Here's the latest in my listing of the state of Michigan's Top 10 teams for the 2017 season. Today's installment looks at my No. 5-ranked squad -- West Bloomfield.
5. West Bloomfield- Last season's record (6-5, the Lakers won an opening round playoff game before falling in the next contest).
Top players- Bryce Veasley-6-4, 240-Sr.-QB (Bowling Green State verbal), A.J. Abbott-6-2, 190-Sr.-WR (Wisconsin verbal), Taj Mustapha-6-2, 185-Sr.-WR (Wisconsin verbal), Collin Heard-5-10, 180-Sr.-RB-SB-CB (Howard verbal), Lance Dixon-6-3, 210-Jr.-S-LB, James Faulkner-6-4, 215-Sr.-TE, Javon Foster-6-6, 300-Sr.-OT (CMU verbal), Maxwell Green-6-3, 270-Sr.-DL-OG, Nick Seidel-5-11, 185-Sr.-DB, Blake Barnes-6-1, 230-Sr.-DE-LB, Limani Laster-6-0, 200-Sr.-LB, Matthew Gu-6-0, 215-Sr.-LB, Chase Swoope-5-11, 175-Sr.-DB, Tre Mosley-6-1, 170-Jr.-WR, Niko Mosley-6-2, 205-Sr.-S-LB, Christian Fitzpatrick-6-2, 175-Soph.-WR-DB, Nick O'Shea-5-9, 150-Sr.-PK-P, Ty Broden-6-2, 165-Jr.-WR.
Season opener- vs. Walled Lake Western in the 2017 Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University, Aug. 24. West Bloomfield's game against the Warriors will arguably be the best season opener in Michigan, in a Week 1 full of outstanding, can't-miss-type match-ups. Walled Lake Western is my No. 6-ranked team in the state and has a line-up full of Division I college football talent.
Interesting program tidbits- The Lakers have yet to take that leap into the upper echelon of high school football in Michigan, though, make no mistake about it, they are banging (loudly) on the proverbial front door. West Bloomfield was 9-1 in 2015 and appeared ready to take the next step, program-wise, before finishing 6-5 a year ago. Despite being a bit up and down team-wise recently, the individual talent in the Laker program is absolutely upper echelon when it comes to high school football in the Great Lakes State. Former West Bloomfield standouts currently starting in the Big Ten include WR Trishton Jackson at Michigan State and DT Eddy Wilson and S Navon Mosley at Purdue. In the NFL, former Lakers making their mark include second-year pro Matt Judon (Grand Valley State), who's expected to start at LB for the Baltimore Ravens (coached by Ann Arbor Pioneer graduate John Harbaugh) opposite All-Pro Terrell Suggs, while first-year player OL Chauncey Briggs (SMU) is looking to make the Oakland Raiders as an UDFA this season.
Overview- Don't let last year's 6-5 overall record fool you, West Bloomfield has the talent and, I believe, the "want to" to win a state championship this season. Coach Ron Bellamy, a former U-M and NFL wide receiver, has built one of suburban Detroit's top programs. The Lakers, in my opinion, have the best skill position players, pound-for-pound, in the Midwest, if not the nation. I also think West Bloomfield could have one of the best back seven in Michigan. Offensively, the Lakers are led by senior QB and Bowling Green State commit Bryce Veasley (6-4, 240), a returning starter, with one of the strongest arms in the state. Veasley will have one of the top receiver groups in the country to throw the ball to, starting with Big Ten commits seniors A.J. Abbott (6-2, 190) and Taj Mustapha (6-2, 185), both heading to Wisconsin next fall, along with sophomore WR Christian Fitzpatrick (6-2, 175, Louisville, Illinois, Indiana offers), junior WR Tre Mosley (6-1, 170) and junior WR Ty Broden (6-2, 165). At TE will be senior James Faulkner (6-4, 215, Indiana State, Illinois State, Howard offers). At running back/slot back will be senior Collin Heard (5-10, 180), a Howard commit, while holding down the fort upfront will be senior OT Javon Foster (6-6, 300), a CMU commit and senior OG Maxwell Green (6-3, 270). Defensively, Green will dominate at DE-DT, while seniors Blake Barnes (6-1, 230, who also can play DE), Limani Laster (6-0, 200) and Matthew Gu (6-0, 215) will man the LB spots, while senior Niko Mosley (6-2, 205) and junior Lance Dixon (6-3, 210, Purdue, Iowa State, Kentucky, North Carolina State offers, 4.5 40) will play near the line of scrimmage and in the back end for the Lakers. In the secondary, senior Nick Seidel (5-11, 185), senior Chase Swoope (5-11, 175) and Heard (4.5 40) will lead the way for West Bloomfield. Special teams will, also, be strong for the Lakers, with senior PK-P Nick O'Shea (5-9, 155) returning.
Up next- No. 4-ranked Detroit Cass Tech.
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