In an earlier post I listed five of Michigan's most explosive and productive D-I football prospects for the class of 2018. Here, in this post, are the next five high-level D-I recruits from the Great Lakes State who bring a certain level of power, acceleration and quickness not normally seen at the high school level.
-- Elijah Collins-6-2, 195-WR-RB-LB-U-D Jesuit- One of Michigan's top all-around athletes, Collins is a two-sport star who also could play basketball at the next level. A starter for the defending Class A state champion Cubs on the hardcourt, Collins is also one of the Midwest's best on the gridiron. An explosive leaper with elite quickness, Collins earned Detroit News All-Detroit first team honors last season as a WR. I see him gaining 30 pounds or so at the next level and playing OLB at 6-2, 225 or possibly WR at 6-2, 215 and being a difference-maker at either position.
-- Cody Blankenburg-5-9, 165-CB-RB-Lansing Sexton- Proverbial lock down corner for Lansing powerhouse program Sexton. A Lansing State Journal Dream Team member last year as a junior, Blankenburg intercepted five passes and recorded 38 tackles as the Lansing area's top cover corner a season ago. Offensively, Blankenburg is an explosive force, rushing for 1,113 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns last year. A standout two-way performer, Blankenburg is a definite D-I prospect and one of the Lansing area's top college football recruits for 2018.
-- Maurice White-6-5, 250-DE-Detroit King- On a team filled with talent, White is an under-publicized, high-level D-I prospect as a defensive end. A top player on last season's Division 2 state championship squad, White has explosive pass-rushing skills. A bit raw, but with long arms and speed off the edge, White is an outstanding prospect who will only get bigger, stronger and faster at the next level. A Big Ten-level recruit, White could develop into something special for a well-organized D-I program smart enough to find and sign this sleeper-type (at least for a program the caliber of King) player.
-- Jaylan Franklin-6-5, 205-WR-LB-DE-Gibraltar Carlson- Truly one of Michigan's most explosive and talented players whose ceiling is off the charts. I have been high on this player since his sophomore year. He continues to get better and better overall. What I like most about Franklin is his all around athletic ability and football skill. He can play multiple positions and has the body frame to add muscle and weight at the next level. I envision Franklin playing defensive end at the D-I level at 6-5, 245 or 6-5, 255 and being an incredible edge rusher, yet strong enough and athletic enough to make tackles at the line of scrimmage or behind it. Like Maurice White, Franklin isn't being as highly recruited as I would like (though Michigan State has offered and Kentucky and Minnesota are reportedly actively recruiting him), though his ability and potential are undeniable.
-- Brandon Green-6-2, 200-WR-LB-Detroit Mumford- Like Elijah Collins, Green is a two-sport standout, starring on Mumford's hoops team, as well as its football squad. A high-level Detroit Public School League prospect, Green is an explosive, fast player who is a sleeper of sorts, but a bonafide D-I, Big Ten-level recruit. With 4.5 speed and two-sport athleticism in one of the nation's top D-I football producing leagues, Green is another player who could add solid weight and muscle mass at the next level and compete at 6-2, 230 as a LB or 6-2, 210 as a physical, over-the-middle type WR.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Friday, February 17, 2017
Explosive, productive D-I-level football sleepers for Michigan's class of 2018
My goodness gracious, I have been gone way too long. Sorry, y'all. As I've said many times before on this site, life happens... There is so much to catch up on. This post is just a quick list of some of the most intriguing, explosive, productive and talented Division I college football prospects (and I think under publicized) for the class of 2018 in Michigan.
-- Xavier Wade-6-2, 180-WR-Holland West Ottawa --The latest big-time D-I talent from West Ottawa (Rob Renes-DT-U-M, NFL; Ray Holliman-DT-Ohio State; Matt Vanderbeek-LB-MSU, Desmond Morgan-LB-U-M are just a few Panthers who went on to star at the next level), Wade is arguably the best wide receiver prospect on Michigan's west side. A Grand Rapids Press Dream Team member as a junior, Wade had 61 receptions for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns last season. With his big body and athleticism, Wade is a match-up nightmare for most DBs assigned to cover him.
-- Darius Pruitt-6-3, 190-DB-Kalamazoo Central -- Like Wade, Pruitt comes from a program rich in producing big-time D-I/NFL football talent (Greg Jennings-WR-WMU, NFL; Jerome Harrison-RB-Washington State, NFL; Duane Young-TE-MSU, NFL; Scott Rehberg-OT-CMU, NFL). A lanky, fast, ball-hawk, Pruitt (think Tony Lippett-Detroit Crockett/East English Village, MSU, NFL, starting corner for the Miami Dolphins) covers a lot of ground as a safety for the Maroon Giants. Last season, Pruitt intercepted six passes en route to earning Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team accolades.
-- Dequez Weathers-6-0, 185-RB-DB-Bay City Central -- An explosive game-breaker from the running back position, Weathers has a nose for the end zone. Last season, he rushed for 1,443 yards and 16 TDs. An all-around athlete, Weathers (4.5 40) could also play on the defensive side of the ball at the D-I level as a safety.
-- Nathan Bellinger-6-5, 245-DE-Ithaca -- An absolute terror as a rush defensive end for the perennial state powerhouse Yellowjackets, Bellinger earned Division 5-6 All-State last season. Long-armed and quick off the edge, Bellinger had 107 tackles and 12 TFL as a junior last year. I project Bellinger to possibly flesh out at 6-6, 270 at the next level and become a beast as a DE or inside at DT.
-- Ladarius Jefferson-6-2, 215-LB-QB-Muskegon -- This kid is one of my top recruits in the state of Michigan for the class of 2018. Watching the D-3 state championship game against Orchard Lake St. Mary's last year, Jefferson stood out the brightest in a contest filled with D-I talent on both sides. A bonafide D-I QB prospect (think OSU's J.T, Barrett), I like Jefferson as a linebacker. With senior teammate Andrew Ward (6-1, 215, Nebraska commit) and sophomore superstar Ali'Vonta Wallace (6-1, 210) teaming with Jefferson, the Big Reds had one of the best LB corps in the Midwest last season. The speed, tackling ability and explosiveness Jefferson showed in the state final game, along with his leadership skills, put him, in my opinion, near Ward's level already (and that is HIGH praise) as a junior. I can see Jefferson as a 6-2, 240-pound headhunter at the D-I level -- an Alabama-like physical, powerful bone-crusher in four years.
-- Xavier Wade-6-2, 180-WR-Holland West Ottawa --The latest big-time D-I talent from West Ottawa (Rob Renes-DT-U-M, NFL; Ray Holliman-DT-Ohio State; Matt Vanderbeek-LB-MSU, Desmond Morgan-LB-U-M are just a few Panthers who went on to star at the next level), Wade is arguably the best wide receiver prospect on Michigan's west side. A Grand Rapids Press Dream Team member as a junior, Wade had 61 receptions for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns last season. With his big body and athleticism, Wade is a match-up nightmare for most DBs assigned to cover him.
-- Darius Pruitt-6-3, 190-DB-Kalamazoo Central -- Like Wade, Pruitt comes from a program rich in producing big-time D-I/NFL football talent (Greg Jennings-WR-WMU, NFL; Jerome Harrison-RB-Washington State, NFL; Duane Young-TE-MSU, NFL; Scott Rehberg-OT-CMU, NFL). A lanky, fast, ball-hawk, Pruitt (think Tony Lippett-Detroit Crockett/East English Village, MSU, NFL, starting corner for the Miami Dolphins) covers a lot of ground as a safety for the Maroon Giants. Last season, Pruitt intercepted six passes en route to earning Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team accolades.
-- Dequez Weathers-6-0, 185-RB-DB-Bay City Central -- An explosive game-breaker from the running back position, Weathers has a nose for the end zone. Last season, he rushed for 1,443 yards and 16 TDs. An all-around athlete, Weathers (4.5 40) could also play on the defensive side of the ball at the D-I level as a safety.
-- Nathan Bellinger-6-5, 245-DE-Ithaca -- An absolute terror as a rush defensive end for the perennial state powerhouse Yellowjackets, Bellinger earned Division 5-6 All-State last season. Long-armed and quick off the edge, Bellinger had 107 tackles and 12 TFL as a junior last year. I project Bellinger to possibly flesh out at 6-6, 270 at the next level and become a beast as a DE or inside at DT.
-- Ladarius Jefferson-6-2, 215-LB-QB-Muskegon -- This kid is one of my top recruits in the state of Michigan for the class of 2018. Watching the D-3 state championship game against Orchard Lake St. Mary's last year, Jefferson stood out the brightest in a contest filled with D-I talent on both sides. A bonafide D-I QB prospect (think OSU's J.T, Barrett), I like Jefferson as a linebacker. With senior teammate Andrew Ward (6-1, 215, Nebraska commit) and sophomore superstar Ali'Vonta Wallace (6-1, 210) teaming with Jefferson, the Big Reds had one of the best LB corps in the Midwest last season. The speed, tackling ability and explosiveness Jefferson showed in the state final game, along with his leadership skills, put him, in my opinion, near Ward's level already (and that is HIGH praise) as a junior. I can see Jefferson as a 6-2, 240-pound headhunter at the D-I level -- an Alabama-like physical, powerful bone-crusher in four years.
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