2024 Herald-News All-Area Football Team

Here is the 2024 Herald-News All-Area Football Team.

OFFENSE

Landin Benson, sr., RB, Coal City: Ran for 1,700 yards and 28 touchdowns for Class 4A semifinalist. Also kicked 50 extra points for a total of 218 points. ... Coal City’s all-time leader in rushing yards, points and total yards. ... All-Illinois Central Eight and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) Class 4A first-team All-State selection.

Omar Coleman, sr., WR, Plainfield North: Had 35 catches for 411 yards and four TDs. ... Also had 12 tackles and an INT as a DB, was 2 for 4 on FG attempts and 13-14 on extra points and amassed 400 return yards. ... Southwest Prairie West Offensive MVP and IHSFCA Class 8A first-team All-State.

Kyle Farrell, sr., RB, Wilmington: Broke the Wilmington career rushing record with 548 carries for 4,533 yards and is second all–time in career TDs with 61 rushing and 2 receiving for 63 total. ... Two-time IHSFCA first-team All-State selection and three-time All-Illinois Central Eight.

Gavin Hagan, sr., WR/RB, Providence Catholic: Had 47 carries for 397 yards and seven catches for 54 yards. Also returned nine kickoffs for 394 yards including a touchdown and five punts for 190 yards and a TD. ... CCL White Offensive Player of the Year and IHSFCA Class 5A first-team All-State selection.

Austin Rowswell, sr., WR, Lincoln-Way West: Had 46 receptions for 800 yards and 12 TDs. Also had four kickoff returns for a 32-yard average including one touchdown. ... IHSFCA honorable mention Class 7A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection.

Malik Salah, sr., OL, Joliet Catholic Academy: Helped pave the way for an offense that totaled over 4,800 yards and scored 50 touchdowns. ... ESCC/CCL Orange Division All-Conference Team and Lineman of the Year for Class 5A state runner-up.

Larry Stringham, sr., RB, Joliet Catholic Academy: 185 rushes for 1,435 yards and 14 TDs for Class 5A runner-up. Also caught 8 passes for 52 yards. ... IHSFCA first-team Class 5A All-State selection and ESCC/CCL Orange Division Offensive Player of the Year.

Jake Sulzberger, sr., OL, Lemont: Allowed just two sacks and was not penalized this season. ... IHSFCA first-team Class 6A All-State selection and two-time All-South Suburban Conference selection. ... Committed to Air Force.

Tyler Tulk, sr., RB, Lincoln-Way Central: Had 210 carries for 1,500 yards and 22 TDs for Class 7A semifinalist. Also caught 15 passes for 145 yards and a TD. ... All-Southwest Valley Football League selection.

Jonas Williams, jr., QB, Lincoln-Way East: Herald-News Player of the Year. ... Passed for 2,926 yards and 42 TDs for Class 8A semifinalist. ... IHSFCA first-team Class 8A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. ... Committed to Oregon.

Trey Zvonar, sr., TE, Lincoln-Way East: Had 25 catches for 274 yards and 3 TDs. ... IHSFCA honorable mention Class 8A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. ... Committed to Miami (OH).

DEFENSE

Jacob Alexander, jr., DL, Lincoln-Way East: Had 36 tackles, including five sacks and two tackles for loss for Class 8A semifinalist. ... All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. ... Has several NCAA Division I offers.

Zac Beitler, sr., DB, Joliet Catholic Academy: Had 54 tackles, including four for loss and two sacks. Also had two fumble recoveries and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Also returned a punt for a touchdown for Class 5A runner-up. ... All-ESCC/CCL Orange selection.

Brett Bounds, sr., DB, Morris: Had seven interceptions, returning three for TDs, for Class 5A semifinalist. ... All-Interstate Eight Conference selection.

Ian Campbell, sr., DL, Joliet Catholic Academy: Had 37 tackles, including 10 sacks and nine tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery for Class 5A runner-up. ... ESCC/CCL Orange Lineman of the Year.

Nathan Gonzalez, sr., DB, Minooka: Had 55 tackles and three interceptions, returning two for a touchdown. ... All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection.

Micah McNair, sr., LB, Joliet West: Had 77 tackles, including eight for loss and two sacks to go with a forced fumble, an interception and a defensive TD. ... IHSFCA honorable mention Class 8A All-State selection and Southwest Prairie Conference East Defensive Player of the Year. ... Committed to Indiana State.

Caden O’Rourke, sr., DL, Lincoln-Way East: Had 54 tackles, including 13 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, for Class 8A semifinalist. ... IHSFCA first-team Class 8A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. ... Committed to Northwestern.

Zach Ohlund, sr., LB, Wilmington: Had 60 tackles, including 16 for loss, for Class 3A semifinalist. Also helped anchor offensive line that averaged 340 rushing yards per game... Two-time All-Illinois Central Eight selection.

Payton Roberson, sr., LB, Lockport: Had 50 solo tackles, 46 assisted tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and three passes broken up for a Porter defense that held eight out of nine teams under 100 yards rushing. ... IHSFCA honorable mention Class 8A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection.

Daniel Rouse, sr., LB, Joliet Catholic Academy: Had 87 tackles, including six tackles for loss and three sacks for Class 5A runner-up. Also had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. ... IHSFCA first-team Class 5A All-State selection and ESCC/CCL Orange Defensive Player of the Year,

Josh Veldman, sr., LB, Lincoln-Way West: Had 110 tackles, including 22 for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and three pass break-ups. ... IHSFCA first-team Class 7A All-State and All-Southwest Valley Football League selection. ... Committed to Northwestern.

HONORABLE MENTION

Jacob Boland, DE, Bolingbrook; Caleb Wallace, WR, Bolingbrook; Emmett Easton, DL, Coal City; Gabe McHugh, WR/LB, Coal City; Nate Magrini, RB, Joliet Catholic Academy; Cam Juricic, OL, Joliet Catholic Academy; Zach Pomatto, DL, Joliet Catholic Academy; Anthony Brown, DB, Joliet Catholic Academy; Christian Smith, RB/DB, Joliet Central; Antoine Brooks, QB, Joliet West; Jackson Dybcio, LB, Lemont; Luke Tingley, RB, Lincoln-Way Central; Max Cioffi, OL, Lincoln-Way East; Keagan Ruane-Martino, WR, Lincoln-Way East; Talan White, WR, Lincoln-Way East; Colton Zvonar, LB, Lincoln-Way East; John Sherrod, LB, Lockport; Kevin Hippner, DL, Lockport; Colton Benaitis, DB, Lockport; Zane Caves, QB, Minooka; Brady Kozlowski, LB, Minooka; Jackson Miranda, TE, Minooka; Dakota Goff, OL, Morris; Brogan Kjellesvik, OL, Morris; Ethan Mumbrue, WR, Morris; Bryce Varner, DB, Morris; Jack Wheeler, WR, Morris; Chase Rivera, RB, Peotone; Kaveon Lee, OL, Plainfield Central; Kevin Wilson, DL, Plainfield North; Michael Ingram, LB, Plainfield South; David Obadein, DB, Plainfield South; Luke Leverett, DB, Providence Catholic; Jayden Mikulski, WR/DB, Providence Catholic; Bryce Tencza, OL, Providence Catholic; Richard Conley, QB, Romeoville; Tony Galloway, OL, Romeoville; Brody Rademacher, RB, Seneca; Ryan Kettman, RB, Wilmington; Ryan Nelson, LB, Wilmington.