With the College Football Bowl Season underway, several Naperville area players are making their marks on the big stage after standout prep careers on the gridiron!
Bowl games already completed
After winning the 2025 MAC Championship, Western Michigan dominated Kennesaw State 41-6 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on December 19th. Two former Neuqua Valley Wildcats are on the Broncos roster in kicker Palmer Domschke and defensive back Versie Walker Jr.
Former Naperville Central wide receiver Jadon Thompson wrapped up his collegiate career in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl with Memphis. The Tigers fell to NC State by a 31-7 score on December 19th.
Another recent Naperville Central receiver is heading to a bowl game with Toledo. Former Redhawk DeShaun Williams and the Rockets played in Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl on December 23rd. Toledo fell to Louisville 27-22.
The University of Minnesota has a pair of local athletes on the roster, both playing at the tight end position. Redshirt junior Pierce Walsh from Benet Academy and Waubonsie Valley graduate, redshirt sophomore Julian Johnson and the Golden Gophers defeated 20-17 New Mexico in overtime to win the Rate Bowl on Friday, December 26th.
Grant Ellinger, a former Naperville Central offensive lineman competed in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl with the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday, December 27th against Missouri. Virginia won a tight game over the Tigers, 13-7.
Former Naperville North standout kicker David Olano and the University of Illinois will play in the Music City Bowl against Tennessee on Tuesday, December 30th. Olano earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors this season. Fighting Illini junior tight end Jordan Anderson grew up in Naperville, but attended Joliet Catholic. Junior offensive lineman TJ McMillen also grew up in Naperville, and attended St. Francis.
Olano played the hero for Illinois in the team’s thrilling 30-28 victory over the Volunteers, kicking three field goals, including the 29-yard game winner as time expired.
Jordan Anderson delivered the key play of the final drive, picking up 15 yards up the middle on fourth and one with just over two minutes remaining and the Illini trailing 28-27.
Upcoming bowl games
Another former Naperville Central Redhawk, defensive lineman Jake Stanish took part in one of the most successful seasons in Vanderbilt football history. The Commodores will play against Iowa in the Reliaquest Bowl on December 31st at 11 am.
Squaring off against Stanish and the Commodores will be former Neuqua Valley quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has led Iowa to an 8-4 record. The two-time FCS National Champion from South Dakota State has done most of his damage with his legs, rushing for 15 touchdowns and passing for eight through the air.
Benet Academy alum John Weidenbach, who won the 2023 National Championship with the Michigan Wolverines as a freshman, is in his junior season as a linebacker with the Wolverines. Michigan will play Texas in the Cheez It Citrus Bowl on December 31st at 4:30 pm.
A chance at a National Championship for Jacob Bell
There is one local player taking part in the College Football Playoff, former Naperville North quarterback Jacob Bell. The former Huskie is a freshman with the number one ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Bell spent the fall learning under 2025 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. The Big Ten Champion Hoosiers will begin their playoff journey in the quarterfinals against Alabama in the Rose Bowl on January 1st at 3:00 pm.
