College Football Spring Practice: Residents Vying for Spots on In-State University, Big Ten Teams

It remains to be seen whether NFL owners and players can reach a new collective bargaining agreement to end the lockout in time for the 2011 season. But there are no such concerns hanging over the head of college football.

As a matter of fact, many college programs have been conducting spring workouts since early- to mid-March and hosting inter-squad games—several of which were held on Saturday.

A number of residents who either starred at Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South or Benet are currently lining up for in-state NCAA Division I and I-AA teams and Big Ten clubs. Some players already have positions locked up this fall, while others are trying to move up on their respective teams’ depth charts.

Here’s a rundown on those players (in alphabetical order):

Rocco Ammons, offensive tackle, Illinois State—The Redbirds boast an experienced offensive line going into 2011. Four of the five line spots are already locked up, but Ammons, an all-state lineman for coach Ron Muhitch’s Tigers, is in the mix for the starting right tackle slot. Ammons (6-5, 315), a redshirt freshman who was part of the Tigers’ 2009 state championship squad, will be competing with two other redshirt freshmen.

Colin Armstrong, center, Northwestern—A Wheaton resident who prepped at Benet Academy, Armstrong (6-5, 295) saw action in all 13 games for the Wildcats in 2010. He’s slated to back up starting center Ben Burkett in September. Armstrong, a senior, was a three-year starter at Benet and was the East Suburban Catholic Conference’s Offensive Lineman of the year in 2006.

Dan Conroy, kicker, Michigan State—Conroy, a 2007 Wheaton South grad, is fulfilling a dream of kicking for the Spartans (he passed up a full scholarship from Western Michigan in order to enroll at Michigan State in 2008). He’ll enter his junior year this fall as the Spartans’ incumbent kicker following a breakthrough 2010 campaign.

Last season, Conroy missed only two combined field goal and extra-point attempts all year while earning a full scholarship. He was 15-for-16 in field goals and 45-for-46 in PATs. Conroy led the Spartans in scoring with 87 points, and was named National Placekicker of the Week after nailing four field goals and two extra points versus Illinois.  He also set a school record for most consecutive field goals made to start the season (13), a mark formerly held by ex-Chicago Bears kicker Paul Edinger.

Taylor Graham, quarterback, Ohio State—Head coach Jim Tressel wasn’t the only one suspended for the first five games of 2011 for violating NCAA rules. Starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor also will sit out the Buckeyes’ first five contests. Graham (6-4, 225), a redshirt freshman and Wheaton North product, is considered a longshot by Ohio State insiders to take over the starting job during Pryor’s absence. It’s been reported that fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman has the inside track.

So far, Taylor has been following in the footsteps of his father, Kent, a star quarterback for the Falcons who played for the Buckeyes from 1990 to 1991. Kent then went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL.

Nick Immekus, kicker, Illinois—Another in a long line of stellar placekickers to come out of Wheaton South, Immekus joined the Fighting Illini as a walk-on last fall (he was red-shirted). Immekus likely won’t figure into the Illini’s plans this fall, but he could be a factor in 2012 given that starting kicker Derek Dimke (115 points in 2010) is going into his final year of eligibility. Immekus booted a Class 7A playoff record 47-yard field goal during the Tigers’ victory over Glenbard West for the 2009 state championship.

Kurt Lichtenberg, wide receiver, Purdue—Dan Dierking, a Wheaton South standout, was the Boilermakers’ co-captain and second-leading rusher last fall, but he has since graduated. Lichtenberg, also a graduate of Wheaton South, is a fifth-year senior. He caught a touchdown pass for the Tigers in their 2006 Class 8A state championship game. (The Tigers won the crown that year.)

Will Matte, center, Indiana—Part of the Tigers’ 2007 Class 7A state finalist team, Matte has been the Hoosiers’ starting center each of the past two seasons. He enters 2011 as a redshirt junior. Last season, Matte started every game for Indiana, which ended up with a 4-8 overall after winning its first three games of the year. Matte gave up only three sacks during 2010.

Mack Tracey, wide receiver, Northern Illinois—Tracy is a redshirt freshman on new head coach Dave Doeren’s club. (Doeren replaces Jerry Kill, who became head coach at Minnesota.) Tracey split time as a receiver, quarterback, returner and punter for 2009 7A champion Wheaton South. He also was a team captain that year.

Mike Trumpy, tailback, Northwestern—Trumpy established himself as one of the Wildcats’ top running backs following his career-best 129 yards and two touchdowns in an historic game between Northwestern and Illinois at Wrigley Field last November. Trumpy, a redshirt sophomore and former Wheaton North star—he rushed for over 2,700 career yards and had 32 touchdowns with the Falcons—is NU’s leading returning rusher with 530 yards.

The team (7-6 in 2010) welcomes back starting QB Dan Persa, who missed the final two regular season games and the TicketCity Bowl game after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Trumpy also missed the TicketCity Bowl due to a fractured right wrist.