Here are the top 15 sleepers for Michigan's class of 2014. I'm calling it the Pedersen/Herremans top 15 sleeper list in honor of current Wisconsin tight end Jacob Pedersen (Menominee) and current Philadelphia Eagle offensive lineman Todd Herremans (Ravenna, Saginaw Valley State).
Pedersen was a last second Badger signee who toiled away in obscruity in the Upper Peninsula despite winning a state championship and starring for one of the state's top football programs, while Herremans was a dominant offensive lineman from a Class C-sized West Michigan school. Why Herremans, who has started over 100 games in the NFL, didn't play Big Ten or MAC football for one of Michigan's five Division I programs is, and always will be, a mystery to me.
So many players like Pedersen, who was named first-team All-Big Ten last season, and Herremans fall through the cracks in the state of Michigan and end up suiting up for out-state colleges or Division II or III schools. It's a shame. The list of players unidentified or misevaluated throughout the years by our five football playing D-I colleges is shocking.
Off the top of my head, here are just a few players that went unnoticed their senior year of high school in Michigan and ended up playing out-state or at the Division II or III level before ending up on NFL rosters -- Cameron Bradfield (Grand Rapids Creston, Grand Valley State, current starting right tackle for Jacksonville Jaguars), Brandon Carr (Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Grand Valley State, current starting cornerback for Dallas Cowboys), Joquie Bell (Benton Harbor, Wayne State, current Detroit Lions running back), Chris Greenwood (Detroit King, Albion College, current Detroit Lions defensive back), Jared Veldheer (Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Hillsdale, current starting left tackle for Oakland Raiders), Pete Metzelaars (Portage Central, Wabash (Ind.) College, three-time Pro Bowl tight end and four-time Super Bowl participant with Buffalo Bills), Tim Kearney (Kingsford, Northern Michigan, 10-year NFL career as starting linebacker mainly with St. Louis Cardinals, 1975-81), Dwight Smith (Detroit Central, Akron, eight-year NFL career, returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXVII as starting corner for Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and on and on...
I find it hard to believe there is another state with more elite players passed over by its Division I college football playing schools than Michigan. Let's hope it stops. Okay, I'm stepping off my soap box.
Last year's No. 1 sleeper Allegan defensive back-wide receiver Gary Jones signed with Central Michigan. Jones (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) is an incredible talent. Not only is he talented on the football field, he also is one of the state's top track and field performers. His top marks entering his senior season included times of 10.6 in the 100 and 21.6 in the 200, while also high jumping 6-6 and long jumping 23-0. If he decides to strictly concentrate on football at CMU, watch out, the Chippewas could have their next NFL first rounder.
Here are the top 15 sleepers for Michigan's class of 2014. Any Division I college football coach (hopefully those from the state of Michigan) would be smart to sign any one of the following players. All 15 can play at the Division I level (whether it be high, mid or low), but for some reason don't seem to be getting much publicity or buzz statewide and/or nationally.
1. Alex Neering-6-7, 240-DE-Essexville-Garber
2. Doug Freeman-5-11, 200-RB-DB-Buchanan
3. Jake Kasenski-6-5, 240-TE-Ludington
4. Marquian Johnson-6-4, 185-WR-Clawson
5. Amari Coleman-5-9, 175-WR-RB-DB-New Lothrup
6. Chris Greca-6-5, 305-DT-Grass Lake
7. Drew Dowding-6-2, 205-LB-Michigan Center
8. Devonte McGregor-6-4, 205-LB-RB-Taylor Truman
9. Archie Naert-6-3, 265-DT-Reese
10. Isaak Newhouse-6-0, 185-DB-Grand Haven
11. Derek Postma-6-4, 240-DE-Grand Rapids South Christian
12. Donnie Ernsberger-6-3, 220-LB-Battle Creek Lakeview
13. Asantay Brown-5-11, 170-WR-Muskegon Mona Shores
14. Devon Harris-5-11, 165-DB-Menominee
15. Kevin Weiler-6-3, 285-OG-Swartz Creek
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