Michigan's Top 10 Running Back Prospects for the Class of 2019 -- (all are D-I recruits) --
1. Jaren Mangham-6-1, 220-Detroit Cass Tech -- Similar to Belleville's Julian Barnett (the state of Michigan's No. 1 WR and DB recruit), Mangham, in my opinion, is the Great Lakes State's top RB AND LB recruit. He has the potential to be a star on either side of the football. With 4.5 speed and a Big Ten body already, Mangham is one of the best all-around football players in the Midwest. Simply put, Mangham is a pure talent and one of those players a college football team can build its program around. Fast and powerful as a RB, Mangham is a load with the football in his hands. He's the type of back who can carry the pigskin 30 times a game. Defensively, I see him being just as impactful as a LB, with the intensity and ability to make stops inside at the line of scrimmage or have the quickness and agility to drop back in pass coverage. He's the total package. Had offers from Alabama, Texas, Texas A & M, Michigan State, Florida, Florida State, Oregon, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Tennessee among others. Verbal to Colorado
2. Montell Glover-5-11, 190-Stephenson -- If you don't know this kid's name, you should. Arguably the best player from the Upper Peninsula in a decade or so. I don't even know where to begin with this young man. I guess, first off, he bench presses 300 pounds as a high school junior. Last season, he rushed for 1,194 yards on 93 carries with 21 touchdowns. On special teams, he returned four punts for TDs, while on defense he scored two touchdowns. For the past two years (sophomore and junior seasons), he has placed first in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter run in the Upper Peninsula track and field state meet. His best times so far in the U.P. state meet are 11.36 in the 100 meters as a junior, 22.98 in the 200 meters as a junior and 50.76 in the 400-meter run as a sophomore. Though he faces little competition and few challengers on the track, his times are still quite incredible. To compare, Iowa State commit CB Jaeveyon Morton (class of 2018) of Detroit King ran a 10.75 100 meters at this past season's Lower Peninsula Division I state meet, while current Miami (OH) verbal commit DB Javon Kimpson (class of 2019) of Clinton Township Chippewa Valley clocked an 11.13 in the 100 meters. Current Penn State verbal commit LB Lance Dixon (class of 2019) of West Bloomfield ran a 22.43 in the 200 meters at the D-I state meet, while Glover's 50.76 in the 400-meter run would have placed him 18th in D-I (big school division) at this past June's state meet. On the gridiron, Glover earned Upper Peninsula Dream Team honors this past year and was named the state of Michigan's Associated Press 8-Man Player of the Year. He's also a standout defensive back prospect. Yes, he plays 8-man football for a tiny school in the U.P., but this kid is the real deal.
3. Grant Papineau-6-2, 225-Central Lake -- Call me crazy, but I believe this player is a high-level D-I college football prospect. Like Montell Glover, Papineau is an 8-man football star and receives little to no publicity, but to me, talent is talent and Papineau has lots of it on both sides of the football. Last season, he led Central Lake to the Division I 8-man state championship defeating Deckerville 32-30. In the title game, Papineau rushed for 181 yards on 30 carries with one touchdown. Overall on the year, he ran for 1,322 yards on 137 attempts with 21 TDs. Defensively as a hard-hitting LB, Papineau finished the season with 70 tackles, including 17 TFL. In the Division I 8-man state semifinals, Papineau had a monster game, finishing with 241 yards rushing on 30 carries with four touchdowns. As if that wasn't enough, he also returned a fumble 65 yards for a TD, leading Central Lake to a 54-20 win over Stephenson and Montell Glover. Papineau reminds me of one of those old-fashioned Penn State fullbacks from back in Joe Paterno's days on the Nittany Lions' sidelines. Like Glover, Papineau might play 8-man football at a small northern Michigan school, but despite his circumstances, all he has done is dominate his peers. What more can you ask him to do?
4. Konner Near-6-1, 205-St. Johns -- A power back with a nasty, hard-running attitude, Near rushed for 1,377 yards with 21 TDs last season. His single-game high was 354 yards against Cadillac last year. Another two-way, standout, Near could also play LB at the next level. Named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team as a junior last year.
5. Lew Nichols-6-0, 200-Detroit Cass Tech- The second part of the state of Michigan's top 1-2 punch in the backfield, Nichols pairs with Jaren Mangham to form one of the best running back duos in the country. Combines speed with good power, Nichols is a feature-type back at the next level. Had offers from Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota, Pitt and West Virgina among others. Verbal to CMU
6. Drew Stout-6-2, 185-Carson City-Crystal- Last season, Stout set a school record rushing for 1,871 yards with 20 TDs. As a sophomore he started at quarterback throwing for 1,808 yards and rushing for 1,057 yards accounting for 30 total touchdowns. For his efforts as a sophomore, he was named the Daily News' Offensive Player of the Year. An all-around football player, Stout is also a big-time prospect as a defensive back. Last season, Stout earned AP Division 7-8 All-State honors and was also named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team.
7. Steven Walker-5-10, 175-Canton-One of the fastest backs in the state of Michigan. Super explosive, home-run-type runner. Rushed for a single-game high of 352 yards on 12 carries with five TDs in a victory over Hartland last season. In first four games, Walker racked up 803 yards and 12 TDs. He was named to the AP Division 1-2 All-State team last year as a junior. Only seven juniors were selected for the state's "big school" squad. Walker was in pretty good company on the Division 1-2 All-State team. The other juniors named to the team included O-linemen Belleville's Devontae Dobbs (Michigan State verbal) and Walled Lake Western's Spencer Brown (Michigan State verbal), Flint Carman-Ainsworth defensive end Michael Fletcher (Michigan State verbal), Clinton Township Chippewa Valley linebacker Marcel Lewis (Michigan State verbal), Detroit King safety Marvin Grant (Purdue verbal) and Belleville wide receiver-defensive back Julian Barnett (Michigan State verbal).
8. Brec Alward-5-10, 185-Alma-A triple-threat-type back, Alward can hurt an opponent as a runner, receiver and kickoff return specialist. Last season, Alward rushed for 1,744 yards with 25 TDs. As a receiver, he hauled in three touchdown catches, while on special teams he returned two kickoffs for TDs. Because of his efforts, Alward was named AP Division 3-4 All-State and selected to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team.
9. Alec Muck-5-11, 180-Sand Creek-More than likely the fastest running back in the state of Michigan and possibly the quickest in the Midwest. Already a three-time 200-meter state champion and two-time 100-meter title-holder, Muck is a blur on the track and the football field. He's definitely one of Michigan's top "athletes" on the gridiron. He's a guy that truly can score from anywhere on the football field. As a sophomore he was named the Lenawee County Offensive Player of the Year rushing for 1,504 yards and 27 TDs. At the next level, Muck could transition to wide receiver or defensive back. As a running back, Muck arguably gets around the corner faster than any back in Michigan. Muck's top time in the 100 meters is 10.7, while his best in the 200 meters is 22.02 -- and he's a junior. This past June at the one-day Ohio State camp, Muck ran the 40-yard dash twice, recording times of 4.37 and 4.33. Some very smart and/or resourceful D-I college football recruiter or coach is going to sign Muck, who, in my opinion, is woefully under-recruited at this point in his career. Big Ten, where are you on this game-breaker-type RB/WR/DB/KR?
10. Jalen Kirkland-5-11, 225-Lapeer-With a Big Ten body already, Kirkland is a bruising back, with the speed and moves to either run over defenders or sprint by them. Last season, Kirkland rushed for 1,480 yards on 194 carries with 18 TDs. As a junior, Kirkland was named to the Flint Journal Dream Team.
Other top RB prospects (all are D-I recruits) -- Bryce Stark-5-10, 190-Montague (rushed for 1,724 yards and 30 TDs last year, 4.5 40, 315 bench press, 425 squat, named AP Division 5-6 All-State), Sincrere Dent-5-11, 210-Muskegon Mona Shores, Phillip Jones-5-8, 165-Reed City (incredible talent, tough to leave out of Top 10, rushed for 2,049 yards and 34 TDs last season, named to the AP Division 5-6 All-State team), Eli Potts-6-1, 200-Portage Central, Hunter Nowak-6-0, 175-Morrice (rushed for 1,647 yards and 25 TDs last year, named to the AP 8-man All-State team as junior), Darius Clayton-6-1, 225-Benton Harbor, Jalen Watkins-5-10, 185-Battle Creek Lakeview (ran for 1,005 yards and 11 TDs as junior, selected to the Battle Creek Enquirer All-City squad), Elijah Lewis-5-11, 165-Pine River, Michael Whitney-5-11, 205-Lansing Catholic, Giovanni Weeks-6-0, 185-Kent City (rushed for 1,400 yards and 25 TDs last season, named to Detroit Free Press Division 6 All-State team, placed first in the 200 meters in 22.36, second in the 100 meters in 11.1 and fourth in the long jump with a 20-10 leap at the Division 3 state meet last year), Kendel Taylor-6-0, 195-Madison Heights Bishop Foley (rushed for 1,100 yards and 12 TDs last season, runs 4.4, verbal to Navy). Exziar Edwards-5-9, 170-Jackson, Logan Murphy-6-0, 220-Ottawa Lake-Whiteford (also standout LB prospect, runs 4.5 40, 300 bench press, 540 squat, led Whiteford to D-8 state title last year, running for 126 yards on 16 carries with three TDs in championship contest, team finished 14-0) , Kendall Williams-5-9, 165-Farmington, Torriano Williams-5-10, 170-Oak Park (Syracuse, Miami (OH) offers), Marcus Guerrero-5-8, 185-Waterford Mott (runs 4.5 40, 330 bench press, 500 squat), Jelontay Hervey-5-11, 185-Battle Creek Harper Creek (rushed for 1,066 yards and nine TDs last year, named to Battle Creek Enquirer All-City team), Tori Jackson-6-1, 205-Portage Northern, Donovan Webb-6-0, 190-Holland (rushed for 1,057 yards on 135 carries with nine TDs last season, named to Holland Sentinel All-Area first team), Abraham Jaafar-5-9, 175-Dearborn Fordson (250 bench press, 340 squat, 4.5 40, Colorado State offer), Caleb Oyster-5-10, 195-Utica Eisenhower (ran for 1,159 yards and 14 TDs, named to Detroit News All-East first team last season, 4.4 40, 22.09 200 meters), Ethan Lopresto-5-10, 170-Reading (rushed for 1,600 yards and 25 TDs last year, runs a 4.4 40-yard dash, 11.04 100 meters, 21.83 200 meters, also qualified for state meet as wrestler at 152 pounds as junior).
PHOTO -- In a photo that captures high school football in November in northern Michigan better than any I've ever seen and also a picture that highlights two of the best players in the state -- this image captures it all -- power, talent and determination, Great Lakes State football at its best. Here, Central Lake junior D-I college football recruit Grant Papineau (6-2, 225) runs into Stephenson junior D-I prospect Montell Glover (5-11, 190) during the Division I 8-man football state semifinals last season. Papineau finished with 241 yards rushing on 30 carries with four touchdowns, leading host Central Lake to a 54-20 victory over Stephenson. Papineau would go on to lead the Trojans to a state championship, while also being named to Michigan's 8-man All-State first team. Glover would end up being named Michigan's 8-Man Player of the Year. Photo by Brendan Quealy, Traverse City Record-Eagle.
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