Kyle Voda, Plainfield South, DL: A 6-1, 260-pound junior ... All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection ... Two-way starter the last two years at defensive tackle and offensive guard ... All-conference both years ... Made 26 solo tackles, 44 total, 5 for loss, had 5 quarterback hurries and 2 fumble recoveries ... Projects as one of the top two-way linemen in the area next season ... "Kyle has size and mobility," Cougars coach Mike Briscoe said. "He can move to fullback in certain situations and play some middle linebacker, in addtion to offensive guard and defensive tackle. He scrapes down the line of scrimmage as well as anyone."
Zach Carlson, Lincoln-Way Central, DL: A 6-1, 215-pound senior ... All-Southwest Suburban Blue selection ... Made 66 tackles, including 31 solo, from his defensive end position ... Recovered 2 fumbles and caused 1 ... Had 7 sacks and 4 other tackles for loss ... Also started at offensive guard ... Two-year all-conference player ... "Zach was a defensive end and made plays all over the field, not just plays on his side," Knights coach Tim Dougherty said. "We also played him at offensive guard, and he was there for a reason."
Jim Cullen, Lincoln-Way East, DL: A 6-3, 215-pound senior ... Voted by teammates as the Griffins most outstanding lineman ... Battled through injuries to have a strong season .... Made 43 tackles with 3 sacks ... 27 ACT score ... Up for an award from the National Football Foundation that combines academics, athletics and citizenship ... May play at an academy ... "Jim had a torn ligament in his elbow, he had to stay in Bolingbrook after that game to get his chin stitched and he completely tore his ACL in Week 10, so he battled through a lot," Griffins coach Rob Zvonar said. "He is a great citizen and person, and when lost him in Week 10, it hurt us on the field."
Pat Driscoll, Lemont, DL: A 6-4, 270-pound junior ... All-South Suburban Blue selection ... Finished with 31 solo tackles and 54 total stops from his defensive tackle position ... Led Indians with 5 sacks and had 8 tackles for loss, which tied for second on the team ... Caused 2 fumbles and recovered 1 ... Excellent baseball player ... "Pat was a force inside," Indians coach Eric Michaelsen said. "He's very athletic for a kid his size. He has great feet. The way he rushes the pass, gets into the backfield to makes tackles for loss, he's just a force."
Terrance Williams, Romeoville, DL: A 6-0, 220-pound senior ... All-Southwest Prairie Conference at-large selection ... Played defensive tackle, and also some fullback ... Made 40 tackles, including a team-leading 15 for loss .. Had 3 sacks ... Recovered 3 fumbles and returned one 86 yards for a touchdown ... Rushed for 72 yards at fullback and averaged 4.2 per carry ... May play junior college ball ... "Terrance was definitely an impact player," Spartans coach Jeff Kuna said. "He made big plays."
Connor Nagel, Lemont, LB: A 6-0, 205-pound junior ... All-South Suburban Blue selection ... Led Indians from his inside linebacker post with 73 solo tackles and 117 total stops ... Had 8 tackles for loss and 1 sack ... Recovered 4 fumbles and forced 1 ... "Connor not only was our leading tackler, but he made the calls on defense," Indians coach Eric Michaelsen said. "He is physical, he makes plays and he is able to get rid of blockers. He uses his leverage and speed very well."
Pete Merenowicz, Lincoln-Way East, LB: A 5-11, 205-pound senior ... All-Southwest Suburban Blue selection ... Plagued by mononucleosis and missed a couple of games with that and injury, but still made 64 tackles from his middle linebacker position, including 2 sacks ... Wrestles at 189 pounds ... Drake is among interested colleges ... "Pete was our leader at middle linebacker," Griffins coach Rob Zvonar said. "He is a true joy to be around. I would put him on the list with the Liljas and guys like that who we have had at linebacker. He also played some fullback. Going all the way back to the Providence game (season opener), he probably won that one for us at fullback late in the game."
Joe Michals, Providence, LB: A 6-1, 190-pound senior ... All-Chicago Catholic Blue selection ... Made 40 solo tackles and 82 assists for 122 total stops, among the area's leading figures ... Intercepted 1 pass ... Captain and defensive leader ... A wrestler and a state qualifier in the 4x4 relay and the hurdles in track %2526 field ... "Joe gives you every ounce of everything he has," Celtics coach Mark Coglianese said. "He's a three-sport athlete, and he covers a lot of ground on the football field. And when he gets there, he brings something, too."
Jake Stockman, JCA, LB: A 6-2, 210-pound junior ... EdgyTim.com all-state choice ... All-East Suburban Catholic Conference selection ... Two-year starter and two-time all-conference selection ... Played strong safety/outside linebacker as a sophomore, inside linebacker this season ... Made 26 solo tackles and had 45 assists for 71 total ... Caused 3 fumbles, had 10 quarterback hurries and knocked down 4 passes ... Blocked a punt ... "Jake will be a three-year starter for us, in the mold of the (Chris) Jeskes and (Ryan) Lincolns. He had a broken bone in his wrist this season and played well with it."
Robert McLuckie, Coal City, LB: A 5-9, 185-pound senior ... Illinois Football Coaches Assocation Class 4A all-state pick ... All-Interstate Eight Large selection ... One of the area's leading tacklers with 67 solo stops and 53 assists for 120 total ... Had 2 sacks and a team-leading 10 tackles for loss ... Two-year starter ... Academic all-conference and all-state selection ... Looking to play at a small college ... "Robert is among the leading tacklers in the area even though he isn't a very big kid," Coalers coach Len Onsen said. "But he's intelligent and has a great work ethic. Plus, we don't have the big tackles in our defense this year that we had last year, and that meant what Robert accomplished was even more impressive."
Anthony Bjorklund, Plainfield Central, LB: A 5-11, 190-pound senior ... All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection ... Made 61 tackles, including 23 solo and a team-best 12 for loss ... Had 3 sacks, returned an interception 57 yards, returned 4 fumble recoveries for a total of 57 yards and forced 2 fumbles ... Also played often at fullback, rushing for 480 yards, a 5.2 average, and 6 touchdowns ... "Anthony is a good leader and a playmaker," Wildcats coach John Jackson said. "He's always around the ball and gets you the tough yards when you need it. I never had a guy strip a ball out of a guy's hand and run it for a touchdown, and he did it twice. You have to like that."
Kevin Gabehart, Coal City, DB: A 5-10, 163-pound senior ... All-Interstate Eight Large selection ... Made 68 tackles, including 28 solo stops, from his strong safety position ... Recovered 3 fumbles and intercepted 2 passes ... Caught 27 passes for 256 yards, a 9.5 average ... Returned 17 punts for 177 yards, a 10.5 average, and 1 touchdown ... Excellent baseball player ... "Kevin was a two-time all-conference selection and a team captain," Coalers coach Lenny Onsen said. "He was really valuable on both sides of the ball. He had a lot of responsibility in our defense as the strong safety."
Joe Kahlhammer, Lincoln-Way East, DB: A 5-10, 170-pound senior ... All-Southwest Suburban Blue selection ... Brought a toughness to the Griffins secondary ... Good cover corner ... Made 50 tackles and led the team with 3 interceptions ... Looking to play in college ... "Joe is a similar player to what Pat Geary was for us," Griffins coach Rob Zvonar said. "He's not quite at that level, but he reminds me of Pat. He brought a toughness to our defense, and he made big plays in crucial situations."
Nick Ratajczak, JCA, DB: A 5-9, 172-pound senior ... All-East Suburban Catholic Conference selection ... Made a team-high 37 solo tackles and had 56 total from his free safety position ... Recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass and knocked down 2 passes ... All-area second baseman in baseball last spring ... "Nick will be a baseball player in college, but he did a great job for us in football, too," Hilltoppers coach Dan Sharp said.
David Boatright, Bolingbrook, DB: A 5-10, 170-pound senior ... A major ingredient in one of the area's best secondaries ... Broke up 8 passes and intercepted 2 from his cornerback slot ... Made 23 tackles and assisted on 14 others ... "David did a good job in coverage," Raiders coach John Ivlow said.
Tim Sereno, Morris, DB: A 6-1, 197-pound senior ... All-Southwest Conference selection ... Versatile defensive player who started at defensive end last season, then played safety and some cornerback this season ... Made 55 tackles with a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception ... "Tim fit in as a safety," Redskins coach George Dergo said. "He is a big, rangy kid, bigger than most safeties. He played in the middle of the field, almost in a linebacker-type position. He had a real good season."
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