Illinois HS played football before the 2000’s… let’s hear all those draft picks….
- Thread starter DR.Eireog
- Start date
From Augustana! Won't see Augustana in the NFL again probably
Undrafted Sean Payton (Naperville C) became a spare Bear. I lost track of his career after that. I heard he got a job with Com Ed?!?!
Dwayne Goodrich – Richards HS (Oak Lawn) → 2000, Round 2
Simeon Rice – Mount Carmel HS (Chicago) → 1996, Round 1
Dana Howard – East St. Louis HS → 1995, Round 5
Ray Nitschke – Proviso HS → 1958 (Hall of Famer)
Dick Butkus – Chicago Vocational HS → 1965, Round 1
Donovan mcnabb - MC , 1999 - 2nd overall pick
Simeon Rice – Mount Carmel HS (Chicago) → 1996, Round 1
Dana Howard – East St. Louis HS → 1995, Round 5
Ray Nitschke – Proviso HS → 1958 (Hall of Famer)
Dick Butkus – Chicago Vocational HS → 1965, Round 1
Donovan mcnabb - MC , 1999 - 2nd overall pick
Gary Woolford of Joliet West. Round 6 New York Giants in 1977, played at Florida State.
If my memory serves me correctly. In 2003 the two High Schools with the most active players in the NFL were Mt. Carmel and Thornton Township HS with 5 each. The year before TTHS had 6 MC 5 and the year after MC 5 TTHS 4.
NFL draft picks from Mt. Carmel:
Darnell Hill #225 2002
Donovan McNabb #2 1998
Simeon Rice #3 1996
Nate Turner 167th 1992
Chris Calloway #95 1990
Frank Cornish #143 1990
Tony Furjanic #202 1986
Steve Lawson 41st 1971
Dan Goich 85th AFL & 121st NFL 1966
Elmer Angsman 16th 1946
Ziggy Czarobski 55th 1945
Bob David 253rd in 1947
NFL draft picks from Mt. Carmel:
Darnell Hill #225 2002
Donovan McNabb #2 1998
Simeon Rice #3 1996
Nate Turner 167th 1992
Chris Calloway #95 1990
Frank Cornish #143 1990
Tony Furjanic #202 1986
Steve Lawson 41st 1971
Dan Goich 85th AFL & 121st NFL 1966
Elmer Angsman 16th 1946
Ziggy Czarobski 55th 1945
Bob David 253rd in 1947
Carmel Catholic NFL Draft Picks:
Mike Wagner - class of 1967.
Drafted in the 11th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1971.
4x Super Bowl Champion (all with Steelers).
Pro Bowl in ‘75 & ‘76.
All Pro ‘76.
Career covered 11 NFL seasons.
Recently passed in February ‘26. RIP.
Jeff Zgonina - class of 1988.
Drafted in the 7th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1993.
1x Super Bowl Champion (Rams).
Career covered 17 NFL seasons.
I’ll add a post-2000 name - an absolutely fine person/leader:
Zaire Barnes - class of 2018.
Drafted in the 6th round by the New York Jets in
2023.
Currently with the New York Giants.
Mike Wagner - class of 1967.
Drafted in the 11th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1971.
4x Super Bowl Champion (all with Steelers).
Pro Bowl in ‘75 & ‘76.
All Pro ‘76.
Career covered 11 NFL seasons.
Recently passed in February ‘26. RIP.
Jeff Zgonina - class of 1988.
Drafted in the 7th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1993.
1x Super Bowl Champion (Rams).
Career covered 17 NFL seasons.
I’ll add a post-2000 name - an absolutely fine person/leader:
Zaire Barnes - class of 2018.
Drafted in the 6th round by the New York Jets in
2023.
Currently with the New York Giants.
Last edited:
Thornton Township with 6 guys in the NFL, that is impressive! I remember reading about back then.
Toriano Pride Jr. Talked With Media After Being Drafted in 7R by Buffalo Bills
CB Toriano Pride Jr. (Missouri) talks with the media on April 25th 2026, right after his seventh round selection. Topics include: playmaking abilities, reflecting on NFL Combine, matching up against Luther Burden III, overlapping at Clemson with T.J. Parker, and enjoying draft weekend.
Toriano Pride Jr. Talked With Media After Being Drafted By Buffalo | Buffalo Bills
CB Toriano Pride Jr. (Missouri) talks with the media on April 25th 2026, right after his seventh round selection. Topics include: playmaking abilities, reflecting on NFL Combine, matching up against Luther Burden III, overlapping at Clemson with T.J. Park
www.buffalobills.com
Active NFL Players from East St. Louis
| Player | Position | NFL Team | High School | Draft Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luther Burden III | WR | Chicago Bears | East St. Louis | 2025 (2nd Rd) |
| Antonio Johnson | S | Jacksonville Jaguars | East St. Louis | 2023 (5th Rd) |
| Dominic Lovett | WR | Detroit Lions | East St. Louis | 2025 (7th Rd) |
| Toriano Pride Jr. | CB | Buffalo Bills | East St. Louis | 2026 (7th Rd) |
| Melvin Priestly | OL | Detroit Lions | East St. Louis | 2026 UDFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre 2000 from Joliet Catholic
Tom Thayer- 4th round, 95th pick in 1983 out of Notre Dame
Mike Alstott- 2nd round, 35th pick in 1996 out of Purdue
Tom Thayer- 4th round, 95th pick in 1983 out of Notre Dame
Mike Alstott- 2nd round, 35th pick in 1996 out of Purdue
Rodney Harrison Marian Catholic/Western Illinois 1994 5th Round
Dennis Kelly Marian Catholic/Purdue 2012 5th Round
John Holocek Marian/Illinois 1995 5th round
Jerry Muckensturm is a former NFL linebacker born in Belleville, IL, on October 13, 1953. A standout from Althoff High School and Arkansas State, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 7th round (190th overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft. He is listed among notable professional football players from Belleville.
Key Details for Jerry Muckensturm:
Key Details for Jerry Muckensturm:
- Position: Linebacker (LLB)
- Draft: 1976, Chicago Bears (Round 7, Pick 190)
- College: Arkansas State University
- High School: Althoff High School (Belleville, IL)
- Dimensions: 6'4", 223 lbs
Belleville West's Rusty Lisch was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 4th round of the 1980 Draft after serving as a backup to Joe Montana earlier in his career at Notre Dame. He played sparingly over five seasons (1980–1984) with the Cardinals and Chicago Bears, during which he managed one touchdown and 11 interceptions. The TD pass was for a single yard to a tight end.
He is considered by many to be the least effective QB to have started multiple games.
Yet, as an overall athlete, there has never been a better from Belleville, and he was likely the NFL's best basketball player. He was 6/3, 213 pounds. Fast, quick, and could jump - he simply picked the wrong sport!
In 1981, with the Cardinals out of playoff contention and injuries to Ken Greene and Roy Green, Lisch was pressed into service as a free safety in the last three games of the season. Despite having previously never played the position, he agreed with head coach Jim Hanifan that this situation was better than being inactive on the sidelines.
In the fall of 1990, when he was 35, Rusty played QB against our starting D in skeleton-passing drills ... his arm strength was incredible. Batting down a ball from his hand HURT. Great guy too - but very intense!
He is considered by many to be the least effective QB to have started multiple games.
Yet, as an overall athlete, there has never been a better from Belleville, and he was likely the NFL's best basketball player. He was 6/3, 213 pounds. Fast, quick, and could jump - he simply picked the wrong sport!
In 1981, with the Cardinals out of playoff contention and injuries to Ken Greene and Roy Green, Lisch was pressed into service as a free safety in the last three games of the season. Despite having previously never played the position, he agreed with head coach Jim Hanifan that this situation was better than being inactive on the sidelines.
In the fall of 1990, when he was 35, Rusty played QB against our starting D in skeleton-passing drills ... his arm strength was incredible. Batting down a ball from his hand HURT. Great guy too - but very intense!
Last edited:
Here is a cheat sheet for those of you interested.
Here it is sorted by High School
List needs an asterisk since it lists "born in". No school in Illinois can claim Kirk Cousin just because he was born in Barrington.
According to our AI overlords there's been a little over 1,100 kids drafted from Illinois high schools since the NFL draft started in 1936, so take that for what it's worth.
HS success doesn't mean NFL success. Also, context matters, Iggy's last drafted player was in 1943.
I was more surprised that Provi has only ever had 3 players drafted.
Known as one of the toughest, meanest and most physical linemen to ever lace up the cleats for Mizzou, Magac was a second-team all-American in 1959 as a senior.
Mike Magac (2018) - Hall of Fame - University of Missouri Athletics
University of Missouri Athletics
A quick story. Majac famously delayed the original fantasy football draft for one of the oldest ongoing leagues in the nation because he wanted linemen recognized for their value before acquiescing to arguments that running back TD scoring accounted for line play. Once the big man was satisfied, they could proceed with the original scoring model developed by some New York-based Golden Domers who created the multi-billion dollar system that exists today.
Last edited: