Fenwick senior linebacker Jack Paris hasn’t experienced the thrill of winning a state title. But three of his older siblings did.
His brothers Conor and Martin were the leading tackles in the Friars’ victory in the 2021 Class 5A state championship game, and his sister Maeve played doubles when the girls tennis team won the 2022 Class 1A state title.
So Jack Paris is highly motivated as he begins his final high school football season.
“It’s ring season now,” he said.
To win a state title, Fenwick will need what its coaches have come to expect from the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Jack Paris, who has offers from Air Force, Akron, Army, Ball State, Buffalo, Navy, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Wyoming and multiple Ivy League programs, among others. He recorded 83 tackles, including 35 for loss, with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for the Friars (4-5) in eight games as a safety last season.
“He’s the leader of the team,” Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia said. “Jack has high expectations for himself and the team. He really wants to have the similar experiences as his brothers did on the state title team.”
To that end, Jack Paris has moved from the secondary, where his brother Martin played, to linebacker, which was his brother Conor’s position. Jack Paris and senior defensive end Nate Marshall, who was visited by Miami coach Mario Cristobal in a helicopter earlier this year and recently committed to Auburn, are two of six starters back on defense.
“He’s a student of the game and just loves football,” Battaglia said of Jack Paris. “He’s fearless and not afraid to come downhill and meet the hole and make a tackle.
“We moved him into the box after he played safety last year for us. He’s grown physically, so we wanted him closer to the line of scrimmage.”
Jack Paris also wrestles and qualified for the state meet in February. His father, Marty, wrestled at Drake, and his mother, Kerry, played volleyball at St. Norbert. Jack Paris said his grandfather was an all-state linebacker at Oak Park-River Forest and then played football and wrestled at Northwestern.
But Conor Paris said Jack has managed to distinguish himself.
“Jack’s competitiveness and hatred for losing is something that I’ve always known set him apart,” Conor Paris said. “He’s big, strong and fast. He’s easily the most physically gifted in our family.
“But what makes Jack great are his nonmeasurables like heart, toughness and work ethic. He got blessed with his physical ability, but his nonmeasurable traits are what truly make him a rare player.”
Martin Paris said he got an early glimpse of Jack’s drive to win when he scored 25 goals in soccer as an 8-year-old, and noted Jack gravitated toward leadership positions in grade school, playing quarterback and middle linebacker.
“All sports came naturally to him,” Martin Paris said. “Because he was so good, he became a natural leader.
“Jack’s the most competitive kid I know. He hates losing, definitely more than he likes winning. His goal is a state championship, just like my brother, sister and me. He’s put in the work thus far to make it happen, but there’s a lot more to be done, and he knows that.”
Jack Paris said his twin brothers were an early source of motivation for him.
“I always played ball with my brothers and their friends in the backyard,” Jack Paris said. “I was able to even go to a few of their practices in high school. It really sparked something in me. It was cool to see them win a state title. I saw them working extremely hard in the offseason in the garage every day. It really showed me how much hard work means.”
Conor and Martin Paris also showed Jack how to be a leader.
“What I learned from Martin, especially playing safety, is you have to be a leader by action, but the vocal part is huge,” Jack Paris said. “Martin was a real vocal leader and backed it up with his actions, and he played really hard.
“I ask Conor questions all the time. He told me everything I need to do at linebacker. I listen to him a lot.”
Now Jack Paris is ready to make one last mark at Fenwick.
“I feel really good,” he said. “This is the most dangerous I’ve ever felt playing football.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
