Where are they Now?
Only a handful of teams have ever won back-to-back State Championship in the state of Illinois. To do so takes a combination of a lot of things. Maybe first and foremost is football talent. As a result 6 players from those championship teams have gone on to college to continue their careers. Two - Ryan West and Rusty Pozen were leaders of the 1997 championship team and are entering their second year of college. The other four are just finding out what college football is all about.
All are doing well and there is a good chance all six will be starting by next year. Therefore, we will follow their process through the year.
P.J. Fleck
P.J. played his first Collegiate game Sept. 2, 1999 and was in nearly half of the offensive plays. He had two balls thrown to him but didn't get a reception. When the game was on the line with less than a minute to play he was on the field. He was also on the Kickoff special team. In his second game he caught 4 passes for 36 yards and joined the punt return team retuning 3 punts for 14 yards. |
P.J. the only Kaneland football champion to attend a Division-1 school. He is a Freshman at NIU. Located in Dekalb P.J. is just a half hour from home on Rt 38, making it easy for him to attend Kaneland's first football game in 1999.
P.J. started the summer as the number 10 receiver out of 11 in the depth charts and was projected to be red-shirted for his freshman year. However, by the time the season started he had moved all the up to the number 3 receiver is should be seeing plenty of playing time. "Everyone (meaning other Division-1 schools) missed the boat not recruiting harder to get this kid," says NIU Head Coach Joe Novak.
Eric Delaney
Eric is a Freshman at ISU a Division 1-AA school in Bloomington Il. As a quarterback, Eric had a lot of schools to choose from, but ended up staying close to home and playing on the field he had quarterbacked two state championships on.
Eric is a walk-on at ISU and is Red-shirted for his freshmen year.. This will give Eric a full year of learning and getting noticed without losing eligiblity. Already he has been noticed for his accurate arm. Eric knows that being a quarterback it will take awhile to learn the system. But he is having fun and is glad about his decision to go to ISU.
Kyle Schrader
Kyle is a Freshman at AURORA UNIVERSITY. Located just one town over from Kaneland, making Kyle's football career to be the easiest to follow. Kyle wanted to be a carpenter, but changed his mind (at least for now) to play football.
Kyle is currently one of the backup tailbacks behind starting senior Chris Pfalzgraf. Projected starter and 1000 yard rusher Brett Runkle was injured and out for the season opening the door a little wider for Kyle.
Also of note is X-Kaneland grad Ryan Nolan (Colin's brother) who is the starting fullback in what could develop into an all-Kaneland backfield. Yet another X-Kaneland football player Ryan Pozen (Rusty's brother), was starting at DB but suffered a fractured ankle and is out for the season.
Kyle made the punt blocking team assuring him a spot on the traveling team.
Shaun Wenz
Shaun is the only two year Kaneland champion playing football out of state. He is a first year player at CARTHAGE COLLEGE, located in Kenosha Wisconsin. Shaun has the honor of being on the biggest football team in the nation. The Carthage football team has 153 players!
Shaun has his hands full. There are 21 players trying out for his position - defensive back, 12 of these are freshman. However, he was the number one freshman on the depth chart and is working to become a second string corner behind an all senior backfield. He also is just one position away from playing on both kickoff and punting special teams.
Shaun is also the starting corner on the JV team and is on all special teams excepts field goals. He has returned 4 kickoffs for 105 yards and has recorded 1 1/2 onsides kicks.
Rusty Pozen
Rusty is starting his second year at VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY. Located just over the boarder in Valparaiso, Indiana Rusty is just one of two Kaneland championship players to leave the state to play football.
Last year as Freshman he earned a letter. This year he is currently charted as a second string linebacker, but has a decent chance to shot start at outside LB. He also expects to play a lot on special teams.
Ryan West
Ryan is a second year player at ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY. Wesleyan located in Bloomington, is where Coach Joe Thorgesen went to school and is just up the road a piece from where Eric Delaney is playing.
Ryan is the fastest linebacker on the team and maybe the conference. As a second year player he is pushing for a starting linebacker job. Because of his speed he may also consider moving to strong safety.
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