23 Days to Kickoff: Simeon

Share

NBCSportsChicago.com preps reporter "Edgy" Tim O’Halloran spotlights 100 high school football teams in 100 days. The first 75 team profiles will focus on teams making strides across Chicagoland and elsewhere in the state. Starting Aug. 5, we’ll unveil the @NBCSPrepsTop 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 30.

School: Simeon

Head coach: Dante Culbreath

How they fared in 2018: 11-1 (5-0 CPL Illini Red Bird Conference). Simeon made the Class 7A state playoff field and defeated Rockford East and Lincoln-Way West. They lost to Nazareth Academy in the quarterfinal round.
 
2019 regular season schedule:

Aug. 31 @ Southfield Christian (MI) 
Sept. 7 @ St. Francis Academy (MD)
Sept. 13 vs Lincoln Park (at Lane Tech) 
Sept. 20 @ Solorio 
Sept. 28 vs Perspectives 
Oct. 5 vs. Phillips (at Gately)
Oct. 11 @ Hubbard (at Gately)
Oct. 18 vs. Taft (at Gately)
Oct. 24 vs Curie (at Gately)

[MORE: 65 Days to Kickoff - Solorio] 

Biggest storyline: Simeon, one of the most consistent Chicago Public League football programs, is going for their 19th straight IHSA postseason berth. Can the Wolverines reload at a few key positions and make another lengthy postseason run?

Names to watch this season: ATH Chau Smith (Sr.) and OL Khalyl Warren (Sr., SE Misouri)

Biggest holes to fill: The Wolverines will need to replace a handful of key starters lost to graduation, including QB Alante Brown (Texas Tech).

EDGY's Early Take: Coach Dante Culbreath's Wolverines had a strong run in 2018, which included a last-minute loss to eventual 7A state champion Nazareth. While some key names have graduated, Simeon still has plenty of kids to build around this season. Senior ATH Chau Smith is a D-1 recruit, impact player and overall gamebreaker. The offensive line is a strength, led by senior Khalyl Warren and junior OT Cameron James (6-foot-8, 280 pounds). The team will hit the road quite a bit in the early going, including back-to-back trips to Michigan and Maryland. If they can avoid bus lag, they can win a lot of games. The Oct. 5 game vs. Phillips is filled with plenty of intrigue. The overall talent level and potential this fall is impressive and the Wolverines undoubtedly belong in the Top 25. 

Contact Us