For once linemen take a back seat to quarterbacks
The top talent in DuPage County isn't too difficult to find this season.
It's right behind center.
The quarterback position is flat-out loaded. The list only begins with Hinsdale Central's John Whitelaw, Downers Grove South's Chandler Whitmer, Montini's Brandon Pechloff, Naperville Central's Nick Linne and Wheaton North's Taylor Graham.
Beyond those standouts you'll find other clear examples of the quarterback talent in the number of teams running varieties of the pass-happy spread offense.
Is there enough talent to "officially" call this the Year of the Quarterback? It depends.
In some ways every season is the year of the quarterback because that's typically where you'll find a team's best athlete. They handle the ball on every play, so there's constant focus on the position.
Does the lure of college attention make the difference? It's a good sign.
Around here we've often seen the Year of the Lineman, seasons where the nation's best college programs come calling. Examples include the Class of 2003, led by Wheaton North's Akim Millington and Downers Grove South's Martin O'Donnell, and the Class of 2008 with Montini's Garrett Goebel and Wheaton Warrenville South's Will Matte.
Just last year the Daily Herald named Glenbard West lineman Chris Watt, now at Notre Dame, its All-Area Football Captain.
When colleges seek talent up front, DuPage County traditionally provides plenty of help - just ask Glenbard North graduate Ryan Diem when he's not too busy playing right tackle for the Indianapolis Colts.
This season the lineman well is somewhat dry. Glenbard North's Bobby Dunn, a long-snap specialist, recently committed to the Air Force Academy. WW South's Rocco Ammons has offers from Eastern Illinois and Illinois State.
In terms of college power, though, this group of quarterbacks rises above all other positions in DuPage County.
Graham, now sidelined with a knee injury, earned a scholarship to Ohio State. Whitmer, who's completed 60 percent of his passes for 660 yards, committed to Illinois.
It's a joke, frankly, that Whitelaw holds only one Division I offer from Toledo. All he's done this third varsity season is complete 60 of 95 passes for 1,043 yards, 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions while rushing for 479 yards and 6 more scores.
Pechloff, a first-year starter for Montini, is quickly attracting college attention because of his build - 6-foot-6, 230 pounds - and stats that feature 1,052 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. If not for a baseball commitment to Northwestern, Linne, who's thrown for 840 yards and 9 touchdowns for Naperville Central, also would be hearing from colleges.
Again, that handful of players only scratches the surface. Don't forget Glenbard West's Tyler Warden, Glenbard South's Trace Wanless, Glenbard East's Jack Merrithey, Waubonsie Valley's Kenny Clay, Wheaton Academy's Brian Pell, Neuqua Valley's Joe Ippolito and Wheaton Warrenville South's tandem of Mack Tracey and Reilly O'Toole.
Maybe they don't boast the college offers, or maybe their numbers don't blare off the stat page. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find a single coach willing to trade their guy.
That's more than a dozen area quarterbacks with immense talent, and it's still not a complete list.
For their respective teams, this is definitely the Year of the Quarterback.
kschmit@dailyherald.com