Prospect's Huene soaring with Air Force

A big goal was put to Matt Huene in his freshman year at Prospect when he was promoted to the varsity football team for the state playoffs.

"Coach (Brent) Pearlman flat-out told me, 'I think Division I football is something that can be in your future if you want it to be,'" Huene said. "He said, 'Do you want that,' and I said, 'Yes, it would be awesome.'"

Achieving that goal wasn't easy as Huene missed his entire junior season with a knee injury. But the 6-foot-6, 240-pound offensive lineman made it a reality this weekend when he made a verbal commitment to Air Force during a visit to Colorado Springs.

Huene also had scholarship offers from Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky and South Dakota State. Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue and Maryland wanted him as a walk-on.

But once Huene felt comfortable with the five-year postgraduate military commitment at Air Force he was sold on its full scholarship offer.

"I wasn't sure if it was for me but I did more research on it and a degree with them will set me up for the rest of my life," Huene said of the school which made gave him his first offer.

Huene plans to study business and said the chances are he could use that degree in a government job for his postgraduate commitment.

Huene also said flying into Colorado for the first time and seeing the beauty of the mountains was a definite plus.

"It's an awesome environment and everything on campus is just top-notch," Huene said.

Huene helped the Prospect offense led by Illinois-bound quarterback Miles Osei put up prolific numbers this fall. He'll be in a much different attack at Air Force, which has been to three straight bowl games and runs the triple option.

"You pretty much get out and go and they don't have the typical 310-pound lineman," said Huene, who was recruited to play tackle. "They're leaner and they want quick, athletic athletes."

Huene said he would go the Air Force's prep school for a year that would basically be a redshirt year. But he would be playing a 12-game schedule which features some of the country's top junior colleges.

And Huene came a long way from a year ago when he was working his way back from a ripped right knee tendon.

"It wasn't on my mind all the time but I had thoughts about my future after that," Huene said, "and I wasn't sure where I would be headed in terms of football. It all turned out good in the end."

Seeger to Drake: Barrington senior free safety Brett Seeger made a verbal commitment to play at Drake University. Seeger's brother Cody is a Drake freshman quarterback who sat out this season as a redshirt.

Gentile to Illinois State: Barrington senior linebacker Anthony Gentile will be going to Illinois State as a preferred walk-on.