Mount Carmel’s Darrion Dupree has been getting the highest form of praise all season.

The senior running back/receiver picked up huge accolades on a hot afternoon in August from coach Jordan Lynch, who was relaxed as he sat in his office before practice while talking at length about his headliner. He then concluded with a glowing statement.

“He’s special,” Lynch said of Dupree. “He’s one of the best in the country.”

On a freezing Saturday evening at Hancock Stadium in Normal, after the Caravan defeated Downers Grove North 35-10 to win the Class 7A state championship, junior quarterback Jack Elliott was warming up after a news conference on the first floor of the Kaufman Football Building at Illinois State and had even warmer things to say about his teammate.

“He’s the best player in Mount Carmel history,” Elliott said of Dupree. “I’ll stand on that. And I think our coaches will stand on it.”

It’s one thing for coaches and teammates to brag about a player. It’s another for a group of veteran reporters in the press box on state championship weekend to “ooh” and “aah” over him from a performance in the previous week’s game.

Dupree, the 2023 Daily Southtown Football Player of the Year, scored four touchdowns in the opening 14 minutes of a state semifinal against Batavia. It was like throwing a match into a barrel of gasoline during a 64-26 win.

He dazzled with big plays, including a 35-yard run and TD catches of 74 and 27 yards.

For those keeping score at home, the Caravan totaled 670 yards and obliterated the previous program record of 565 against DePaul, which was set in 1950. Dupree ignited that.

He touched the ball just six times but accounted for 175 yards, making circus catches, breaking tackles and shredding a defense that hadn’t given up more than 21 points in a game.

It’s something Elliott has seen from the first day.

“He can run, catch, pass and block,” Elliott said. “He can tackle you. I’m going to miss him next year. He’s going to be impactful at the next level.”

While Elliott will be trying to help the Caravan win a third straight state title in 2024, Dupree’s plan is to open his college career at Wisconsin.

Before the season, he made his decision to attend the Big Ten school, but then received an offer from Alabama. He mulled over taking a visit to Tuscaloosa, which had many Badger fans uneasy on social media.

In the wild and crazy world of recruiting, anything can happen between now and the Dec. 20 early signing date. But as of Saturday night, Madison appears to be his destination.

He said he never took that visit south.

“It’s a done deal — it’s Wisconsin all the way,” Dupree said. “I really like the school. I’m undecided on my major, but they will help me find my major.

“It’s not all about football. They will develop me as a player and a student.”

Daily Southtown

Twice-weekly

News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Dupree finished this season with 1,092 yards rushing, 755 yards receiving and 24 total TDs. He was named the Lawless Award winner in the tough CCL/ESCC Blue.

In 2022, Dupree was having a spectacular junior season but didn’t see action in the playoffs after hurting his toe in a regular season-ending victory on the road over Loyola, which has won the last two Class 8A state titles.

In the regular-season finale this season at Loyola, Dupree was physically fine but emotionally didn’t like the 23-21 setback to the Ramblers.

Overall, he was happy about having a successful senior season. But to the competitor in him, that loss still burns.

“I’m happy we can get another ring,” Dupree said of winning the state championship. “But for sure, I took that loss hard. That loss changed us as a team.

“I’m not glad we lost, but that loss built us and taught us to not go lightly against a team.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.