High school football: The area’s top 50 players

IC Catholic’s KJ Parker (14) catches a pass in the second quarter in Champaign last season. (Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times)

The top 50 players in the area, in alphabetical order, with school, year, position, height and weight:

Austin Alexander, Marian Catholic, Sr., DB, 6-1, 165

Dominik Ball, Palatine, Sr., RB, 5-9, 178

Joe Barna, Wheaton North, Sr., DL, 6-4, 240

Mikeshun Beeler, Simeon, Sr., DL, 6-3, 260 

Christian Betancur, Marian Central, Sr., TE, 6-5, 240

Kyan Berry-Johnson, Bolingbrook, Sr., WR, 5-10, 162

Ryan Boe, Batavia, Sr., QB, 6-3, 205

Cael Brezina, Downers North, Sr., LB, 6-2, 200

Jordan Buckley, Batavia, Sr., DL, 6-5, 225

Chris Burgess, Simeon, Jr., DL, 6-4, 240

Simeon’s Mikeshun Beeler (52) pressures Crete-Monee’s Corry Stennis (3) into throwing an incomplete pass. (Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times)

Jovan Clark, Morgan Park, Jr., DB, 6-0, 195

Dom Creatore, Prairie Ridge, Sr., DB, 5-10, 185

Nick Day, Antioch, Sr., RB, 5-9, 205

Darrion Dupree, Mount Carmel, RB, 5-10, 190

Chris Durr, Morgan Park, Jr,, WR, 5-11, 160

Marques Easley, Kankakee, Sr., OL, 6-5, 335

Julius Ellens, Glenbard West, Sr., RB, 5-10, 185

Grant Ellinger, Naperville Central, Sr., OL, 6-4, 270

Mako Grant, Kenwood, Sr., RB, 5-11, 185

Tysean Griffin, Morgan Park, Sr., WR, 5-11, 165

Glenbard West’s Julius Ellens (4) rounds the corner and scores a touchdown. (Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times)

Carson Grove, Hersey, Sr., WR/DB, 5-10, 170

Brandon Hansen, Mundelein, Sr., OT, 6-6, 290

Josh Janowski, Lincoln-Way East, Sr., OL, 6-2, 270

Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic, Sr., DL, 6-2, 287

Julian Johnson, Waubonsie Valley, Sr., TE/DE, 6-5, 210

Gabe Kaminski, Nazareth, Jr., DE, 6-3, 215

Eric Karner, IC Catholic, Sr., TE, 6-5, 220

Joe Kelly, Loyola, Sr., DT, 6-2, 265

Marquise Lightfoot, Kenwood, Sr., DE, 6-5, 220

Andre Lovett, Eisenhower, Jr., DB, 6-2, 170

Bodey McCaslin, St. Charles East, Sr., OT, 6-5, 270

Nathanial Marshall, Fenwick, Jr., DL, 6-5, 270

Alessio Milivojevic, St. Francis, Sr., QB, 6-3, 210

Will Nolan, Hersey, Sr., OT, 6-6, 275

Cole Ostendorf, York, Sr., LB, 5-11, 180

KJ Parker, IC Catholic, Sr., WR, 5-11, 165

Christian Pierce, Brother Rice, Jr., LB, 6-0, 210

Justin Scott, St. Ignatius, Sr., DL/OL, 6-4, 310

Patrick Schaller, Glenbrook North, Sr., TE, 6-5, 210

Parker Startz, Mount Carmel, Sr., LB, 6-3, 230

Grant Stec, Jacobs, Sr., TE, 6-6, 220

DJ Stewart, St. Rita, Sr., RB, 6-0, 217

Zak Stoilov, Maine South, Jr., 6-4, 270

I’Marion Stewart, Kenwood, Sr., WR, 6-1, 180

Talyn Taylor, Geneva, Jr., WR, 6-1, 175

Eddie Tuerk, Lyons, Sr., DL/OL, 6-4, 280

Cam Williams, Glenbard South, Sr., WR, 6-2, 190

Jaylen Williams, Palatine, Jr., DL, 6-6, 260

Luke Williams, Naperville North, Sr., WR, 6-1, 174

Jaydon Wright, Bishop McNamara, Sr., RB, 5-10, 220