Homewood-Flossmoor
6-4, 205, Sr.
2011 Stats: 13 catches, 195 yards, 4 TDs.
Notable: Ross averaged 15 yards per reception. He will be the go-to guy in the passing game and is capable of breaking away or running over a potential defender.
WR – LaQuon Treadwell, Crete-Monee
6-4, 200, Sr.
2011 Stats: 75 catches, 1,391 yards, 18 TDs; 45 total tackles, 10 TFLs, 8 sacks.
Notable: Treadwell is one of the top seven receivers in the nation, according to one scouting service and has 23 offers. A 2011 Illinois Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State selection and The Times Offensive Player of the Year, Treadwell is a threat no matter which side of the ball he is on. He was also an impact player on defense and a game-changer on offense. He is the nephew of former Bloom Trail football star and Oklahoma State All-American football player Ricky Young.
WR – Jason Gasser, Mount Carmel
6-0, 180, Sr.
2011 Stats: 30 catches, 433 yards, 7 TDs.
Notable: Gasser averaged a team-leading 14.4 yards per reception and is the Caravan's top returning receiver. With Don Butkus throwing more this year, Gasser will be one of his prime targets.
OL -- Austin Rosenfeldt, Crete-Monee
6-3, 299, Sr.
Notable: Rosenfeldt led an offensive line which allowed just six sacks in 2011. A Times first-team selection last in 2001, he is one of the top lineman in the area and state. He was part of a line that helped the Warriors' offense amass 4,596 total yards last year.
OL – Payson Wick, Homewood-Flossmoor
6-3, 290, Sr.
Notable: Wick will be the main man up front and a leader for the Vikings. He was part of an offensive line which led the way for more than 4,500 total yards and 498 points. Numbers are his game as he is a member of the math national honor society. Wick was a Times first-team all-area pick last year and was the team's most valuable offensive linemen.
OL – Jesse Kilbourn, Marian Catholic
6-3, 220, Sr.
Notable: Marian's lone returning lineman, Kilbourn was a center and is a great one-on-one blocker and coach Dave Mattio said he has good agility and quickness along with good technique.
OL – Nick Dreixler, Mount Carmel
6-1, 250, Sr.
Notable: A returning starter from the Prep Bowl champions, Dreixler will have to lead a young offensive line.
OL – Samuel Kessler, T.F. South
6-2, 300, Sr.
Notable: Kessler had a great second-half performance as the Rebels finished the season with three wins. He will be the anchor of the offensive line.
ATHLETE – P.J. Bolton, Thornwood
2011 stats: 1,385 passing yards, 402 yards rushing, 14 total TDs.
Notable: One of the reasons the Thunderbirds started 4-0 last season and just missed making the playoffs. A versatile player, he was an all-SouthWest Suburban Red pick last year.
ATHLETE – Don Butkus, Mount Carmel
6-0, 190, Sr.
2011 Stats: 103-172 passing, 1,203 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INT, 571 yards rushing, 13 TDs rushing.
Notable: Butkus had a good junior season and has put high expectations on himself for the coming year. He said he wants to throw more and he can run the Veer with precision.
K – Ivan Strmic, Mount Carmel
6-0, 190, Sr.
2011 Stats: 51 PATS, 4 FGs.
Notable: A three-year starter, Strmic is one of the tops in the Catholic Blue and the state.
DEFENSE
DL – Raphael Canty, T.F. South
6-2, 235, Jr.
2011 Stats: 20 tackles, 12 assists, 1 sack.
Notable: He was a solid two-way performer as a sophomore and will be one of the top defensive players in the South Suburban Blue.
DL – Jerome Jenkins, Thornton
6-2, 290, Sr.
2011 Stats: 23 solos, 36 assists, 10 TFLs, 13 sacks, 1 FR
Notable: Jenkins was a terror to opposing running backs and quarterbacks and will again this season. A Times first-teamer as a junior, he is a two-way performer and graded out at 89 percent as an offensive tackle.
DL – Travelle Smith, Crete-Monee
6-3, 222, Sr.
2011 Stats: 20 solos, 10 assists, 4 TFLs (minus-18 yards), 5 sacks.
Notable: Smith also batted down two passes as he anchored the Warriors' defensive line
DL – Jeremy Baldwin, T.F. North
6-3, 240, Sr.
2011: Stats: 15 tackles, 1 sack, 5 TFLs
Notable: Baldwin is the veteran on both sides of the line and will be counted on to make big plays. Offensively, he will be the key to the Meteors being able to run the ball effectively.
LB – Nyles Morgan, Crete-Monee
6-3, 215, Jr.
2011 Stats: 49 solos, 32 assists, 6 TFLs (minus-28 yards), 4 sacks.
Notable: One ot the top recruits for the Class 2014, Morgan started as a sophomore.
LB – Keith Carter, Homewood-Flossmoor
5-11, 215, Sr.
2011 Stats: 73 solos, 29 assists, 11 TFLs.
Notable: Carter led the Vikings in solo tackle last year and was a Times first-team pick as H-F made it to the Class 8A quarterfinals. He also forced a fumble and recovered another. He is the anchor and leader of the defense.
LB – D.J. Romero, Mount Carmel
6-0, 200 Sr.
2011 Stats: 73 tackles, 16 TFL (minus-43 yards), 2 fumble recoveries
Notable: He is the Caravan's leading returning tackler and was second on the team last year behind Times Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Bryant. The Illinois State recruit will be one of the leaders of the Mount Carmel defense.
LB – Wesley Jones, St. Francis de Sales
6-0, 190, Sr.
2011 Stats: 91 total tackles, 5 TFLs.
Notable: Jones was the Pioneers' No. 1 tackler and also also recorded three sacks, made two fumble recoveries and had three pass deflections.
DB – Josiah Dailey, Bloom Twp.
5-10, 160, Sr.
2011 Stats: 6 INT.
Notable: He is a two-time Southland Athletic Conference pick and has started since he was a freshman. He is the Blazing Trojans leader and a captain.
DB – Larry Moore, Thornwood
6-1, 170, Sr.
2011 Stats: 40 tackles, 4 INTs.
Notable: He is expected to be a big-play guy for the Thunderbirds, who will be looking for a playoff berth.
DB – Jalen Banks, Thornton
5-11, 195, Sr.
2011 Stats: 25 solos, 30 assists, 3 INTs.
Notable: Banks has offers from seven schools and is right in line with a long list of great skills player at Thornton. He is one of the top players in the SouthWest Suburban Red and one scouting service has him as the 48th-best defensive back in the country.
DB – Saleem Sanford, T.F. South
6-0, 170, Sr.
2011 Stats: 32 solos, 10 assists, 1 INT.
Notable: Sanford was a defensive leader last season and will give opposing receivers fits this year. He also rushed for 264 yards on 40 carries (6.6 avg.) and five TDS. He also caught four passes for 135 yards.
ATHLETE – Jason Towns, Thornton
5-7, 160, Sr.
2011 Stats: 14 solos, 20 assists, 4 INT.
Notable: He and his twin brother Jamal should give opponents fits on both sides of the ball. Jason was also 50-of-72 passing with 5 TDs, plus he rushed for 363 yards and four scores.
P – Joe Pavlik, Mount Carmel
6-0, 160, Sr.
2011 Stats: 29 punts, 903 yards, 37.1 avg.
Notable: Will be one of the top punters in the Catholic League Blue. Has the ability to get the ball inside the 20-yard line, thus pinning opponents back.
— Compiled by Mike Nieto
Please Wait…