As anyone who has read this blog over the years knows, the most important position on the football field, at least in my opinion, is upfront, along the line of scrimmage, in the trenches with the big fellas. No position group is more important than the offensive and defensive lines (or front seven, if you will, on defense). That being said, I start my annual position rankings for the class of 2018. Of course, the first group highlighted will be the offensive line. No other state in the country, pound for pound, turns out more talent along the O-line than the state of Michigan. It seems as if every year the Great Lakes State produces multiple NFL draft picks and/or guys who earn spots on pro teams as free agents. What is amazing about Michigan's talent at the offensive line position, is not only does it develop NFL-level skill at the D-I level, but also at the D-II range. I dare say no other state has more O-line talent from its D-II schools playing in the NFL right now than Michigan. That being said, here are my Top 10 offensive line prospects for Michigan's class of 2018. It is truly one of the finest years for offensive linemen in the Great Lakes State in recent memory. Michigan's five D-I playing football schools (along with its D-II powers), if they so decided, could stock its entire O-line recruiting class for 2018 with just players from the state and be successful.
Michigan's Top 10 offensive line prospects for the class of 2018 --
1. Marquan McCall-6-4, 325-Oak Park- Absolute beast down low in the trenches for the Knights. This kid could step into any college program and compete for a starting spot immediately. McCall is similar to Michael Jordan (Plymouth), who started last season for Ohio State at guard as a true freshman, in college-ready talent and size. Verbal to Kentucky.
2. Cody Carone-6-5, 320-Rockford- I love this kid. I'm surprised he isn't getting more attention from the Big Ten or nationally. From a dominant Grand Rapids-area powerhouse which has produced multiple D-I and NFL offensive linemen (including current Pro Bowler Joe Staley of the San Francisco 49ers), Carone can play any position along the O-line. With size, tenacity, natural skill upfront and top-flight coaching and competition at the prep level, Carone is one of the best offensive line prospects in the Midwest.
3. Ryan Hayes-6-7, 270-Traverse City West- The consummate left tackle prospect, Hayes is being recruited by all the D-I powerhouse programs. A tight end by trade, Hayes has the frame and footwork to develop over time into a 6-7, 315-pound quarterback blind side protector of the highest degree. Similar to another Traverse City offensive line product, Jake Fisher (Oregon, current NFL, Cincinnati Bengals), Hayes has the arm length and athleticism to become the prototypical left tackle at the next level and beyond. Verbal to Michigan
4. Antwan Reed-6-7, 295-Muskegon-A three-year starter for the state power Big Reds, Reed is an overwhelming force in the trenches. He is another player who reminds me of Michael Jordan (Plymouth, OSU starter as frosh), but mainly because they are similar in stature and in the fact both are OT size, but can also excel inside at OG. Verbal to Penn State.
5. Tyrone Sampson-6-4, 295-Detroit East English Village-A massive presence in the middle at center for East English Village, Sampson is also an accomplished D-line prospect, as well. Ranked by some national publications as the No. 2 center prospect in the country, Sampson will be a three-year starter for a program which has produced current NFL players Brandon Graham (DE Philadelphia Eagles/U-M) and Tony Lippett (CB Miami Dolphins/MSU), along with future NFLer and Thorpe Award winner Desmond King (CB Iowa) and multiple current D-I players. How he got out of the state of Michigan is baffling to me. Verbal to Syracuse.
6. Michael Furtney-6-5, 285-Milan-A fluid and well-balanced O-lineman, Furtney is an outstanding prospect from the Ann Arbor area. He can play inside or outside along the line of scrimmage. Physical, yet technically sound, with efficient angle bend and footwork. Verbal to Wisconsin.
7. Alex Howie-6-5, 315-Plymouth-Like Furtney, Howie could play inside or outside at the next level. With good mobility and instincts, Howie will be a three-year starter for the Rocks.
8. Carlos Vettorello-6-4, 285-U-D Jesuit- With an offer from Wisconsin already on the table, Vettorello is a strong, bull-like blocker up front for the Cubs. Former teammate Scott Nelson (FS-WR class of 2017) committed to the Badgers last February. Arguably the best O-line prospect in the nationally renowned Detroit Catholic League, Vettorello is one of the Midwest's prime recruits in the trenches. Besides the Badgers, Vettorello holds offers from Iowa, Oregon State, Minnesota, Indiana and Kentucky.
9. Nick Carey-6-7, 290-Detroit Catholic Central-A bruising, physical behemoth from one of the nation's top high school football programs, Carey is the latest in a long line of top-flight Shamrock offensive linemen. Tom Kowalski (Boston College, class of 2016) and Blake Bueter (MSU, class of 2017) have been Catholic Central's most recent D-I O-line recruits and Carey is in their class, as well. Returning starter for D-1 state runner-up.
10. (Tie) Jacob Wohlgemuth-6-5, 305-Wyoming Kelloggsville-A sleeper-type, under-the-radar player, Wohlgemuth has Big Ten-level size and potential. Arguably the Rockets' best D-I prospect in years, Wohlgemuth has overwhelming size and power. The Grand Rapids-area bulldozer is one of the best run blockers in the state of Michigan. Jimmy Bell-6-10, 315-Saginaw Arthur Hill-Amazing talent. One of the biggest players in the country. A two-sport standout. Has offers from Iowa State, Oakland U. and Tulsa for basketball, plus offers from Ball State, Akron and EMU for football. Look for many more offers for both sports to come as Bell's senior season approaches. Obviously, long arms and basketball feet/athleticism make Bell an outstanding left tackle prospect at the next level. Raw, but the potential is truly off the charts for this young man. Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, etc. where are you on this prospect?
Other top O-line prospects for the class of 2018 in Michigan (all are D-I prospects at the high, mid to low levels) - Mike Pellizzari-6-4, 305-OT-Flint Powers Catholic (will be three-year starter), Gio Agazzi-6-4, 285-OT-OG-Livonia Stevenson (will be three-year starter), Patrick Donovan-6-5, 290-OT-Macomb Dakota (325 bench press, 515 squat, 5.1 40), Sam Sherwin-6-5, 270-OT-Traverse City Central, Lucas Tesznar-6-5, 305-OT-Ottawa Lake Whiteford (Div. 7-8 AP All-State, returning starter for D-8 state runner-up), Andrew Paxton-6-4, 275-OT-Detroit Catholic Central (returning starter for D-1 state runner-up), Keontae Watson-6-5, 285-OT-DT-Muskegon Mona Shores, Javon Foster-6-6, 300-OT-West Bloomfield (CMU verbal), Cameron Wirtz-6-5, 285-OT-Battle Creek Lakeview, Evan Gast-6-2, 285-C-Byron Center (also top HWT wrestler), Chris Rexroth-6-6, 275-C-Farmington Hills Harrison, Jake Achterhoff-6-6, 285-OT-North Muskegon, Jeremy Hall-6-3, 315-OG-Homer (Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area first team as junior), Gabe Moore-6-3, 290-OG-Olivet (500-pound squat), Malachi Price-6-2, 305-OG-DT-Grand Rapids Christian, Nate Millard-6-5, 330-OT-Belleville, Jacob Kochanny-6-4, 270-OT-Cadillac, Cole Schut-6-4, 270-OG-Holland, Jacob Seager-6-5, 285-OT-Kalamazoo Central, Colin Motloch-6-4, 275-OT-Utica, Matt Stefanski-6-4, 305-OT-DT-Frankfort (Div. 7-8 AP All-State selection), Dimitri Douglas-6-5, 285-OT-Saline (Michigan State verbal), Brendan Ehrhart-6-1, 265-C-Bay City All Saints (Bay City Times Dream Team), Johnathan Hardy-6-4, 280-OT-DT-Bay City John Glenn (also plays hoops, runs 4.7 40), Noah Nicklin-6-4, 265-OT-Clarkston (Detroit News All-North second team), John O'Brien-6-5, 250-OT-Charlotte (Bowling Green State verbal), James Drain-6-2, 255-OG-Detroit East English Village, Aric Thomas-6-2, 305-OG-Detroit King, Jeremiah Hardge-6-3, 270-OT-Detroit King (Detroit News All-Detroit second team), Sean Pilon-6-3, 285-OG-Dearborn Divine Child, Andrew LeFebre-6-3, 255-OT-Lowell, Chase Cosey-6-3, 300-OT-Northville, Parker Kingma-6-4, 315-OT-Grand Haven, Nathan Rohr-6-4, 285-OT-Allendale, Matt Eerdmans-6-4, 265-OT-East Grand Rapids, Austin Musser-6-6, 265-OT-DT-Harrison (runs 4.7 40), Tyler Brooks-6-6, 290-OT-Corunna, Andrew Sikkema-6-2, 275-OG-McBain, Alex Clark-6-3, 260-OG-Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Christian Balanda-6-6, 265-OT-Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Mitchell Gorman-6-5, 240-OT-Lowell, Paul Weirich-6-4, 265-OT-Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (three-year starter), Jacob Vigliotti-6-4, 325-OT-DT-Petersburg-Summerfield, Josh Mayberry-6-2, 285-C-OG-Detroit King, Bryan Johnson-6-5, 320-OT-DT-Holland West Ottawa, Kaleb McMann-6-5, 270-OT-Muskegon Orchard View. Derian Doherty-6-4, 280-OT-Utica Eisenhower, Quinton Barrow-6-5, 290-OT-Romulus (Bowling Green State, Toledo offers).
Next up- Michigan's class of 2018 Top 10 defensive linemen.
