I know the Illinois football season...

...is still in diapers, but I can't help thinking that the competition for Player of the Year award will come down to Wheaton Warrenville South quarterback Reilly O'Toole (above) and St. Rita running back Jahwon Akui.

In just two games, O'Toole has passed for 513 yards and 6 touchdowns. Not bad, especially considering the Tigers' opponents -- Hinsdale Central and Maine South.

While the WWS senior has already committed to Illinois, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald has told O'Toole that he is not going to stop recruiting him. Either way, I could see this kid playing in the Big Ten, er, Big Eleven, er, Big Twelve -- whatever they call it now.

Akui, despite a slow start in Week 1, has run for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns. Last year, after an ankle injury robbed him of three full games and most of two others, Akui still managed to finish with better than 1,800 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns, including four in last year's 34-20 Prep Bowl victory over Simeon. In the off-season, the 5' 7" senior gained over 20 pounds and now weighs in at 194.

(Akui was raised in Bellwood and lives in Oak Park. Why St. Rita? "My dad always told me they played in a good conference. I saw the St. Rita-Mount Carmel game on TV when I was in sixth and eighth grade. I knew they always had a good wrestling program. And they had a good running back before me, Wade Weyer, who I read about.")

Hey (Fenwick coach) Joe DiCanio and (Oak Park and River Forest coach) Jim Nudera: What's the matter with you guys? How did you let Akui get away? Come on!

Others to watch:

Quarterback Reece Butler, Wheaton North -- 522 yards passing so far this season with 5 touchdowns.

Running back Joe Cassata, Stevenson -- 265 yards rushing last week against Glenbrook South and 7 touchdowns on the year.

Running back Shepard Little, Schaumburg -- 550 yards rushing in the first two games with 3 touchdowns.