Students at Wheaton Warrenville South could hardly wait for the next big-time football coach to come walking down the hallway.
“In one stretch, Lloyd Carr (Michigan), Joe Paterno (Penn State) Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin), Ty Willingham (Notre Dame), John L. Smith (Michigan State) and Randy Walker (Northwestern) had stopped by our school last semester,” said Wheaton South coach Ron Muhitch.
“That’s never happened before.”
Those programs–along with Southern Cal, LSU, Oklahoma, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee and Nebraska–are pursuing 6-foot-6-inch, 300-pound offensive tackle Dace Richardson and 6-4, 250-pound tight end Anthony Moeaki. Combined, they’ve received close to 50 scholarship offers, according to Muhitch.
The athletic Richardson, who can easily dunk a basketball–which was his primary sport until switching to football as a sophomore–is rated the fourth-best offensive lineman in the country by SuperPrep magazine of Laguna Beach, Calif. SuperPrep lists Moeaki as the No. 3 tight end.
“Richardson is really coming on, yet there is so much more in his future,” said SuperPrep publisher Allen Wallace, the national recruiting analyst for TheInsiders.com. “His upside might be better than those ranked ahead of him.”
Richardson’s father, Dace Sr., was a running back with the New York Giants in 1981.
“I don’t know where he got all that size,” said the 6-foot father. “Our doctor says he is will get bigger, because his size-18 feet are still growing.”
Richardson has made unofficial visits to Iowa, Tennessee, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Northwestern.
“I haven’t narrowed down my list yet, but teams I’ve always liked are Iowa, Tennessee, USC, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan State,” Richardson said. “Tony [Moeaki] and I are good friends. In fact, if he and [teammate] Grant Nemeth hadn’t gotten mad at me for skipping freshman football, I’d just be another student applying for college.”
Moeaki’s older brothers, John and Larry, both played at Brigham Young, but that won’t be a factor in the youngest brother’s decision. He has visited BYU, Oregon, USC and Iowa, and he’s also looking at Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Michigan State. “It’s been flattering, and I’m grateful for all the offers,” Moeaki said.
“We were getting four phone calls a night in May, and it’s supposed to be even more intense in September. It’s going to get pretty crazy.”
Illinois is the land of offensive linemen this season. Leading the way is Barrington’s 6-6, 290-pound Dan Doering, rated the best in the nation by rivals.com.
“Our state is nationally known for offensive linemen, but now you’ve got coaches like Bob Stoops of Oklahoma and guys from LSU and USC here during the May evaluation period,” said Joliet analyst Tim O’Halloran of rivals.com.
“It’s because of guys like Doering, who is big while also being so mobile and athletic. This guy is something special.”
After evaluating Doering’s Division I teammates–Otis Hudson (6-6, 285), Andy Laue (6-4, 275) and Eric Lindeen (6-3, 300)–one recruiter said Barrington could have the best offensive line in the country.
Other highly rated offensive linemen, according to O’Halloran, include Mike Smith (6-5, 325) of Wheaton South, Ohene Wiafe-Ababio (6-8, 330) of Bolingbrook, Tim Mayerbock (6-5, 300) of St. Patrick, Aaron Miller (6-5, 320) of Oswego, Timothy Freitag (6-5, 280) of York, Matt Boyce (6-4, 270) of Lockport, Ramon Diaz (6-4, 280) of Morris and Matt Bacoulis (6-4, 298) of Maine East.
Rated right behind Doering and Richardson are Libertyville’s David Moosman (6-5, 270) and Prospect’s Eric Hedstrom (6-6, 270). The first three are SuperPrep All-Americans, and Hedstrom made it to the final cut.
Also named to the preseason All-American team were Niles West running back Rashard Mendenhall (committed to Illinois), Moeaki and Lockport quarterback Jake Christensen, who has committed to Iowa. Rivals.com lists Christensen as the No. 3 quarterback in the nation.
I-pass
Texas, California and western Pennsylvania are the hot spots for quarterbacks, but this year Illinois boasts a deep class. In addition to Christensen, All-Stater Sean Price of Maine South, Mike Kafka of St. Rita, Paul Blalock of Waubonsie Valley, Justin Anderson of Steinmetz, 6-7 Zach Jones of Morris, Freddie Barnes of Homewood-Flossmoor, Dan LeFevour of Benet and Ben Crookston of Glenbard West are ranked among the best in the Midwest. Blalock has committed to Illinois and LeFevour to Central Michigan. Other standouts include four-year starters Garrett Seeger of Barrington and Greg Wunderlich of Naperville North.
Bloodlines
Stevenson junior linebacker Mike Morrissey is the son of former Bears linebacker Jim Morrissey, while QB classmate Preston Earl is the son of ex-Bears running back Robin Earl. Wheaton South running back Dan Dierking’s father is Scott Dierking, who played with the New York Jets. Hinsdale Central’s 6-4, 220-pound sophomore defensive end, Jack DiNardo, is the nephew of Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo. North Chicago defensive end O’Brien Schofield, who has committed to Wisconsin, is related to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Vonnie Holiday and Seattle Seahawks wideout Bobby Engram.
More national acclaim
Street & Smith’s magazine lists Christensen, Mendenhall and Doering among its top 50 players in the country. Richardson was rated among The Sporting News’ top 20 players while the top-200 list included Christensen, running back Dion Foster of Richards, Mendenhall, Moeaki, Doering, Moosman, defensive end Terrance Jamison of Thornton, linebackers Ryan Bain of Bolingbrook and Chris Jeske of Joliet Catholic and defensive back Melvin Rice of Morgan Park.
Up and coming
Keep a recruiting eye on Evanston linebacker Tim Reed (6-2, 240), Naperville Central linebacker Eric Small (6-3, 240), Downers Grove North two-way lineman Cody Cielinski (6-2, 265), Wheaton South receiver Matt Stevens (6-5, 225), Highland Park linebacker Scott Smith (committed to Notre Dame), Oswego defensive tackle Alex Magee (6-5, 275), Hinsdale Central tight end Doug Pilcher (commited to Illinois), Morgan Park linebacker Sam Porter (6-1, 220) and receivers Orlando Moore (6-0, 180) of Morgan Park, Stephen Benjamin (6-2, 205) of Leo and Dwayne Pillow (6-2, 195) of Lane.
Chicago area’s top football recruits
In ranked order; compiled by Tribune high school football reporter Bob Sakamoto
PLAYER, SCHOOL, POS, HT, WT, COLLEGE
Dan Doering, Barrington, OT, 6-6, 290, USC, Ohio St., Iowa, Mich., ND, Tenn.
Rashard Mendenhall, Niles West, RB, 6-0, 203, Committed to Illinois
Dace Richardson, Wheaton South, OT, 6-6, 300, USC, Tenn., Neb., Iowa, MSU, Wisc.
Anthony Moeaki, Wheaton South, TE, 6-4, 250, USC, Okla, Iowa, Ore., BYU, ND, Tenn.
Jake Christensen, Lockport, QB, 6-1, 210, Committed to Iowa
David Moosman, Libertyville, OT, 6-5, 270, Mich., Iowa, ND, UCLA
Eric Hedstrom, Prospect, OT, 6-6, 270, Tenn., UCLA, Ill., Ark., Neb., NU, Purdue
Tom McAndrew, Glenbard West, LB, 6-5, 245, Stan., Pitt., Ariz., BC, Ill., NU, MSU
Ryan Bain, Bolingbrook, LB/DL, 6-2, 260, Iowa, Purdue, Neb., Wisc., MSU
Scott Smith, Highland Park, LB, 6-3, 225, Committed to Notre Dame
Dion Foster, Richards, RB, 5-9, 180, Committed to Wisconsin
Chris Jeske, Joliet Catholic, LB, 6-1, 225, Mich., UCLA, NU, Wisc., Kan.
Alex Magee, Oswego, DT, 6-5, 275, Pitt, Ill., Purdue, Louisville, Iowa
Mike Kafka, St. Rita, QB, 6-3, 190, Stan. NU, Iowa, Purdue, ND
Terrance Jamison, Thornton, DE, 6-4, 230, Wisc., Mich., Ill., ND, MSU, Iowa
Sean Price, Maine South, QB, 6-1 3/4, 185, Ill., Ala., Kentucky, Louisville
Doug Pilcher, Hinsdale Central, TE/DE, 6-5 230, Committed to Illinois
Orlando Moore, Morgan Park, WR, 6-0, 180, MSU, Maryland, Ill., Purdue, Iowa
Paul Blalock, Waubonsie Valley, QB, 6-0, 190, Committed to Illinois
Sam Porter, Morgan Park, LB, 6-1, 220, Ill., Neb., Iowa, MSU, Purdue
