Explosive athlete’ Omari Rhinehart might be the multipurpose weapon Mundelein needs to end a 15-year playoff drought

There isn’t much mystery in how Mundelein likes to use Omari Rhinehart.

As much as possible.

So far this season, the senior’s extreme versatility is paying dividends for the Mustangs in every phase of the game.

“We definitely saw this coming,” Mundelein coach Vince DeFrancesco said. “His hands have improved, and he’s gotten bigger. He’s blossomed into an explosive athlete.”

Rhinehart doesn’t seem bound by down, distance or side of the ball

He has accounted for 279 yards and rushed for four touchdowns through three games. A strong safety on defense, he is the Mustangs’ leading tackler. And he also has two touchdown returns on special teams — one on a kickoff against Grayslake Central on Sept. 3 and the other on a punt against Waukegan on Sept. 10.

“It’s been fun, and they’ve been putting me everywhere,” Rhinehart said.

Rhinehart’s emergence as a do-it-all weapon has coincided with Mundelein’s solid start. But it remains to be seen whether the Mustangs (2-1, 1-0) can end a 15-year playoff drought. They will play Stevenson (0-3, 0-1) in a North Suburban Conference game on Friday.

“We came into the season with an edge, really believing in ourselves,” Rhinehart said. “It’s time to make Mundelein into a winning program, and we want to be the class to make that happen.”