FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

Wheaton's roster is up (sort of). 132 players

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/football/roster

[USee]

Millikin just posted their 2021 roster (sans freshmen) and it has just 39 players. They had almost 60 eligible to return this fall from their 2020 roster and closer to 70 from their 2019 roster. Hope it's not a sign of the times.

Millikin's Roster (before freshmen are added) has 3 WR, 2 RB's and 1 QB.

Update on the Millikin roster. 110 total including 63 freshmen. 47 returnees (up from 39). They still have 1 senior QB and 6 freshmen as potential backups.

[USee]

My predictions for 2021 and order of finish in the CCIW:

Wheaton
North Central
Millikin
WashU
IWU
Carthage
Augie
North Park
Elmhurst
Carroll

There is some high variability in these picks because NCC and Carroll have not yet posted 2021 rosters. If NCC brings back everyone who still has eligibilty I would pick them over Wheaton because they would have 9 starters back on defense and 7 on offense. They literally would be a QB away. For now I have Wheaton with a slight edge primarily because the play each other early, the game is @Wheaton, and Wheaton has the veteran QB and a dominant from 7 on D. But if NCC returns everybody, I would lean toward them as the CCIW favorite. Carroll has 16 players from their 2019 2 deep that were listed as Jr's then. If they all come back I would pick Carroll several spots higher. I think it's unlikely.

Wheaton has 12 starters returning including their QB and DPOY and will have the best defensive front 7 in the country, by a margin.

NCC has potentially (depending on the listed Jrs returning) as many as 16 returning starters and 35 of the 44 listed on their 2019 2 deep, far more than anyone else (Wheaton has 25 of 44 from their 2 deep in 2019). After the top two, Millikin has the most starters returning from 2019 (11--5 on offense, 6 on defense) and they beat IWU in the spring when IWU was playing with now graduated seniors. Millikin was horrible on defense in the spring however (gave up 34 pts a game) so I think the grouping of WashU/Millikin/IWU/Carthage is really close in my opinion.

Carthage brings back the second most starters of anyone below the top 2 with 9 (4 offense, 5 defense). Their victory over Millikin in the spring included Billy Drury at QB who isn't back and a couple other graduates so not sure what to make of that.

IWU has the most to replace of any upper half CCIW team. They have 11 of 44 from their 2019 2 deep with only 5 returning starters (4 on offense, 1 on defense). They are talking about starting a freshman QB (which has worked out in the past, but with a lot more experience). 

North Park and Elmhurst bring back the most of the bottom 4 (depending on Carroll). North Park has 16 of 44 from their 2019 2 deep and 8 starters (6 off, 2 def) they also got some experience in the spring with 3 games, though they scored just 14 pts total in those games. Elmhurst didn't play in the spring and has 19/44 from their 2019 2 deep returning with 6 starter (2 on off, 4 on def).

Again, these predictions could be wildly off because every team has 2 years of players we really haven't seen much from.

[HAMBO]

Thank you, USee, for your CCIW perspective.  The collective wisdom of this board agrees that there is an obvious separation between NCC/Wheaton and the rest of the conference. I believe there is a real battle for 3rd place among the next 5 in your list. Regarding Millikin, I agree that the Big Blue has many starters returning but depth is lacking at QB and RB where backups are total newcomers to the roster.  An injury to QB Pohrte would be devastating.  Thus Millikin is the big wild-card in the league (unpredictable). It is interesting to see the number of Millikin recruits from out of state -- like Texas.

[Next Man Up]

Thank you, USee, for your CCIW perspective.  The collective wisdom of this board agrees that there is an obvious separation between NCC/Wheaton and the rest of the conference. I believe there is a real battle for 3rd place among the next 5 in your list. Regarding Millikin, I agree that the Big Blue has many starters returning but depth is lacking at QB and RB where backups are total newcomers to the roster.  An injury to QB Pohrte would be devastating.  Thus Millikin is the big wild-card in the league (unpredictable). It is interesting to see the number of Millikin recruits from out of state -- like Texas.

I could be wrong, but I think a serious injury to any starting QB in the conference would be devastating.

It's entirely possible that, overall, the best high school football in the country is played in the Lone Star State. The other contenders, in no particular order, being Florida, California, and Pennsylvania.

[HAMBO]

I agree but Millikin's backup QB is a freshman which may be unique.

[79jaybird]

Ah finally game week.     Just a FYI-  Week 1 of the CCIW Pick Em's is posted on the Pick Em's board.

I agree Wheaton is the team to beat this year.   

[BIG BLUE BEN]

I agree but Millikin's backup QB is a freshman which may be unique.

Take this with a grain of salt but I am hearing that one of Millikin's freshman QB's is said to have a very unique lively arm that has people excited. If the rumors are even slightly true and a freshman has come in and pushed a 5th year returning starter to the brink for the job... then it sounds like Millikin is going to be in good hands regardless of who wins the starts moving forward. With that said, if its close, tie goes to the 5th year and I believe Cal will look like a veteran starting QB in the CCIW this year. Cal is an old school type of QB, a true leader of the team, great student and a competitor who will do anything to win and doesn't care about his stats. Look for the freshman QB to get some time if Millikin does what they should and blows out Greenville College Week 1. Should be a fun day to watch alot of young new faces play in there first college game. ALOT of freshman on this team (for Millikin standards in last decade) hopefully there are a few more ALL TIMERS in this class.

In honor of the great Nicco Stepina, please check out his CCIW record setting Junior season below and his career highlight tape. GAME WEEK BABY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdshDYN6cc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEHi_kAHlFU

[cciwman]

Ah finally game week.     Just a FYI-  Week 1 of the CCIW Pick Em's is posted on the Pick Em's board.

I agree Wheaton is the team to beat this year.

Can you point me where the Pick Em's board is located?  Thanks

[Dr. Acula]

Ah finally game week.     Just a FYI-  Week 1 of the CCIW Pick Em's is posted on the Pick Em's board.

I agree Wheaton is the team to beat this year.

Can you point me where the Pick Em's board is located?  Thanks

Here you go Pick em board

[Thunderdome21]

North Central's 2021 Roster is up. https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/2021  They have a D-1 transfer QB from Eastern Kentucky University (FCS) named Alphonso Howard on the roster. He also played for ASA community college in Brooklyn NY. They have a total of 149 players on the roster.   

[robertgoulet]

North Central's 2021 Roster is up. https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/2021  They have a D-1 transfer QB from Eastern Kentucky University (FCS) named Alphonso Howard on the roster. He also played for ASA community college in Brooklyn NY. They have a total of 149 players on the roster.   

Heck of a change to the QB room after only having 1 listed on the 2020 roster. In looking at the available options it seems like there's a lot of talent there. Just have to hope they make the right decision to start the season.

[USee]

North Central's 2021 Roster is up. https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/2021  They have a D-1 transfer QB from Eastern Kentucky University (FCS) named Alphonso Howard on the roster. He also played for ASA community college in Brooklyn NY. They have a total of 149 players on the roster.   

Alponso Howard looks like a grown man! His pic doesn't look like a college FB player. For what it's worth, my money is on Luke Lehnen as NCC's starting QB.

[robertgoulet]

North Central's 2021 Roster is up. https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/2021  They have a D-1 transfer QB from Eastern Kentucky University (FCS) named Alphonso Howard on the roster. He also played for ASA community college in Brooklyn NY. They have a total of 149 players on the roster.   

Alponso Howard looks like a grown man! His pic doesn't look like a college FB player. For what it's worth, my money is on Luke Lehnen as NCC's starting QB.

In looking at the high school stats of the QBs on the roster, most of them seem more dual-threat than Broc was. Not that Rutter was a statue, but will add a different element to the position.

[Thunderdome21]

North Central's 2021 Roster is up. https://northcentralcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/2021  They have a D-1 transfer QB from Eastern Kentucky University (FCS) named Alphonso Howard on the roster. He also played for ASA community college in Brooklyn NY. They have a total of 149 players on the roster.   

Alphonso Howard looks like a grown man! His pic doesn't look like a college FB player. For what it's worth, my money is on Luke Lehnen as NCC's starting QB.

He graduated from high school in 2016. Even though he's a junior, he's the some age as the 6th year seniors.