4. Detroit King- To put it simply and succinctly, Detroit King is loaded with talent. No question. The Crusaders (8-2 last season, first round playoff loss), are poised to have their best year since 2007 when King captured the Division 2 state championship defeating Midland 47-21. The 2007 Crusader squad was led by future NFL players linebacker Nick Perry (USC) and defensive back Chris Greenwood (Albion College). In 2015, King looks to have even more talent than the Perry-led Crusader team.
Offensively, King just might have the finest collection of skill position players in the state, if not the Midwest. At tailback, senior Martell Pettaway (5-9, 210) is a threat to score anytime he touches the football. With 4.5 speed, the West Virginia commit combines speed with power and is one of the most explosive players in Michigan. At wide receiver, senior Donnie Corley (6-2, 195, 4.5 40) is one of the nation's best, holding offers from MSU, U-M, Ohio State, LSU and basically all the big-time D-I schools, while on the other side of the field will be senior Armani Posey (6-2, 205, 4.6 40), another high-level D-I recruit. Both Corley and Posey are outstanding two-way players, with Corley shining at defensive back and Posey at linebacker. At quarterback, multi-talented sophomore El Julian Jordan (6-1, 205) will take the reins of the offense. Jordan takes over for senior Mikale Washington (6-4, 190), an All-PSL performer a year ago after throwing for 1,839 yards, with 27 TDs and four interceptions. A Big Ten-level prospect, Washington transferred to a school in Virginia over the summer. Upfront, King will look to seniors guard Dylan Swanson (6-4, 275), guard Melvin Sylvester (6-2, 285) and tackle Leon Page (6-3, 240), along with sophomore center Josh Mayberry (6-1, 280) to control the trenches.
Defensively, senior tackle Justin Turner (6-3, 255), Sylvester and Page (CMU verbal) will be forces on the D-line, while at linebacker, D-I prospect senior Lawrence Bryant (6-1, 225), junior Cepeda Phillips (6-0, 220) and Posey will form one of the top units in the state. In the secondary, King arguably has the best back four in the country. At cornerback, senior Lavert Hill (5-10, 170, 4.4), a Penn State commit and junior Ambry Thomas (6-0, 180, 4.4), who holds offers from MSU, U-M, Wisconsin, Iowa, LSU, Tennessee and Ohio State, to name but a few schools after his services, form a potent CB combo. At safety, senior Dontre Boyd (5-11, 185, 4.5), a WMU commit and Corley will handle the Crusaders' last line of defense.
On Sept. 26, King hosts PSL rival and the state's No. 2-ranked team Detroit Cass Tech in what should be one of the nation's top games of the year. Last season, the Technicians defeated the Crusaders 39-7. Between both squads, there could possibly be close to 30 future D-I players (from all class years) competing in the contest.
Up next -- No. 5-ranked Saline.
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