Chicago area’s top 50 football players for the 2018 season

The Chicago Sun-Times preps team is busy previewing the upcoming football season. A big part of that is the annual pre-season Super 25 rankings. In addition to analyzing the teams themselves, we’re ranking the top players at several key positions. Now we are sharing our list of the Top 50 players for the 2018 season.

• The Top 10 quarterbacks
• The Top 10 running backs
• The Top 10 receivers
• The Top 10 defensive players

Here’s a look at the overall top 50 football players in the Chicago area, regardless of position:

1. Trevor Keegan, Crystal Lake South, Sr., OL (6-6, 310)

2. Fabian McCray, Phillips, Sr., WR/DB (6-2, 180)

3. Tyler Nubin, St. Charles North, Sr., WR/DB (6-2, 185)

4. Jahleel Billingsley, Phillips, Sr., WR (6-5, 227)

5. AJ Henning, Lincoln-Way, East, Jr., RB (5-10, 180)

6. Peter Skoronski, Maine South, Jr., OL (6-4, 270)

7. Michael Jansey Jr., Batavia, St., LB, (6-2, 210)

8. Michael Love, Nazareth, Sr., WR/RB/DB (5-9, 170)

9. Nick Fedanzo, Montini, Sr., RB (6-1, 205)

10. Addison West, Cary-Grove, Sr., OL (6-3, 275)

11. Romel Goston, Raby, Sr., DB (6-1, 175)

12. Payton Thorne, Naperville Central, Sr., QB (6-2, 200)

13. Ty Gavin, Notre Dame, Sr., RB (5-11, 175)

14. Alante Brown, Simeon, Sr., QB (5-11, 170)

15. Sebastian Castro, Richards, Sr., QB/DB (6-1, 200)

16. Rory Boos, Loyola, Sr., WR (6-1, 175)

17. Jadon Thompson, Marist, Jr., WR (6-2, 160)

18. Duke Olges, New Trier, Sr., LB (6-5, 260)

19. Khali Saunders, IC Prep, Sr., LB/WR (6-4, 220)

20. Messiah Travis, Solorio, Sr., ATH (5-10, 175)

21. Denver Warren, West Aurora, Jr., DL (6-3, 300)

22. Rylie Mills, Lake Forest, Jr., DL (6-5, 265)

22. Carson Ochsenhirt, New Trier, Sr., QB (5-10, 175)

23. Luke Skokna, Hinsdale Central, Sr., RB (5-9, 175)

24. Devin Blakley, Nazareth, Sr., RB (5-10, 180)

25. Anthony Williams Jr., Bolingbrook, Sr., RB (6-1, 220)

26. Cameron Mitchell, Bolingbrook, Sr., DB (5-10, 175)

27. Wynston Russell, Homewood-Flossmoor, Sr., DB (5-10, 160)

28. Dylan Barrett, St. Charles East, Jr., OL (6-5, 285)

29. Matt Judd, Lincoln-Way East, Sr., WR (6-2, 200)

30. Mike McNicholas, Montini, Sr., OL (6-4, 310)

31. Jeremiah Webb, Urban-Prep Bronzville, Sr., RB (5-10, 180)

32. Keenan Hailey, Joliet Catholic, Sr., RB (5-10, 180)

33. Kyle Davis, Mount Carmel, Sr., RB (6-1, 210)

34. Charles Coleman, Oswego, Sr., RB (6-2, 200)

35. Marshawn Foster, Raby, Sr., WR (6-4, 175)

36. Jack Moses, Lake Zurich, Jr., WR (5-10, 175)

37. Nate Mahoney, Lincoln-Way West, Sr., OL (6-3, 260)

38. Maurion Scott, Homewood-Flossmoor, Sr., WR (6-5, 190)

39. Jackson Bruscianelli, Montini, Sr., LB (6-1, 220)

40. Armoni Dixon, Loyola, Sr, LB (6-3, 225)

41. Mike Markett, Marist, Sr., QB (6-0, 180)

42. Luke Weerts, Batavia, Sr., LB (6-2, 230)

43. Leshon Williams, Richards, Jr., RB (5-10, 195)

44. Austin Martineau, Grayslake North, Sr., QB (6-3, 185)

45. Kenyetta Williams, Joliet Catholic, Jr., RB (5-10, 180)

46. Trevor Cabanban, Loyola, Jr., RB (5-9, 165)

47. Quadre Nicholson, Evanston, Jr., RB (6-0,185)

48. Gavin Mottl, St. Rita, Sr., PK (5-10, 170)

49. Maema Njongmeta, Stevenson, Sr., LB (6-1, 210)

50. Steven Hawthorne, De La Salle, Sr., DE (6-4, 220)

More high school football stories:

• The 2018 Sun-Times Super 25 football teams
• The Top 10 running backs
• The Top 10 receivers
• The Top 10 defensive players
• Mount Carmel’s new coach on what’s ahead this season

Watch Sun-Times Game Week every Monday at 6:30 p.m.!

Want the latest info and analysis on high school football? Our preps team of Michael O’Brien, Beth Long and Annie Costabile will share all the latest news, insights and Super 25 football rankings in a new livestream show called “Sun-Times Game Week.” You can watch it LIVE every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. right here on our high school sports Facebook page. You can also ask questions using the hashtag #SunTimesGameWeek or email those questions to preps@suntimes.com.