SouthtownStar Athletes on Campus: Locals dot CCIW grid honor roll

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Joey Driver, Illinois Wesleyan football.

Updated: February 16, 2012 8:22AM

Two Southland residents recently concluded their playing careers on Illinois Wesleyan University’s football team, earning several honors in their final season.

Senior defensive end Ryan Jenkins (Rich South) was chosen to the First Team of the 2011 American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches’ All-America Team.

The Park Forest resident, who was also named to the Third Team of the All-North Region squad chosen by D3football.com, was the Titans’ Most Valuable Defensive Player and winner of the team’s Best Lineman award.

Jenkins finished the 2011 season with 47 total tackles, including 101/2 sacks for 44 yards in losses. He also had three forced fumbles, recovered a fumble and had three quarterback hurries.

For the second time in three seasons, Jenkins was a first-team College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection. He led the league by averaging 1.14 sacks per game. He missed the 2010 season because of a broken leg.

Jenkins is the 16th Illinois Wesleyan player to earn First-Team All-American honors in football and the first since Eric Esch was selected as a return specialist to the 2004 D3football.com All-America team.

Senior wide receiver Joey Driver was chosen Illinois Wesleyan’s MVP on offense, as well as the winner of the “Best Skill” award after leading the Titans in 2011 with 46 catches for 641 yards and six touchdowns.

The Rich Central graduate finished his career ranked No. 12 all-time in both receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,712). The Matteson resident is tied for seventh in Illinois Wesleyan history with 20 TD catches.

First-team selections Jenkins and Driver were among nine Wesleyan players named to the 2011 All-CCIW team. Driver was a member of the All-CCIW Second Team in 2010.

CCIW, Part 2

In addition to Jenkins and Driver, four other Southland residents earned All-CCIW spots.

North Central College senior lineman Willie Hayes (Lemont) was named to the All-CCIW First Team on defense. Hayes was 10th on the Cardinals in 2011 with 29 tackles. He had 91/2 tackles-for-loss, 61/2 sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

Earning a place on the All-CCIW Second Team on defense was Hayes’ teammate, Joey Michals (Providence). The junior linebacker paced the Cardinals in tackles with 88. The Frankfort native had five tackles-for-loss, 11/2 sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.

The final North Central honoree was senior tight end Alex Haan (Chicago Christian). The Homer Glen resident was named to the All-CCIW Second Team on offense after finishing the 2011 season with 11 receptions for 185 yards and five touchdowns.

Earning a berth on the All-CCIW Second Team on defense was Elmhurst College senior lineman Peter Alfano (Sandburg). The Orland Park resident had 39 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, three sacks and one forced fumble in 2011 for the Bluejays.

Lauding Lewis

Lewis University senior middle blocker Matt Gallik (Brother Rice) was among three volleyball players chosen to the 2012 Preseason All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Team.

Gallik was named an All-MIVA Second Team honoree for the second straight season in 2011. The Evergreen Park resident averaged 2.07 kills and 1.09 blocks during his junior campaign.