Another national signing day has come and gone this season and as usual a significant number of Michigan kids put pen to paper making it official as to which school they will attend in the fall. This year, the Great Lakes State had 78 players (so far) from the class of 2014 sign national letters of intent with Division I programs. Last year, 63 players signed with Division I schools, while in 2012, Michigan had over 80 players sign with D-I programs.
Though having 78 players or so sign to compete at college football's highest level is impressive, I believe the state of Michigan should have no less than 100 gridders every season commit to Division I schools. Michigan has more than enough talent inside our borders to fill rosters of multiple Division I programs, especially at our five D-I in-state colleges.
With that in mind, here are my grades for Michigan's five Division I playing football schools and their overall recruitment and ability to sign our state's top players. Grades are only regarding each school's focus on and ability to scout, recruit and, in the end, attract and sign the best players in Michigan. The grade is not indicative of the overall class, including in-state and out-state players.
Michigan State-
B-
The Spartans did a solid job in Michigan this season, but not spectacular. Michigan State signed seven players from inside our borders out of a class of 22. Besides the seven from Michigan, the Spartans signed four players each from Illinois and Ohio, two from Florida and one apiece from Wisconsin, California, Pennsylvania, Georgia and New Jersey. Instate gridders I thought MSU missed on were WR-H-Back-P-K Cooper Mojsiejenko (6-4, 220) from Bridgman, DE Jonathon Williams (6-5, 235, 4.5 40) from Berrien Springs and LB William White (6-1, 220) from Detroit Cass Tech. Mojsiejenko, whose father Ralf played for Michigan State and later was a Pro Bowl punter in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, signed with CMU, while Williams, whose prep teammate OL Nick Padla committed to the Spartans, signed with Notre Dame and White, whose high school teammate LB Deon Drake signed with MSU, inked his signature with Buffalo.
Michigan-
C
The Wolverines did okay, I guess, in Michigan this year, but a part of me is a bit disappointed. The instate guys they did get are outstanding, but I simply would have liked to have seen more Michigan kids brought in by the Wolverines this season. I'm just sayin'... Out of a class of 16, U-M signed only four players from the Great Lakes State and two each from New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and Ohio. The Wolverines also signed one each from Illinois, Utah, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Instate guys I thought U-M missed on included DT-OG Jordan Van Dort (6-5, 285) from D-3 state champion Zeeland West, OG-C-DT Nick Matich (6-3, 300) from D-1 state title-winner Clarkston and OT Tommy Doles (6-5, 265) from Grand Rapids Christian. Van Dort and Matich signed with WMU, while Doles committed to Northwestern.
Eastern Michigan-
B
For the first time in more than a decade, the Eagles actually put the "Michigan" back in Eastern Michigan. Out of a class of 17, the Eagles inked nine players from the state -- imagine that. For first-year head coach Chris Creighton, being able to sign that many kids from inside the state's borders, in a very short amount of time after being a late hire, should please EMU fans everywhere. If Eastern and Coach Creighton can put together three or four more classes in a row like this one filled with talented Michigan players, the times, well, they will be a-changin' in Ypsilanti, that's for sure -- and for the better. EMU alumni and fans should be pleasantly encouraged by this class and Creighton's apparent focus on building his program with Michigan kids, as should be the case every year. Let's hope this trend continues. I guess only time will tell...
Western Michigan-
A
Wow, what can I say. What a class for the Broncos. No check that, what a MONSTER class for the Broncos. Coach P.J. Fleck, in his second season, has quickly turned WMU into a recruiting dynamo instate. Whereas previous head coaches at Western strangely and without explanation seemed to turn away, for the most part, from Michigan high school football players (despite the majority of the Broncos' future NFL players during those years hailing from Michigan -- go figure) and focus more outstate, Fleck has definitely made the inward move and opened up WMU's program to Michigan kids. Smart move, Mr. Fleck, smart move indeed. Look at the results. Out of a class of 27, the Broncos signed 12 players from the Great Lakes State, while four come from Illinois and two apiece from Indiana, Ohio and Florida. Rounding out the WMU class included one player each from New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Massachusetts.
Where to start, when discussing this class? How about up front, where we all know games are won. With signees like OT-OG Curtis Doyle (6-5, 305) from Alma, OT Chukwuma Okorafor (6-5, 275) from Southfield and OT Elliot Jordan (6-7, 265) from East Kentwood, Western has three Big Ten-level guys to build its future offensive line around. Throw in DT-OG Jordan Van Dort (6-5, 285) from Zeeland West, DT Kenny Finley (6-3, 280) from Muskegon and DT-C-OG Nick Matich (6-3, 300) from Clarkston and that's MAC championship and national top 25-like in the trenches on both sides for the Broncos. Then add for good measure two of Michigan's best at their respective positions in QB Chance Stewart (6-5, 220) from Sturgis and WR-S Asantay Brown (6-0, 190) from Muskegon Mona Shores and WMU has one of the best classes in recent MAC history. With this class, Western Michigan fans should be lining up right now for season tickets, because if Fleck and staff continue to recruit the state in this manner and continue to attract this type of instate talent on a yearly basis, not only will the Broncos compete for MAC championships, but they also will be bowl bound and nationally ranked every season. Row, row, row...
Central Michigan-
A
Just another great job by Coach Dan Enos and staff recruiting the state of Michigan this season. Enos, though WMU's Fleck is hot on his heels, rules this state when it comes to identifying, evaluating and signing instate football talent. Enos has been progressing with his program every season and the Chippewas appear poised to reach the upper echelon of the MAC and start cracking the national top 25 every year. Out of a class of 18, CMU signed 12 from Michigan. Combine this class with last season's signees and Chippewa fans young and old should be smiling. The future (and the present) is bright for CMU, indeed. Highlights for the CMU 2014 class include DE Nate Brisson-Fast (6-5, 245, 4.6 40) from Ferndale, DE-DT-OT Alex Neering (6-7, 250) from Essexville-Garber, CB-WR-KR Amari Coleman (5-11, 180, 4.4 40) from New Lothrop, WR-H-Back-P-K Cooper Mojsiejenko (6-4, 220) from Bridgman, TB Devon Spalding (5-11, 200) from Westland John Glenn and TE-DE Clay Walderzak (6-4, 245) from Standish-Sterling. I'm telling you Chips fans, the talent is building and growing for a long run at the top for CMU football -- hang in there.
