Three area football players earn NFF award

Three area football players were named $5,000 college tuition scholarship recipients by the National Football Foundation on Tuesday.

Seniors Chris Kelly of St. Edward Central Catholic in Elgin, Noah Frazier of Batavia and Matt Rahn of Aurora Central Catholic will be honored at the NFF Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Feb. 16.

Logan Atkins of Stevenson, Fenwick's Harry Bell and CJ Cooper of Harlan were named Chicago Bears Community Champion Award recipients. Each receives a $4,000 college tuition scholarship.

An Academic All-State pick, Kelly started at center and middle linebacker for a St. Edward team that set a program record with 10 wins. He helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 380 yards and 39.5 points per game. Defensively, he made 64 tackles and had 2 sacks.

Frazier is a two-time Academic All-State selection. Voted Batavia's MVP this season, the two-way starter scored 7 touchdowns and rushed for 209 yards as a fullback. At defensive end he made 43 tackles (12 for loss) and registered 6 sacks.

Also a two-way player, Rahn was voted All-State honorable mention after the quarterback threw for 1,613 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 512 yards and 7 scores. He made 34 tackles as a cornerback.