Westlake’s Guenther Will Sign Letter With Illinois : Football: Marmonte League co-player of year has dreamed of playing for the Illini since he was 5.

Eric Guenther, the Marmonte League’s co-player of the year from Westlake High, said Tuesday he will sign a letter of intent to play football at Illinois.

The NCAA’s weeklong football signing period is next month.

Guenther, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound linebacker, also visited North Carolina State. He also scheduled trips to California, Colorado State and Oregon State, but canceled them after picking the Illini.

“I always wanted to go there,” Guenther said. “Ever since I was 5, I dreamed of playing for the Illini.”

Guenther lived in Illinois until his freshman year of high school. His uncle, Ron Guenther, has been athletic director at Illinois since 1992 and is a former Illini offensive lineman. Guenther’s father, Hank, played at Illinois State.

Eric Guenther shared the league’s player of the year honors with teammate Billy Miller. Coaches also named him Ventura County defensive lineman of the year. He was made The Times’ All-Ventura County team and was All-Southern Section in Division III.

Guenther will become the fourth Westlake linebacker to go Division I since 1991. Vince Bruno (Pacific), Mike Talbot (Army) and Mike Tetzlaff (Arizona) are the others.