What a final two weeks of the Michigan high school football regular season, huh? So many incredible match-ups, I don't know where to begin. Let's take a look at the Week 8 and Week 9 top games. Plus, I'll have an update on former Michigan high school football standouts in the NFL.
Week 8 highlights-
DeWitt (8-0) 13, Portland (7-1) 7-Lansing area's marquee game, defending D-5 state champs fall
Lowell (8-0) 35, Grand Rapids Christian (6-2) 34 (2OTs)-Red Arrows one of Michigan's best
Macomb Dakota (8-0) 52, Chippewa Valley (7-1) 7-Dakota might have state's top defense
Detroit Catholic Central (7-1) 20, Warren DeLaSalle (5-3) 14-Crazy finish saw Shamrocks score on game's last play. The Pilots have to be the best 5-3 team in the country, losing on last-second plays to Birmingham Brother Rice (8-0) and Catholic Central and falling 21-14 in their season-opener to Toledo Central Catholic (8-0), the defending Ohio D-2 state champions led by quarterback and Notre Dame recruit DeShone Kizer (6-5, 215).
Week 9 highlights-
Clarkston (8-1) 20, Southfield (7-2) 10-Great match-up featuring two of suburban Detroit's best
Detroit Cass Tech (9-0) 20, Detroit King (8-1) 14-PSL title clash overflowing with D-I talent
Northville (8-1) 38, Walled Lake Western (8-1) 31-Two best KLAA teams battle for supremacy
Birmingham Brother Rice (9-0) 20, Detroit Catholic Central (7-2) 7-Rice hands Catholic Central its only two losses of season. Legendary Rice head coach Al Fracassa, retiring after this season, goes out a winner against his most heated rival.
-- On a side note, the talent involved in the above four games is off-the-charts. If a college coach from one of Michigan's five D-I playing football schools only recruited and signed players from these eight schools, he'd have one heck of a class -- and it's only EIGHT SCHOOLS from Detroit and its suburbs. That alone should prove to anyone the level of D-I talent in Michigan. Look at the SENIOR players (all D-I level recruits) a smart, hard-working coach, who knew the state of Michigan and recruited it hard, could build/augment his program with from just the above eight schools:
Clarkston-Tim Cason-6-0, 185-DB-Purdue verbal, Nick Matich-6-3, 295-OL-DL-WMU, David Beedle-6-5, 285-DT-Michigan State, Ian Erickson-5-10, 180-RB-EMU
Southfield-Lion King Conaway-6-5, 225-DE, Malik McDowell-6-7, 290-DT (MSU, U-M, Alabama, LSU among many current offers), Lawrence Marshall-6-3, 230-DE-Michigan, Jalen Brady-6-0, 180-QB-Bowling Green State, Chukwuma Okorafor-6-5, 285-OT-WMU (currently also has offers from Arkansas and Florida), Jordan Billingslea-5-9, 165-WR-WMU, Carteris Carter-5-11, 185-DB
Detroit Cass Tech-Gary Hosey-6-0, 230-RB-LB-Buffalo, William White-6-2, 220-LB-Buffalo, Deon Drake-6-1, 215-LB-Michigan State, Nashon Burns-6-5, 285-OT, Sean Perry-5-7, 160-WR-KR, Phillip Parham-5-9, 170-DB, Delshawn Phillips-6-2, 225-LB-WMU, Brian Sanders-6-4, 225-DE-Bowling Green State, Chris McDaniel-6-4, 225-TE-WMU, Damon Webb-5-11, 185-CB-Ohio State
Detroit King-Carl Fuller-6-3, 215-LB, Avonte Maddox-5-9, 175-CB-RB-WR-KR-Pittsburgh, DeMarco Kaigler-6-1, 280-DT, Jalen Embry-5-11, 190-DB-Iowa
Northville-Dimitri Angelas-6-5, 285-OL-U-Mass, Joey Hewlett-5-11, 190-QB-DB
Walled Lake Western-Kyle Bambard-5-9, 180-QB-K-P-North Carolina State, Alex Joss-6-4, 285-OT-Ball State, Leon Richardson-6-4, 290-OT
Birmingham Brother Rice-Alberto Sandoval-6-3, 260-DT, Brian Walker-5-9, 225-RB, Chris Carter-5-11, 185-DB, Jason Alessi-6-1, 185-DB-WR-K-KR, Dominic Perkovic-6-5, 235-DE-TE, Sage Baultrusaitis-6-1, 250-C-Army
Detroit Catholic Central-Zach Bock-6-0, 190-WR-DB-KR, Christopher Okoye-6-6, 320-DT-OT, Alex Galiyas-6-2, 265-OG-C, Dylan Roney-6-3, 235-DE-Navy
-- That's 40 legit D-I level players on only EIGHT Detroit area teams. Imagine looking at/recruiting the entire Metro Detroit area, let alone the Grand Rapids area, Flint, Muskegon, Lansing, Ann Arbor, southwest Michigan, northern Michigan/U.P., etc. Michigan easily has over 100 D-I level college football players within its borders. Looking at just the above eight teams should prove that point.
Michigan players in NFL-
There were Michigan natives all over the NFL games I watched last week. In the Detroit-Dallas contest, it was enjoyable watching Lake Orion's Jeff Heath (6-1, 210), an undrafted free agent from D-II Saginaw Valley State, start at safety for the Cowboys, while Flint Carman-Ainsworth's Brandon Carr (6-0, 205), a six-year pro from D-II Grand Valley State, start at cornerback for Dallas. It was interesting to note that of the four secondary starters for the Cowboys, two were from the state of Michigan and also both from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference -- not the SEC, not the PAC 12, not the Big Ten, but the GLIAC. Too cool. Just goes to show, once again, the talent being overlooked in the state of Michigan by D-I college coaches throughout our state.
In the Vikings-Packers game, it was fun watching wide receiver Myles White (6-0, 185), who led Livonia Stevenson to the 2007 Division 1 state championship game his senior season, start for Green Bay and catch five passes for 35 yards from All-Pro QB Aaron Rodgers. White, an undrafted free agent from Louisiana Tech, is another player who got out of the state of Michigan and made his way onto an NFL roster and a starting spot.
In fact, both the Vikings and Packers have a large contingent of players from Michigan on their respective rosters. For Minnesota, Joe Berger (6-5, 315)-OL-Michigan Tech, Newaygo; Audie Cole-6-5, 240-LB-North Carolina State, Monroe; Greg Jennings-5-11, 200-WR-WMU, Kalamazoo Central; and Zach Line-6-1, 230-RB-SMU, Oxford are Michigan natives on the Vikings' current roster. For Green Bay, Brad Jones-6-3, 245-LB-Colorado, East Lansing; T.J. Lang-6-4, 318-OL-EMU, Birmingham Brother Rice; and Nick Perry-6-3, 265-LB-USC, Detroit King are players from Michigan on the Packers' roster.
Once again, I find it interesting, or if I'm honest with myself, quite disgusting/disappointing that out of the 10 current NFL players on the three teams I just mentioned above, only TWO were eventually signed by one of Michigan's five D-I football playing schools. How do EIGHT future NFL players not sign with one of our five D-I schools? Only Perry was a big-time, All-American-type national recruit. The other seven guys somehow were never noticed as high school seniors or were not recruited hard enough to be convinced to sign with an instate D-I school. And these are only three NFL teams. There are many more current NFL players from Michigan who went elsewhere out of state to play their college ball or went the D-II or D-III level route. Why is that? It shouldn't happen as often as it does. College coaches need to look inward, inside Michigan's borders for the majority of their recruits at the five D-I programs in our state. I think it should be obvious by now that Michigan is overflowing with high school football talent (D-I level talent) and those kids should be representing their home state and suiting up for their home state D-I colleges, not for far-away outstate schools or D-II or D-III colleges.
Okay, off my soapbox.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
M & M Game showcases Week 7 rivalry contests
The season is flying by, isn't it? It's already Week 7 of the 2013 prep football campaign. This past weekend was "Rivalry Week" with multiple big-time, backyard brawls throughout Michigan. There even was an interstate rivalry contest between Michigan and Wisconsin that is the nation's oldest. Here are the Week 7 highlights, plus updates on Division I college football players from Michigan.
Week 7 Highlights-
Grosse Pointe South (4-3) 21, Grosse Pointe North (4-3) 10-Great rivalry between the well-to-do
Walled Lake Western (7-0) 35, Walled Lake Central (1-6) 28-Western continues unbeaten year
Waterford Kettering (4-3) 27, Waterford Mott (2-5) 0-Kettering alum Kirk Gibson would be proud
Canton (7-0) 34, Plymouth (5-2) 23-Schools share campus with Salem; tough to lose this one
Westland John Glenn (4-3) 48, Wayne Memorial (0-7) 6-Blue collar rivalry; I know it well
Clarkston (6-1) 42, Troy (2-5) 0-My preseason No. 1 team hitting its stride after Week 1 loss
Farm. Hills Harrison (6-1) 60, Oak Park (5-2) 52-I hear they need new light bulbs on scoreboard
Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6-1) 28, Flint Powers Catholic (3-4) 10-C-A looks like best team in Flint
Gladwin (5-2) 19, Sanford Meridian (6-1) 14-Hard-hitting Jack Pine Conference game "Up North"
West Branch Ogemaw Heights (5-2) 41, Standish-Sterling (6-1) 28-Multiple D-I talent in contest
Paw Paw (7-0) 15, Plainwell (6-1) 13-Big Southwest Michigan clash in Wolverine Conference
Det. Catholic Cent. (6-1) 14, OL St. Mary's (3-4) 6-Another brutal Catholic League Central game
Kingsford (5-2) 48, Iron Mountain (3-4) 21-U.P. cities separated by a single street; Flivers rule
M & M Game-
Menominee (7-0) 56, Marinette (Wisc.) (2-6) 27-One of my favorite contests of the year. The M & M Game is one of the best rivalries in the country. The two schools, separated only by the Menominee River on the Michigan-Wisconsin border in the Upper Peninsula and connected by the Interstate Bridge, have been playing each other since 1894. The series is the oldest interstate rivalry between two public high schools in the nation. With the Maroons' win over the Marines in last weekend's 107th game, the overall series record is tied at 50-50-7. If you've never been to Menominee's Walton Blesch Field, you're missing gazing at and experiencing one of Michigan's finest high school football stadiums. Stone-walled on all four sides, with no inside track, and shoe-horned into the local neighborhood, the stadium looks better suited hosting players with leather helmets and no facemasks -- and that's exactly why I love it. If you've never been to the stadium, get in your vehicle and visit, you won't be disappointed. Then walk over the Interstate Bridge and straddle the Michigan-Wisconsin border. Put one foot in Michigan and the other in Wisconsin -- it's stupid fun, but, hey, it's free and there's nothing wrong with that.
Michigan kids sweep Big Ten honors-
As they do every Saturday, players from the Great Lakes State excel at the highest level in college football games across the country. Last weekend, however, was especially prominent as Michigan natives swept the major Big Ten weekly honors. Earning the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week was Michigan State junior running back Jeremy Langford from Westland John Glenn (the same school which produced former Spartan and current Houston Texans starting wide receiver Keshawn Martin). Named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week was Penn State junior defensive end C.J. Olaniyan from Warren Mott. Also earning the Big Ten's Special Teams Player of the Week honor was Michigan State junior punter Mike Sadler from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern.
Michigan players dominate Big Ten leader board-
Why a head coach at one of Michigan's five D-I playing college football schools would ever leave the state to find talent still boggles my mind, especially after looking at the Big Ten statistical leader board after last Saturday's games. Most of the top categories are led by players from the Great Lakes State. Penn State junior Allen Robinson from Orchard Lake St. Mary's leads the Big Ten in receiving with 43 catches for 705 yards and five touchdowns. Robinson's 7.2 receptions per game and 117.5 yards receiving per contest also are tops in the Big Ten. Michigan dominates the receiving category with Northwestern junior Tony Jones from Grand Blanc sixth overall in the Big Ten with 29 receptions for 404 yards and three TDs, while Iowa junior Kevonte Martin-Manley from Birmingham Brother Rice is eighth overall in the Big Ten with 26 catches for 225 yards and one touchdown. Michigan sophomore tight end/H-back Devin Funches from Farmington Hills Harrison has 19 receptions for 408 yards and four TDs with 68 yards receiving per game (which is sixth in the Big Ten). Michigan junior quarterback Devin Gardner from Inkster leads the Big Ten in total offense with 439 yards rushing, 1,276 yards passing for 1,715 total yards for the season. Gardner averages 285 total yards per game. Martin-Manley leads the Big Ten in punt return average with nine punts returned for 232 yards (25.8 average return) and a Big Ten-leading two touchdowns. Sadler leads the Big Ten in punting with a 43.8 yards per punt average.
Brendon Kay-
Cincinnati senior quarterback Brendon Kay from Marine City was named the American Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Bearcats to a 38-20 win over Temple last week. Kay, who led Marine City to the 2007 Division 4 state championship, ended up 31-of-37 passing for 270 yards and two TDs against the Owls last week. Kay threw for a conference record 83.7 percent completion rate versus Temple. He also rushed for one touchdown in the game and punted twice for 107 yards (53.5 average) with both kicks downed inside Temple's 10-yard line. For the season, Kay has thrown for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns.
Week 7 Highlights-
Grosse Pointe South (4-3) 21, Grosse Pointe North (4-3) 10-Great rivalry between the well-to-do
Walled Lake Western (7-0) 35, Walled Lake Central (1-6) 28-Western continues unbeaten year
Waterford Kettering (4-3) 27, Waterford Mott (2-5) 0-Kettering alum Kirk Gibson would be proud
Canton (7-0) 34, Plymouth (5-2) 23-Schools share campus with Salem; tough to lose this one
Westland John Glenn (4-3) 48, Wayne Memorial (0-7) 6-Blue collar rivalry; I know it well
Clarkston (6-1) 42, Troy (2-5) 0-My preseason No. 1 team hitting its stride after Week 1 loss
Farm. Hills Harrison (6-1) 60, Oak Park (5-2) 52-I hear they need new light bulbs on scoreboard
Flint Carman-Ainsworth (6-1) 28, Flint Powers Catholic (3-4) 10-C-A looks like best team in Flint
Gladwin (5-2) 19, Sanford Meridian (6-1) 14-Hard-hitting Jack Pine Conference game "Up North"
West Branch Ogemaw Heights (5-2) 41, Standish-Sterling (6-1) 28-Multiple D-I talent in contest
Paw Paw (7-0) 15, Plainwell (6-1) 13-Big Southwest Michigan clash in Wolverine Conference
Det. Catholic Cent. (6-1) 14, OL St. Mary's (3-4) 6-Another brutal Catholic League Central game
Kingsford (5-2) 48, Iron Mountain (3-4) 21-U.P. cities separated by a single street; Flivers rule
M & M Game-
Menominee (7-0) 56, Marinette (Wisc.) (2-6) 27-One of my favorite contests of the year. The M & M Game is one of the best rivalries in the country. The two schools, separated only by the Menominee River on the Michigan-Wisconsin border in the Upper Peninsula and connected by the Interstate Bridge, have been playing each other since 1894. The series is the oldest interstate rivalry between two public high schools in the nation. With the Maroons' win over the Marines in last weekend's 107th game, the overall series record is tied at 50-50-7. If you've never been to Menominee's Walton Blesch Field, you're missing gazing at and experiencing one of Michigan's finest high school football stadiums. Stone-walled on all four sides, with no inside track, and shoe-horned into the local neighborhood, the stadium looks better suited hosting players with leather helmets and no facemasks -- and that's exactly why I love it. If you've never been to the stadium, get in your vehicle and visit, you won't be disappointed. Then walk over the Interstate Bridge and straddle the Michigan-Wisconsin border. Put one foot in Michigan and the other in Wisconsin -- it's stupid fun, but, hey, it's free and there's nothing wrong with that.
Michigan kids sweep Big Ten honors-
As they do every Saturday, players from the Great Lakes State excel at the highest level in college football games across the country. Last weekend, however, was especially prominent as Michigan natives swept the major Big Ten weekly honors. Earning the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week was Michigan State junior running back Jeremy Langford from Westland John Glenn (the same school which produced former Spartan and current Houston Texans starting wide receiver Keshawn Martin). Named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week was Penn State junior defensive end C.J. Olaniyan from Warren Mott. Also earning the Big Ten's Special Teams Player of the Week honor was Michigan State junior punter Mike Sadler from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern.
Michigan players dominate Big Ten leader board-
Why a head coach at one of Michigan's five D-I playing college football schools would ever leave the state to find talent still boggles my mind, especially after looking at the Big Ten statistical leader board after last Saturday's games. Most of the top categories are led by players from the Great Lakes State. Penn State junior Allen Robinson from Orchard Lake St. Mary's leads the Big Ten in receiving with 43 catches for 705 yards and five touchdowns. Robinson's 7.2 receptions per game and 117.5 yards receiving per contest also are tops in the Big Ten. Michigan dominates the receiving category with Northwestern junior Tony Jones from Grand Blanc sixth overall in the Big Ten with 29 receptions for 404 yards and three TDs, while Iowa junior Kevonte Martin-Manley from Birmingham Brother Rice is eighth overall in the Big Ten with 26 catches for 225 yards and one touchdown. Michigan sophomore tight end/H-back Devin Funches from Farmington Hills Harrison has 19 receptions for 408 yards and four TDs with 68 yards receiving per game (which is sixth in the Big Ten). Michigan junior quarterback Devin Gardner from Inkster leads the Big Ten in total offense with 439 yards rushing, 1,276 yards passing for 1,715 total yards for the season. Gardner averages 285 total yards per game. Martin-Manley leads the Big Ten in punt return average with nine punts returned for 232 yards (25.8 average return) and a Big Ten-leading two touchdowns. Sadler leads the Big Ten in punting with a 43.8 yards per punt average.
Brendon Kay-
Cincinnati senior quarterback Brendon Kay from Marine City was named the American Athletic Conference's Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Bearcats to a 38-20 win over Temple last week. Kay, who led Marine City to the 2007 Division 4 state championship, ended up 31-of-37 passing for 270 yards and two TDs against the Owls last week. Kay threw for a conference record 83.7 percent completion rate versus Temple. He also rushed for one touchdown in the game and punted twice for 107 yards (53.5 average) with both kicks downed inside Temple's 10-yard line. For the season, Kay has thrown for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Stars of Michigan's Southwest Corner, plus other Week 6 tidbits
It's Week 6 of the 2013 prep football season. This time around my mind will wander with thoughts regarding current and former Michigan high school football standouts. First off, let's take a look at the top games from around the state this past weekend.
Week 6-
Allen Park (4-2) 21, Taylor Truman (5-1) 14-The Jags top Devonte McGregor and Truman
Birmingham Brother Rice (6-0) 31, Orchard Lake St. Mary's (3-3) 14-Rice continues to roll
Lowell (6-0) 42, East Grand Rapids (3-3) 39-Marquee Grand Rapids area match-up was thriller
Milan (6-0) 21, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Cent. (5-1) 14-Robert Kanitz and Big Reds unbeaten
Niles Brandywine (6-0) 15, Buchanan (1-5) 14-B-Wine beats Bucks for first time since 2005
Warren DeLaSalle (4-2) 36, Dearborn Fordson (4-2) 0-Wow, Pilots all over Tractors
Lincoln Park (1-5) 34, Taylor Kennedy (0-6) 20-Lincoln Park ends 66-game losing streak -- the streak was the longest in Michigan high school football history
Stars of the "Southwest Corner-"
Michigan's southwest corner has always been a fertile ground for athletic talent. From former NFL linebacker and St. Joseph standout Rob Frederickson, to Eau Claire's Julie Krone, horse racing's greatest female jockey (first female jockey to win Triple Crown race, winningest all-time female jockey, first female inducted into horse racing Hall of Fame), to basketball Hall-of-Famer Chet Walker from hoops-rich Benton Harbor, southwest Michigan has historically been an athletic hotbed.
This season, southwest Michigan is home to some of the state's top high school football players. These players might not garner national attention or, in some cases, even state mention (the South Bend Tribune out of Indiana covers this corner of the state best -- check it out), but make no mistake, these gridders rank right up there with the best Michigan has to offer. Each of these players are high-level Division I college football recruits. If they haven't already, Big Ten and MAC coaches should be flocking to these schools to identify, evaluate and sign these top-flight prep football players.
Stars of the Southwest Corner-
Doug Freeman-5-11, 205-RB-DB-Sr.-Buchanan-In six games, Freeman has nearly 800 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Not flashy, but highly effective on both sides of the ball, Freeman is simply a natural. He's saddled by playing for a 1-5 squad, but Freeman is a D-I talent through and through.
Nick Padla-6-6, 275-OT-Sr.-Berrien Springs-A Michigan State commit, it was nice seeing the Spartans doing their due diligence, working the state and finding this diamond-in-the-rough out of tiny Berrien Springs. Along with Jonathan Williams (see below), Berrien Springs has two high level D-I football recruits for the first time in school history.
Jonathan Williams-6-6, 235-DE-Sr.-Berrien Springs-A Notre Dame commit, Williams is one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" athletic freaks. An all-around athlete, Williams is a star basketball player and track and field performer who overmatches anyone he lines up against. With 4.5 speed, Williams is similar to former Mizzo DE and NFLer Aldon Smith. The fact he got out of the state with all five of our D-I playing colleges unable to attract or misevaluating him troubles me. This kid, in my opinion, is a top 15 to top 20 type player in Michigan.
Chance Stewart-6-5, 215-QB-Sr.-Sturgis-A Western Michigan commit, Stewart originally gave a verbal to Wisconsin. The strong-armed senior signal-caller is the No. 1-ranked quarterback for the class of 2014 in Michigan, though Ithaca's Travis Smith (Toledo commit) is basically even with Stewart as the state's best QB. Both Stewart and Smith are Big Ten level talents. The fact they both committed to MAC schools says a lot about the shifting tide of power in the Midwest. With Northern Illinois defeating two Big Ten schools already this season (Iowa and Purdue) and Ball State (with Muskegon Heights' WR Willie Snead catching an 11-yard TD pass and Corunna's Jalen Schlachter starting at OG for 5-1 Cardinals) crushing the ACC's Virginia this weekend, along with CMU's OT Eric Fisher (Rochester Hills Stoney Creek) selected as the No. 1 overall pick in last April's NFL Draft, the MAC is stronger than ever team-wise and player-wise. In other words, this isn't your father's Mid-American Conference.
Andrew Duckett-6-1, 185-QB-DB-Jr.-Niles Brandywine-Duckett is a big-time talent on both sides of the ball. With 4.5 speed, he's a run/pass threat as a quarterback and a ball hawk menace from his safety spot. A leader and winner, Duckett has helped spark Brandywine to a 6-0 overall record and a state-ranking so far this season.
Cooper Mojsiejenko-6-4, 210-WR-LB-K-Sr.-Bridgman-To me, Mojsiejenko is a player who should already have Big Ten offers flooding his mailbox. Mojsiejenko just might be the best all-around high school football player in Michigan. He's a bonafide triple threat D-I talent on offense, defense and as a kicker. The son of former Bridgman, Michigan State and NFL kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko (Pro Bowl punter, seven-year NFL career and arguably Michigan's greatest punter ever), Cooper Mojsiejenko not only has the football genes, but outstanding talent, as well. He runs a 4.4 40, has kicked a 51-yard field goal, and is a match-up nightmare on either side of the football. In four or five years, as a redshirt junior or senior, Mojsiejenko could project out to a 6-4, 235 LB, or a 6-4, 245 H-Back/TE or a 6-4, 225 WR -- with 4.4-type speed. Or he could simply concentrate on his kicking skills, where it's obvious he has the background and pedigree to be successful. Where are Purdue, Illinois and Indiana on this kid, not to mention MSU and U-M? Also a top baseball prospect, Mojsiejenko reminds me of former Notre Dame All-American WR Jeff Samardzija, who could have been a first round NFL draft pick, but instead opted to pitch in the Major Leagues for the Chicago Cubs. Either way, Mojsiejenko is legit.
Michigan kids on the national scene-
As I was flipping around the TV stations today watching various college football games (yes, I had my feet up lounging on my Lazy-Boy, a large pepperoni pizza resting on my chest and a 2-liter of Pepsi intravenously pumped into my veins -- who doesn't?), I noticed several former Michigan high school football standouts playing prominent roles for their individual teams. Not including MSU and U-M, it was nice seeing WR Allen Robinson (Orchard Lake St. Mary's), DE C.J. Olaniyan (Warren Mott) and DE Anthony Zettel (West Branch Ogemaw Heights) all starting for Penn State, OG Bernard Taylor (Macomb Dakota) starting for Indiana, WR Tony Jones (Grand Blanc) and OT Paul Jorgensen (DeWitt) starting for Northwestern, DT Dan O'Brien (Flint Powers Catholic) starting for Tennessee and WR Kevonte Martin-Manley (Birmingham Brother Rice), DT Carl Davis (Sterling Heights Stevenson) and CB Desmond King (Detroit East English Village) starting for Iowa. I didn't get to watch too many games, but the ones I did focus on had a nice Michigan flavor to them.
Malik Taylor-
If you don't know about him -- I'm talking to you Mr. Recruiting Coordinator at Michigan's five D-I playing schools -- you need to take a trip out to Montrose. Like Cooper Mojsiejenko, Malik Taylor is legit. At 6-2, 195, Taylor, a senior, is a man among boys at Montrose (it's just north of Flint). With 4.4 speed (I also read somewhere he ran a 4.38), Taylor is a blur on the field. More than anything, however, what makes this player so intriguing to me is his growth potential at the next level. In four or five years, as a redshirt junior or senior, I see Taylor packing on 25-30 pounds of muscle, keeping his 4.4 speed and potentially lining up at outside linebacker. I like his ability to play multiple positions in college. He could play as a 6-2, 205 WR or a 6-2, 215 SS or as I noted above a 6-2, 225/230 OLB, with 4.4 speed.
It would be something, in four or five years at the next level, to see Berrien Springs' DE Jonathan Williams at 6-6, 265 and running a 4.5, lining up in front of OLB Malik Taylor at 6-2, 225/230 running a 4.4. Wow. Just wow... As they say, that would be "SEC speed" and athleticism/talent at DE and OLB. Just for kicks (I'm on a roll now), on the other side, you could have Southfield's DE Lawrence Marshall filling out at 6-4, 255 and running a 4.5, with my guy Cooper Mojsiejenko (doing his best Clay Matthews impersonation) at 6-4, 235 running a 4.4 at OLB. Then (now I'm getting excited) you could have a bulked up Nate Brisson-Fast at 6-6, 285/290 and running a 4.6/4.7 at DT and next to him the state's No. 1 recruit Malik McDowell at 6-7, 320 and Detroit Cass Tech bone-crushing middle linebacker William White at 6-2, 240 and running a 4.5/4.6... okay, I need to stop, my head's going to explode... They say you can't recruit explosive SEC talent/speed/athleticism in Michigan, well, I'll take that relentless, attacking front seven described above and take my chances in four or five years any day. If only...
Week 6-
Allen Park (4-2) 21, Taylor Truman (5-1) 14-The Jags top Devonte McGregor and Truman
Birmingham Brother Rice (6-0) 31, Orchard Lake St. Mary's (3-3) 14-Rice continues to roll
Lowell (6-0) 42, East Grand Rapids (3-3) 39-Marquee Grand Rapids area match-up was thriller
Milan (6-0) 21, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Cent. (5-1) 14-Robert Kanitz and Big Reds unbeaten
Niles Brandywine (6-0) 15, Buchanan (1-5) 14-B-Wine beats Bucks for first time since 2005
Warren DeLaSalle (4-2) 36, Dearborn Fordson (4-2) 0-Wow, Pilots all over Tractors
Lincoln Park (1-5) 34, Taylor Kennedy (0-6) 20-Lincoln Park ends 66-game losing streak -- the streak was the longest in Michigan high school football history
Stars of the "Southwest Corner-"
Michigan's southwest corner has always been a fertile ground for athletic talent. From former NFL linebacker and St. Joseph standout Rob Frederickson, to Eau Claire's Julie Krone, horse racing's greatest female jockey (first female jockey to win Triple Crown race, winningest all-time female jockey, first female inducted into horse racing Hall of Fame), to basketball Hall-of-Famer Chet Walker from hoops-rich Benton Harbor, southwest Michigan has historically been an athletic hotbed.
This season, southwest Michigan is home to some of the state's top high school football players. These players might not garner national attention or, in some cases, even state mention (the South Bend Tribune out of Indiana covers this corner of the state best -- check it out), but make no mistake, these gridders rank right up there with the best Michigan has to offer. Each of these players are high-level Division I college football recruits. If they haven't already, Big Ten and MAC coaches should be flocking to these schools to identify, evaluate and sign these top-flight prep football players.
Stars of the Southwest Corner-
Doug Freeman-5-11, 205-RB-DB-Sr.-Buchanan-In six games, Freeman has nearly 800 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Not flashy, but highly effective on both sides of the ball, Freeman is simply a natural. He's saddled by playing for a 1-5 squad, but Freeman is a D-I talent through and through.
Nick Padla-6-6, 275-OT-Sr.-Berrien Springs-A Michigan State commit, it was nice seeing the Spartans doing their due diligence, working the state and finding this diamond-in-the-rough out of tiny Berrien Springs. Along with Jonathan Williams (see below), Berrien Springs has two high level D-I football recruits for the first time in school history.
Jonathan Williams-6-6, 235-DE-Sr.-Berrien Springs-A Notre Dame commit, Williams is one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" athletic freaks. An all-around athlete, Williams is a star basketball player and track and field performer who overmatches anyone he lines up against. With 4.5 speed, Williams is similar to former Mizzo DE and NFLer Aldon Smith. The fact he got out of the state with all five of our D-I playing colleges unable to attract or misevaluating him troubles me. This kid, in my opinion, is a top 15 to top 20 type player in Michigan.
Chance Stewart-6-5, 215-QB-Sr.-Sturgis-A Western Michigan commit, Stewart originally gave a verbal to Wisconsin. The strong-armed senior signal-caller is the No. 1-ranked quarterback for the class of 2014 in Michigan, though Ithaca's Travis Smith (Toledo commit) is basically even with Stewart as the state's best QB. Both Stewart and Smith are Big Ten level talents. The fact they both committed to MAC schools says a lot about the shifting tide of power in the Midwest. With Northern Illinois defeating two Big Ten schools already this season (Iowa and Purdue) and Ball State (with Muskegon Heights' WR Willie Snead catching an 11-yard TD pass and Corunna's Jalen Schlachter starting at OG for 5-1 Cardinals) crushing the ACC's Virginia this weekend, along with CMU's OT Eric Fisher (Rochester Hills Stoney Creek) selected as the No. 1 overall pick in last April's NFL Draft, the MAC is stronger than ever team-wise and player-wise. In other words, this isn't your father's Mid-American Conference.
Andrew Duckett-6-1, 185-QB-DB-Jr.-Niles Brandywine-Duckett is a big-time talent on both sides of the ball. With 4.5 speed, he's a run/pass threat as a quarterback and a ball hawk menace from his safety spot. A leader and winner, Duckett has helped spark Brandywine to a 6-0 overall record and a state-ranking so far this season.
Cooper Mojsiejenko-6-4, 210-WR-LB-K-Sr.-Bridgman-To me, Mojsiejenko is a player who should already have Big Ten offers flooding his mailbox. Mojsiejenko just might be the best all-around high school football player in Michigan. He's a bonafide triple threat D-I talent on offense, defense and as a kicker. The son of former Bridgman, Michigan State and NFL kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko (Pro Bowl punter, seven-year NFL career and arguably Michigan's greatest punter ever), Cooper Mojsiejenko not only has the football genes, but outstanding talent, as well. He runs a 4.4 40, has kicked a 51-yard field goal, and is a match-up nightmare on either side of the football. In four or five years, as a redshirt junior or senior, Mojsiejenko could project out to a 6-4, 235 LB, or a 6-4, 245 H-Back/TE or a 6-4, 225 WR -- with 4.4-type speed. Or he could simply concentrate on his kicking skills, where it's obvious he has the background and pedigree to be successful. Where are Purdue, Illinois and Indiana on this kid, not to mention MSU and U-M? Also a top baseball prospect, Mojsiejenko reminds me of former Notre Dame All-American WR Jeff Samardzija, who could have been a first round NFL draft pick, but instead opted to pitch in the Major Leagues for the Chicago Cubs. Either way, Mojsiejenko is legit.
Michigan kids on the national scene-
As I was flipping around the TV stations today watching various college football games (yes, I had my feet up lounging on my Lazy-Boy, a large pepperoni pizza resting on my chest and a 2-liter of Pepsi intravenously pumped into my veins -- who doesn't?), I noticed several former Michigan high school football standouts playing prominent roles for their individual teams. Not including MSU and U-M, it was nice seeing WR Allen Robinson (Orchard Lake St. Mary's), DE C.J. Olaniyan (Warren Mott) and DE Anthony Zettel (West Branch Ogemaw Heights) all starting for Penn State, OG Bernard Taylor (Macomb Dakota) starting for Indiana, WR Tony Jones (Grand Blanc) and OT Paul Jorgensen (DeWitt) starting for Northwestern, DT Dan O'Brien (Flint Powers Catholic) starting for Tennessee and WR Kevonte Martin-Manley (Birmingham Brother Rice), DT Carl Davis (Sterling Heights Stevenson) and CB Desmond King (Detroit East English Village) starting for Iowa. I didn't get to watch too many games, but the ones I did focus on had a nice Michigan flavor to them.
Malik Taylor-
If you don't know about him -- I'm talking to you Mr. Recruiting Coordinator at Michigan's five D-I playing schools -- you need to take a trip out to Montrose. Like Cooper Mojsiejenko, Malik Taylor is legit. At 6-2, 195, Taylor, a senior, is a man among boys at Montrose (it's just north of Flint). With 4.4 speed (I also read somewhere he ran a 4.38), Taylor is a blur on the field. More than anything, however, what makes this player so intriguing to me is his growth potential at the next level. In four or five years, as a redshirt junior or senior, I see Taylor packing on 25-30 pounds of muscle, keeping his 4.4 speed and potentially lining up at outside linebacker. I like his ability to play multiple positions in college. He could play as a 6-2, 205 WR or a 6-2, 215 SS or as I noted above a 6-2, 225/230 OLB, with 4.4 speed.
It would be something, in four or five years at the next level, to see Berrien Springs' DE Jonathan Williams at 6-6, 265 and running a 4.5, lining up in front of OLB Malik Taylor at 6-2, 225/230 running a 4.4. Wow. Just wow... As they say, that would be "SEC speed" and athleticism/talent at DE and OLB. Just for kicks (I'm on a roll now), on the other side, you could have Southfield's DE Lawrence Marshall filling out at 6-4, 255 and running a 4.5, with my guy Cooper Mojsiejenko (doing his best Clay Matthews impersonation) at 6-4, 235 running a 4.4 at OLB. Then (now I'm getting excited) you could have a bulked up Nate Brisson-Fast at 6-6, 285/290 and running a 4.6/4.7 at DT and next to him the state's No. 1 recruit Malik McDowell at 6-7, 320 and Detroit Cass Tech bone-crushing middle linebacker William White at 6-2, 240 and running a 4.5/4.6... okay, I need to stop, my head's going to explode... They say you can't recruit explosive SEC talent/speed/athleticism in Michigan, well, I'll take that relentless, attacking front seven described above and take my chances in four or five years any day. If only...
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