Manteno alum and former Illinois football right guard Josh Gesky is trying to make the most of his new life as an NFL player after signing an undrafted free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers a little under a month ago.

Mount Carmel four-star defensive back Tavares Harrington, who posted 50 tackles, 9 PBUs, 6 TFLs and 3 interceptions while helping the Caravan win the IHSA 8A state championship in 2025, announced his commitment to Michigan on Friday.

Both Sandwich and Seneca high schools chose this week to leave their current conference homes, the Kishwaukee River and Tri-County, respectively, to become the 9th and 10th members of the Illinois Central Eight Conference.

St. Patrick four-star defensive lineman David Folorunsho, who led the Shamrocks to the CCL/ESCC Purple Division title and the second round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs in 2025, announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Friday.

St. Laurence three-star linebacker Sean Rice, who compiled 123 tackles and led the Vikings to the IHSA Class 6A state semifinals during his junior season, announced his commitment to Illinois on Friday.

Mount Carmel four-star wide receiver Quentin Burrell, who caught 67 passes for 1,139 yards and 16 touchdowns while helping the Caravan win a fourth straight IHSA state championship during his junior season, announced his commitment to Michigan on Wednesday.

Marmion's Henry Miller ran for 355 yards and 5 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending groin injury in 2025. Miller will return to the Cadets this fall and he'll be joined by wide receiver Colin McEniry, the CCL/ESCC's Offensive Player of the Year in the Red Division.

Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Mason Halliman, a member of the Griffins' Class of 2027, committed over the weekend to continue his career at the University of Illinois.

A 2006 Ottawa High School graduate and two-year starting quarterback, Jared Mundt is the Pirates new varsity football coach.

Two-time All-Interstate 8 Conference quarterback Marion Persich, who is receiving plenty of college recruiting interest, is transferring to Morris from La Salle-Peru for his junior season.

Oswego's Ammar Banire was an unknown before last season, but opened eyes with breakout performances in a crosstown win and the state semifinal. Now the sophomore has seen his recruitment take off with Division I offers from Western Michigan and Miami of Ohio.

Early this year Alabama voted overwhelmingly to separate public and private schools into different championship competitions. Could Illinois follow Alabama's lead?

Who are the winningest active head football coaches in the IHSA? As the 2026 season approaches, Friday Night Drive has listed the state's winningest active coaches.

Despite missing the IHSA playoffs in each of the last two seasons, St. Ignatius has brought home consecutive Prep Bowl titles. Connor Hites and Connor Wanzung, who each hold Division I offers, are ready to lead the Wolfpack back to the playoffs in 2026.

Football players from La Salle-Peru and Ottawa had the opportunity to gain recruiting exposure by participating in IHSA combines, which are new this spring.

Prior to being recognized at the Kankakee City Hall meeting Monday night, 2019 Kankakee graduate Keagen Trost was celebrated at his alma mater as the school's first NFL draft pick in almost 50 years.

Local football players showed up in jerseys and helmets Monday morning for Johnsburg's Northern Burbs Showcase. About 165 athletes and 60 college coaches attended the inaugural event.

Area football players show off their skills at the Northern Burbs Football Showcase on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Johnsburg High School. Over 165 players from 15 teams demonstrated their football skills to over 60 college coaches.

The IHSA has approved combine events around the state this spring to help provide high school players with a high interest in playing at the college level with better opportunities to show their abilities. Nine Princeton players attended the event at Moline on Thursday.

Alex Wollschlaeger did not play football his junior year of high school at Oswego East because of a broken collarbone. He had just one college scholarship offer. And now? He will be heading for New Orleans next week, an NFL contract from the Saints in hand.

He grew up in Nigeria and started playing football when he was 11 years old. Now, St. Patrick junior defensive lineman David Folorunsho, who led the Shamrocks to the CCL/ESCC Purple title in 2025, is a five-star recruit and one of the top-ranked prospects in the country.

Behind a dominant defensive line and a powerful running game, Brother Rice won its first state football championship since 1981. Returning juniors Brayden Parks and Ethan Posey, both Division I prospects, will continue anchoring the trenches as the Crusaders prepare for 2026.

Teegan Davis played football until his body wouldn’t allow him to play any more. The former Princeton High School all-stater made the decision to medically retire from the game after talking to Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz upon returning to campus after the Christmas break

Josh Kreutz (Loyola), Kenenna Odeluga (Mount Carmel), Jameson Geers (Providence) and Tyler Duzansky (St. Francis) are former CCL/ESCC football players who signed undrafted free agent contracts or received rookie minicamp invitations after the 2026 NFL Draft.

Carmel sophomores Jameer Miles and Wyatt VanBoening, already four-star Power 4 prospects, are ready to take on bigger roles as the Corsairs build for the 2026 season, one that will be played without star quarterback Trae Taylor.

Former Marist offensive lineman Pat Coogan, who guided both Notre Dame and Indiana to College Football Playoff National Championship Game appearances, was selected in the sixth round by the Tennessee Titans with the 194th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Josh Gesky, a 2021 Manteno graduate and three-year starting guard at the University of Illinois, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.

Former Willowbrook offensive lineman Enrique Cruz Jr., who played for five collegiate seasons at Syracuse and Kansas, was selected on Saturday by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the NFL Draft with the 179th overall pick.

Former Nazareth wide receiver Tanner Koziol, who played tight end at Ball State and Houston, was selected in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 164th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Koziol caught 237 passes for 2,234 yards and 24 touchdowns in college.

East St. Louis running back Myson Johnson-Cook, one of the top-rated junior players in the state, announced his commitment to Auburn on Saturday afternoon. Johnson-Cook rushed for 1,341 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading the Flyers to the IHSA Class 6A state finals in 2025.

Former Marist linebacker Jimmy Rolder, who recorded 118 total tackles and played in 43 games over his collegiate career at Michigan, was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 118th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Keagen Trost, a 2019 Kankakee graduate, was the 93rd overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday.

Former Marist wide receiver Carnell Tate, who went on to star at IMG Academy and Ohio State, was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday evening.

Friday Night Drive has had its eye on some of the expected top returning players for the 2026 football season. The focus shifts to the secondary this week with 10 defensive backs to keep an eye on this coming fall.

Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder seemed destined for baseball for most of his time at Marist. But a three-week span switch Rolder's trajectory to likely being selected in the NFL draft this weekend in Pittsburgh.

In a statement published Tuesday afternoon, Loyola announced the return of John Holecek as head football coach. Holecek went 185-36 and won three state titles from 2006-22. Beau Desherow, Loyola's head coach since 2023, will serve as general manager and assistant head coach.

Friday Night Drive is highlighting some of the top returning players at each position for the 2026 IHSA football season. Here are 10 of the top returning linebackers to watch as the season approaches.

In a season slowed by injuries and a tough schedule, Marist juniors Conor Hunt and Tommy Hosty made the most of position changes and increased roles. The two are ready to lead the RedHawks back to the playoffs in 2026.

Joe Kubal, an assistant coach at Bradley-Bourbonnais for the last 15 years, was announced as the Boilermakers next head football coach on Monday.

After a 4-5 season and a first-round playoff exit, Loyola will look to bounce back in 2026. The Ramblers will return a core group of players including junior linebacker Will Mettee and sophomore wide receiver Jordan McKinley, both Power 4 prospects.

Friday Night Drive is highlighting some of the top returning players at each position for the 2026 IHSA football season. Here are 10 of the top defensive linemen to watch as the 2026 season approaches.

Junior running back Brandon Johnson Jr. and sophomore linebacker Jack Schapendonk were each instrumental in St. Rita's run to the IHSA Class 7A state finals in the fall. The two will be key players to watch as the Mustangs prepare for 2026.

Whether on the football field or wrestling mat, Duke Mays is always active. Now, the junior is on the move again. A native of Joliet, he has returned home. The football and wrestling standout has transferred from Johnsburg to Joliet Catholic Academy.

Montini four-star junior quarterback Israel Abrams announced his commitment to Miami (FL) during a broadcast of The Pat McAfee Show Friday afternoon. Abrams threw for 4,072 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2025, leading Montini to the IHSA Class 4A state title.

Friday Night Drive is highlighting some of the top returning players at each position for the 2026 IHSA football season. Here are 10 of the top returning offensive linemen to watch as the season approaches.

Fenwick junior Jake Thies announced his commitment to Iowa on Saturday. An All-CCL/ESCC selection in 2025, Thies rushed for over 1,100 yards, recorded nearly 60 tackles and helped lead the Friars to an IHSA 6A state title.

A standout wrestler, Montini junior lineman Gavin Ericson-Staton has emerged as a three-star prospect and will be a top player for the Broncos in 2026. Blake Pohlman, a MaxPreps Freshman All-American, is a player to watch on defense.

Junior linebacker Derrick Pomatto became a two-way threat for Joliet Catholic in 2025, rushing for three touchdowns after taking on the role halfway through the season. Pomatto will be a player to watch as the Hilltoppers look to bounce back from a rare losing season.

After helping St. Laurence reach the 6A semifinals, Sean Rice holds a dozen offers from Division I programs. The junior linebacker/tight end will be a key returning player for the Vikings, who have several seniors planning to play collegiately.

After 15 seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, Bradley-Bourbonnais' Mike Kohl has resigned. He will remain as the school's athletic director.