WW South quarterback O'Toole named player of the year
Reilly O'Toole of Wheaton Warrenville South High School has been named the 2010-11 Gatorade Illinois Football Player of the Year.
O'Toole is the third Gatorade Illinois Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Wheaton Warrenville South High School. Running back Dan Dierking won the award in 2006, and quarterback Jon Beutjer won in 1998.
O'Toole has also been chosen honorary captain of the Daily Herald's football all-area team for DuPage County, which will be published Friday.
The Gatorade award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence and high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. It is presented by the Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE,
Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award announced in December, O'Toole joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Wes Welker (1999-00, Heritage Hall HS, Okla.), Terrell Suggs (1999-00, Hamilton HS, Ariz.), Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.) and Jerome Bettis (1989-90, Mackenzie HS, Mich.).
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior quarterback completed 186-of-252 attempts for 3,187 yards and 42 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions this past season, leading the Tigers (14-0) to a second consecutive Class 7A state championship.
O'Toole rushed for 444 yards and six touchdowns on 83 carries this past fall. In a 28-17 victory against Lake Zurich in the state title game, he completed 14-of-23 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. A returning All-Area selection as named by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times and Daily Herald, O'Toole completed 144-of-233 attempts for 2,119 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior in 2009.
Also a basketball standout, O'Toole has maintained a 4.07 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of his school's athletic leadership council, he has also donated his time locally to environmental clean-up efforts and the Special Olympics in addition to mentoring youth athletes.
"There's nobody in the same league as Reilly O'Toole," said Chad Hetlet, head coach of rival Glenbard West High. "He has poise in the pocket. He has the ability to get out of trouble and keep a play alive. His accuracy is pinpoint; he doesn't miss a target. He's a big, strong kid. He's a man playing against boys. Their team is good all over the place, but he makes a big, big difference for them. He's a special kid."
O'Toole has verbally committed to play football on scholarship at the University of Illinois beginning in the fall of 2011.
O'Toole joins recent Gatorade Illinois Football Players of the Year Christian Lombard (2009-10, Fremd High School), Chris Watt (2008-09, Glenbard West) and Steve Filer (2007-08, Mount Carmel) among the state's list of former award winners.