Daily Herald All-Area collegiate football team
These former high school football stars from the suburbs have proved themselves at college football's highest levels:
OFFENSE
Pos.: Player (HS), College, Year
QB: Scott Tolzien (Fremd), Wisconsin, Sr. One win away from leading Badgers to first Big Ten title since 1999.
RB: Dan Dierking (Wheaton Warrenville South), Purdue, Sr. Despite multiple injuries, senior co-captain leads Boilers with 521 rushing yards and 4.9 per carry.
RB: Mike Trumpy (Wheaton North), Northwestern, r-Fr. Didn't move into RB rotation until Game 4, but paces 'Cats with 530 yards. Also owns 20 receptions for 182 yards.
WR: Willie Clark (Lake Park), Northern Illinois, Jr. Former walk-on now ranks second on the team in catches (29), yards (379) and TDs (4)
WR: Ty Kirk (Rolling Meadows), New Mexico State, So. Nominated for all-Mountain West honors with 36 catches for 474 yards and 2 TDs. Started every game.
TE: Nick Rieke (Crystal Lake South), Bowling Green, Sr. Falcons' starter posted 5 catches for 30 yards
LT: Anthony Castonzo (Lake Zurich), Boston College, Sr. Likely NFL first-round pick has made 52 consecutive starts.
LG: Colin Madison (Willowbrook) , Temple, Sr. Made his 28th career start Tuesday night. No. 2 on Owls with 76 helmet stickers awarded.
C: Will Matte (Wheaton Warrenville South), Indiana, So. Riding streak of 23 straight starts. Heads line that allows just 1 sack per game.
RG: Joe Pawlak (Grayslake), Northern Illinois, Jr. Vastly improved as he wraps up second full year as Huskies' starter.
RT: Markus Susevics (Prospect), Iowa, Jr. First-year regular has started all 11 games for the Hawkeyes.
DEFENSE
DE: Kevin Watt (Glenbard West), Northwestern, Jr. Corey Wootton's successor has delivered 24 tackles, 5 TFLs and 1 blocked kick.
DT: Sean Murnane (Carmel), Central Michigan, Sr. Makes his 38th and final start Friday. Shows 23.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, 9 pass breakups and 1 interception on career ledger.
DT: Jack DiNardo (Hinsdale Central), Northwestern, Jr. Ten-game starter ranks third on NU with 6.5 TFLs. Also leads team with 2 blocked kicks.
DE: Tim Rugger (Montini), Vanderbilt, Jr. Started 9 games this year (21 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles)
OLB: Dex Jones (Montini), Western Michigan, So. Wisconsin transfer posted career-high 9 stops vs. NIU. Leads Broncos with 12.5 TFLs; second with 5.5 sacks.
MLB: Carmen Messina (Addison Trail), New Mexico, Jr. First UNM player with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since Brian Urlacher.
OLB: Ryan Kennedy (Libertyville), Miami (Ohio), Jr. Posted 27 tackles, 6 TFLs and 1.5 sacks in 4 games before knee injury. Might play in postseason.
S: Spencer Merritt (Waubonsie Valley), New Mexico, So. Fourth on team with 59 stops. Also owns 7 pass breakups and 5.5 TFLs.
S: Alex Kube (Cary-Grove), Northern Illinois, Sr. Four-year starter paces balanced Huskies defense with 64 tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Dan Conroy (Wheaton Warrenville South), Michigan State, So. Former walk-on earned job in fall and has converted 14 of 15 field goals to be all-Big Ten candidate.
P: Anthony Santella (Wauconda), Illinois, Sr. Ray Guy Award semifinalist sixth nationally with 45.7 yards per punt.
LS: Bill Flavin (Benet), Notre Dame, Sr. Served as snapper in first 9 games for perfect kicker David Ruffer before breaking his ankle against Tulsa.