Well, it's been a month or so since signing day and what a year it was for high school football in Michigan. With close to 80 players signing with Division I programs, the Great Lakes State continues to make its mark on the college football landscape.
While having players sign with D-I colleges is fine and dandy, no other state in the union has a stronger contingent of D-II football programs than Michigan. I don't have all the stats and figures, but I'd say it would be a pretty good bet that Michigan has more former D-II college football players competing in the NFL than any other state in the country. Our D-II schools are some of -- if not the -- strongest and most nationally prominent in the nation. That being said, I recently decided to take a look at our state's 2014 D-II recruiting classes and, boy, did our programs clean up. So many of the players committing to D-II schools in Michigan are definite D-I level gridders.
In looking over the classes, one group stood out the most. I think in the coming years, the GLIAC will start seeing a new power -- Ferris State. The Bulldogs' 2014 recruiting class is off-the-charts good. It's filled with high D-I level recruits. I'm excited to see how good Ferris State will be in three or four years when this season's class, combined with the 2013 class, will be juniors and seniors. It appears the GLIAC "block" just got a little tougher. Bulldog head coach Tony Annese is tearing it up on the recruiting trail in Michigan. Annese, wildly successful as a coach in Michigan, especially at state powerhouse Muskegon where he won three state championships in the 2000s, and at Grand Rapids Community College, where he won two national championships in 2009 and 2011, before hiring in as FSU head coach in 2012, could be one of the state's best college football coaches regardless of division. He's definitely one of the best instate recruiters. Grand Valley State has ruled the GLIAC for a while, but the Lakers might have consistent company at the top if Annese remains at FSU and continues to diligently recruit the state of Michigan.
Look at a few of the D-I level players Annese inked in this year's 2014 class-
Malik Taylor-6-2, 195-Montrose-WR-DB-LB-No. 13-ranked player in Michigan
Lorenzo Collins-6-0, 210-RB-LB-Farmington Hills Harrison-No. 25-ranked player in Michigan
Devonte McGregor-6-4, 205-LB-DE-Taylor Truman-No. 49-ranked player in Michigan
Kyle Baldwin-6-3, 245-DT-TE-Madison Hts. Madison-No. 56-ranked player in Michigan
Spencer Viening-6-1, 220-LB-Zeeland East-No. 65-ranked player in Michigan
Hunter Lassiter-6-4, 255-TE-OG-Portage Central-No. 71-ranked player in Michigan
Will Hunt-6-0, 220-LB-Muskegon-No. 79-ranked player in Michigan
Jalen Brooks-6-3, 190-QB-Cadillac-No. 99-ranked player in Michigan
Nashon Burns-6-3, 285-OG-Detroit Cass Tech-No. 102-ranked player in Michigan
Christopher Okoye-6-6, 320-DT-Detroit Catholic Central-No. 120-ranked player in Michigan
This class includes two players in Michigan's top 25, three in the top 50 and eight in the state's top 100. For a D-II school, that's pretty impressive, to say the least. In contrast, traditional and national powerhouse GVSU received commitments from two players in Michigan's top 100 and three total in the top 150 for the 2014 class. Grand Valley State is Grand Valley State and they'll continue to churn out GLIAC title contenders and NFL prospects every year, but the Bulldogs are definitely nipping at the Lakers' heels, especially with Annese at the helm.
Look at this possible line-up (with weights for players adjusted for time) for Ferris State in three or four years, when the classes of 2013 and 2014 are juniors and seniors. There is D-I talent at virtually every position.
(In a three wide receiver set)
WR-Brandon Moore-6-2, 200-Sr.-Montrose-My No. 1 wide receiver in the 2013 class
WR-Davon Haines-6-0, 180-Sr.-East Lansing
TE-Hunter Lassiter-6-4, 265-Jr.-Portage Central-Originally a CMU commit, could move to OG
OT-Tyler James-6-6, 305-Sr.-Stanton Central Montcalm
OG-Lamar Jenkins-6-2, 315-Sr.-Grand Blanc
C-Jake Daugherty-6-2, 290-Sr.-Big Rapids-Local boy, could play DT or OG, I like him at C
OG-Nashon Burns-6-3, 305-Jr.-Detroit Cass Tech-Three-year starter at state power
OT-Kevin Reidt-6-4, 310-Jr.-Chippewa Valley-Another three-year starter from power program
WR-Malik Taylor-6-2, 205-Jr.-Montrose-Could be next Jeff Janis (Tawas, SVSU, NFL draftee)
QB-Jalen Brooks-6-3, 200-Jr.-Cadillac-Dual threat run/pass QB
RB-Lorenzo Collins-6-0, 225-Jr.-Farmington Hills Harrison-My. No. 1 running back in 2014 class
(In a 4-3 defensive set)
DE-Dalvin Rubens-6-2, 255-Sr.-Taylor Truman
DT-Kyle Baldwin-6-3, 285-Jr.-MH Madison-Reminds me of Jason Jones (Lathrup, EMU, NFL)
DT-Torrey Appel-6-2, 305-Sr.-Grand Haven-Also OG, but I like him as run-stuffing DT
DE-Devonte McGregor-6-4, 245-Jr.-Taylor Truman-Needs to gain 35-40 pounds in three years
LB-Spencer Viening-6-1, 235-Jr.-Zeeland East-What a great get for Annese, star in the making
LB-Kaleb Ringer-5-11, 245-Sr.-Dayton, OH-Former U-M recruit.
LB-Anthony White-6-2, 225-Sr.-Lansing Everett-4.6 speed off the edge
CB-Ryheem Stokes-5-11, 185-Sr.-Grand Rapids Catholic Central-Next D-II Brandon Carr
CB-Keyon Addison-6-1, 190-Jr.-Saginaw-Big time sleeper, 4.4 speed, D-I athlete
FS-Ato Condelee-6-0, 195-Sr.-Holland West Ottawa-D-I track recruit, speed to burn
SS-Jacob Allan-6-3, 210-Jr.-Portage Central
Sorry for the long blog on FSU, but I couldn't believe the class Annese brought in this season. Plus, when added with last year's class, the Bulldogs certainly look to be a power to be reckoned with in the coming seasons in the GLIAC. Should be interesting...
