Willowbrook's Sam, Scotty Tumilty continuing family tradition at Augustana

Sam Tumilty is about to continue a family tradition at Augustana.

Even better, he's back with his brother Scotty.

The two former Willowbrook stars, Sam the 2019 Suburban Life football Player of the Year, will reunite next school year as both are going to Augustana College in Rock Island to play both football and baseball.

Sam, a two-way starter and three-sport athlete at Willowbrook, last fall threw for 2,525 yards and ran for 1,551 more with 42 total touchdowns in leading the Warriors to the state semifinals for the first time since 1975.

He weighed options to play football, baseball or basketball at several schools before picking Augustana.

"There were a lot of reasons [for picking Augustana], a lot of great schools I was talking to," Sam Tumilty said. "I was comfortable on the campus, they have great academics and being able to play two sports was also big.

"I've always loved football the most. Knowing that I'm going to a smaller school where the coaches are comfortable letting me play two sports, if I was able to play two sports I would want to."

He knows his way around the Augustana campus well. The Tumilty brothers' parents, Scott and Katie, both played at Augustana. Scott, an All-American running back for the Vikings in 1995, still holds the Augustana career record for rushing yards and rushing TDs.

The Tumiltys took their boys to Augustana games every year as kids. Sam said he's probably been on campus 8-10 times.

"It definitely did influence my decision," Sam Tumilty said. "My parents went there, my aunts and uncles went there, the familiarity was big. Besides that, just the campus, it has a great balance with a smaller college setting."

Scotty Tumilty, a year older than Sam, spent last season at the University of St. Francis in Joliet. He took a medical redshirt because of a biceps injury, and made the decision to transfer to Augustana. Sam said that Scotty came to all of his games last season at Willowbrook.

Sam said he always considered playing with his older brother again in college.

"I always had it in the back of my head ever since he graduated," Sam said. "I think we both wanted to be able to play with each other again. We talked about it a lot. If we got the opportunity, why wouldn't we want to play with each other again?"

Scotty, like Sam, was a two-way star in football at Willowbrook. Sam said he thinks Augustana has Scotty penciled in to play safety, but with his versatility he could also play slot receiver or be a return specialist.

The brothers are scheduled to report to camp on Aug. 11, if all goes according to plan. Augustana, coming off a 6-4 season, graduated starting quarterback Zach Fuller.

"I am looking forward to it a lot; it will be good being back on the field with [Scotty]," Sam Tumilty said. "With my parents both going there, we each have an Augustana shirt. We'll probably have to get some more gear now."