For any Division I college football coach or recruiter, the state of Michigan is an absolute must stop if searching for defensive backfield help. For the Great Lakes State's five D-I playing colleges, finding and signing big-time, elite talent in the secondary should be as simple as looking within their own backyard. As is the case most years, Michigan has some of the best prospects in the country suiting up this upcoming season in the defensive backfield.
Traditionally a strong state when it comes to producing and developing DB talent, Michigan's class of 2016 is well-stocked with Big Ten-level players roaming the secondary this year. Here are the Great Lakes State's top 10 defensive back recruits for the class of 2016. As usual, every player on this list is without a doubt a top-tier D-I prospect.
Top 10 defensive backs for Michigan's class of 2016-
1. Demetric Vance-6-2, 200-Detroit Cass Tech-Punishing hitter from the safety position. Also excellent coverage skills for a player his size. Runs 4.4 40. Complete package. Verbal to MSU.
2. Stefan Claiborne-6-2, 185-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley-Besides Detroit King's Donnie Corley (Michigan's No. 6 overall prospect), Claiborne arguably is the state's top two-way player. A do-it-all type performer, Claiborne excels in all three phases of the game. Last season he had 83 tackles and one interception returned for a TD, 25 receptions for 10 TDs and six blocked kicks. Runs 4.5 40. Illinois, Iowa offers.
3. Hunter Broersma-6-1, 185-Muskegon Mona Shores-Another two-way standout. Could play DB or WR at next level. Runs 4.5 40. Helped lead Mona Shores to D-2 state runner-up last season. Verbal to WMU.
4. Lavert Hill-5-10, 170-Detroit King-Pure lockdown-type corner with smooth hips and quick feet. Sticks like glue to opposing receivers. 4.4 speed. Verbal to Penn State.
5. Devin Taylor-6-1, 175-Lansing Sexton-Big, physical cornerback with 4.5 speed. Led Sexton to D-4 state runner-up a year ago. Big Ten-level body, speed. Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, etc. need to sign this DB stud.
6. Deandre Oakes-Owens-6-1, 175-Muskegon Mona Shores-Another big-time talent from blue collar, football talent-rich city off the shore of Lake Michigan. Transfer from Muskegon Reeths-Puffer. Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team selection last season after intercepting six passes and recording 28 tackles. Somewhat of a sleeper, but a must-see for D-I recruiters.
7. Mark Wilson-6-1, 185-Detroit Renaissance-Earned Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first team accolades last season. Also skilled WR. Teammate OT Alaric Jackson (6-7, 285, state's No. 6 OL prospect) gets a lot of attention and deservedly so, but Wilson is also high-level D-I material.
8. Marquis Smith-5-11, 175-Ypsilanti-Can play multiple positions on the football field. All-around player with speed and natural football instincts. Ann Arbor All-Area selection a year ago. Verbal to Kansas.
9. Traivon Clayton-5-10, 175-Dearborn Heights Robichaud-Detroit News All-Metro West first team last season. Intercepted five passes, returning two for TDs. Also had 52 catches as WR for 1,034 yards and 16 TDs. Runs 4.4 40.
10. Gage Kreski-6-3, 190-St.Ignace- Top recruit in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Best DB prospect from U.P. since Escanaba's Dean Altobelli (MSU starter in mid-1980s). Already a two-time U.P. Dream Team selection. Last season was named co-Defensive Player of the Year in the U.P. Also named to Michigan's Associated Press Division 7-8 All-State first team team last season. A two-sport standout, Kreski also earned Class D All-State first team honors last season for basketball.
Other top DB prospects for Michigan's class of 2016 (all are D-I recruits at some level)-- Guy Brent-6-1, 175-Ann Arbor Skyline (Ann Arbor All-Area last year), Hassam Hachem-5-10, 175-Dearborn Fordson (three-year starter at legendary suburban Detroit program, Detroit News All-Metro West first team a year ago, with six interceptions and one returned for TD), Tylen Redding-6-2, 170-Warren Mott (seven interceptions last year, Detroit News All-Metro East first team, verbal to Bowling Green State), Darece Roberson-5-10, 165-Muskegon Mona Shores (4.4 40, led Mona Shores to D-2 state runner-up last season, verbal to WMU), Cyntell Williams-6-0, 175-Battle Creek Central (named to Battle Creek Enquirer All-City first team last year, 4.5 40), Jakkar Jackson-5-10, 175-Farmington (Verbal to CMU), Navon Mosley-6-0, 180-West Bloomfield (Verbal to Purdue), Jake Martin-5-10, 175-Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids All-East pick last season, three interceptions, also 3,000 all-purpose yards on offense), Alonzo McCoy-5-10, 175-Redford Thurston (Detroit Free Press All-West first team a year ago, with seven interceptions and 56 tackles, verbal to Toledo), Jared Stephens-6-0, 190-Canton, Tru Wilson-5-11, 180-Warren DeLaSalle (returning starter for D-2 state champions), Tyler Bradfield-6-0, 185-Rockford (earned Michigan Associated Press Division 1-2 All-State first team honors last season), Dontre Boyd-5-11, 175-Detroit King (Verbal to WMU), Marlon Dorsey-6-1, 170-East Kentwood, Lucas Thompson-6-0, 175-Grand Rapids Christian, Justin Myrick-5-10, 180-Orchard Lake St. Mary's (helped lead St. Mary's to D-3 state championship last season, also talented RB), Tyler Cochran-6-2, 180-Orchard Lake St. Mary's (teamed with Myrick in talented backfield for state champion Eaglets), Corrin Jones-6-0, 175-Detroit Mumford (named to Associated Press Division 3-4 All-State first team a year ago), Tee'Ondre Harvey-6-1, 175-Detroit Mumford (teams with Corrin Jones for one of state's most dynamic corner combos, verbal to CMU), James Cesear-6-0, 185-Detroit East English Village, Jelani Taylor-5-11, 185-Flint Beecher (Flint Journal Dream Team pick, five interceptions and 72 tackles last season, 4.5 40), Jacarius Scott-6-0, 165-Muskegon (returning starter for D-3 state runner-up), Amaan Payne-6-0, 200-Holt (4.5 40), Jaylen Wiggins-6-0, 165-Lake Orion (Verbal to Toledo), Jesse Johnson-5-11, 190-Detroit Pershing (Illinois offer), Brandon Beane-6-2, 190-Baldwin (also D-I level WR prospect, one of northern Michigan's best), Kistin Branson-5-10, 190-Lansing Sexton (returning starter for D-4 state runner-up), DeQuan Kendle-6-2, 185-Hamtramck (4.5 40), Dante Razzano-6-2, 190-Edwardsburg, Raymond Blevins-5-10, 165-Detroit Southeastern (runs 4.4 40, arguably best prospect out of Southeastern since Spartans William Gholston and Ed Davis), Otis Jackson-6-0, 175-Saginaw Heritage (Big corner with 4.4 speed, also talented WR), Khylin Barton-6-3, 185-Zeeland East, Samaad Ali-6-1, 190-Birmingham Groves, Justin Clark-5-11, 165-West Bloomfield (Verbal to Toledo), Evan Foster-6-1, 190-West Bloomfield (Verbal to Bowling Green State).
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