Illinois enters the 2026 high school football season with a loaded collection of returning talent, from established All-State performers to some of the nation's most coveted recruits.High School On SI's preseason All-State team includes stars from several of the state's top-ranked programs, including preseason No. 1 Chicago Mt. Carmel, East St. Louis and Brother Rice. Notre Dame is particularly well represented, with four selections committed to the Fighting Irish.From record-setting quarterback Israel Abrams to five-star Brother Rice defensive lineman Kameron McGee, here is the 2026 High School On SI Illinois preseason All-State team.QB Israel Abrams, Montini Catholic, SRAbrams passed for 4,072 yards with 40 touchdowns and just six interceptions as a junior. The Montini Catholic senior is committed to Miami.RB Myson Johnson-Cook, East St. Louis, SRMyson Johnson-Cook rushed for more than 900 yards at DeSoto (Texas) as a sophomore before transferring to East St. Louis, where he led the Flyers with 1,341 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Johnson-Cook returned to Illinois last fall after rushing for more than 900 yards as a sophomore at DeSoto (Texas). He led East St. Louis with 1,341 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, helping the Flyers reach the Class 6A championship game. The senior is committed to Auburn.RB Jamar Lewis, King College Prep, JRLewis is the top junior running back in Illinois after rolling up 1,561 yards and 21 touchdowns.WR Quentin Burrell, Chicago Mt. Carmel, SRBurrell was named to several All-America teams as a junior, and he’s back for one more season after hauling in 67 receptions for 1,139 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Class 8A state champions. The senior is committed to Michigan.WR Bennett Konkey, Geneva, SRKonkey is looking to build on a junior season in which he caught 41 passes for 739 yards and nine touchdowns. The senior plans to stay in state and play for Illinois.TE Brock Williams, Libertyville, SRTexas commit Brock Williams is one of Illinois' top returning tight ends after catching 44 passes for 596 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.OL Ben Coleman, Providence Catholic, JRColeman is a 6-foot-4, 285-pound junior tackle with a four-star rating and a long list of college suitors.OL Joseph Frierdich, Carbondale, JRFrierdich is the top offensive lineman in the state’s junior class — a 6-foot-7, 260-pound tackle with the ability to add some weight to his frame.OL Mason Halliman, Lincoln-Way East, SRHalliman is a senior interior lineman who checks in at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds and remains uncommitted for now.OL Wyatt VanBoening, Carmel Catholic, JRVanBoening is a towering presence at 6-foot-7, 280 pounds and one of three four-star junior prospects at the position in Illinois.OL Cameron Wagner, St. Joseph-Ogden, SRThe senior Wagner is a future Oregon Duck with an imposing 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame.K Dane Olmstead, Freeburg, SROlmstead is both the top-ranked kicker and punter among Illinois seniors, and he’s a future Missouri Tiger.RS Silas Dean, Marshall, JRDean is one of the top return specialists in Illinois, with 20 returns a year ago for 498 yards (24.98 average), including returns of 88, 74 and 64 yards.DL David Folorunsho, St. Patrick, SRFolorunsho is the No. 2 overall-ranked prospect regardless of position among Illinois seniors, and he’s committed to Notre Dame.DL Kameron McGee, Brother Rice, JRMcGee is a five-star prospect rated by some analysts as the nation’s top recruit regardless of position in the Class of 2028. The junior remains uncommitted for now.DL Brayden Parks, Brother Rice, SRParks is another highly ranked senior defensive lineman, and he’ll team up with Folorunsho next year at Notre Dame.DL Darieon Prescott, Bolingbrook, JRThe four-star Prescott is the third preseason all-state defensive lineman on this list who plans to play for Notre Dame.LB Eliaz Egbe, Palatine, JREgbe is rated as a top-10 prospect on the state’s list of junior prospects.LB Roman Igwebuike, Chicago Mt. Carmel, SRThere isn’t a more highly regarded linebacker in Illinois than senior Igwebuike, who is set to join that trio of defensive linemen at Notre Dame.LB Jameer Miles, Carmel Catholic, JRMiles is making a name for himself as the highest-rated linebacker prospect among the state’s Class of 2028 juniors.DB Raheem Floyd, East St. Louis, SRFloyd is a senior cornerback for one of Illinois' top Class 6A contenders and is committed to Florida.DB Tavares Harrington, Chicago Mt. Carmel, SRHarrington is another highly rated prospect at cornerback who plans to attend Michigan.DB Logan Thompson, Althoff Catholic, JRThompson is a four-star cornerback who leads the way among the rated junior defensive backs in Illinois.DB Darrell Mattison, Morgan Park, SRMattison is a senior safety who is committed to Ole Miss.P Dane Olmstead, Freeburg, SRAs noted above, Olmstead is also the state’s top-ranked kicker, but it’s really his punting where the future Missouri Tiger excels. He’s rated as the No. 4 senior punter in the nation by Kohl’s Professional Camps.ATH Grant Bowen, Immaculate Conception, JRBowen is a tight end who is also being recruited as an athlete and may have the potential to change positions in college.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Illinois High School Football 2026 Preseason All-State Team
High School On SI's preseason Illinois high school football all-state team features a balance of upperclassmen from the Classes of 2027 and 2028, including esta






