April 14, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University recruits Omar Conteh, Chris Jeske and Tyrell Sutton have been named Old Spice Red Zone Players of the Year, joining an elite group of 50 players from across the country to achieve the annual honor.
While the game of football is played over 100 yards, true character and determination are often defined in the Red Zone. The Old Spice Red Zone High School Football Player of the Year program uniquely recognizes those high school football players who elevated their play and that of their teammates in the Red Zone. The Red Zone athlete embodies and exemplifies leadership and performance. He's the one player the coach looks to when the game is truly on the line.
"It's a very special award, to be honored out of all the great athletes in the country. It means a lot because it not only shows the effort I put into it but also the effort of the coaches and my teammates," Sutton said of winning the award.
"I was honored to be named to the team because I didn't think people outside of Texas really knew me," said Conteh.
The players were nominated by their high school coaches and selected by the Red Zone Judging Committee from a large pool of nominees from more than 4,500 participating high school football teams to receive this honor.
"Chris leads by example. Chris is a true team player, always giving credit to his teammates," said Dan Sharp, coach at Joliet Catholic Academy, where Jeske starred.
As Old Spice Red Zone Players of the Year, Conteh, Jeske and Sutton were honored in a full-page congratulatory announcement in USA Today on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005 along with the newspaper's coverage of National Letter of Intent Signing Day.
Conteh and Sutton are both running backs, and Jeske is a linebacker. The trio will join the Wildcats in August.