MaxPreps 2013 Illinois preseason football Fab 5

MaxPreps 2013 Illinois Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard 1. Mount Carmel (Chicago)
Head coach: Frank Lenti
2012 finish: 13-1; Class 8A state champion
Team preview

There’s a lot of excitement around this year’s Mount Carmel squad, and with good reason: it brings back a loaded defense and a solid offense and should be even better than last year’s state title-winning squad. Defensive tackles Enoch Smith Jr. and Steven Richardson will both play in the Big Ten at the next level. Defensive back Deontae Brown is committed to Western Michigan. On offense, Matt Domer will be a key weapon. Lenti will turn over the keys of the offense to Marko Boricich, who has had a strong summer.

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2. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Head coach: Chad Hetlet
2012 finish: 14-0; Class 7A state champion
Team preview

Glenbard West captured its first state title in 20 years last fall and will be in contention again in 2013. Seasoned veteran Henry Haeffner will guide the offense once more. Playmaking defensive back Hayden Carlson, who came up huge in the state title game against Lincoln-Way East, is also back. Jermon Kindle-Joyner, a top offensive weapon last year, is also back for the Hilltoppers. The new faces will need to grow up quickly, as the team opens on the road against Wheaton-Warrenville South.

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3. Wheaton North
Head coach: Joe Wardynski
2012 finish: 10-2
Team preview

After playing second-fiddle to rival Wheaton-Warrenville South for many years, Wheaton North made major strides in 2012, finishing 10-2 and notching a 23-13 victory over Wheaton-Warrenville South for the first time since 2002. With 6-foot-4 quarterback Clayton Thorson, a Northwestern commit, back for his senior year, there’s hopes for an even finer 2013 campaign. One of his favorite targets, Matt Biegalski, is also back. The defense features 6-5 defensive tackle Tristan Jones.

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4. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort)
Head coach: Rob Zvonar
2012 finish: 13-1; Class 7A finalist
Team preview

Lincoln-Way East was hit hard by graduation, as a whopping 18 starters have moved on from the Southwest Suburban Conference power. For a program that ranked as the No. 5 dynasty in Illinois, it’s hard to imagine the Griffins falling too far. Lineman Nick Allegretti, an Illinois commit, is ready to step up. Jordan Wirtz will attempt to fill-in for Tom Fuessel, who did it all for Lincoln-Way East last year.

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5. Wheaton-Warrenville South
Head coach: Ron Muhitch
2012 finish: 4-5
Team preview

With a bitter taste in its mouth from 2012, Wheaton-Warrenville South figures to be vastly improved from its 4-5 season in 2012. The quarterback position was unsettled to start. In 2013, Ryan Graham starts the season as the unquestioned leader of the team’s offense. Running back Isaiah Campos also returns. After losing by 21 points last year, the Tigers could use a victory in week one against Glenbard West to prove they are back among the state’s elite.

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