The first team includes four players from Carmel, three players each from Grant and Lake Zurich, and two players each from Stevenson, Warren and Wauconda.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Zach Becker, Stevenson, senior, tight end: Had 22 catches for 358 yards and four touchdowns and made 30 pancake blocks. Also had 17 tackles, five tackles for loss, four quarterback pressures and a sack. Class 8A all-state and all-conference. Ball State commit.
Jordan Ellis, Warren, senior, offensive lineman: Anchored line that opened holes for Aaron Stewart. Class 8A all-state honorable mention and all-conference. North Dakota commit.
Lucas Gordon, Highland Park, senior, receiver: Had 55 catches for 973 yards and 14 touchdowns. Class 6A all-state honorable mention and all-conference. Washington University commit.
Max Hembrey, Grant, senior, wide receiver: Had 50 catches for 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns. Class 6A all-state honorable mention and all-conference.
Kai Owens, Carmel, senior, wide receiver: Had 44 catches for 825 yards and 10 touchdowns. All-conference. University of Massachusetts commit.
Jackson Rudolph, Wauconda, senior, running back: Had 1,275 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns. Also had 54 tackles and a sack. Class 5A all-state and conference offensive player of the year.
Luke Sickmeir, Wauconda, junior, wide receiver: Had 33 catches for 782 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games. Class 5A all-state honorable mention and all-conference.
Aaron Stewart, Warren, senior, running back: Had 2,872 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns on 338 carries. Class 8A all-state and all-conference. Illinois commit.
Trae Taylor, Carmel, junior, quarterback: Completed 210 of 259 passes for 3,557 yards, 39 touchdowns and four interceptions. Also rushed for 663 yards and 10 touchdowns on 77 carries. Conference player of the year. Nebraska commit.
Brock Williams, Libertyville, junior, tight end: Had 40 catches for 580 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns. All-conference.
Tyler Zdon, Grant, senior, running back: Had 1,172 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 126 carries. Also had 11 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns. All-conference. North Dakota commit.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Aedan Cassidy, Lake Forest, senior, defensive back: Had 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups and three interceptions. All-conference. Denison commit.
Christopher Chang, Lake Zurich, senior, linebacker: Had 63 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, an interception returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble. Also had 52 catches for 815 yards and 12 total touchdowns. Class 6A all-state and all-conference.
Dillan Davis, Lakes, senior, linebacker: Had 96 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, nine sacks and two interceptions. All-conference.
Nicholas Hopman, Carmel, senior, linebacker: Had 74 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. All-conference.
Jameer Miles, Carmel, sophomore, linebacker: Had 97 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, five interceptions and two forced fumbles. All-conference.
Logan Myers, Grant, senior, linebacker: Had 130 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble. All-conference.
Evan Peterson, Lake Zurich, senior, defensive back: Had 50 tackles, two tackles for loss and two interceptions. Also had 34 catches for 355 yards and six touchdowns. All-conference.
Lex Sarantos, Vernon Hills, senior, linebacker: Had 123 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one pass breakup. Class 5A all-state and conference defensive player of the year.
Owen Shea, Antioch, senior, defensive end: Had 56 tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Class 6A all-state and conference defensive player of the year.
D’angelo Washington, Stevenson, senior, linebacker: Had 70 tackles, four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. All-conference.
Arturo Zarinana, Lake Zurich, junior, linebacker: Had 103 tackles, eight tackles for loss and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. All-conference.
HONORABLE MENTION
- Kaden Abrantes, Lake Zurich, senior, running back
- Anthony Adams III, Stevenson, senior, defensive lineman
- Myles Batesky, Libertyville, senior, offensive lineman
- Gregory Bess-Henning II, Carmel, sophomore, wide receiver
- Bryce Carlson, Grayslake Central, senior wide receiver/defensive back
- Aidan Crawley, Stevenson, senior, quarterback
- Mason Durst, Warren, senior, defensive back
- Bryce Erkman, Lake Zurich, senior, defensive back
- Matthew Gipson, Grant, senior, quarterback
- Oliver Goodman, Lake Zurich, senior, offensive lineman
- Eli Jackson, Carmel, senior, wide receiver
- Marlin Jeffries Jr., North Chicago, senior, wide receiver/defensive back
- Cole Korycanek, Wauconda, senior, running back
- Logan Lennon, Antioch, sophomore, running back
- Frankie Lesniak, Mundelein, senior, linebacker
- Colin McMurray, Vernon Hills, junior, quarterback
- Reid Pfeifer, Lake Zurich, senior, quarterback
- Jordan Phelan, Lakes, senior, lineman
- Brody Rudolph, Wauconda, junior, linebacker/running back
- Constantine Soutsos, Highland Park, senior, offensive lineman
- Gavin Stone, Antioch, junior, running back
- Jalin Strowder, Carmel, senior, offensive lineman
- Jake Thorstenson, Wauconda, senior, quarterback
- Erich Walldorf, Libertyville, senior, linebacker
- Evan West, Round Lake, junior, quarterback
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
