Top football players from Pantagraph-area schools for the 2007 season.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

Billy Dickson, Normal Community

Sr., 6-6, 280, OL

Coaches Assn. all-state pick was Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Dan Smith, Flanagan-Woodland

Sr., 5-10, 265, OL

Coaches Assn. all-stater was a consistent force up front for Class 2A quarterfinalists.

Justin Blevins, Lexington

Sr., 6-3, 306, OL

Big presence paved the way for a 7-3 season and earned Coaches Assn. all-state honors.

Joe Ring, Central Catholic

Jr., 6-1, 240, OL

Unanimous all-Corn Belt choice helped the Saints to the Class 4A title game.

Drew Milliken, Normal West

Sr., 6-1, 201, OL

Unanimous all-Big 12 pick as Normal West earned fourth straight playoff berth.

Jake Bane, Fieldcrest

Jr., 6-1, 180, WR

Led the Pantagraph area in TD receptions with 14 and averaged 18.5 yards per catch.

Ryan Augsburger, El Paso-Gridley

Jr., 5-11, 167, WR

Tied for the area lead in receptions (55) and was No. 1 in receiving yards (741).

Javier Safford, Central Catholic

Sr., 6-1, 180, WR

His 49 receptions for 739 yards including two TD catches in the 4A state title game.

Jordan Krone, Fieldcrest

Sr., 6-0, 180, QB

Led the area in passing yards (1,935), TD passes (28) and completed 69 percent of attempts.

Ryan Waldron, Central Catholic

Sr., 6-0, 205, RB

Top rusher in the area with 1,970 yards and scored 28 TDs despite a hand injury early in season.

Aaron Willis, Flanagan-Woodland

Sr., 5-10, 180, RB

The area's second-leading rusher with 1,901 yards and 18 TDs for the 11-1 Falcons.

Andrew Brewer, Mahomet-Seymour

Jr., 5-8, 180, RB

Scored an area-best 30 touchdowns, including 28 rushing, and was No. 3 in yards (1,718).

Michael Fenger, Central Catholic

Sr., 6-1, 186, PK

13 field goals tied for fifth-best in state history for a season and included a 49-yarder.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Zach Eyre, Central Catholic

Sr., 6-0, 230, DL

122 tackles included 19 for losses, eight sacks, seven forced fumbles and 18 hurries.

Alex Detwiler, Flanagan-Woodland

Sr., 6-2, 215, DL

Coaches Assn. all-state pick terrorized opposing backfields for the HOIC champions.

Jake Kretlow, Normal Community

Sr., 5-7, 180, DL

Unanimous all-Big 12 Conference choice had 77 tackles at nose guard for 12-1 Ironmen.

Tyler Risinger, Tremont

Sr., 6-0, 215, DL

Unanimous HOIC pick helped Turks reach second round of Class 2A playoffs.

Nate Weber, Pontiac

Sr., 5-10, 230, DL

Was a force up front as the 9-3 Indians advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals.

Austin Kull, Normal Community

Sr., 6-1, 200, LB

Three-year starter ranks ninth in state history with 264 career tackles.

Josh North, Fieldcrest

Sr., 5-9, 185, LB

Fierce competitor at middle linebacker was a Coaches Assn. all-stater.

Marcus Johnson, Bloomington

Jr., 5-10, 192, LB

All-Big 12 pick led the Raiders in tackles with 91, including nine for losses.

Alex Buck, Normal Community

Sr., 6-1, 175, DB

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year seventh in state history with 21 career INTs.

Austin Davis, Normal Community

Sr., 6-1, 205, DB

Three-year starter was a ferocious hitter at safety for 6A semifinalists.

Michael Panno, Pontiac

Jr., 5-10, 145, DB

Led the area with eight interceptions, including six in the playoffs.

Ben Hall, University High

Sr., 6-2, 175, DB

First-team all-Corn Belt pick helped U High end three-year playoff drought.

Calab Cook, GCMS

Sr., 6-1, 165, P

First-team all-HOIC choice averaged 39.6 yards per punt for the Falcons.

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE

Linemen - Stephen Brewer, Sr., Eureka; Andrew Griffeth, Sr., Mahomet-Seymour; Robert Kreiser, Sr., Fieldcrest; Derek Logue, Sr., Normal Community; Dan Mullins, Sr., LeRoy; Wade Redenius, Sr., Iroquois West

Receivers - Brent Eshleman, Jr., Tri-Point; Kyle Frick, Jr., Lincoln; Jordan Hamblen, Sr., Clinton; Jim Johnston, Sr., Mahomet-Seymour; Matt Paska, Sr., Normal West; Andrew Rippy, Sr., Iroquois West; Charlie Schmelzer, Sr., Bloomington; Wes Schmidgall, Sr., Eureka; Jake Strabala, Sr., Streator

Quarterback - Ross Bruenger, Sr., Clinton; Trace Coleman, Sr., Iroquois West; Jacob Harnacke, Sr., Lincoln; Levi Johnson, Sr., Bloomington

Running backs - Darius Bell, Jr., Normal West; Darrelynn Dunn, Jr., Bloomington; Sean Hastings, Sr., University High; Dan Moore, Sr., Normal Community; Wes Neece, Jr., Lincoln; Jase Wilson, So., Heyworth.

Kicker - Luke Hansen, Sr., Tremont; Chad Hinshaw, Jr., Normal Community.

DEFENSE

Linemen - James Allen, Sr., Flanagan-Woodland; Terry Davis, Sr., Bloomington; Dusten Hubble, Jr., Clinton; Dylan Johnson, So., Central Catholic; Aaron Kinnebrew, Sr., Normal West; Chad Lucas, Jr., Streator; Preston McNamara, Sr., Lexington; Alex Middleton, Sr., Fieldcrest; Mark Osnowitz, Sr., Normal Community; Colt Stroud, Sr., Olympia.

Linebackers - Joey Anderson, Sr., Normal Community; Lucas Folkerts, Sr., Flanagan-Woodland; Jonathon McComb, Sr., Mahomet-Seymour; Alex Smith, Sr., Pontiac; John Snyder, Sr., GCMS; Benny Winterland, Sr., Lexington.

Backs - Erich Bushong, Sr., Normal West; Eric Fisher, Sr., Tri-Valley; Kennedy Freeman, Sr., Normal Community; Grant Kerber, Sr., GCMS; Jordan McKinsey, Sr., El Paso-Gridley; Blake Rave, Jr., Central Catholic; Brian Schrock, Sr., Eureka.

Punter - Adam Hodgson, Sr., Tremont; Phil Rich, Sr., Pontiac