First ever FISHER/LONG AWARD nominees and winner

I've decided to begin a new tradition here on my blog. Every year after each college football season, I will be selecting and presenting my own awards for individual players from the state of Michigan. Nationally, there are already numerous individual awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the Outland Trophy and the Ted Hendricks Award, to name but a few. My first award presentation will be for the position I've always felt is the most important on any football team -- the offensive line. So without further ado, here is the first-ever FISHER/LONG AWARD. 

The FISHER/LONG AWARD is named in honor of Eric Fisher (Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, CMU) and Jake Long (Lapeer East, Michigan), two of the state of Michigan's greatest collegiate offensive linemen. Fisher was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, while Long was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 NFL draft. Only four offensive linemen have ever been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft in the modern era. Two of those No. 1 overall picks have been from the state of Michigan -- Fisher and Long. That's pretty impressive, isn't it? It just shows how talented the Great Lakes State is and has been throughout the years in producing top-flight, big-time offensive linemen. The other two offensive linemen selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft were Ron Yary in 1968 (California native, USC) and Orlando Pace in 1997 (Ohio native, Ohio State). 

I figured Fisher and Long would be two worthy players to name my offensive line award after. 

The nominees for the inaugural FISHER/LONG AWARD for the 2022 college football season are -- 

Ryan Hayes-6-6, 310-OT-sr.-Michigan (Traverse City West)

Quinton Barrow-6-6, 330-OT-sr.-Grand Valley State (Romulus)

Anthony Bradford-6-5, 340-OG-sr.-LSU (Muskegon)

The recipient of the first-ever FISHER/LONG AWARD for the 2022 college football season, given to the state of Michigan's top collegiate offensive lineman, is (drum roll, please) presented to Quinton Barrow, senior offensive tackle from Grand Valley State University and Romulus High School. 

FISHER/LONG AWARD -- QUINTON BARROW-6-6, 330-OT-SR.-GRAND VALLEY STATE, ROMULUS HIGH SCHOOL

Barrow, a long-armed left tackle for the GVSU Lakers, was named a Division 2 first-team All-American this past season. An NFL prospect, Barrow has been invited to play in this year's Senior Bowl. Barrow is projected to be a late round (4-7 round) pick in this year's NFL draft. If Barrow plays well in the Senior Bowl, it's reported his draft status could improve significantly. Because Barrow plays in Division 2, he's not as well known nationally as other Division 1 offensive linemen, but make no doubt about it, he is certainly one of the country's best at his position. On one Web site I looked at recently, Barrow was ranked among the top 25 offensive linemen coming out for the 2023 NFL draft. Of those top 25 O-linemen (Ryan Hayes was also included, as was Javon Foster-6-6, 320, West Bloomfield, Missouri), Barrow was the only D-2 player included. 

In my next blog, I will list my nominees and winner for the inaugural WOODLEY AWARD, given to the state of Michigan's top collegiate defensive lineman.

PHOTO -- University of Michigan senior offensive tackle Ryan Hayes (Traverse City West) is one of three finalists for the inaugural FISHER/LONG AWARD given to the top collegiate offensive lineman from the state of Michigan. 

A few musings regarding state of Michigan prep/college football

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