Today I continue my look at Michigan's preseason Top 10 high school football teams for the upcoming 2017 season. Today's installment includes the No. 6-ranked squad -- Walled Lake Western.
6. Walled Lake Western- Last year's overall record (12-2, reached the Division 2 state championship game, losing to Detroit King 18-0).
Top players- Justin Thomas-6-1, 185-Sr.-WR-FS, Jonathon Moffett-6-0, 235-Sr.-LB-RB (Indiana State verbal), Spencer Brown-6-6, 295-Jr.-OT-DT (Michigan State verbal), Sam Johnson-6-3, 185-Jr.-QB, Matt Ginter-6-3, 220-Sr.-TE-DE, Joey George-6-0, 275-Sr.-C, Jacob Dean-6-8, 310-Jr.-OT, Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen-6-1, 175-Soph.-WR, Kobe Myers-6-1, 190-Jr.-S-RB, Zak Kempster-5-9, 190-K-LB.
Season opener- vs. West Bloomfield, Aug. 24 in the Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University. Arguably the top Week 1 opener in Michigan, in a Week 1 kickoff slate of titanic match-ups to remember. I can't recall a Week 1 filled with so many HUGE, INTERESTING and "MUST-SEE-TV"-type of contests in the Great Lakes State.
Interesting rivalry game/opener- My head is spinning thinking about all of the star-power in Walled Lake Western's season opener versus West Bloomfield. Not only are the two schools located near each other in northwest suburban Detroit (so I'm sure many of the players know each other), but both squads are listed in my preseason Top 10 -- with the Warriors No. 6-ranked and the Lakers No. 5-ranked overall. There will be multiple D-I college football prospects on both sides. It's the only Week 1 match-up between two Top 10 teams. Despite the magnitude of the season opener for both clubs, a loss will not ruin either squad's year. Both teams are so ridiculously talented, each could run the table during the regular season and reach their individual state championship games (Western is in Division 2, while West Bloomfield is in Division 1).
Overview- Coach Mike Zdebski has built a state power at Walled Lake Western. The Warriors routinely seem to send multiple players to the D-I college football ranks each year (including WR-DB Cody White to Michigan State and OT Rob Hudson to Iowa State last season), while striving for a state championship as a program. Western has a combined 33-5 overall record the past three seasons, reaching the D-2 state title contest last year (losing to Detroit King 18-0) and falling in the D-2 state semifinals in 2015 to Lowell 49-34. This season, the Warriors will be a balanced squad on offense, led by junior quarterback Sam Johnson (6-3, 185, Illinois, Indiana, Syracuse offers), wide receivers senior Justin Thomas (6-1, 185), who doesn't receive the publicity/recruiting buzz I believe he deserves and sophomore Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (6-1, 175, Toledo offer), along with tight end senior Matt Ginter (6-3, 220, 4.8 40). At running back, senior Jonathon Moffett (6-0, 235) and junior Kobe Myers (6-1, 190, Syracuse offer) will get plenty of carries. Opening the holes up front for the Warriors will be junior Big Ten recruit OT Spencer Brown (6-6, 295), junior OT Jacob Dean (6-8, 310, Iowa State offer) and senior center Joey George (6-0, 275). Brown and Dean could be the best underclassman bookend tackle duo in the country. On defense, Brown and Ginter will man the trenches, while senior Zak Kempster (5-9, 190) and Moffett will clean things up at LB with Thomas and Myers roaming the secondary for Western.
Up next- No. 5-ranked West Bloomfield.
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