Football: Fox Valley players make commitments

Several members of the Daily Herald All-Area Football Team/Fox Valley have finalized their college plans ahead of National Letter of Intent football signing day on Wednesday.

Two-way lineman Michael Gomez of Cary-Grove, an honorary co-captain of the all-area team who helped lead the Trojans (13-1) to a runner-up finish in Class 7A in November, committed last week to Winona State (Minnesota).

A four-year starter and a 7A all-state selection who posted 32.5 tackles, a team-best 5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss, Gomez (6-0, 260) said he immediately felt at home during his recent campus visit and was eager to accept a scholarship from the Division II Warriors.

"The family aspect of it made it feel like home," Gomez said. "I had a lot of people tell me once you find the right place you'll know. That's how it was for me. I just loved it up there. It was a blast. It was a big lift off my shoulders because people have been asking me my plans for four years now.

"My freshman and sophomore years (in high school) I was really set on playing Division I because different parents and other people were spoon-feeding me that I would go D-I. That didn't happen because of my height. But as long as I'm playing the sport I love and getting (a scholarship) to play it makes no difference."

Gomez joins fellow all-area honorary co-captain Trevor Ruhland (Notre Dame) on the list of Cary-Grove players destined for college programs. Linebacker Travis Myerson is headed for D-II Truman State (Missouri) and center Scotty Topole has accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Northern Illinois, according to Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg.

All-area defensive backs Larkin Hanselmann and Matt Sutherland remain undecided as do Willie Hartke, George Hartke and defensive lineman Ray DiMatteo.

Walker to West Point: Jacobs running back Josh Walker committed to Army during his official visit to West Point, NY, last weekend.

Walker (5-6, 160) used his speed and ability to navigate traffic to rush for 1,211 yards and 17 touchdowns on 141 carries (8.6 avg.). The two-time all-area selection also caught 19 passes for 256 yards and 2 scores.

"Me and my dad flew out there and saw the facilities, met all the people and saw how a day on campus runs," Walker said. "There was a lot of history to it, which was really cool. The people were really nice and willing to help out whatever you need. It's an opportunity to set myself up for the rest of my life."

Walker said playing Division-I football like his father, Greg, a defensive back at Syracuse, was an important factor in his decision.

"It did matter," he said. "I always wanted to play at that level and I thought I had the talent."

Projected as a wingback, Walker will spend his first year at West Point Prep School, which will allow him to become indoctrinated to life at the academy as an athlete at a slower pace.

The only other member of the Golden Eagles (5-4) to commit to a college program thus far is wide receiver Camden McLain, who is headed for D-III Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The senior finished with 31 receptions for 561 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Fleury to walk on at NIU: Hampshire two-way star Mason Fleury accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Northern Illinois during a campus visit last weekend.

An all Fox Valley Conference Fox Division and all-area pick, the 6-2, 200-pound senior is projected to play outside linebacker for the Huskies. In seven games at safety, he led Hampshire with 68 tackles, a safety, 3 forced fumbles and 4 pass breakups. He was named team MVP.

Fleury passed on D-III offers from defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wisconsin-Platteville to try his hand at nearby NIU.

"I really like their coaching staff and how they run their program," Fleury said. "They put a lot of trust in their players and that's a huge thing to me."

Red Raiders moving on: Huntley coach John Hart expects as many as seven players from last fall's 8-2 playoff team will eventually play college ball, but only two have finalized their decisions.

Tyler Kastner and Zach Herbert will both head to Division II programs. Kastner, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive lineman, will suit up for Davenport (Michigan). Defensive lineman Herbert (6-0, 260) is committed to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

St. Edward commitments: A bevy of players from the most successful team in St. Edward history (10-1) will play at the next level.

All-area quarterback Joe Mullen is headed for D-II Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio. The senior completed 107 of 198 attempts for 1,781 yards and 27 touchdowns (10 interceptions) for the Metro Suburban East champs.

Linebacker Danny Favela will play at D-III Loras College, kicker Joe French - who made 46 extra points and 5 of 6 field-goal attempts - is committed to D-III Ohio Northern.

Academic all-state and all-area pick Chris Kelly, an offensive lineman/linebacker who was named a National Football Foundation scholarship recipient, has yet to decide between MIT, Washington University (St. Louis) and the University of Chicago, according to Green Wave coach Mike Rolando.

Likewise, lineman Kasey Cooke is undecided between Loras and St. Ambrose, and running back/defensive back Santos Gomez has yet to choose between Loras, Elmhurst College and Dordt College (Iowa).

South Elgin update: Several members of the Storm (5-4) are considering their college football options.

The only players committed at the moment are defensive back Colin Wood, who is ticketed for D-III North Central College in Naperville, and linebacker Kenny Thies. He will play for D-III Dubuque.

Still weighing their decisions, according to South Elgin coach Pat Pistorio, are quarterback Hayden Nelson (Lindenwood, Waldorf College), running back Kyle Ware (Wisconsin-Whitewater), linebacker/running back Kevin Henryson (Dubuque) and two-way lineman Jarin Davis (UW-Platteville, Dubuque).

"(Wide receiver) Nick Menken has met with numerous D-III and NAIA schools and is trying to determine a fit where he could possibly play both football and baseball," Pistorio said.

Around the area: Other local commitments include: Dundee-Crown safety Malik Dunner (Ball State), a two-time all-area pick; All-area linebacker Craig Kein of Burlington Central (NAIA Carroll College in Helena, Montana); Bartlett wide receiver/defensive back Bryce Petty (Fordham); and Westminster Christian kicker Adam Greene (Augustana).