Below are teams ranked 7-60 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".
7. Nazareth Academy
8. Lincoln-Way East
9. Libertyville
10. Phillips
11. Loyola Academy
12. Providence Catholic
13. Joliet Catholic
14. Montini Catholic
15. Glenbard North
16. Bolingbrook
17. Wheaton Warrenville South
18. Maine South
19. Oswego
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 7-60:
Nazareth Academy and head coach Tim Racki wrapped up a dominant season in 2014 win a 6A state title win. The Road Runners literally just steamrolled the field with a combination of a powerful ground game, timely paly action passing game and a speedy and lights out defense. 2015? I expect more of the same. Nazareth welcomes back 13 starters (6 offense 7 defense) including bring back nearly it's entire starting offensive skills group. Senior RB/WR/DB Julian Love (Notre Dame) is simply one of the state most explosive players. Also keep an eye on senior OL/DL Matt Prendergast, junior OL/DL Devonte Dunn plus junior RB Ivory Kelly-Martin and junior WR Justin Weller. The Road Runners biggest question heading into this season? Replacing all five starting offensive linemen (all five are playing at the D1 level this fall).
Lincoln Way East checks in as the No. 8 ranked team. The Griffins welcome back experience on both sides of the ball this season. East will bring back it's entire starting offensive and defensive lines and keep an eye out for Illinois verbal commit Kurt Gavin leading the way. Senior RB Liam Morrissey is also back and the Griffins offense looked pretty solid this summer. Libertyville? The Wildcats and head coach Mike Jones welcomes back a ton of starters from a season ago as Libertyville made it to the 7A state semifinal round in 2014. Senior All State QB Riley Lees (NWestern) keys the offense and Lees is a big time running threat yet can also throw the football when required. The Wildcats also bring back a large majority of it's line. On defense senior DE Ben Kimpler (Miami of Ohio) is a name to watch here.
Phillips will be a bit of a surprise being ranked in the Top 10 but look harder at the Wildcats. Phillips feature some big time players in LB Amani Jones (Iowa), ATH Quayvon Skanes (UConn), DeLaSalle transfers DT Amir Watts (Western Michigan) and WR/DB Donald Gardner. The biggest issue will be at QB where Skanes will see some time as the Wildcats work in two very capable kids this fall. Loyola will need to reload especially on defense with just DT Ben Leroy (NIU) back but when hasn't head coach John Holocek been avble to reload on defense? The offense will be an early strength and keep an eye on senior TE Eric Eshoo (NWestern) RB Dara Laja and QB Emmett Clifford. Providence? No doubt I have some concerns here including needing to reload in the offensive skills. However Provi has some real talent in the lower levels and will reload. Watch out for junior RB Richie Warfueld along with senior ILB Brendan O'Hara. JCA? The Hilltoppers might have one of it's bigger, stronger and most athletic line in quite awhile in 2015. Senior OL Tyler Witt, senior OL/DL Zeveyon Furcron and senior DT/TE Ken Aguirre all have D1 offers. The Hillmen also bring back experience in the backfield and on defense. The biggest concern is a lack of depth and overall numbers again in 2015. Montini? The Broncos bring back have 9 starters including 5 on defense. Keep an eye on senior WR Tyler Millikan along with junior RB Price Walker and Montini has a roster full of talent. QB? Senior Justin Blake, who plays receiver in 2015 brings a high level of athletic potential to the position and his development will be a big key this fall.
Glenbard North last fall played a ton of underclassmen and while they missed out on the state playoffs with last secoind losses to Lake Park and WWS, the Panthers are locked in and ready. Keep an eye on a two back offensive attack with senior Devion Hodges along with junior Vittorio Tricase plus on defense DL Lucas Cherry and senior DB Justin Pitts are names to watch. Bolingbrook is in search of a QB and some skills yet the Raiders always have talent and will reload. It was also interesting to see head coach John Ivlow much more active on calling plays for the offense. Keep an eye on senior LB Tuf Borland (Ohio State) along with a big. strong and highly athletic defensive line. Wheaton South needed about mid season to find it's groove yet the Tigers found that groove and ended up in the state quarterfinals. Look for the Tigers to rely on a steady dose of senior RB Jonathon Johnson along with a speedy defense and plenty of experience on both sides of the football. Maine South has won an amazing 70 straight conference games and the Hawks welcome back four year starting QB Brian Collis along with some big time size on the line in senior Liam OSullivan (Cincinnati) and junior OL Kevin Jarvis. Oswego also brings back senior QB Steven Frank and the Panthers also have plenty of talented kids in house. Keep an eye on senior OL/DL Austin Warner (NIU) and senior LB Chad Marsh.
Next: 6-60 ranked teams in Chicagoland
7. Nazareth Academy
8. Lincoln-Way East
9. Libertyville
10. Phillips
11. Loyola Academy
12. Providence Catholic
13. Joliet Catholic
14. Montini Catholic
15. Glenbard North
16. Bolingbrook
17. Wheaton Warrenville South
18. Maine South
19. Oswego
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 7-60:
Nazareth Academy and head coach Tim Racki wrapped up a dominant season in 2014 win a 6A state title win. The Road Runners literally just steamrolled the field with a combination of a powerful ground game, timely paly action passing game and a speedy and lights out defense. 2015? I expect more of the same. Nazareth welcomes back 13 starters (6 offense 7 defense) including bring back nearly it's entire starting offensive skills group. Senior RB/WR/DB Julian Love (Notre Dame) is simply one of the state most explosive players. Also keep an eye on senior OL/DL Matt Prendergast, junior OL/DL Devonte Dunn plus junior RB Ivory Kelly-Martin and junior WR Justin Weller. The Road Runners biggest question heading into this season? Replacing all five starting offensive linemen (all five are playing at the D1 level this fall).
Lincoln Way East checks in as the No. 8 ranked team. The Griffins welcome back experience on both sides of the ball this season. East will bring back it's entire starting offensive and defensive lines and keep an eye out for Illinois verbal commit Kurt Gavin leading the way. Senior RB Liam Morrissey is also back and the Griffins offense looked pretty solid this summer. Libertyville? The Wildcats and head coach Mike Jones welcomes back a ton of starters from a season ago as Libertyville made it to the 7A state semifinal round in 2014. Senior All State QB Riley Lees (NWestern) keys the offense and Lees is a big time running threat yet can also throw the football when required. The Wildcats also bring back a large majority of it's line. On defense senior DE Ben Kimpler (Miami of Ohio) is a name to watch here.
Phillips will be a bit of a surprise being ranked in the Top 10 but look harder at the Wildcats. Phillips feature some big time players in LB Amani Jones (Iowa), ATH Quayvon Skanes (UConn), DeLaSalle transfers DT Amir Watts (Western Michigan) and WR/DB Donald Gardner. The biggest issue will be at QB where Skanes will see some time as the Wildcats work in two very capable kids this fall. Loyola will need to reload especially on defense with just DT Ben Leroy (NIU) back but when hasn't head coach John Holocek been avble to reload on defense? The offense will be an early strength and keep an eye on senior TE Eric Eshoo (NWestern) RB Dara Laja and QB Emmett Clifford. Providence? No doubt I have some concerns here including needing to reload in the offensive skills. However Provi has some real talent in the lower levels and will reload. Watch out for junior RB Richie Warfueld along with senior ILB Brendan O'Hara. JCA? The Hilltoppers might have one of it's bigger, stronger and most athletic line in quite awhile in 2015. Senior OL Tyler Witt, senior OL/DL Zeveyon Furcron and senior DT/TE Ken Aguirre all have D1 offers. The Hillmen also bring back experience in the backfield and on defense. The biggest concern is a lack of depth and overall numbers again in 2015. Montini? The Broncos bring back have 9 starters including 5 on defense. Keep an eye on senior WR Tyler Millikan along with junior RB Price Walker and Montini has a roster full of talent. QB? Senior Justin Blake, who plays receiver in 2015 brings a high level of athletic potential to the position and his development will be a big key this fall.
Glenbard North last fall played a ton of underclassmen and while they missed out on the state playoffs with last secoind losses to Lake Park and WWS, the Panthers are locked in and ready. Keep an eye on a two back offensive attack with senior Devion Hodges along with junior Vittorio Tricase plus on defense DL Lucas Cherry and senior DB Justin Pitts are names to watch. Bolingbrook is in search of a QB and some skills yet the Raiders always have talent and will reload. It was also interesting to see head coach John Ivlow much more active on calling plays for the offense. Keep an eye on senior LB Tuf Borland (Ohio State) along with a big. strong and highly athletic defensive line. Wheaton South needed about mid season to find it's groove yet the Tigers found that groove and ended up in the state quarterfinals. Look for the Tigers to rely on a steady dose of senior RB Jonathon Johnson along with a speedy defense and plenty of experience on both sides of the football. Maine South has won an amazing 70 straight conference games and the Hawks welcome back four year starting QB Brian Collis along with some big time size on the line in senior Liam OSullivan (Cincinnati) and junior OL Kevin Jarvis. Oswego also brings back senior QB Steven Frank and the Panthers also have plenty of talented kids in house. Keep an eye on senior OL/DL Austin Warner (NIU) and senior LB Chad Marsh.
Next: 6-60 ranked teams in Chicagoland
