Mid-Michigan North/South All-Region Team

The Mid-Michigan North/South Region includes a swath of land from the Jackson/Lansing area in the south to the Alma/Mount Pleasant area to the north. The high school football talent in this region of Michigan is second to none. Just off the top of my head, former NFL players from the region include, Ty Hallock (Greenville, MSU, NFL), Clarence Love (Jackson, Toledo, NFL), Steve Maidlow (East Lansing, MSU, NFL), Brock Gutierrez (Charlotte, CMU, NFL), Tony Dungy (Jackson Parkside, Minnesota, NFL, Pro Football Hall of Fame), Brad Jones (East Lansing, Colorado, NFL), Muhsin Muhammad (Lansing Waverly, MSU, NFL) and Alan Haller (Lansing Sexton, MSU, NFL). This year's 2017 Mid-Michigan North/South All-Region squad is filled to the brim with high-level Division I college football talent. Here is the 2017 Mid-Michigan North/South All-Region team --

Mid-Michigan North/South All-Region Team -- 

WR-Karl Brooks-6-5, 210-Lansing Sexton- Incredible combo package of size and speed. Brooks is also a track sprinter with 4.5 speed. Big-time LB prospect, as well. Raw, but crazy athletic talent.

TE-Braeden Childress-6-4, 225-Big Rapids- One of the best tight ends in the state of Michigan. Combines speed, size and athleticism. A match-up nightmare for any defender unlucky enough to try and defend him.

OL-John O'Brien-6-5, 250-Charlotte- Bowling Green State verbal. Best O-lineman from Charlotte since NFL player Brock Gutierrez. 

OL-Gabe Moore-6-3, 290-Olivet- I love this kid. One of my top "sleepers" in the state of Michigan. Moore is one of the most explosive interior linemen (OG or DT) in the state. He jumps off the film I've seen of him. What I also love about this guy is he plays with a nasty, physical attitude relishing pancaking opposing defenders or blowing up run plays at the line of scrimmage. Being a defensive-minded guy, I see Moore bulking up to be a 6-3, 320 disturber of the highest quality at DT for some smart, dedicated and hard-working D-I coach or recruiter. Having this guy for four or five years in a D-I program, whoa... he'd be a scary, super strong anchor in the middle by the time he'd be a RS junior or senior. 

OL-Addison Carter-6-2, 270-Grand Ledge

OL-Ian Williams-6-2, 270-Jackson Lumen Christi-Top lineman for Division 6 state champion Titans. Punishing run blocker for a power football team. Williams would make an ideal 6-2, 305 center for some Big Ten/MAC team. Outstanding leader, as well. 

OL-Riley Smith-6-4, 250-Mason

WR-Jayden Perry-6-0, 170-Mount Pleasant

WR-Noah Koenigsnecht-6-2, 180-DeWitt-I love this guy. He's as close to a Blair White (Saginaw Nouvel, MSU, NFL WR)-type clone as there is in the state of Michigan. Great hands and route runner. Sneaky fast, deep threat with legit 4.4 speed. Highly under-recruited, in my opinion. Big Ten all the way, no doubt. Plays for DeWitt (former high school of Olympic gymnast Jordyn Wieber), a Lansing area powerhouse and one of the state's best football programs. 

QB-Nolan Bird-6-2, 190-Grand Ledge-Coach's son. Three-year starter for top Lansing area program. Can do it all from the QB position. 

RB-Sebastian Toland-5-10, 175-Jackson Lumen Christi- Speed back from D-6 state championship squad. Rushed for over 2,000 yards this season. 

K-Adam Culp-6-3, 180-Ithaca- Super strong leg for D-6 state runner-up team. Has blasted over 60 kickoffs this season out of the end zone. 

DE-Jake Dorn-6-4, 250-St. Johns- Dorn has been injured off and on recently, but when healthy, this kid is one of the top 10 D-ends in the state of Michigan. Reportedly runs a 4.7 40. Has edge pass rushing skills, with bulk and size to also stuff the run. He's an intriguing prospect. 

DT-Kenyon Story-6-2, 280-Breckenridge

DT-Nathan Bellinger-6-5, 245-Ithaca

DE-Nick Jungel-6-7, 220-Olivet

LB-Colton Hyble-6-5, 225-Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart

      Zach Hessbrook-6-2, 220-Ithaca

LB-Steele Fortress-6-4, 230-Jackson County Parma Western- First off, I have to say the obvious -- What an incredible name. Perfect for a football player (or a Hollywood stuntman or really for anything). Though an awesome name, Fortress is truly one of Michigan's top 25 players overall. I love this kid. His play on both sides of the football this season has actually been better than his name. He can basically play anywhere. A star QB for Parma Western, he could possibly play that position at the D-I level or switch to TE or be a 6-4 250 MLB or a 6-4 265 DE. He's a three-sport star and a high-level baseball player, as well. Big Ten...?? Do some of these Big Ten coaches want to build winning programs and save their jobs or simply collect a paycheck? Why do they not know about a guy like this? I just shake my head...

LB-Cal Johnston-6-5, 220-Grand Ledge- Reminds me of a player I spent a lot of time covering back in the day -- TE Tony Scheffler (Chelsea, WMU, NFL). Like Scheffler, Johnston has excellent hands and mobility for a big guy as a WR-TE-type player on offense and quick closing speed as a SS-LB on defense. Also like Scheffler, Johnston is an All-State baseball player.
       Kyle Minder-6-1, 210-Jackson Lumen Christi

DB-Cody Blankenburg-5-9, 175-Lansing Sexton- Pure speed. Talented two-way player as a RB or CB from program that has churned out D-I football players like the local Oldsmobile plants of yore. Big Ten-level talent on either side of the football. 

DB-Dominique Clerkley-5-9, 170-Okemos

DB-Joey Bentley-6-2, 190-Ithaca- Prolific QB, can do it all passing or running for D-6 state runner-up. Outstanding punter, as well. Could play safety at next level. Pure, natural, instinctive-type player. 

DB-Blake Underwood-6-3, 190-East Lansing- Miami (OH) verbal. Could play WR or DB at the next level. 

P-Connor Charamella-6-0, 200-East Lansing

Top Underclassmen in Mid-Michigan North/South Region (all are D-I prospects) -- 

OL-DT-Brock Jordan-6-3, 285-Okemos-Jr.

TE-Dayton Keller-6-4, 245-Jackson Lumen Christi-Jr.

OL-Keegan Smith-6-4, 275-Jackson Lumen Christi-Soph.

RB-Michael Whitney-5-11, 205-Lansing Catholic-Jr.

QB-RB-DB-Drew Stout-6-2, 185-Carson City-Crystal-Jr.

LB-RB-Brayden Shaw-6-1, 215-Ithaca-Soph.

DE-Dominique Davidson-6-6, 220-Lansing Everett-Jr.

LB-RB-Konner Near-6-1, 205-St. Johns-Jr.
RB-DB-Heath Flower-5-10, 175-Olivet-Soph.

DT-Hunter Smith-6-2, 265-Breckenridge-Jr. 

QB-Drew Humm-6-3, 180-Alma-Jr.

TE-Gavin Cossou-6-6, 215-Greenville-Jr.

QB-Blake Gatfield-6-2, 190-DeWitt-Jr.
DB-Josh Kramer-6-0, 185-Lansing Catholic-Jr.
OL-Isaiah Schafer-6-3, 265-Pewamo-Westphalia-Jr.

RB-Exziar Edwards-5-9, 185-Jackson-Jr.

DT-OL-Aiden Train-6-4, 275-Central Montcalm-Soph. 

WR-Case Conley-6-6, 185-Williamston-Jr.
K-Alec Thelen-5-9, 170-Pewamo-Westphalia-Jr.

DB-Noah Smith-6-0, 175-Lansing Everett-Jr.
DB-Nick Thomas-5-11, 175-Jackson Lumen Christi-Jr.

DB-Bobby Willis-5-10, 165-Jackson Lumen Christi-Soph.

WR-S-Mike Munderloh-6-3, 195-St. Louis-Jr.