Just a few state of Michigan high school football musings --
The Class of 2024 might just be the deepest talent-wise I have seen in quite a few years. I always like selecting my preseason All-State team for each class every year and the 2024 defensive first-team back seven is truly, potential-wise, the best I can remember.
My 2022 All-State secondary was, I thought, maybe the best ever, potential-wise, at least recently in Michigan's glorious high school football history.
My 2022 All-State first-team secondary was --
CB-Will Johnson-6-2, 195-Grosse Pointe South-Michigan
CB-Dillon Tatum-5-11, 185-West Bloomfield-Michigan State
FS-Jaden Mangham-6-2, 180-Birmingham Groves-Michigan State
SS-Myles Rowser-6-1, 185-Belleville-Arkansas
Take a look, however, at my 2024 preseason All-State first-team secondary. I think it's just as good, if not better, than the 2022 All-State secondary.
My 2024 preseason All-State secondary --
CB-Jalen Todd-6-1, 170-Southfield A & T
CB-Jamir Benjamin-5-10, 175-West Bloomfield
FS-Jacob Oden-6-1, 190-Harper Woods
SS-Desman Stephens-6-3, 205-Clarkston
Now look at the linebackers playing in front of these DBs on my 2024 preseason All-State first-team --
LB-Derek Pennington Jr-6-2, 225-Caledonia
LB-Jeremiah Beasley-6-1, 215-Belleville
LB-Kari Jackson-6-1, 215-West Bloomfield
Unbelievable talent at every spot in this back seven. Can you imagine one of our Division I college football programs signing every single one of these guys? Everyone in the country is recruiting these players, but I guess a football-loving guy like me can dream, right?
-- I have to say a few words about Ferris State University's Caleb Murphy. Murphy (6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Dowagiac, Michigan) is a senior defensive end/linebacker for the Division 2 national champion Bulldogs. After posting a college football high (regardless of division) and an NCAA record of 25.5 sacks (breaking the previous record set by fellow Michigander Matthew Judon, West Bloomfield, Grand Valley State University, New England Patriots, 2023 Pro Bowl selection, four-time Pro Bowl pick) and 39.5 tackles for loss, Murphy was named the recipient of the Ted Hendricks Award. The national award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. Murphy is the first Division 2 player to ever win the award. I knew about this player when he was a junior in high school. He was a high-level wide receiver and linebacker-type prospect (he was 6-4, 215 or so coming out of a small-town-type high school) and one of the top recruits in southwest Michigan. How does a future Ted Hendricks Award winner like Murphy not sign with one of our five D-I playing college football programs? How is that possible? Interestingly, players from the state of Michigan have won the last two Ted Hendricks Awards, with Aiden Hutchison (Dearborn Divine Child, Michigan, Detroit Lions) earning the accolade last year.
Finally, how about the career of Karl Brooks (6-4, 300)? Brooks, a Lansing Sexton graduate, was recently named to the Pro Football Focus All-American first-team. A two-time captain for Bowling Green State University, Brooks, a senior, was one of two edge rushers named to the PFF All-American first team. The other edge rusher? Will Anderson (6-4, 255, Alabama). Brooks might be 6-4, 300, but he carries the weight like he's 6-4, 250. He's an amazing talent. I always enjoy looking at the PFF All-American teams because they evaluate players from all across America, not just the bigger conferences. I feel it's a true "All-American" team and not just a "popularity contest" team. Also making the PFF All-American first team was safety Kaevon Merriweather (6-0, 215, senior, Belleville, Iowa), while cornerback Kalen King (5-10, 185, sophomore, Detroit Cass Tech, Penn State) and defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson (6-3, 275, senior, Detroit East English Village, Toledo) were named to one of the three PFF All-American squads, as well. But, back to Brooks. I remember when he came out of Lansing Sexton, he was around 6-4, 225 and a ferocious pass rusher from his linebacker spot and mismatch-type wide receiver. Like FSU's Murphy, I shake my head and wonder how a player like Brooks wasn't suiting up for MSU or U-M -- especially his hometown Spartans. Like Murphy, I knew about Brooks prior to his senior year at Sexton. I work 50 hours a week at a totally unrelated job not covering high school football in the state of Michigan and how is it I knew about players like Murphy and Brooks -- and their potential, talent and skill -- and not the recruiting staffs and coaching staffs at our largest college football playing schools? Can you imagine Murphy and Brooks, for instance, on Michigan State's defense this past season? What an incredible difference both players would have made for the Green and White. Or how about U-M? And the fact both, more than likely, would've given their right arms to suit up for the Spartans or Wolverines after their prep careers had concluded. I just shake my head...
Anyhow, I'm off my soap box. Thanks for letting me vent. I haven't been blogging in quite a long time simply because, well, that 50-plus hour job and all the other things that come along in life. But this 2024 class has reignited my passion for high school football in Michigan. Look for my next blog to include not only my final Top 25 players for the class of 2023, but also my (early) Top 25 prospects for the class of 2024 and the class of 2025, plus a Top 10 for the class of 2026 and a Top 15 sleepers for the class of 2024. Eventually, I'll go position-by-position with Top 10 lists, plus other big-time performers at each position for the class of 2024.
Preview --
2024 -- Top 25
1. Brady Prieskorn-6-6, 225-TE-Rochester Adams
2. Jeremiah Beasley-6-1, 215-LB-RB-Belleville
3. Brandon Davis-Swain-6-4, 235-DE-West Bloomfield
4. Jaylen Washington-6-3, 290-OG-Detroit Cass Tech
5. CJ Carr-6-3, 195-QB-Saline
6. ...
2024 -- Top 15 Sleepers
1. Dasan Smith-6-5, 285-OT-Marquette-All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team
2. Shamar Pressley-6-7, 230-DE-TE-Clinton Township Clintondale-All-Macomb County, 4.8 40
3. Callen Campbell-6-4, 235-DE-Sault Ste. Marie-All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team
4. Kentae Longuemire-6-3, 225-DE-Carrollton-61 tackles, 11 sacks, 10 TFL
5. Monte Keener-6-7, 225-DE-LB-Linden-60 tackles, 10 sacks, 15 TFL, Flint Area Dream Team
6. ...
Photo -- Rochester Adams junior tight end Brady Prieskorn (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) is the No. 1-ranked prospect in the state of Michigan's talent-rich class of 2024. Photo by Ken Smart, MediaNews Group
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