Outlook: Corey Griffin returns after a year hiatus to join six returning defensive starters, including Division I prospect Nakio Jefferson, and lead a Kankakee team that shut out its last four opponents. Bradley will challenge thanks to junior and senior classes that went unbeaten as sophomores.
1993 state qualifier: Kankakee (first round).
Top players: Quincy Woods (QB, 6-2, 180) Rich East; Nakio Jefferson (FB/CB, 6-1, 210), Rashan Jones (C, 6-3, 230), Kankakee; Mike Russow (T, 6-2, 255), Bradley; Eric Nance (RB, 5-11, 182), David Nuckolls (T, 6-3, 248), Rich Central.
Quotable: Kankakee coach Alec Anderson, on the transfer of Rich South wide receiver Tai Streets to Thornton of the SICA East: “It doesn’t break my heart.”
Key games: Rich Central at Kankakee, Oct. 7; Kankakee at Bradley-Bourbonnais, Oct. 14.
Predicted ’94 finish: Kankakee, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Rich Central, Rich East, Crete-Monee, Rich S.
