Area Grid Standouts Taking Their Games to the Next Level

University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook believes the Illini are heading in the right direction. And he’s banking on his new crop of recruits—among them Scott McDowell of Hinsdale Central and Pat Flavin of Benet—to help Illinois get to the Big Ten’s upper echelon.

McDowell and Flavin, who officially signed their letters of intent to Illinois during National Signing Day last week, are particularly valuable because Zook wanted to shore up the offensive line.

“The offensive line was the biggest target and I think we did a nice job filling in our needs,” Zook told FightingIllini.com. “Like any class, balance is important and we are happy to have quality recruits at every position.”

McDowell, who checks in at 6-5, 280 pounds, and Flavin, who’s 6-7, 260, both were all-Midwest picks by SuperPrep and three-star recruits by Rivals.com. McDowell made a verbal commitment to Illinois last September, while Flavin did so in December.

The process of signing his letter of intent and faxing it to Illinois got a little interesting for Flavin, a two-time all-stater, last Wednesday because of the blizzard.

“Pat Flavin was going to a neighbor’s house and that fax was broke,” Zook said, “so they had to go back (home), shovel the drive and get to his (Flavin’s) Dad’s office to send a fax.”

McDowell’s teammate at Hinsdale Central, Jack Allen, will now become a rival since Allen signed with Michigan State. Allen (6-2, 275) verbally committed to MSU last August.

Also heavily recruited by Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, Allen was listed as a three-star recruit by Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN. Scout had Allen ranked as the No. 7 center nationally, while ESPN ranked him 10^th and Rivals 15^th.

“I think Jack’s the best center in the state, and I don’t think anybody’s even close” said Allen’s coach at Hinsdale Central, Mike DiMatteo, who resigned at the end of last season. “He’s got the best combination of speed, athleticism, size, power. He’s the type of football player you want. They don’t come around like Jack Allen too often.”

Two seniors who were instrumental in Benet advancing to the Class 7A playoffs during 2010, Connor Nelligan and Jeff Schmittgens, are heading to Ivy League schools. Nelligan signed with Columbia University, while Schmittgens is going to Yale.

Nelligan was Mr. Versatility for the Redwings throughout the season. In addition to his normal two-way duties of wide receiver and safety, Nelligan saw action at tight end, punter, punt returner, extra point kicker, extra point holder, linebacker and as a quarterback in the team’s wildcat formation.

At Columbia, he’ll join Benet teammate Nick Melka, a defensive lineman.

Schmittgens made a verbal commitment to Yale a week before National Signing Day. However, neither he nor Nelligan had to sign a letter of intent because Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships.

Georgetown University is better known as a Big East men’s basketball power. But the Hoyas play football, too, and Benet linebacker Pat Boyle will take his game to Georgetown, located in Washington, D.C., this fall.

The Hoyas play football in the Patriot League.

“Our recruiting class is terrific,” said Georgetown coach Kevin Kelly. “We have fulfilled all of our need areas and they will complement our returning players very well.”