Best football player to come out region?

[FlyingAngel]

Parkhurst's "son"

In reality,

Tom Harmon (Heisman) - Horace Mann
and
Alex Karras (PFHOF) - Emerson

2 more great options. How about Lonnie Johnson jr?

[paintballer]

It’s gotta be Kawann Short for the modern era players. Wilson comes close but Short was a damn good player for a stretch of his career and he played in that Super Bowl with the panthers if I’m remembering correctly

Lonnie is up there for sure too

[MikeAlabaster]

Can't forget Jeff Samardzija. Would have been drafted to the NFL if he didn't choose baseball.

[Richielikelionel]

Jeff Samardija was an absolute monster.

[NWI10]

Jeff Clemons from Lowell. Hell of a football player.

[Jimbo23]

All Timers...
Kawann Short - East Chicago
Eugene Wilson - Merrillville
Mike Neal - Merrillville
Ryan Neal - Merrillville
James Aldridge - Merrillville

Recent...
Drayk Bowen - Andrean
Kenneth Grant - Merrillville
Xavier Williams - Lake Central

My vote for "Best" is Kawann Short, for now. If Drayk Bowen gets a 2nd contract in his NFL career, he will be my #1 choice, easily. But for now... It's KK for me.

Jimbo's Top 5 (subject to change)
1. Kawann Short - East Chicago
2. Eugene Wilson - Merrillville
3. Mike Neal - Merrillville
4. Ryan Neal - Merrillville
5. Drayk Bowen - Andrean

Not a bad list. I have always wondered head to head who people would choose between drayk and grant.

Does Trevor Gibbs deserve to be up there

Trevor Gibbs could/ likely will be up there one day. I included guys who have (so far) contributed in some way at the next level, at minimum, but tried to include NFL guys. I saw someone else mention Lonnie Johnson, that's another good one that I've seen or coached against personally.

[BallinFreak]

Jeff Clemons from Lowell. Hell of a football player.

Really really REALLY good player. But IMO not in the same category as the others mentioned here.

Samardija is a good mention. He definitely deserves it.

[nwifbfan]

All the above mentioned players were/are excellent players. For me to make the list, the player must have excelled in hs, played at a high level in college and played professionally ( NFL, MLB, NBA). After that, I think you look at those that excelled in the NFL ie All Pro, Super Bowls, etc.

[Jimbo23]

All the above mentioned players were/are excellent players. For me to make the list, the player must have excelled in hs, played at a high level in college and played professionally ( NFL, MLB, NBA). After that, I think you look at those that excelled in the NFL ie All Pro, Super Bowls, etc.

I was trying to follow a similar criteria but was not perfect so I'll adjust my list accordingly. This criteria will make me flip flop on Bowen vs Grant (for now) but as I mentioned, Drayk is NFL success away from seriously climbing this list.

Jimbo's NEW Top 10 (subject to change)
1. Alex Karras - Gary Emerson
2. Tom Harmon - Horace Mann
3. Kawann Short - East Chicago
4. Eugene Wilson - Merrillville
5. Mike Neal - Merrillville
6. Jeff Samardzija - Valparaiso
7. Lonnie Johnson - West Side
8. Ryan Neal - Merrillville
9. Kenneth Grant - Merrillville
10. Drayk Bowen - Andrean

[cridge]

Bob Kuchenburg - Hibart
Irv Criss - Hammond

Gerald Irons. Gary Roosevelt