Driscoll duo picks Western Illinois

Won. Not done.

Driscoll teammates Kevin Palermo and Tim Franken, key cogs to the Highlanders' sixth and seventh consecutive state football championships, will go on to play in college at Western Illinois University.

Franken and Palermo made a verbal commitment to the Leathernecks -- Palermo in person Sunday and Franken by phone a day later -- after they made an official visit to the Macomb campus this past weekend.

It didn't start as a Driscoll package deal, but it became one.

"That's just kind of how it turned out," Kevin Palermo said.

Franken, a two-year starting tailback for the Highlanders, was named a Class 4A all-state selection by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

Though the 6-foot, 190-pound senior ran for 1,782 yards and 33 touchdowns last fall -- 5 touchdowns in Driscoll's 48-24 championship victory over Bloomington Central Catholic -- he was recruited as a defensive back by Western Illinois.

Palermo, a three-year starter who was a coaches honorable-mention all-state pick, led the Highlanders with 88 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior, pleased to be offered his "lucky" No. 45 at Western Illinois, paired brute strength with great speed and football intelligence, which pleased recruiter Tom Casey, Leathernecks linebackers coach.

The transition from high school to college football won't be as difficult for these life-long friends, Kevin Palermo said.

"It makes everything 10 times easier," he said. "I've been playing with Timmy since grade school. It's kind of surreal that we both went to the same high school together and now we're going to the same college."

• In other recruiting news Glenbard West's Kane Keirnan announced he will play at Illinois State.