Fall 2021 football Twitter previews

Here's another season's worth of previews. Coaches, you can submit info via email to: mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com.

Batavia: 5 D1 players gone, but 10 starters back: LBs Tyler Jansey, Drew Bartels, Jack Sadowsky; DT Fikayo Afolarin; SS Jalen Buckley; RB Josh Dornink; OLs Macguire Moss, Spencer Prats, Anthony Roberts; WR AJ Sanders. Around 180 players in the program.

Bremen: 15 starters back, 9 on defense and 6 on offense. WR/DE Demarco Mason (6-4/210), also a standout in volleyball, leads the way. QB Ryan Ahern, RB Justin Robinson also among skills returning.

Brother Rice: State title hopeful adds Provy transfer RB Aaron Vaughn. 3-yr starter Carter McAlilly (6-1 290) anchors veteran OL. QB/2-sport star Jack Lausch, TE/DE Henry Boyer (Ill. commit) are playmakers. Junior DL Trey Pierce has Power 5 offers.

Cary-Grove: QB Jackson Sheehan, FB Nick Hissong back to lead one of state's top option attacks. Other starters returning: RB Wade Abrams; OL Max Katsenos; TE Noah Riley; LB Zach Petko; DLs Michael Dec, Nick Wojcik, Thomas Burton; DB Toby Splitt.

Chicago Academy: All-conf. WR Earnest Davis moves to QB (he'll also play DB). Other mainstays: RB/LB Hector Ramirez (80 rush yds, 9 T per game in spring), OL/DE Kevin Gaytan, RB/LB Nelson Orellana, C/DT Anthony Rivas. Goal is a winning season.

Chicago Christian: Big numbers (50 players in school of 318) to build on league title in spring, playoffs in '19, '18. Top vets: DL/OL Matt Haan (6-3, 280), HB/WR/DB Luke Jelderks (600 yds/7 TD/track state qual.), WR/CB Nolan Krygsheld (6-6), WR/DB Tony Barclay, RB/DB Luke Edgar.

Collins: IHSA playoff berth is the goal. Six juniors are returning 2-way starters: QB/SS Keontay Fox, RB/DB Edward Mayes, WR/DB James Hudgens, TE/LB Isaiah Hernandez-Goss, OL/DL Derrick Barnett.

Crystal Lake South: Justin Kowalak is one of state's most prolific QBs and 1 of 4 3-yr starters with LB Shane Moran (all-state wrestler), RB Nathan VanWitzenburg (725 total yds. in spring), OL Nate Compere. WR/DB Michael Prokos was 3-sport varsity starter as freshman.

DePaul Prep: IHSA playoffs a goal w/ 13 3-year starters led by CCL/ESCC Red Defensive POY Mike Battaglini. Also watch Nate Weitzman, Dominic Covington on D. 2 transfers (Chris Perez, Vasco Sierra), WRs Cole Ceravolo, Anthony Martinez, Gabe Garza, Lavelle Hardy boost offense.

Downers North: Offensive skills, DBs are experienced. Watch QB Sam Reichert, WR/DB Ethan Thulin, WR Josh Miller, DB Timmy Ryan, DB Joe Chiarelli, DB/RB Khali Copeland, LB/TE Josh Lambert, LB Matt McCormick, TE Timmy Galligan. OLs Will Janka, Henry Wilson, Connor Moore also back.

Downers South: NIU-bound WR Eli Reed (160 yds/game in spring) is a gamebreaker. Others to watch: TE/LB Mack O'Halloran, WR/DB Patrick O'Neil; 6-3/200 QB Ryan Dawson; OLs Charlie Adams, Eric Rosas; 6-5/205 WR Brandon Amenionpong.

Eisenhower: Building off 4-2 spring with veteran skills: QB/DB Nashon Johnson (1,073 yds, 15 TD), WR/DBs Antonio Russell (305 yds, 4 TD), Alonzo Powe (151/2). WR/DB Keylan Sanders (46 T) leads defense, OL/DL Dontus Hardy anchors lines. Watch RB/LB Ashton Gray, OL Kawn Johnson.

Evanston: LB/RB Sebastian Cheeks (N. Carolina) is ILL's top defender. Other starters back: QB Sean Cruz; DB/RB Gio Milam-Pryor; WR/DBs Kamau Ransom, Mark Cannon; DL Florian Feldman; OL Gabe Rosen (6-5/330); DL/OLs David Sanchez, Sheldon Kinzier, Charlie Kremin; LB Dylan Groff.

Fenwick: 19 starters back, led by QB Kaden Cobb (Ball St), WRs Eian Pugh (Illinois), Max Reese (E. Mich). 6-4/295 OL Jimmy Liston has 4 Power 5 offers. DE Suleiman Abuaqel also has a D1 offer. Also watch: DB Jacque Walls, OL/DL Rasheed Anderson, DB Marty Paris, RB Danny Kent.

Fremd: Some good skills experience coming off 4-2 spring with WR Archie Cox (29 catches/561 yds), RB Taytum Carmichael (63 carries/407 yds), TE Bo O'Brien. Watch junior QB Caiden Suchy, senior DB Nate Tofilon. Tough CSL crossovers vs. Maine South, Evanston.

Hillcrest: Only loss in 5-1 spring: Loyola. Must replace RB Mar'Keise Irving (Minnesota). Ret. starters: OL Ryan Butler (6-2/260), LB Sam Mitchell, DB/WR Travon Lee, LB/OL Rodney Sims, OL Khjiyel Burkett. Watch WR/DB K'Vion Bills, RB/DB Ajani Rush, QB Tywon Lee, DB/WR Tyree Lee.

Hoffman Estates: 12 starters back (5 3-yr. regulars), led by senior WR/DB Jashawn Johnson (W. Mich.). Also: OLs Eddie Resendez, Ladaun Jones, Ampre Johnson; DL Bryce Billingslea; DL/OL Edas Latanauskas; DB/RB Yoshua Pettis-Taylor; DBs Julian Bonilla, Kylan Blue. Good soph class.

Jacobs: Experienced line will open holes for returning RBs Ben Ludlum, Nasir Canty. 6-6 Grant Stec, 6-4 Nick True should win jump balls at WR. LB Paulie Rudolph anchors defense. With 100+ players in the program, depth shouldn't be an issue.

Johnson (edited): Top vets are: 6-3 WR Mario Brown, 6-2 OL/DE Tyshawn Fairley. QB Latorres Robinson, RB/LB Kahari Hughes are 2 freshmen to watch. Soph class has good numbers.

Joliet Catholic: Hilltoppers are team to beat in Class 4A with a pair of Illinois recruits leading the way: running back Jordan Anderson (1,074 yds/18 total TDs in spring) and linebacker Malachi Hood. QB Aidan Voss, WR Jake Fieldman, 3 OL starters also back.

Kenwood: Arrow pointing up. 6-3/195 WR Jalil Martin has 12 Power 5 offers. CB Diego Oliver (EIU commit), WR Logan Lester also D1 talents. Also watch: QB Lucien Henson, LB Bjourn Mayes, ATH Kahlil Tate, DT Kenyata Forbes, C/DT Tyson Johnson, OT Elijah Matthews, DE Mario Grayer.

Lake Park: Top-4 finish in DuKane a goal. Returning starters: DLs Cortez Richardson, Cooper Cerese; RB/LBs Malachi Brown, Lucah Jones; WR/DBs Gabe Christopher, Desmond Horton, Mikey Mangialardi; LB/DE Tyler Michelini; OL/DLs Armand Voloder, Nick Cairo, Anthony Marchese.

Lincoln-Way Central: 8 starters back from 4-2 spring: DL Braden Barrett; OLs Lucas Shanahan, Paul Claussen; LBs Jack Zastro, Nathan Jarres; DBs Jack Mackowiak, Jake Hincks; WR Jeremy Jackson.

Loyola: Ramblers were state's best team in 6-game spring season. Much younger this fall, but some key pieces back, including RB Marco Maldonado, QB Jake Stearney, CB Will Maheras (Yale lacrosse recruit). As players gain experience, get healthy, outlook should improve.

Nazareth: Quality core and lots of speed all over, but depth a concern. Watch WR Trell Harris, DB Peter Roll (Navy commit), 3-year starting OL Joe Urso, DB/WRs Justin Taylor and Kaleb Morris.

Plainfield Central: 14 starters back from 3-3 spring. RB Aaron Larkins (883 yds/10 TDs) will run behind veteran OL inc. 6-4/305 Nick Syron, Reese Theobald, Jay Colyer. LBs Phillip Carlton, Xander Casey lead defense that finished strong.

Prairie Ridge: 1st time in years without an Evans brother in the lineup. But 11 starters are back: OL/DLs Jack Schnoor, Samuek Schultz; OL Matt Nygren; QB Tyler Vasey; RB Zach Bentsen; LBs Matt Fryer, Zach Lundquist; DBs Mason Loucks, Dom Creatore.

Providence: Final season for coach Mark Coglianese. WR/DB Brandon Garrigan a playmaker on both sides. Good depth on OL (Adam Jostes, Aidan Mack, Liam McDermott) and at DB (Garrigan, Ethan Martus, Logan Schultz, Jack Tess).

Reavis: Must replace 15 starters. Top veterans: LB/FB Korey Maloney, CB Shawn Dowling, WR/S Anas Everette, LB Ahmad Omer, 6-2/250 OL Ryan Machine.

Richards: Expect improvement w/22 players back who started at some point in spring. Watch DL/OL Jordan Tooles, WR Donnie Burton, LB Tayo Idowu, QB Joey Mayo, RB Travis Garmon, OL/DL Mustafa Washington, RB Jadon Wilson, DB Ladarius Kelley.

Rolling Meadows: Aims to compete in MSL East with starters back at 13 spots: OT/DL PJ Ford (all-conf), OG/DL Joey Maloney, OT/DL Dom Fallico, WR/CB Ethan Groark, C/DL Frank Eleftheriou, WR Michael Brigham, S Collin Fennely, S Dylan Flood.

Shepard: SSC Red champs welcome back NIU-bound DE Roy Williams (6-7/245), injured most of spring. Conf. POY/RB/DB Kendrick Washington (565 yds/9 TDs/4 INT) back along w/ QB Quran McClellan (691 yds/10 TDs), WR Elijah Tyson (7 TDs on 23 touches), DL Jeremy Rowlett, DB Kamari Gray.

South Elgin: 13 starters back from 6-0 spring, led by all-state DB Jordan Jones, Also watch: OLs Nathan Dinse, Dominic Cianciarulo; TE Joey Viverito; WR/DBs Jalen Jones, Kai Paz; WR Spencer Menchaca; DL Omari Lawson; LBs Salvi Macaluso, Alex Rios, Axel Bernal.

St. Laurence: Solid senior class, skills are young. Top vets: RB/LB Ryan Carroll, CB Ardell Chambers, LB Zach Siebenhaler, OL/DL Aidan Anderson, OL Andrew Rybicki, DB Anthony Petan, WR JJ Raya, DT Jalen Ray. Watch senior QB Brandon McCoy, soph RB Cory Taubr.

St. Viator: Graduated 21 seniors from 4-1 CCL/ESCC Purple champs including DL Jeremiah Pittman (Iowa). Top vets: 3-yr. starting LB Carson Eggebraten, QB Alex Konopka, LB Justin Mirski, OLs Ryan Ziebka, Dave Orecchio. Junior class is talented.

Taft: LB Ryan Porebski is 4-yr starter, OL/DL Grzegorz Krupa (6-3, 250) is 3-yr starter. Strong up front. Also watch OL Michael Barretto (6-2, 260), WR/S Eric Tomanek, LB Jake Ryan, OL/DL Michael Oladipo (6-2, 250), DL Durell Moore (6-2, 240), OL Spencer Hodgson (6-2, 270).

TF South: RB/LB Ernest Temple (550 rush yds/85 T) a rising star. Also back: WR/LB Ethan Pryor; WRs Charles Miles, Brandon Woods; OG Cortez Jones (6-2, 265); OT Isaiah Isom; LB Quendric Tientcheu (45 T); DLs Toules Gosa-Polk (6-4, 310), Ean Ovie; DB Evin Ovie. Good overall speed.

Tinley Park: 3 all-conf. picks back: QB Evan King, RB/LB Matt McCarthy, RB/S Jack Butler. Other starters returning: OL/DLs Ezzelldin Sabah (6-0, 295), Matt Fernandez (6-1, 245), Chase Gilford (5-11, 265); CB Bryson Henry; WR Zach Hesse.

Vernon Hills: 14 starters back, including 2-way regulars Alec Gil (WR/CB), Kamrin Martin (RB/WR/CB), Eric Rimas (H/WR/OLB), Luke Lutgens (WR/FS). Watch j junior QB Nathon Lazor.

West Aurora: With 20 starters back, Blackhawks will be improved. Watch WR/CB Savion Little, LB Tim Hancock, DB Austin Pierce, LB Gavin Nolan, WR Chris Stinson, OL Clay Caragher, QB Gino Martino.

York: Coming off 1st winning season in 10 years. 8 starters back: OLs Rowan Dagres, Luke D'Agostino, Josh Delury, Chris Marksuson; DLs Nolan Korzeniowski, Everett Snyder; LBs Jeff Coglianese, David Loch.

Zion-Benton: Zee-Bees dealing with tragic death of coach Cristo Garza in June. RB La'Zarius Geater (1200+ yds/12 TDs), OLs Mike Gauze (6-3, 285), Marquesean Taylor (6-3, 305) lead offense. 6 starters back on defense, inc. DE/TE Quentin Hardy.