Two-way lineman Drain crucial to PR’s plans

Prairie Ridge defensive end and offensive tackle Greg Drain runs through a blocking drill during practice at the high school Tuesday in Crystal Lake. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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CRYSTAL LAKE – Prairie Ridge football coach Chris Schremp holds Greg Drain in such high regard that he’s bucking tradition.

Schremp normally platoons offensive and defensive players, but he believes Drain is too valuable not to play on both lines.

“I like that [the coaches] say that about me,” Drain, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior, said. “I never was a big fan of offense, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Drain will be a driving force at defensive end and should help at offensive tackle, where he will help pave the way for the Wolves’ option attack.

Drain was a backup defensive end as a sophomore, then was a full-time starter last season. He has drawn interest from several NCAA Division I schools with his size, speed and academic standing (a 3.6 GPA and 27 ACT score).

“For [Drain’s] size, he has great speed,” Wolves safety Devon Vance said. “He’s usually first in our sprints for the D-linemen, even the linebackers. He can really move for a big guy.”

Vance said the defensive players also appreciate Drain for another important reason.

“He’s usually the one getting everyone pumped up because he’s been up here for a while now,” Vance said. “He knows what he’s doing and he makes sure everyone else is doing it to their full potential.”

Drain enjoys sharing his enthusiasm.

“The team gets more excited when I’m in because I yell and get them going a little bit,” he said.

Drain attended two one-day camps over the summer at Northwestern and another at Western Michigan. He has interest from some Mid-American Conference schools, but his top choice would be Northwestern.

“It hasn’t been that long since I realized [D-I football] was a possibility,” Drain said. “Coach Schremp started talking to me about it last year and I started thinking about it. It’s been my dream since I was little to play D-I football.”

Before that happens, Drain will contribute on both sides for the Wolves, who are trying to win their fourth consecutive Fox Valley Conference Fox Division title.

“The first question [about playing both ways] is, ‘Can they mentally handle it?’ ” Schremp said. “He’s a really smart kid, so he passes the test there. He’s in great shape to play that many downs. So far, he’s shown that he can handle it mentally and physically.”