Below are teams ranked 20-60 in my 2015 Preseason Chicagoland Top 60 team poll. I will rank a Top 60 in the preseason and then in the final 2015 end of the season poll. Weekly in season poll will be a Top 30 along with "others".
This is being released here and here only as an EDGY Nation exclusive and will be in the free side later as we get closer to kickoff.
20. Batavia
21. Lincoln Way West
22. Lake Zurich
23. Barrington
24. Hinsdale Central
25. Neuqua Valley
26. Lemont
27. Oak Lawn Richards
28. Oak Park-River Forest
29. Brother Rice
30. St. Rita
31. Huntley
32. Conant/Hinsdale South
33. New Trier
34. Carmel
35. Waubonsie Valley
36. Wheaton North
37. Crete-Monee/Sycamore (tie)
38. Jacobs
39. Lake Forest
40. Marist
41. Evanston
42. Prairie Ridge
43. Lyons Township
44. St. Viator
45. St. Francis
46. Benet Academy
47. Lakes
48. Geneva/Fremd
49. Lincoln-Way Central
50. Lake Park
51. Cary-Grove
52. Niles Notre Dame
53. Bradley
54. Morgan Park
55. Fenwick
56. Niles North
57. Glenbard South
58. Plainfield East
59. Minooka
60. St. Charles North
Thoughts on Teams ranked 20-60:
Batavia? The Bulldogs will again reload and be a big time player in the far Western burbs this season. Batavia welcomes back 9 starters (5 offense 4 defense) and the Bulldogs will have a ton of skills this fall. Lincoln-Way West has been on a roll over the3 past few years and this could be a real breakout season. The Warriors welcome back a very big and physical offensive line along with plenty back in the skills department. Keep an eye out for senior OG Bryan Brokop (Nebraska) and senior OT Justin Witt (NC State) and a very deep junior class. Lake Zurich is looking to bounce back from a year ago and the Bears also bring back 11 starters including 7 back on defense. Senior RB/LB Ben Klett is a name to watch along with a very interesting quarterback battle between senior Joey Lindstrom and junior Evan Lewandowski. Barrington went on a terrific late season run last fall. The Broncos will need to reload a bit on defense yet they also welcome back starting QB Johnny Davidson along with a good and deep group upfront on the offensive line. Hinsdale Central also needs to reload yet welcome back some keys including Michigan State commit OC Matt Allen along with senior OG Doug Kramer Jr. and senior LB Matt Bradley. The Red Devils always have talent and expect a quick fix at a few key spots.
Neuqua Valley will feature one of the better receiving corp in the state this season. Junior WR Isaiah Robertson and WR Owen Piche plus senior WMU commit TE Brett Borske will be big time threats. The biggest areas of concern is at quarterback and on the offensive line. Lemont and second year head coach Brett Kooi had a good 2014 season and the Indians welco0me back 8 starters (2 offense 6 defense). Lemont senior DB Jeremy Fejedelem is a name to watch and the Indians have a ton of underclassmen talent. Richards no question lost some big time contributors to graduation this past spring. However not all is lost in Bulldogland as Richards welcomes back 9 starters including experience on the offensive line and on defense. OPRF and head coach John Hoerster will need to replace some key kids from last fall, yet the Huskies will welocme back senior RB Antonio Cannon along with senior DB Lamal Bey and senior DE Allen Stallings. The biggest question for OPRF is can the replace 5 graduated offensive linemen? Brother Rice had a solid 2014 season and the Crusaders did graduate some key players from last year in QB Alex Alarcon and RB Marcus Jones (NIU) yet Rice has lots to look forward to as well. Junior WR/DB Rickey Smalling is a top recruit to watch and Rice also bring back experience on both sides of the line in 2015.
It sure seems like people are jumping off the St Rita train this off season. Me? Sorta mixed to be honest. The Mustangs biggest issue for me in 2015 will be finding some experienced kids in the offensive skills as several starters left via graduation this past spring. St Rita has four starters back on offense and four on defense. Watch out for OL Drew Walega and senior LB Mike Tiernan. Huntley has 14 starters back (7 offense 7 defense) key starters back including senior QB Anthony Binetti and LB Tim McCloyn. The Red Raiders will be the top team in the FVC in a year that features several very good teams but not that one dominant team like we saw in 2014 with Cary-Grove. Conant will be very strong this fall as the Cougars start with an experienced quarterback in senior Kyle Bradley and a ton of experience on both sides of the ball. The Cougars don't have a ton of numbers but just a very strong group here. New Trier and HC Brian Doll opened some eyes in 2014 and expect more progress this fall. The Trevs welcome back 9 starters including junior QB Clay Czyzynski. If the Trevs can reload on the offensive line look out. Carmel and veteran head coach Andy Bitto has some high level athletes back in senior TE Noah Turner (NC) and senior OT Sean Foster (Minn) plus junior RB Rondell Jamison. For me it all depends on how well the Corsairs defense comes around along with breaking in four new starters on the offensive line. If the inexperienced kids step up this easily can be a Top 25 caliber team this fall.
Just really like the overall look of Waubonsie Valley again this summer. Good sized kids, talent and just another reloading group here. Like every DVC team in 2015, the Warriors will lose games but I try pretty hard to rank based off of more overall team strength versus projected wins and losses. The same here could be also said for Wheaton North, who also has to reload a bit. North has a strong 2017 QB in Luke Anthony and a good and big group of receivers and skills to watch. Crete-Monee if not 2015 then 2016 for sure will be a big time team to watch. The Warriors might have as much potential D1 level underclassmen than any other program in Illinois in 2015. Sycamore will be good once again but I always struggle with/if the Spartans are considered Chicagoland or not...Jacobs also has some good young talent including 2017 D1 QB Chris Katernik and the Golden Eagles will be one of say 3-4 teams in the hunt in the FVC. Lake Forest also has a terrific QB in senior Danny Carollo and the Scouts could be a factor again in the North bracket of 6A in 2015.
Marist and head coach Pat Dunne welcomes back 11 starters this fall including 7 on offense. Senior RB Darshon McCullough is legit along with junior LB Micah Awordian and like the others ranked at this level this could be a team that could move up in the rankings this fall. Evanston returns a ton of talent in QB Matt Little (Western Michigan) DT Naquan Jones (Michigan State) and DB Travian Banks (Miami of Ohio) yet can this team get over the hump in the Central Sub South? That 3-6 record last season scared me off ranking the Kits a bit higher to be honest. Prairie Ridge just wins games and head coach Chris Schremp welcome back 15 starters including 10 on offense. Lyons will need to reload a bit this fall after graduating some key impact kids this past spring including QB Tommy Fiedler and RB Leonard Ross, yet Lyons always has talent in house. St. Viator will need to reload at QB bit the Lions have plenty of potential throwers in house along with one of the top junior recruits in the country in TE Cole Kmet.
St. Francis and head coach Mike Fitzgerald has been a great addition to the Spartans, yet this will be an inexperienced group to start the year in 2015. Benet and head coach Pat New will also be a bit light on experience in 2015 but the Redwings have some key kids back including QB Jack Sznajder. Lakes welcomes back an experienced group for 2015 and the Eagles will again be the consensus pick to win the NSC Prairie in 2015. Geneva will need to reload as the Vikings graduated some key players from a season ago. Lincoln-Way Central and new head coach Jeremy Cordell is trying to change the culture at Central and so far this summer it's beena success. The Knights will be young and inexperienced but don't discount this team in 2015.
Lake Park has the Panasiuk twins on the line and this is a team and program that is getting closer and closer. In just about any other conference I would consider Lake Park as a conference winner. Cary-Grove so low? Still a great program just going to be very young in 2015 and will be better each week. I could see some early losses then they get on a late run. Niles ND has a terrific QB in Tyler Tsagalis and some solid returners back in 2015. Bradley always is in the mix in the SWSRed and will compete hard again this fall. Morgan Park is also going to be solid this fall. The Mustangs have some real talent including LB Sean Williams but getting pas the likes of say Simeon and Phillips is still a big move for MP.
Fenwick will be a younger team but still have a good core of starters back this season. The Friars will battle and my guess will be a 5-4/6-3 caliber team. Niles North impressed me this summer and RB/LB Barrington Wade (Iowa) is the real deal plus North has good talent besides Wade. Glenbard South just wins games and conference crowns year in and year out. Plainfield East is also going to be a bit young but I like the core back on defense this fall. Minooka has some key kids back including DL Blake Parzych and junior QB Johnny Carnagio. St. Charles North keeps making positive strides and has 15 starters back this fall.
Next: 15-60 ranked teams in Chicagoland
This is being released here and here only as an EDGY Nation exclusive and will be in the free side later as we get closer to kickoff.
20. Batavia
21. Lincoln Way West
22. Lake Zurich
23. Barrington
24. Hinsdale Central
25. Neuqua Valley
26. Lemont
27. Oak Lawn Richards
28. Oak Park-River Forest
29. Brother Rice
30. St. Rita
31. Huntley
32. Conant/Hinsdale South
33. New Trier
34. Carmel
35. Waubonsie Valley
36. Wheaton North
37. Crete-Monee/Sycamore (tie)
38. Jacobs
39. Lake Forest
40. Marist
41. Evanston
42. Prairie Ridge
43. Lyons Township
44. St. Viator
45. St. Francis
46. Benet Academy
47. Lakes
48. Geneva/Fremd
49. Lincoln-Way Central
50. Lake Park
51. Cary-Grove
52. Niles Notre Dame
53. Bradley
54. Morgan Park
55. Fenwick
56. Niles North
57. Glenbard South
58. Plainfield East
59. Minooka
60. St. Charles North
Thoughts on Teams ranked 20-60:
Batavia? The Bulldogs will again reload and be a big time player in the far Western burbs this season. Batavia welcomes back 9 starters (5 offense 4 defense) and the Bulldogs will have a ton of skills this fall. Lincoln-Way West has been on a roll over the3 past few years and this could be a real breakout season. The Warriors welcome back a very big and physical offensive line along with plenty back in the skills department. Keep an eye out for senior OG Bryan Brokop (Nebraska) and senior OT Justin Witt (NC State) and a very deep junior class. Lake Zurich is looking to bounce back from a year ago and the Bears also bring back 11 starters including 7 back on defense. Senior RB/LB Ben Klett is a name to watch along with a very interesting quarterback battle between senior Joey Lindstrom and junior Evan Lewandowski. Barrington went on a terrific late season run last fall. The Broncos will need to reload a bit on defense yet they also welcome back starting QB Johnny Davidson along with a good and deep group upfront on the offensive line. Hinsdale Central also needs to reload yet welcome back some keys including Michigan State commit OC Matt Allen along with senior OG Doug Kramer Jr. and senior LB Matt Bradley. The Red Devils always have talent and expect a quick fix at a few key spots.
Neuqua Valley will feature one of the better receiving corp in the state this season. Junior WR Isaiah Robertson and WR Owen Piche plus senior WMU commit TE Brett Borske will be big time threats. The biggest areas of concern is at quarterback and on the offensive line. Lemont and second year head coach Brett Kooi had a good 2014 season and the Indians welco0me back 8 starters (2 offense 6 defense). Lemont senior DB Jeremy Fejedelem is a name to watch and the Indians have a ton of underclassmen talent. Richards no question lost some big time contributors to graduation this past spring. However not all is lost in Bulldogland as Richards welcomes back 9 starters including experience on the offensive line and on defense. OPRF and head coach John Hoerster will need to replace some key kids from last fall, yet the Huskies will welocme back senior RB Antonio Cannon along with senior DB Lamal Bey and senior DE Allen Stallings. The biggest question for OPRF is can the replace 5 graduated offensive linemen? Brother Rice had a solid 2014 season and the Crusaders did graduate some key players from last year in QB Alex Alarcon and RB Marcus Jones (NIU) yet Rice has lots to look forward to as well. Junior WR/DB Rickey Smalling is a top recruit to watch and Rice also bring back experience on both sides of the line in 2015.
It sure seems like people are jumping off the St Rita train this off season. Me? Sorta mixed to be honest. The Mustangs biggest issue for me in 2015 will be finding some experienced kids in the offensive skills as several starters left via graduation this past spring. St Rita has four starters back on offense and four on defense. Watch out for OL Drew Walega and senior LB Mike Tiernan. Huntley has 14 starters back (7 offense 7 defense) key starters back including senior QB Anthony Binetti and LB Tim McCloyn. The Red Raiders will be the top team in the FVC in a year that features several very good teams but not that one dominant team like we saw in 2014 with Cary-Grove. Conant will be very strong this fall as the Cougars start with an experienced quarterback in senior Kyle Bradley and a ton of experience on both sides of the ball. The Cougars don't have a ton of numbers but just a very strong group here. New Trier and HC Brian Doll opened some eyes in 2014 and expect more progress this fall. The Trevs welcome back 9 starters including junior QB Clay Czyzynski. If the Trevs can reload on the offensive line look out. Carmel and veteran head coach Andy Bitto has some high level athletes back in senior TE Noah Turner (NC) and senior OT Sean Foster (Minn) plus junior RB Rondell Jamison. For me it all depends on how well the Corsairs defense comes around along with breaking in four new starters on the offensive line. If the inexperienced kids step up this easily can be a Top 25 caliber team this fall.
Just really like the overall look of Waubonsie Valley again this summer. Good sized kids, talent and just another reloading group here. Like every DVC team in 2015, the Warriors will lose games but I try pretty hard to rank based off of more overall team strength versus projected wins and losses. The same here could be also said for Wheaton North, who also has to reload a bit. North has a strong 2017 QB in Luke Anthony and a good and big group of receivers and skills to watch. Crete-Monee if not 2015 then 2016 for sure will be a big time team to watch. The Warriors might have as much potential D1 level underclassmen than any other program in Illinois in 2015. Sycamore will be good once again but I always struggle with/if the Spartans are considered Chicagoland or not...Jacobs also has some good young talent including 2017 D1 QB Chris Katernik and the Golden Eagles will be one of say 3-4 teams in the hunt in the FVC. Lake Forest also has a terrific QB in senior Danny Carollo and the Scouts could be a factor again in the North bracket of 6A in 2015.
Marist and head coach Pat Dunne welcomes back 11 starters this fall including 7 on offense. Senior RB Darshon McCullough is legit along with junior LB Micah Awordian and like the others ranked at this level this could be a team that could move up in the rankings this fall. Evanston returns a ton of talent in QB Matt Little (Western Michigan) DT Naquan Jones (Michigan State) and DB Travian Banks (Miami of Ohio) yet can this team get over the hump in the Central Sub South? That 3-6 record last season scared me off ranking the Kits a bit higher to be honest. Prairie Ridge just wins games and head coach Chris Schremp welcome back 15 starters including 10 on offense. Lyons will need to reload a bit this fall after graduating some key impact kids this past spring including QB Tommy Fiedler and RB Leonard Ross, yet Lyons always has talent in house. St. Viator will need to reload at QB bit the Lions have plenty of potential throwers in house along with one of the top junior recruits in the country in TE Cole Kmet.
St. Francis and head coach Mike Fitzgerald has been a great addition to the Spartans, yet this will be an inexperienced group to start the year in 2015. Benet and head coach Pat New will also be a bit light on experience in 2015 but the Redwings have some key kids back including QB Jack Sznajder. Lakes welcomes back an experienced group for 2015 and the Eagles will again be the consensus pick to win the NSC Prairie in 2015. Geneva will need to reload as the Vikings graduated some key players from a season ago. Lincoln-Way Central and new head coach Jeremy Cordell is trying to change the culture at Central and so far this summer it's beena success. The Knights will be young and inexperienced but don't discount this team in 2015.
Lake Park has the Panasiuk twins on the line and this is a team and program that is getting closer and closer. In just about any other conference I would consider Lake Park as a conference winner. Cary-Grove so low? Still a great program just going to be very young in 2015 and will be better each week. I could see some early losses then they get on a late run. Niles ND has a terrific QB in Tyler Tsagalis and some solid returners back in 2015. Bradley always is in the mix in the SWSRed and will compete hard again this fall. Morgan Park is also going to be solid this fall. The Mustangs have some real talent including LB Sean Williams but getting pas the likes of say Simeon and Phillips is still a big move for MP.
Fenwick will be a younger team but still have a good core of starters back this season. The Friars will battle and my guess will be a 5-4/6-3 caliber team. Niles North impressed me this summer and RB/LB Barrington Wade (Iowa) is the real deal plus North has good talent besides Wade. Glenbard South just wins games and conference crowns year in and year out. Plainfield East is also going to be a bit young but I like the core back on defense this fall. Minooka has some key kids back including DL Blake Parzych and junior QB Johnny Carnagio. St. Charles North keeps making positive strides and has 15 starters back this fall.
Next: 15-60 ranked teams in Chicagoland
