A multitude of state of Michigan kids played prominent roles on their respective D-I college football teams last fall from the secondary spot. Just off the top of my head, cornerbacks Lavert Hill (Detroit King), Ambry Thomas (Detroit King) and Vincent Gray (Rochester Adams) all started at one time or another for the University of Michigan this past fall in the defensive backfield. Hill is considered an NFL prospect in this year's draft. At Wisconsin, the state of Michigan duo of Scott Nelson (U-D Jesuit) and Reggie Pearson (River Rouge) were arguably the top safety combo in the Big Ten last year. At Purdue, another Great Lakes State safety combo of Navon Mosley (West Bloomfield) and Jalen Graham (Detroit Cass Tech) started most of the season last year together in the secondary, while over at Iowa, cornerback Michael Ojemudia (Farmington Hills Harrison) was a three-year starter and is an NFL prospect. Outside of the Big Ten, Evan Foster (West Bloomfield) was a three-year starter at safety for Syracuse and is an NFL prospect, while cornerback Allen Stritzinger (Warren DeLaSalle) was the nickel for the Orange this past season. At Mississippi State, Brian Cole (Saginaw Heritage) was a two-year starter at safety for the Bulldogs. Cole is an NFL prospect. Again, this is just off the top of my head. I'm sure with some additional research, I would find many more state of Michigan defensive backs starting or in the defensive backfield rotation for MAC teams and other D-I college football squads throughout the country.
In the NFL, again off the top of my head, current players from the state of Michigan patrolling the secondary this past season included safety Jeff Heath (Lake Orion, Saginaw Valley State), Desmond King (Detroit Crockett Tech, Iowa), Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M), Delano Hill (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M), Khari Willis (Jackson Lumen Christi, MSU), Brandon Carr (Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Grand Valley State), Kavon Frazier (Grand Rapids Christian, CMU), Tavierre Thomas (Detroit Allen, Ferris State), Sean Murphy-Bunting (Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, CMU), Darius Phillips (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, WMU) and Avonte Maddox (Detroit King, Pittsburgh). I'm sure there are players I'm missing, but I simply wanted to give a brief representation of the amount and caliber of secondary talent the state of Michigan produces each and every year.
All that being said, here are the next crop of big-time talented defensive backfield performers for the state of Michigan's class of 2021.
Top 10 Defensive Backs for Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Robert Army-6-1, 185-Southfield A & T -- The "Julian Barnett" of the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Barnett (class of 2019 in Michigan, now at MSU) was one of the top two-way cornerback-wide receivers in the nation his senior year at Belleville High School. Army is a similar talent at both wide out and corner for Southfield A & T. Army is just a good football player. He might not have blazing speed or big-time size, but his natural football instincts are, in my humble opinion, one of the best, if not the best, out of any position, in the state of Michigan. He's smooth, under control and precise in his movements and responsibilities on either side of the football. Verbal to Iowa State
2. Jaylen Reed-6-0, 190-Detroit King -- Reed has been a standout in the King secondary for three years. Reed is basically neck-and-neck with Robert Army for Michigan's class of 2021 top defensive back prospect. A star for the nationally-renowned Crusader program, Reed has the speed to cover deep and the toughness to play near the line of scrimmage, take on blocks and make tackles. I love Reed's toughness and moxie when it comes to competing and playing the game of football. Verbal to Penn State
3. Armorion Smith-6-2, 190-River Rouge -- One of my favorites for the class of 2021. Smith is a linebacker playing safety for River Rouge, the defending Division 3 state champions. Smith has speed to burn, but is also extremely physical. Smith also has the skill to play in space as a cornerback. He could also possibly bulk up and play linebacker at the next level at 6-2, 225 or so and be outstanding. Following in the footsteps of recent Panther defensive backs Reggie Pearson (Wisconsin) and Daraun McKinney (Iowa) as a future high-level D-I secondary performer. Verbal to Cincinnati
4. Quillen Howze-6-1, 180-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley -- Arguably the fastest player in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Howze runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and a 10.8 100 meters -- and he's only a junior. Both of those times quite possibly could drop during his senior season. Outstanding prospect in the secondary or at wide receiver. He could play safety at the next level, but I like him developing as a lock down-type corner with his size and speed. Plays for Chippewa Valley, a suburban Detroit school and one of the state of Michigan's top big-school programs. Verbal to Buffalo, despite offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Pitt, Iowa State and Minnesota.
5. Kalen King-5-11, 170-Detroit Cass Tech -- The next great Cass Tech defensive back. Every year, the Technicians seem to have one or more defensive backs that are recruited nationally. King is such a great player. With excellent balance, feet and hips, King can blanket even the best receiver. A three-sport star for Cass Tech (he also plays basketball and runs track and field), King is intense, hard-working and dedicated. King's ceiling is as high, if not higher, than any player on this list. Verbal to Penn State.
6. DeJavion Stepney-6-0, 185-Macomb Dakota -- I love a lot of these DBs in Michigan's talented class of 2021, but Stepney is right at the top of the list for me. Like Robert Army, Stepney seems like such a natural out on the football field. A "swiss-army-knife"-type of player for Dakota, one of suburban Detroit's best programs, Stepney plays defensive back, running back, wide receiver and returns kicks for the Cougars. Last season, he finished with 60 tackles, two TFL and two interceptions, while rushing for 1,226 yards and 12 TDs and catching 13 passes for 320 yards and one TD. A three-year varsity performer for Dakota, Stepney is athletic, fast and naturally talented. Verbal to CMU
7. Julius Sims-6-2, 185-Muskegon -- An absolute heat-seeking missile from his safety position for national powerhouse Muskegon. Opposing players better have their heads on a swivel with Sims prowling the secondary. Helped lead the Big Reds to the Division 3 state runner-up spot and a top 20 national ranking last season. Verbal to Bowling Green State
8. Tyreese Oakes-6-0, 180-Muskegon -- Teams with Julius Sims to form arguably the Midwest's top safety tandem. Like Sims, Oakes is constantly running downhill and striking hard from the safety position. With good speed and instincts, Oakes is a high-level prospect. A two-year starter for Muskegon, Michigan's all-time winningest program (and top 10 winningest in the nation), Oakes is a consummate football talent. CMU, Buffalo, WMU, Army, Toledo offers. Big Ten??
9. Saborn Campbell-5-11, 195-Detroit Country Day -- A ball-hawk of the highest order, Campbell is another lock down-type corner for the Yellowjackets. Campbell at No. 9 in my top 10 list of the best DB prospects in Michigan, is proof positive of how highly talented and skilled this position group is for the class of 2021. An elite athlete, Campbell picked off eight passes last season, leading Country Day to a Division 4 state runner-up finish. He was selected Division 3-4 first-team All-State. Has offers from Michigan State and Virginia for football, but is verbally committed to Stanford for baseball.
10. (tie) Maxwell Hairston-6-1, 175-West Bloomfield -- A tall, lanky cornerback prospect for West Bloomfield, a suburban Detroit program that has sent players to Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Purdue, Syracuse and Penn State the past few seasons, Hairston is a quick, smothering-type DB that battles for every ball thrown his way. Verbal to Kentucky Jaylin Mines-6-1, 190-Oak Park -- Hard-hitting safety for Oak Park. Mines has good speed and excellent size. I see him adding 10-15 pounds at the next level and bringing the pain from his secondary position. Verbal to Toledo, despite offers from Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Rutgers, Kentucky.
Other top defensive back prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 (all are D-I recruits at some level) -- Leroy Watson-5-10, 165-River Rouge (Verbal to Army), Eric Reese-5-11, 170-Macomb Dakota (Verbal to CMU), Jacob Taylor-5-11, 170-Detroit Cass Tech (CMU, WMU, Bowling Green State offers), Anton Ricumstrict-6-0, 175-Mount Pleasant (Verbal to Buffalo), Jacob Bendtsen-6-2, 185-Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (also top QB, threw for 1,800 yards and 26 TDs last season as junior), Daveon Turner-5-9, 165-Harper Woods (Verbal to Army), Joe Taylor-5-10, 170-Chelsea (named Division 3-4 All-State as junior, selected Ann Arbor News Defensive Player of Year as a sophomore, Verbal to U-M for baseball), Darryl Cooper-6-1, 180-Ecorse, Owen Franklin-6-1, 185-Oscoda (named to Bay City Times Dream Team last year, three-sport star for Oscoda, one of northern Michigan's best all-around athletes), Julian Ama-5-10, 170-Farmington, Rishad Hence-5-9, 165-Detroit King (Verbal to Akron), Jimari Moultrie-5-10, 175-Riverview (News-Herald Dream Team, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs) Rocco Milia-6-2, 175-Birmingham Brother Rice, Mason Breit-5-10, 180-Byron Center (Grand Rapids Press Dream Team as junior, three interceptions, 20 tackles), Logan Heath-6-0, 185-Merrill (Saginaw News Dream Team as junior, four interceptions, 62 tackles, 17 career interceptions). Jordan Wilson-5-11, 170-Ann Arbor Skyline, Eli Gordon-5-11, 170-Midland (selected to Midland Daily News Dream Team, had 37 tackles, six TFL), Trent Reed-6-3, 180-Beaverton (named Midland Daily News Player of Year as junior, led Beaverton to first-ever 9-0 record, 47 tackles, five interceptions as safety, with two picks returned for TDs, passed for 579 yards and seven TDs, while rushing for 1,080 yards and 16 TDs, one of northern Michigan's top prospects).
No comments:
Post a Comment