Sunday, May 3, 2020
Michigan's Top 10 Linebackers for the Class of 2021
The state of Michigan has a long and proud history of producing outstanding linebackers. From NFL legends like Carl Banks (Flint Beecher, Michigan State), Thomas "Pepper" Johnson (Detroit Mackenzie, Ohio State), LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, U-M), Reggie Williams (Flint Southwestern, Dartmouth) and Brad Van Pelt (Owosso, Michigan State) to current college stars like Antwan Simmons (Ann Arbor Pioneer, Michigan State) and Josh Ross (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, U-M), the Great Lakes State has no shortage of talent at the linebacker position each and every year.
For the state of Michigan's class of 2021, the linebacker group has speed, power, pass rush skill and tackling ability. Throughout the Great Lakes State, from north to south, east to west and all points in between, there are play-makers and big-time, D-I linebacker prospects scattered all over Michigan.
Here are the state of Michigan's top linebacker recruits for the class of 2021 --
Top 10 Linebacker Prospects for Michigan's Class of 2021 --
1. Kobe King-6-1, 220-Detroit Cass Tech -- King could play either outside linebacker or inside at the next level. An all-around player, King is also a powerful running back for the Technicians, one of the country's top high school football programs. Quick to the football and physical and hard-hitting at the point of attack, King is one of the best linebacker recruits in the nation. Verbal to Penn State
2. Jamari Buddin-6-3, 215-Belleville -- Buddin might have the highest ceiling of any player on this list. This kid can do it all on the football field. Buddin's head coach called his star linebacker "big, fast and violent." Last season Buddin spent a lot of time in the opponent's backfield finishing with 61 tackles, including 29 TFL, nine sacks and 18 quarterback pressures. Buddin was named to the AP Division 1-2 All-State team last year. Buddin could also put his hand in the dirt, bulk up and be a heck of a defensive end at the next level, as well. Verbal to Penn State
3. Austin Roon-6-3, 215-Byron Center -- I love this kid. I think he's being highly under-recruited at the moment. Helped lead Byron Center to a 10-1 season last year. Named to the AP Division 3-4 All-State squad and to the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team last season. Roon finished with 82 tackles, six TFL, one sack and one interception returned for a touchdown last year. Roon runs a reported 4.5 40 and has a 36-inch vertical leap. Big Ten where are you? Verbal to Syracuse
4. Jailin Howze-6-1, 210-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley -- Big, fast and athletic, Howze is a wrecking force at the linebacker position for the Big Reds, one of suburban Detroit's top programs. Howze can cover the entire field. Strong near the line of scrimmage or in space defending the pass, Howze runs a reported 4.5 40 and an 11.3 100 meters. Howze bench presses 285 pounds and squats 530 pounds. Verbal to Buffalo
5. Derek Draher-6-0, 210-Ithaca -- His head coach calls Draher the most physical player he has ever seen. A standout on either side of the football for Ithaca, one of the top mid-sized programs in the Midwest (Yellowjackets had the nation's longest winning streak at 69 games without a loss from 2010 through 2014), Draher was named to the AP Division 5-6 All-State first team last season. Selected the Saginaw News Defensive Player of the Year, Draher finished with 164 tackles, 12 TFL, four sacks and one fumble recovery last season.
6. Christian Boivin-6-1, 205-Traverse City West -- Boivin is truly a play-maker and highlight-reel-machine from the linebacker position. From the same northern Michigan city as Michigan State legendary linebacker family the Bulloughs (Max (NFL), Riley (NFL) and Byron, Traverse City St. Francis grads) and Eric Gordon (Traverse City West grad, four-year stater at LB for MSU). Boivin was selected to the AP Division 1-2 All-State first team last season. Boivin, named the Traverse City Record-Eagle Defensive Player of the Year last season, finished the year blocking a state record seven punts, returning one blocked punt for a TD, while recording 127 tackles, 18 TFL and returning one interception for a touchdown. Big Ten? MAC? Take a look at this kid...
7. Jaden Bevier-6-0, 220-Ypsilanti -- Strong and physical, Bevier, a three-year varsity performer, is a bull in the middle for Ypsilanti. A sure tackler, Bevier finished with 105 stops last season. Like the school's nickname, Bevier plays with a ferocity and nastiness of a Grizzly. Selected to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last year.
8. Brandon Rawls-6-1, 215-Ann Arbor Huron -- Made plays all over the field for Huron last season. Recorded an Ann Arbor-area high 113 tackles last year, with 10 TFL, four sacks and two forced fumbles. Fast and physical, Rawls is a tough load to handle. Named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team as a junior.
9. Jake Dzialowski-6-1, 225-Walled Lake Western -- Fearless, down hill, aggressive linebacker for Walled Lake Western, a suburban Detroit school which in the past couple of seasons has sent players to Northwestern, Boston College and Michigan State. Dzialowski is physical and doesn't hesitate filling the hole and striking the ball carrier. Good, solid linebacker prospect for WL Western.
10. (TIE) Brian St. Clair-6-0, 210-Romeo -- Also a high-level fullback recruit, St. Clair is just a good football player. Offensively, St. Clair rushed for 1,012 yards on 163 carries with 15 TDs last season. St. Clair runs a 4.7 40, bench presses 300 pounds and squats 350 pounds. Named to the All-Macomb Country (Detroit suburbs) first-team last year. Marlon Dawson Jr.-6-4, 220-Oak Park -- Long, lean, athletic prospect with good speed and agility, Dawson plays for one of the state of Michigan's top programs. Runs a reported 4.8 40. Could bulk up to play defensive end at the next level. Verbal to Miami (OH)
Other top linebacker prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Brody Dalton-6-1, 215-Jackson Lumen Christi (tough to leave out of the Top 10, named to Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team, finished with 95 tackles, led Titans to Division 7 state runner-up spot last year), Kyler Stone-6-1, 210-Carson City Crystal (top running back as well, had 1,257 yards on 155 attempts and 15 TDs last year as junior, also top hoops player for school), Luke Snyder-6-0, 210-Charlevoix (139 tackles, three interceptions last year as junior, benches 305 pounds, squats 405 pounds, named to Traverse City Record Eagle Dream team), Sheldon Huff-6-0, 215-Johannesburg-Lewiston (had 119 tackles, 10 TFL, three sacks, two blocked punts en route to Traverse City Dream Team accolades), Alex Perry-6-0, 210-Cass City (named to Bay City Times Dream Team as junior, finished with 38 tackles, seven TFL, four sacks and one interception, one of Michigan's Thumb Area top prospects), Anthony Cardamone-6-1, 205-Utica Eisenhower (108 tackles, eight TFL, three interceptions, selected All-Macomb County), Demario Young-6-2, 205-Warren Cousino (55 tackles, two TFL, named All-Macomb County), Dwight McKinney-5-11, 230-Muskegon, Luke Martin-6-2, 215-Muskegon Oakridge, Garrett Fitzgerald-6-0, 220-Breckenridge (102 tackles, 12 TFL, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, named to Saginaw News Dream Team), Jack Voll-6-0, 205-Clinton, Josh Nohel-6-3, 205-Sanford-Meridian (51 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, one interception returned for a TD, five fumble recoveries, one fumble returned for a TD, selected to the Midland Daily News Dream Team as junior), Carter Fore-6-0, 210-Britton-Deerfield, Drew Bidwell-6-0, 220-Edwardsburg, Drake Deshetsky-6-2, 230-North Branch, Zachary Sergent-6-1, 220-Croswell-Lexington, Marquez Henderson-6-0, 215-Detroit Loyola.
PHOTO -- Belleville's Jamari Buddin (6-3, 215) is the state of Michigan's No. 2-ranked linebacker prospect for the class of 2021. Buddin had 29 tackles for loss and nine sacks last season as a junior. Buddin has verbally committed to Penn State.
PHOTO -- Byron Center's Austin Roon (6-3, 215) is ranked the No. 3 linebacker prospect for Michigan's class of 2021. Roon, named to the AP Division 3-4 All-State squad and the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team last season as a junior, runs a 4.5 40 and has a 36-inch vertical leap. Roon has verbally committed to Syracuse.
PHOTO -- Oak Park's Marlon Dawson Jr. (6-4, 220) is the state of Michigan's No. 10-ranked linebacker prospect for the class of 2021. Athletic with good speed, Dawson Jr. is a standout for one of the Great Lakes State's top high school football programs. Dawson Jr. has verbally committed to Miami (OH).
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Top 10 Running Backs for Michigan's Class of 2021
Every year, the state of Michigan churns out big-time, talented running backs. For the Great Lakes State's class of 2021, the skill and ability of this upcoming season's backfield group is impressive indeed. The 2021 class of running backs in Michigan includes a player who squats 500 pounds, a back who's been timed at 4.21 in the 40-yard dash, another player who scored seven touchdowns in one game and a ball carrier ranked as the nation's No. 2 prospect at the position with offers from LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama.
From Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis (Detroit Mackenzie, Notre Dame), to schoolboy legend Tyrone Wheatley (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Michigan, NFL), to Heisman Trophy winners Pete Dawkins (Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (Army) and Mark Ingram Jr. (Flint Southwestern, Alabama, NFL), the state of Michigan has a rich history at the running back position. The class of 2021 backfield standouts look to continue that tradition this upcoming season.
Here are the state of Michigan's top 10 running backs for the class of 2021 --
Top 10 Running Backs for Michigan's Class of 2021 --
1. Donovan Edwards-6-1, 190-West Bloomfield -- Ranked the No. 2 running back recruit in the nation, Edwards is wanted by every major D-I college football program -- and for good reason. Edwards has it all, with size, speed, vision, footwork and toughness. Last season, Edwards rushed for 1,326 yards and 16 TDs, while catching 33 passes for 419 yards and five TDs. A four-year varsity performer at a suburban Detroit powerhouse and football factory (currently the Lakers have players at multiple Big Ten and high-level D-I schools including Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Missouri, Wisconsin and Syracuse, plus Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl LB Matt Judon is a former West Bloomfield standout), Edwards is the next great one to wear the forest green and white. Georgia, Michigan State, Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Florida, Miami (Fla.), LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Notre Dame offers.
2. Anthony Tyus-6-1, 210-Portage Northern -- Might be the state of Michigan's most complete running back, at least when it comes to speed, power and agility. Father played college football at CMU. Last season, Tyus rushed for 1,861 yards and 19 touchdowns for Northern, a school just outside of Kalamazoo. Also a high-level linebacker prospect. Named to the AP Division 1-2 (big school) All-State first team as a junior. Verbal to Northwestern
3. Cam Terry-5-9, 195-Grandville -- Has a quick burst through the line of scrimmage before using his 4.4 speed to outrun most any opposing defensive player. Highly under-recruited in my opinion, Terry has strength and power unique for a high school player. Already as a junior, Terry can bench press 320 pounds, while squatting 450 pounds. Big Ten? MAC? Check this player out...
4. Tyshaan Williams-6-0, 220-Battle Creek Central -- Raw, but pure physical talent, Williams looks like a Big Ten running back already as a junior standout for the Bearcats. Thick-legged and fast, Williams punishes opposing defenders unlucky enough to get in his way. Robbie Crockett (Iowa) and Larry Caper (Michigan State) are former Central running backs to go on to play big-time college football. Williams is the next running back stud for the Bearcats. Three-year varsity player, Williams runs a reported 4.5 40, benches 315 pounds and squats 485 pounds. Army, CMU offers. C'mon, Big Ten? Where are you on this kid?
5. Davion Primm-5-11, 195-Oak Park -- Primm comes from one of the state of Michigan's top programs in Oak Park. Last season's No. 1-ranked player overall, Justin Rogers (6-3, 300 OL-DL, Kentucky commit) is a former Knight. Future NFL running backs Edwin Baker (MSU, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints ) and John Kelly (Tennessee, Los Angeles Rams, Super Bowl LIII) are also former Oak Park stars. Primm is the latest standout in the Knights' backfield rushing for 1,125 yards on 95 carries with 10 TDs last season. Verbal to Michigan State
6. David Holloman-5-11, 200-Auburn Hills Avondale -- Quite possibly the fastest player not only in the state of Michigan, but the Midwest. Holloman has been timed at 4.21 in the 40-yard dash. Last season, Holloman rushed for 1,236 yards on 106 carries with 16 TDs. He had 1,548 all-purpose yards last year. Holloman is not only a "one cut and go"-type of player, he's an all-around talent with excellent vision and the skill to set up blocks for extra yardage and to open up holes. Also a top defensive back prospect. Verbal to Indiana
7. Rae'Quin Lee-5-10, 175-Southfield A & T -- With quick feet and an explosive burst, Lee stood out last season on a Southfield A & T squad that sent two players to Purdue and one to Louisville. Seemingly faster than his reported 4.6 40, Lee, once he was in the open field, was rarely, if ever, caught from behind last year. Just scratching the surface of his talent, the ceiling is definitely high for this emerging star. Verbal to Ball State
8. Carson Vanderhoff-6-0, 205-Caledonia -- Powerful runner for Caledonia, a school near Grand Rapids, Vanderhoff squats 500 pounds. With brute strength, Vanderhoff also possesses good speed and footwork. Last season, Vanderhoff rushed for 1,729 yards and 19 TDs, earning AP Division 1-2 (big school) All-State first team. Rushed for a season-high 384 yards versus Holland West Ottawa and 331 yards against Grand Rapids Northview this past year.
9. Caden Woodall-6-1, 220-Livonia Stevenson -- This is a kid I believe is going to have a break out year next season. Woodall missed most of his freshman and sophomore seasons with nagging injuries. Healthy for the first time last year, Woodall was an absolute load for any defender to handle. With speed uncanny for a player his size, Woodall is tough to bring down in the open field or between the tackles. And once he gets to the second level, he has the breakaway speed to score from anywhere on the field. Rushed for 1,101 yards on 159 carries with 16 TDs last season. Also LB prospect. Woodall is a definite "sleeper/diamond-in-the-rough"-type prospect. But a surefire D-I college football player. CMU offer.
10. (TIE) Dorion Riley-5-9, 185-Jackson -- Explosive, shifty and fast back for Jackson. Riley was named to the Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team as junior rushing for a school record 1,743 yards and 20 TDs. In a 59-27 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln last season, Riley ran for 250 yards and scored a school record seven touchdowns. Brandon Miller-6-1, 180-Fenton -- Speed, speed, speed. Miller is one of the fastest players in the state of Michigan and one of the fastest in the nation. Miller finished third in the 200 meters in 21.1 at the AAU National Junior Olympics last summer and fourth in the 100 meters in 10.6. Miller is truly a game-breaker once he's in the open field. Also has the potential to be a lockdown-type corner at the next level. Very intriguing prospect.
Other top running backs for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Brock Woodard-5-10, 185-Hillsdale (rushed for 1,201 yards on 126 carries with 13 TDs, while catching 14 passes for 254 yards and two TDs, named to Jackson Citizen Patriot Dream Team last season), Kolby Hindenach-5-10, 190-Paw Paw (rushed for 1,588 yards on 201 carries with 25 TDs last year, named to the Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team and Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State first team), Justin Whitehorn-5-8, 185-North Farmington (rushed for 816 yards and eight TDs, 1,020 all-purpose yards as junior, 255 bench press, 515 squat), Gage Chapin-5-11, 200-Midland Bullock Creek (rushed for 810 yards and seven TDs, caught 10 passes for 221 yards and three TDs last season, named to the Midland Daily News Dream Team), Will Alexander-6-0, 175-Sand Creek (rushed for 1,500 yards on 150 carries with 23 TDs last season).
PHOTO -- The No. 1 running back prospect in the state of Michigan (No. 2-ranked overall nationally), West Bloomfield's Donovan Edwards (6-1, 190) rushed for 1,326 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan are a few of Edwards' offers.
PHOTO -- Battle Creek Central's Tyshaan Williams (6-0, 220) has an ideal combination of size and speed at the running back position. The state of Michigan's No. 4-ranked back, Williams is a physical, downhill-type, punishing ball carrier, who can run between the tackles or break outside for long touchdown gallops.
PHOTO -- Auburn Hills Avondale's David Holloman (5-11, 200) is one of the most explosive players in the state of Michigan, if not the Midwest. Timed at 4.21 in the 40-yard dash, Holloman, ranked the No. 6 running back in the Great Lakes State, can take it to the house from any point on the football field. Last season, Holloman rushed for 1,236 yards and 16 touchdowns. Holloman has verbally committed to Indiana.
From Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis (Detroit Mackenzie, Notre Dame), to schoolboy legend Tyrone Wheatley (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Michigan, NFL), to Heisman Trophy winners Pete Dawkins (Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (Army) and Mark Ingram Jr. (Flint Southwestern, Alabama, NFL), the state of Michigan has a rich history at the running back position. The class of 2021 backfield standouts look to continue that tradition this upcoming season.
Here are the state of Michigan's top 10 running backs for the class of 2021 --
Top 10 Running Backs for Michigan's Class of 2021 --
1. Donovan Edwards-6-1, 190-West Bloomfield -- Ranked the No. 2 running back recruit in the nation, Edwards is wanted by every major D-I college football program -- and for good reason. Edwards has it all, with size, speed, vision, footwork and toughness. Last season, Edwards rushed for 1,326 yards and 16 TDs, while catching 33 passes for 419 yards and five TDs. A four-year varsity performer at a suburban Detroit powerhouse and football factory (currently the Lakers have players at multiple Big Ten and high-level D-I schools including Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Missouri, Wisconsin and Syracuse, plus Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl LB Matt Judon is a former West Bloomfield standout), Edwards is the next great one to wear the forest green and white. Georgia, Michigan State, Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Florida, Miami (Fla.), LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Notre Dame offers.
2. Anthony Tyus-6-1, 210-Portage Northern -- Might be the state of Michigan's most complete running back, at least when it comes to speed, power and agility. Father played college football at CMU. Last season, Tyus rushed for 1,861 yards and 19 touchdowns for Northern, a school just outside of Kalamazoo. Also a high-level linebacker prospect. Named to the AP Division 1-2 (big school) All-State first team as a junior. Verbal to Northwestern
3. Cam Terry-5-9, 195-Grandville -- Has a quick burst through the line of scrimmage before using his 4.4 speed to outrun most any opposing defensive player. Highly under-recruited in my opinion, Terry has strength and power unique for a high school player. Already as a junior, Terry can bench press 320 pounds, while squatting 450 pounds. Big Ten? MAC? Check this player out...
4. Tyshaan Williams-6-0, 220-Battle Creek Central -- Raw, but pure physical talent, Williams looks like a Big Ten running back already as a junior standout for the Bearcats. Thick-legged and fast, Williams punishes opposing defenders unlucky enough to get in his way. Robbie Crockett (Iowa) and Larry Caper (Michigan State) are former Central running backs to go on to play big-time college football. Williams is the next running back stud for the Bearcats. Three-year varsity player, Williams runs a reported 4.5 40, benches 315 pounds and squats 485 pounds. Army, CMU offers. C'mon, Big Ten? Where are you on this kid?
5. Davion Primm-5-11, 195-Oak Park -- Primm comes from one of the state of Michigan's top programs in Oak Park. Last season's No. 1-ranked player overall, Justin Rogers (6-3, 300 OL-DL, Kentucky commit) is a former Knight. Future NFL running backs Edwin Baker (MSU, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints ) and John Kelly (Tennessee, Los Angeles Rams, Super Bowl LIII) are also former Oak Park stars. Primm is the latest standout in the Knights' backfield rushing for 1,125 yards on 95 carries with 10 TDs last season. Verbal to Michigan State
6. David Holloman-5-11, 200-Auburn Hills Avondale -- Quite possibly the fastest player not only in the state of Michigan, but the Midwest. Holloman has been timed at 4.21 in the 40-yard dash. Last season, Holloman rushed for 1,236 yards on 106 carries with 16 TDs. He had 1,548 all-purpose yards last year. Holloman is not only a "one cut and go"-type of player, he's an all-around talent with excellent vision and the skill to set up blocks for extra yardage and to open up holes. Also a top defensive back prospect. Verbal to Indiana
7. Rae'Quin Lee-5-10, 175-Southfield A & T -- With quick feet and an explosive burst, Lee stood out last season on a Southfield A & T squad that sent two players to Purdue and one to Louisville. Seemingly faster than his reported 4.6 40, Lee, once he was in the open field, was rarely, if ever, caught from behind last year. Just scratching the surface of his talent, the ceiling is definitely high for this emerging star. Verbal to Ball State
8. Carson Vanderhoff-6-0, 205-Caledonia -- Powerful runner for Caledonia, a school near Grand Rapids, Vanderhoff squats 500 pounds. With brute strength, Vanderhoff also possesses good speed and footwork. Last season, Vanderhoff rushed for 1,729 yards and 19 TDs, earning AP Division 1-2 (big school) All-State first team. Rushed for a season-high 384 yards versus Holland West Ottawa and 331 yards against Grand Rapids Northview this past year.
9. Caden Woodall-6-1, 220-Livonia Stevenson -- This is a kid I believe is going to have a break out year next season. Woodall missed most of his freshman and sophomore seasons with nagging injuries. Healthy for the first time last year, Woodall was an absolute load for any defender to handle. With speed uncanny for a player his size, Woodall is tough to bring down in the open field or between the tackles. And once he gets to the second level, he has the breakaway speed to score from anywhere on the field. Rushed for 1,101 yards on 159 carries with 16 TDs last season. Also LB prospect. Woodall is a definite "sleeper/diamond-in-the-rough"-type prospect. But a surefire D-I college football player. CMU offer.
10. (TIE) Dorion Riley-5-9, 185-Jackson -- Explosive, shifty and fast back for Jackson. Riley was named to the Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team as junior rushing for a school record 1,743 yards and 20 TDs. In a 59-27 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln last season, Riley ran for 250 yards and scored a school record seven touchdowns. Brandon Miller-6-1, 180-Fenton -- Speed, speed, speed. Miller is one of the fastest players in the state of Michigan and one of the fastest in the nation. Miller finished third in the 200 meters in 21.1 at the AAU National Junior Olympics last summer and fourth in the 100 meters in 10.6. Miller is truly a game-breaker once he's in the open field. Also has the potential to be a lockdown-type corner at the next level. Very intriguing prospect.
Other top running backs for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Brock Woodard-5-10, 185-Hillsdale (rushed for 1,201 yards on 126 carries with 13 TDs, while catching 14 passes for 254 yards and two TDs, named to Jackson Citizen Patriot Dream Team last season), Kolby Hindenach-5-10, 190-Paw Paw (rushed for 1,588 yards on 201 carries with 25 TDs last year, named to the Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team and Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State first team), Justin Whitehorn-5-8, 185-North Farmington (rushed for 816 yards and eight TDs, 1,020 all-purpose yards as junior, 255 bench press, 515 squat), Gage Chapin-5-11, 200-Midland Bullock Creek (rushed for 810 yards and seven TDs, caught 10 passes for 221 yards and three TDs last season, named to the Midland Daily News Dream Team), Will Alexander-6-0, 175-Sand Creek (rushed for 1,500 yards on 150 carries with 23 TDs last season).
PHOTO -- The No. 1 running back prospect in the state of Michigan (No. 2-ranked overall nationally), West Bloomfield's Donovan Edwards (6-1, 190) rushed for 1,326 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan are a few of Edwards' offers.
PHOTO -- Battle Creek Central's Tyshaan Williams (6-0, 220) has an ideal combination of size and speed at the running back position. The state of Michigan's No. 4-ranked back, Williams is a physical, downhill-type, punishing ball carrier, who can run between the tackles or break outside for long touchdown gallops.
PHOTO -- Auburn Hills Avondale's David Holloman (5-11, 200) is one of the most explosive players in the state of Michigan, if not the Midwest. Timed at 4.21 in the 40-yard dash, Holloman, ranked the No. 6 running back in the Great Lakes State, can take it to the house from any point on the football field. Last season, Holloman rushed for 1,236 yards and 16 touchdowns. Holloman has verbally committed to Indiana.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Top 10 Wide Receivers for Michigan's Class of 2021
Besides the offensive line, I think the state of Michigan is strongest, year in and year out, at the wide receiver position. Take last season, for instance, the Great Lakes State had 14 wide receivers that I can remember sign Division I college football scholarships including Maliq Carr (Oak Park, Purdue), Rashawn Williams (Detroit King, Indiana), Earnest Sanders (Flint Beecher, Kentucky), Christian Fitzpatrick (Southfield A & T, Louisville), Abdur-Raheem Yaseen (Walled Lake Western, Purdue), Latrell Fordham (Davison, Ball State-now at St. Thomas More Prep School in Conn.), Anthony Enechukwu (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, WMU), Xavier Smith (River Rouge, EMU), Ian Stewart (Gibraltar Carlson, Michigan State), Devell Washington (Bay City Central, West Virginia), Marcus Sheppard (Detroit Country Day, Bowling Green State), Alec Ward (Bloomfield Hills, CMU), Anthony Romphf (Southfield A & T, Purdue) and Cam Martinez (Muskegon, Ohio State).
In NFL history, three wide receivers from the state of Michigan are listed in the Top 50 for all-time receptions (two in the Top 25) including Derrick Mason (943 catches, 19th all-time, Baltimore Ravens all-time leader with 471 receptions, Detroit Mumford, Michigan State), Muhsin Muhammad (860 catches, 25th all-time, Lansing Waverly, Michigan State) and Andre Rison (743 receptions, 42nd all-time, Flint Northwestern, Michigan State). Currently, Allen Robinson (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Penn State) finished seventh in the NFL last season with 98 catches for the Chicago Bears.
For Michigan's class of 2021, there are, once again, multiple Division I-level wide receivers scattered throughout the state.
Here are the Top 10 wide receiver prospects for the state of Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Tyson Davis-5-11, 170-Goodrich -- Amazing, electric, explosive athlete, first and foremost. Selected All-State in both football and basketball last year, Davis is lightning in a bottle. A dangerous kickoff and punt returner, Davis is arguably the top open field threat in the state of Michigan. Unbelievably not as highly recruited as I would expect. Last year Davis caught 45 passes for 975 yards and 11 TDs, while rushing for 324 yards and four touchdowns and returning one kickoff for a TD. Named to the Flint Journal Dream Team and AP Division 3-4 first team All-State. Verbal to CMU
2. Jace Williams-6-5, 200-Grand Rapids Catholic Central -- A match-up nightmare on the outside for any defensive back. With Williams in the line-up, the Cougars have won two consecutive state championships and three titles in the past four years. Last season, Williams was unstoppable against a very talented Detroit Country Day secondary (which included CB/WR standout Marcus Sheppard-Bowling Green State commit and Saborn Campbell-No. 9-ranked defensive back for Michigan's class of 2021) tying a Michigan High School Athletic Association record with three touchdown catches in Catholic Central's 44-0 Division 4 state championship-clinching victory over the Yellowjackets. Last year, Williams had over 900 receiving yards and 12 TDs. With a long reach and excellent jumping ability, Williams, also a top-level basketball prospect, is outstanding at going up and grabbing passes at their highest point. Named to the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team, Detroit News Dream Team and Division 3-4 All-State first team. Michigan State, Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Boston College offers.
3. Andrel Anthony-6-2, 175-East Lansing -- Like Tyson Davis and Jace Williams, East Lansing's Andrel Anthony is crazy athletic. Also a standout hoops player for the Trojans, Anthony has everything a college coach would want in a receiver -- hands, speed, size, leaping ability and strong route running. Last season, Anthony caught 54 passes for 954 yards and nine TDs. Named to the AP Division 3-4 All-State first team last season as a junior. Verbal to U-M
4. Deion Burks-5-10, 170-Belleville -- A big-play waiting to happen, Burks is blazing fast and possesses strong, reliable hands. Combines with Belleville quarterback Christian Dhue-Reid (No. 1-ranked QB for Michigan's class of 2021) to form one of the Midwest's top pass-catch duos. Last season, Burks caught 35 passes for 871 yards and 12 TDs leading the Tigers to the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals. Named to the Detroit Free Press football Dream Team last year as a junior. Verbal to Purdue
5. Blake Bosma-6-4, 195-Holland West Ottawa -- One of my "sleepers/diamonds in the rough"-type players for Michigan's class of 2021. I love this kid. Three-year varsity starter for Holland West Ottawa (a program that has sent players to Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State over the years), Bosma can jump out of the proverbial gym. Last season, he caught a school-record 82 passes for 1,100 yards. Named to the Holland Sentinel All-Area first team and the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team last year as a junior. Amazingly, Bosma has zero offers as far as I can tell (sorry young man if I'm incorrect). I sincerely hope I'm wrong about that as this kid is a high-level D-I college football prospect. Do I need to say it? Big Ten, MAC, c'mon, check this guy out...
6. Elijah Rikard -- 6-2, 180-U-D Jesuit -- A top two-way prospect, Rikard is also a high-level defensive back for the Cubs. With size, long arms and good hands, Rikard is a tough match-up for any DB to handle. Plays some of the best competition in the Midwest each and every week in the venerable Detroit Catholic League. Temple, Bowling Green State, EMU, CMU, Buffalo, Akron, Miami (OH), Kent State, WMU, Morgan State offers.
7. Darnell Adams-5-10, 175-Detroit Renaissance -- Another underrated player, in my opinion, in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Adams is one of the top all-around players in the talent-rich city of Detroit. A scoring machine, Adams has a knack for finding the end zone. Last season, he scored 14 TDs, including three kick-off return touchdowns and two interceptions returned for TDs. As a receiver, Adams had 38 receptions for 727 yards, while as a defensive back, he had six interceptions. Adams has excellent feet, balance and one of the most explosive bursts in the state. Named to the Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first team last year as a junior. Highly under-recruited. This player is a gem just waiting for a smart, hard-working college recruiter to find.
8. Ali Fisher-6-1, 185-Ann Arbor Pioneer -- Fisher is a talented receiver and teams with quarterback Conor Easthope (No. 8-ranked QB in Michigan's class of 2021) to form one of the best combos in the state. Named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last season, Fisher caught 45 passes for 597 yards and eight TDs as a junior. Verbal to Buffalo
9. Amari Crowley-6-1, 180-Muskegon -- Maybe the best pure football player on this uber-talented Top 10 list. Will be a three-year starter for Muskegon, a national powerhouse program. I have Crowley at wide receiver since I feel that could possibly be his position at the next level. More than likely, he'll play quarterback next season for the Big Reds. Every bit as skilled as outgoing Muskegon QB Cam Martinez (Ohio State commit), Crowley is a big-play threat every time he touches the football. Last year, Crowley had 240 yards rushing with six TDs, while he caught 13 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Crowley's stats might not be eye-opening, but he was just one important cog on a nationally-ranked (No. 18 in the country by USA Today) Big Reds team a year ago. Muskegon finished as Division 3 state runner-up last season. Ball State, Buffalo, CMU, Cincinnati, Army, Kent State, Miami (OH), WMU offers.
10. (3-WAY TIE) Finn Hogan-6-4, 190-Maple City Glen Lake -- Tall, lanky, athletic receiver for Glen Lake. One of northern Michigan's top D-I prospects, Hogan helped lead the Lakers to a Division 6 state runner-up finish last season. Also a talented basketball player, Hogan has a long reach and excellent leaping ability. Last year, Hogan had 602 receiving yards and 11 TDs en route to Associated Press Division 5-6 All-State first team honors and Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream Team accolades. Nick Steinacker-6-7, 220-Corunna -- An intriguing prospect, Steinacker has terrific size and reach. Also a defensive end prospect, Steinacker is one of the state's top pass rushers with his long reach and athleticism. Could also bulk up and play tight end at the next level. A strong, all-around player on both sides of the football, Steinacker's size and coordination make him a D-I prospect, in my opinion. Received U-M offer as freshman. Ezra McAllister-6-1, 185-Marshall -- Quick, elusive wide receiver who also doubles as a talented defensive back for Marshall. Runs a reported 4.4 40-yard dash, benches 230 pounds and squats 405 pounds. Verbal to Vanderbilt
Other top wide receiver prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Lowyind Pullen-6-4, 190-Homer (it was difficult leaving him off this list, truly one of the best athletes at the WR position in Michigan, small town star, big-time sleeper prospect, was named to both the Jackson Citizen-Patriot football and basketball Dream Teams this past season, no other area athlete was so honored, 38 catches, 840 yards, nine TDs, double-double machine in hoops), Jalen Jackson-6-3, 175-Battle Creek Central (runs 4.5 40, CMU offer), Jeff Bowens-5-10, 160-Southfield A & T (Miami (OH), WMU offers), Clinton Roberson-6-2, 175-Macomb Dakota (Verbal to CMU), Darnell Johnson-5-9, 155-Belleville (CMU, Kent State, WMU offers), Troye Williams-5-11, 185-Roseville, Zach Poff-5-10, 180-Ithaca, Justyz Tuggle-5-10, 190-Detroit Central (named to Division 7-8 AP All-State first team as junior), Collin Wade-6-4, 190-Lake Fenton, Zach Horky-6-3, 200-Blissfield (Bowling Green State verbal for baseball), Jimmy Downs-6-0, 190-Schoolcraft (Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team pick, caught 40 passes for 871 yards and 11 TDs, returned two interceptions as DB for TDs), Chris Parker-6-2, 185-Saginaw Heritage (Verbal to CMU).
PHOTO -- East Lansing's Andrel Anthony (6-2, 175) is the state of Michigan's No. 3-ranked wide receiver prospect for the class of 2021. Anthony is verbally committed to U-M.
PHOTO -- Holland West Ottawa's Blake Bosma (6-4, 195) caught a school record 82 passes for 1,100 yards last season. Bosma, ranked the No. 5 wide receiver in the state of Michigan, earned Grand Rapids Press Dream Team and Holland Sentinel All-Area honors last year.
PHOTO -- Ann Arbor Pioneer's Ali Fisher (6-1, 185) was named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last season. The No. 8-ranked wide receiver in Michigan, Fisher has verbally committed to Buffalo.
In NFL history, three wide receivers from the state of Michigan are listed in the Top 50 for all-time receptions (two in the Top 25) including Derrick Mason (943 catches, 19th all-time, Baltimore Ravens all-time leader with 471 receptions, Detroit Mumford, Michigan State), Muhsin Muhammad (860 catches, 25th all-time, Lansing Waverly, Michigan State) and Andre Rison (743 receptions, 42nd all-time, Flint Northwestern, Michigan State). Currently, Allen Robinson (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Penn State) finished seventh in the NFL last season with 98 catches for the Chicago Bears.
For Michigan's class of 2021, there are, once again, multiple Division I-level wide receivers scattered throughout the state.
Here are the Top 10 wide receiver prospects for the state of Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Tyson Davis-5-11, 170-Goodrich -- Amazing, electric, explosive athlete, first and foremost. Selected All-State in both football and basketball last year, Davis is lightning in a bottle. A dangerous kickoff and punt returner, Davis is arguably the top open field threat in the state of Michigan. Unbelievably not as highly recruited as I would expect. Last year Davis caught 45 passes for 975 yards and 11 TDs, while rushing for 324 yards and four touchdowns and returning one kickoff for a TD. Named to the Flint Journal Dream Team and AP Division 3-4 first team All-State. Verbal to CMU
2. Jace Williams-6-5, 200-Grand Rapids Catholic Central -- A match-up nightmare on the outside for any defensive back. With Williams in the line-up, the Cougars have won two consecutive state championships and three titles in the past four years. Last season, Williams was unstoppable against a very talented Detroit Country Day secondary (which included CB/WR standout Marcus Sheppard-Bowling Green State commit and Saborn Campbell-No. 9-ranked defensive back for Michigan's class of 2021) tying a Michigan High School Athletic Association record with three touchdown catches in Catholic Central's 44-0 Division 4 state championship-clinching victory over the Yellowjackets. Last year, Williams had over 900 receiving yards and 12 TDs. With a long reach and excellent jumping ability, Williams, also a top-level basketball prospect, is outstanding at going up and grabbing passes at their highest point. Named to the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team, Detroit News Dream Team and Division 3-4 All-State first team. Michigan State, Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Boston College offers.
3. Andrel Anthony-6-2, 175-East Lansing -- Like Tyson Davis and Jace Williams, East Lansing's Andrel Anthony is crazy athletic. Also a standout hoops player for the Trojans, Anthony has everything a college coach would want in a receiver -- hands, speed, size, leaping ability and strong route running. Last season, Anthony caught 54 passes for 954 yards and nine TDs. Named to the AP Division 3-4 All-State first team last season as a junior. Verbal to U-M
4. Deion Burks-5-10, 170-Belleville -- A big-play waiting to happen, Burks is blazing fast and possesses strong, reliable hands. Combines with Belleville quarterback Christian Dhue-Reid (No. 1-ranked QB for Michigan's class of 2021) to form one of the Midwest's top pass-catch duos. Last season, Burks caught 35 passes for 871 yards and 12 TDs leading the Tigers to the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals. Named to the Detroit Free Press football Dream Team last year as a junior. Verbal to Purdue
5. Blake Bosma-6-4, 195-Holland West Ottawa -- One of my "sleepers/diamonds in the rough"-type players for Michigan's class of 2021. I love this kid. Three-year varsity starter for Holland West Ottawa (a program that has sent players to Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State over the years), Bosma can jump out of the proverbial gym. Last season, he caught a school-record 82 passes for 1,100 yards. Named to the Holland Sentinel All-Area first team and the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team last year as a junior. Amazingly, Bosma has zero offers as far as I can tell (sorry young man if I'm incorrect). I sincerely hope I'm wrong about that as this kid is a high-level D-I college football prospect. Do I need to say it? Big Ten, MAC, c'mon, check this guy out...
6. Elijah Rikard -- 6-2, 180-U-D Jesuit -- A top two-way prospect, Rikard is also a high-level defensive back for the Cubs. With size, long arms and good hands, Rikard is a tough match-up for any DB to handle. Plays some of the best competition in the Midwest each and every week in the venerable Detroit Catholic League. Temple, Bowling Green State, EMU, CMU, Buffalo, Akron, Miami (OH), Kent State, WMU, Morgan State offers.
7. Darnell Adams-5-10, 175-Detroit Renaissance -- Another underrated player, in my opinion, in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Adams is one of the top all-around players in the talent-rich city of Detroit. A scoring machine, Adams has a knack for finding the end zone. Last season, he scored 14 TDs, including three kick-off return touchdowns and two interceptions returned for TDs. As a receiver, Adams had 38 receptions for 727 yards, while as a defensive back, he had six interceptions. Adams has excellent feet, balance and one of the most explosive bursts in the state. Named to the Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first team last year as a junior. Highly under-recruited. This player is a gem just waiting for a smart, hard-working college recruiter to find.
8. Ali Fisher-6-1, 185-Ann Arbor Pioneer -- Fisher is a talented receiver and teams with quarterback Conor Easthope (No. 8-ranked QB in Michigan's class of 2021) to form one of the best combos in the state. Named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last season, Fisher caught 45 passes for 597 yards and eight TDs as a junior. Verbal to Buffalo
9. Amari Crowley-6-1, 180-Muskegon -- Maybe the best pure football player on this uber-talented Top 10 list. Will be a three-year starter for Muskegon, a national powerhouse program. I have Crowley at wide receiver since I feel that could possibly be his position at the next level. More than likely, he'll play quarterback next season for the Big Reds. Every bit as skilled as outgoing Muskegon QB Cam Martinez (Ohio State commit), Crowley is a big-play threat every time he touches the football. Last year, Crowley had 240 yards rushing with six TDs, while he caught 13 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Crowley's stats might not be eye-opening, but he was just one important cog on a nationally-ranked (No. 18 in the country by USA Today) Big Reds team a year ago. Muskegon finished as Division 3 state runner-up last season. Ball State, Buffalo, CMU, Cincinnati, Army, Kent State, Miami (OH), WMU offers.
10. (3-WAY TIE) Finn Hogan-6-4, 190-Maple City Glen Lake -- Tall, lanky, athletic receiver for Glen Lake. One of northern Michigan's top D-I prospects, Hogan helped lead the Lakers to a Division 6 state runner-up finish last season. Also a talented basketball player, Hogan has a long reach and excellent leaping ability. Last year, Hogan had 602 receiving yards and 11 TDs en route to Associated Press Division 5-6 All-State first team honors and Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream Team accolades. Nick Steinacker-6-7, 220-Corunna -- An intriguing prospect, Steinacker has terrific size and reach. Also a defensive end prospect, Steinacker is one of the state's top pass rushers with his long reach and athleticism. Could also bulk up and play tight end at the next level. A strong, all-around player on both sides of the football, Steinacker's size and coordination make him a D-I prospect, in my opinion. Received U-M offer as freshman. Ezra McAllister-6-1, 185-Marshall -- Quick, elusive wide receiver who also doubles as a talented defensive back for Marshall. Runs a reported 4.4 40-yard dash, benches 230 pounds and squats 405 pounds. Verbal to Vanderbilt
Other top wide receiver prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Lowyind Pullen-6-4, 190-Homer (it was difficult leaving him off this list, truly one of the best athletes at the WR position in Michigan, small town star, big-time sleeper prospect, was named to both the Jackson Citizen-Patriot football and basketball Dream Teams this past season, no other area athlete was so honored, 38 catches, 840 yards, nine TDs, double-double machine in hoops), Jalen Jackson-6-3, 175-Battle Creek Central (runs 4.5 40, CMU offer), Jeff Bowens-5-10, 160-Southfield A & T (Miami (OH), WMU offers), Clinton Roberson-6-2, 175-Macomb Dakota (Verbal to CMU), Darnell Johnson-5-9, 155-Belleville (CMU, Kent State, WMU offers), Troye Williams-5-11, 185-Roseville, Zach Poff-5-10, 180-Ithaca, Justyz Tuggle-5-10, 190-Detroit Central (named to Division 7-8 AP All-State first team as junior), Collin Wade-6-4, 190-Lake Fenton, Zach Horky-6-3, 200-Blissfield (Bowling Green State verbal for baseball), Jimmy Downs-6-0, 190-Schoolcraft (Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team pick, caught 40 passes for 871 yards and 11 TDs, returned two interceptions as DB for TDs), Chris Parker-6-2, 185-Saginaw Heritage (Verbal to CMU).
PHOTO -- East Lansing's Andrel Anthony (6-2, 175) is the state of Michigan's No. 3-ranked wide receiver prospect for the class of 2021. Anthony is verbally committed to U-M.
PHOTO -- Holland West Ottawa's Blake Bosma (6-4, 195) caught a school record 82 passes for 1,100 yards last season. Bosma, ranked the No. 5 wide receiver in the state of Michigan, earned Grand Rapids Press Dream Team and Holland Sentinel All-Area honors last year.
PHOTO -- Ann Arbor Pioneer's Ali Fisher (6-1, 185) was named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last season. The No. 8-ranked wide receiver in Michigan, Fisher has verbally committed to Buffalo.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Top 10 Defensive Back Prospects for Michigan's Class of 2021
The state of Michigan is arguably the No. 1 state in the Midwest when it comes to consistently producing big-time Division I college football talent in the defensive backfield. Every year, the Great Lakes State has at least 15-20 DBs capable of playing Big Ten-level college football. Michigan's class of 2021 is no exception when it comes to secondary talent -- the Great Lakes State is stacked at the position next season.
A multitude of state of Michigan kids played prominent roles on their respective D-I college football teams last fall from the secondary spot. Just off the top of my head, cornerbacks Lavert Hill (Detroit King), Ambry Thomas (Detroit King) and Vincent Gray (Rochester Adams) all started at one time or another for the University of Michigan this past fall in the defensive backfield. Hill is considered an NFL prospect in this year's draft. At Wisconsin, the state of Michigan duo of Scott Nelson (U-D Jesuit) and Reggie Pearson (River Rouge) were arguably the top safety combo in the Big Ten last year. At Purdue, another Great Lakes State safety combo of Navon Mosley (West Bloomfield) and Jalen Graham (Detroit Cass Tech) started most of the season last year together in the secondary, while over at Iowa, cornerback Michael Ojemudia (Farmington Hills Harrison) was a three-year starter and is an NFL prospect. Outside of the Big Ten, Evan Foster (West Bloomfield) was a three-year starter at safety for Syracuse and is an NFL prospect, while cornerback Allen Stritzinger (Warren DeLaSalle) was the nickel for the Orange this past season. At Mississippi State, Brian Cole (Saginaw Heritage) was a two-year starter at safety for the Bulldogs. Cole is an NFL prospect. Again, this is just off the top of my head. I'm sure with some additional research, I would find many more state of Michigan defensive backs starting or in the defensive backfield rotation for MAC teams and other D-I college football squads throughout the country.
In the NFL, again off the top of my head, current players from the state of Michigan patrolling the secondary this past season included safety Jeff Heath (Lake Orion, Saginaw Valley State), Desmond King (Detroit Crockett Tech, Iowa), Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M), Delano Hill (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M), Khari Willis (Jackson Lumen Christi, MSU), Brandon Carr (Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Grand Valley State), Kavon Frazier (Grand Rapids Christian, CMU), Tavierre Thomas (Detroit Allen, Ferris State), Sean Murphy-Bunting (Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, CMU), Darius Phillips (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, WMU) and Avonte Maddox (Detroit King, Pittsburgh). I'm sure there are players I'm missing, but I simply wanted to give a brief representation of the amount and caliber of secondary talent the state of Michigan produces each and every year.
All that being said, here are the next crop of big-time talented defensive backfield performers for the state of Michigan's class of 2021.
Top 10 Defensive Backs for Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Robert Army-6-1, 185-Southfield A & T -- The "Julian Barnett" of the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Barnett (class of 2019 in Michigan, now at MSU) was one of the top two-way cornerback-wide receivers in the nation his senior year at Belleville High School. Army is a similar talent at both wide out and corner for Southfield A & T. Army is just a good football player. He might not have blazing speed or big-time size, but his natural football instincts are, in my humble opinion, one of the best, if not the best, out of any position, in the state of Michigan. He's smooth, under control and precise in his movements and responsibilities on either side of the football. Verbal to Iowa State
2. Jaylen Reed-6-0, 190-Detroit King -- Reed has been a standout in the King secondary for three years. Reed is basically neck-and-neck with Robert Army for Michigan's class of 2021 top defensive back prospect. A star for the nationally-renowned Crusader program, Reed has the speed to cover deep and the toughness to play near the line of scrimmage, take on blocks and make tackles. I love Reed's toughness and moxie when it comes to competing and playing the game of football. Verbal to Penn State
3. Armorion Smith-6-2, 190-River Rouge -- One of my favorites for the class of 2021. Smith is a linebacker playing safety for River Rouge, the defending Division 3 state champions. Smith has speed to burn, but is also extremely physical. Smith also has the skill to play in space as a cornerback. He could also possibly bulk up and play linebacker at the next level at 6-2, 225 or so and be outstanding. Following in the footsteps of recent Panther defensive backs Reggie Pearson (Wisconsin) and Daraun McKinney (Iowa) as a future high-level D-I secondary performer. Verbal to Cincinnati
4. Quillen Howze-6-1, 180-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley -- Arguably the fastest player in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Howze runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and a 10.8 100 meters -- and he's only a junior. Both of those times quite possibly could drop during his senior season. Outstanding prospect in the secondary or at wide receiver. He could play safety at the next level, but I like him developing as a lock down-type corner with his size and speed. Plays for Chippewa Valley, a suburban Detroit school and one of the state of Michigan's top big-school programs. Verbal to Buffalo, despite offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Pitt, Iowa State and Minnesota.
5. Kalen King-5-11, 170-Detroit Cass Tech -- The next great Cass Tech defensive back. Every year, the Technicians seem to have one or more defensive backs that are recruited nationally. King is such a great player. With excellent balance, feet and hips, King can blanket even the best receiver. A three-sport star for Cass Tech (he also plays basketball and runs track and field), King is intense, hard-working and dedicated. King's ceiling is as high, if not higher, than any player on this list. Verbal to Penn State.
6. DeJavion Stepney-6-0, 185-Macomb Dakota -- I love a lot of these DBs in Michigan's talented class of 2021, but Stepney is right at the top of the list for me. Like Robert Army, Stepney seems like such a natural out on the football field. A "swiss-army-knife"-type of player for Dakota, one of suburban Detroit's best programs, Stepney plays defensive back, running back, wide receiver and returns kicks for the Cougars. Last season, he finished with 60 tackles, two TFL and two interceptions, while rushing for 1,226 yards and 12 TDs and catching 13 passes for 320 yards and one TD. A three-year varsity performer for Dakota, Stepney is athletic, fast and naturally talented. Verbal to CMU
7. Julius Sims-6-2, 185-Muskegon -- An absolute heat-seeking missile from his safety position for national powerhouse Muskegon. Opposing players better have their heads on a swivel with Sims prowling the secondary. Helped lead the Big Reds to the Division 3 state runner-up spot and a top 20 national ranking last season. Verbal to Bowling Green State
8. Tyreese Oakes-6-0, 180-Muskegon -- Teams with Julius Sims to form arguably the Midwest's top safety tandem. Like Sims, Oakes is constantly running downhill and striking hard from the safety position. With good speed and instincts, Oakes is a high-level prospect. A two-year starter for Muskegon, Michigan's all-time winningest program (and top 10 winningest in the nation), Oakes is a consummate football talent. CMU, Buffalo, WMU, Army, Toledo offers. Big Ten??
9. Saborn Campbell-5-11, 195-Detroit Country Day -- A ball-hawk of the highest order, Campbell is another lock down-type corner for the Yellowjackets. Campbell at No. 9 in my top 10 list of the best DB prospects in Michigan, is proof positive of how highly talented and skilled this position group is for the class of 2021. An elite athlete, Campbell picked off eight passes last season, leading Country Day to a Division 4 state runner-up finish. He was selected Division 3-4 first-team All-State. Has offers from Michigan State and Virginia for football, but is verbally committed to Stanford for baseball.
10. (tie) Maxwell Hairston-6-1, 175-West Bloomfield -- A tall, lanky cornerback prospect for West Bloomfield, a suburban Detroit program that has sent players to Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Purdue, Syracuse and Penn State the past few seasons, Hairston is a quick, smothering-type DB that battles for every ball thrown his way. Verbal to Kentucky Jaylin Mines-6-1, 190-Oak Park -- Hard-hitting safety for Oak Park. Mines has good speed and excellent size. I see him adding 10-15 pounds at the next level and bringing the pain from his secondary position. Verbal to Toledo, despite offers from Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Rutgers, Kentucky.
Other top defensive back prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 (all are D-I recruits at some level) -- Leroy Watson-5-10, 165-River Rouge (Verbal to Army), Eric Reese-5-11, 170-Macomb Dakota (Verbal to CMU), Jacob Taylor-5-11, 170-Detroit Cass Tech (CMU, WMU, Bowling Green State offers), Anton Ricumstrict-6-0, 175-Mount Pleasant (Verbal to Buffalo), Jacob Bendtsen-6-2, 185-Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (also top QB, threw for 1,800 yards and 26 TDs last season as junior), Daveon Turner-5-9, 165-Harper Woods (Verbal to Army), Joe Taylor-5-10, 170-Chelsea (named Division 3-4 All-State as junior, selected Ann Arbor News Defensive Player of Year as a sophomore, Verbal to U-M for baseball), Darryl Cooper-6-1, 180-Ecorse, Owen Franklin-6-1, 185-Oscoda (named to Bay City Times Dream Team last year, three-sport star for Oscoda, one of northern Michigan's best all-around athletes), Julian Ama-5-10, 170-Farmington, Rishad Hence-5-9, 165-Detroit King (Verbal to Akron), Jimari Moultrie-5-10, 175-Riverview (News-Herald Dream Team, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs) Rocco Milia-6-2, 175-Birmingham Brother Rice, Mason Breit-5-10, 180-Byron Center (Grand Rapids Press Dream Team as junior, three interceptions, 20 tackles), Logan Heath-6-0, 185-Merrill (Saginaw News Dream Team as junior, four interceptions, 62 tackles, 17 career interceptions). Jordan Wilson-5-11, 170-Ann Arbor Skyline, Eli Gordon-5-11, 170-Midland (selected to Midland Daily News Dream Team, had 37 tackles, six TFL), Trent Reed-6-3, 180-Beaverton (named Midland Daily News Player of Year as junior, led Beaverton to first-ever 9-0 record, 47 tackles, five interceptions as safety, with two picks returned for TDs, passed for 579 yards and seven TDs, while rushing for 1,080 yards and 16 TDs, one of northern Michigan's top prospects).
PHOTO -- Detroit King's Jaylen Reed (6-0, 190) is the No. 2-ranked defensive back prospect in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. One of the top recruits in the Midwest, Reed is verbally committed to Penn State.
PHOTO -- Muskegon's Julius Sims (6-2, 185) is a hard-hitting safety for national powerhouse Muskegon. Ranked the No. 7 overall defensive back prospect in Michigan's class of 2021, Sims helped lead the Big Reds to a Division 3 state runner-up finish last season. Sims is verbally committed to Bowling Green State.
PHOTO -- Detroit Cass Tech's Kalen King (5-11, 170) is a lock down corner for the Technicians and the No. 5-ranked defensive back prospect in Michigan. An intense, hard-working competitor, King can shut down any receiver he's assigned to cover. King is verbally committed to Penn State.
A multitude of state of Michigan kids played prominent roles on their respective D-I college football teams last fall from the secondary spot. Just off the top of my head, cornerbacks Lavert Hill (Detroit King), Ambry Thomas (Detroit King) and Vincent Gray (Rochester Adams) all started at one time or another for the University of Michigan this past fall in the defensive backfield. Hill is considered an NFL prospect in this year's draft. At Wisconsin, the state of Michigan duo of Scott Nelson (U-D Jesuit) and Reggie Pearson (River Rouge) were arguably the top safety combo in the Big Ten last year. At Purdue, another Great Lakes State safety combo of Navon Mosley (West Bloomfield) and Jalen Graham (Detroit Cass Tech) started most of the season last year together in the secondary, while over at Iowa, cornerback Michael Ojemudia (Farmington Hills Harrison) was a three-year starter and is an NFL prospect. Outside of the Big Ten, Evan Foster (West Bloomfield) was a three-year starter at safety for Syracuse and is an NFL prospect, while cornerback Allen Stritzinger (Warren DeLaSalle) was the nickel for the Orange this past season. At Mississippi State, Brian Cole (Saginaw Heritage) was a two-year starter at safety for the Bulldogs. Cole is an NFL prospect. Again, this is just off the top of my head. I'm sure with some additional research, I would find many more state of Michigan defensive backs starting or in the defensive backfield rotation for MAC teams and other D-I college football squads throughout the country.
In the NFL, again off the top of my head, current players from the state of Michigan patrolling the secondary this past season included safety Jeff Heath (Lake Orion, Saginaw Valley State), Desmond King (Detroit Crockett Tech, Iowa), Jourdan Lewis (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M), Delano Hill (Detroit Cass Tech, U-M), Khari Willis (Jackson Lumen Christi, MSU), Brandon Carr (Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Grand Valley State), Kavon Frazier (Grand Rapids Christian, CMU), Tavierre Thomas (Detroit Allen, Ferris State), Sean Murphy-Bunting (Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, CMU), Darius Phillips (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, WMU) and Avonte Maddox (Detroit King, Pittsburgh). I'm sure there are players I'm missing, but I simply wanted to give a brief representation of the amount and caliber of secondary talent the state of Michigan produces each and every year.
All that being said, here are the next crop of big-time talented defensive backfield performers for the state of Michigan's class of 2021.
Top 10 Defensive Backs for Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Robert Army-6-1, 185-Southfield A & T -- The "Julian Barnett" of the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Barnett (class of 2019 in Michigan, now at MSU) was one of the top two-way cornerback-wide receivers in the nation his senior year at Belleville High School. Army is a similar talent at both wide out and corner for Southfield A & T. Army is just a good football player. He might not have blazing speed or big-time size, but his natural football instincts are, in my humble opinion, one of the best, if not the best, out of any position, in the state of Michigan. He's smooth, under control and precise in his movements and responsibilities on either side of the football. Verbal to Iowa State
2. Jaylen Reed-6-0, 190-Detroit King -- Reed has been a standout in the King secondary for three years. Reed is basically neck-and-neck with Robert Army for Michigan's class of 2021 top defensive back prospect. A star for the nationally-renowned Crusader program, Reed has the speed to cover deep and the toughness to play near the line of scrimmage, take on blocks and make tackles. I love Reed's toughness and moxie when it comes to competing and playing the game of football. Verbal to Penn State
3. Armorion Smith-6-2, 190-River Rouge -- One of my favorites for the class of 2021. Smith is a linebacker playing safety for River Rouge, the defending Division 3 state champions. Smith has speed to burn, but is also extremely physical. Smith also has the skill to play in space as a cornerback. He could also possibly bulk up and play linebacker at the next level at 6-2, 225 or so and be outstanding. Following in the footsteps of recent Panther defensive backs Reggie Pearson (Wisconsin) and Daraun McKinney (Iowa) as a future high-level D-I secondary performer. Verbal to Cincinnati
4. Quillen Howze-6-1, 180-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley -- Arguably the fastest player in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Howze runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and a 10.8 100 meters -- and he's only a junior. Both of those times quite possibly could drop during his senior season. Outstanding prospect in the secondary or at wide receiver. He could play safety at the next level, but I like him developing as a lock down-type corner with his size and speed. Plays for Chippewa Valley, a suburban Detroit school and one of the state of Michigan's top big-school programs. Verbal to Buffalo, despite offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Pitt, Iowa State and Minnesota.
5. Kalen King-5-11, 170-Detroit Cass Tech -- The next great Cass Tech defensive back. Every year, the Technicians seem to have one or more defensive backs that are recruited nationally. King is such a great player. With excellent balance, feet and hips, King can blanket even the best receiver. A three-sport star for Cass Tech (he also plays basketball and runs track and field), King is intense, hard-working and dedicated. King's ceiling is as high, if not higher, than any player on this list. Verbal to Penn State.
6. DeJavion Stepney-6-0, 185-Macomb Dakota -- I love a lot of these DBs in Michigan's talented class of 2021, but Stepney is right at the top of the list for me. Like Robert Army, Stepney seems like such a natural out on the football field. A "swiss-army-knife"-type of player for Dakota, one of suburban Detroit's best programs, Stepney plays defensive back, running back, wide receiver and returns kicks for the Cougars. Last season, he finished with 60 tackles, two TFL and two interceptions, while rushing for 1,226 yards and 12 TDs and catching 13 passes for 320 yards and one TD. A three-year varsity performer for Dakota, Stepney is athletic, fast and naturally talented. Verbal to CMU
7. Julius Sims-6-2, 185-Muskegon -- An absolute heat-seeking missile from his safety position for national powerhouse Muskegon. Opposing players better have their heads on a swivel with Sims prowling the secondary. Helped lead the Big Reds to the Division 3 state runner-up spot and a top 20 national ranking last season. Verbal to Bowling Green State
8. Tyreese Oakes-6-0, 180-Muskegon -- Teams with Julius Sims to form arguably the Midwest's top safety tandem. Like Sims, Oakes is constantly running downhill and striking hard from the safety position. With good speed and instincts, Oakes is a high-level prospect. A two-year starter for Muskegon, Michigan's all-time winningest program (and top 10 winningest in the nation), Oakes is a consummate football talent. CMU, Buffalo, WMU, Army, Toledo offers. Big Ten??
9. Saborn Campbell-5-11, 195-Detroit Country Day -- A ball-hawk of the highest order, Campbell is another lock down-type corner for the Yellowjackets. Campbell at No. 9 in my top 10 list of the best DB prospects in Michigan, is proof positive of how highly talented and skilled this position group is for the class of 2021. An elite athlete, Campbell picked off eight passes last season, leading Country Day to a Division 4 state runner-up finish. He was selected Division 3-4 first-team All-State. Has offers from Michigan State and Virginia for football, but is verbally committed to Stanford for baseball.
10. (tie) Maxwell Hairston-6-1, 175-West Bloomfield -- A tall, lanky cornerback prospect for West Bloomfield, a suburban Detroit program that has sent players to Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Purdue, Syracuse and Penn State the past few seasons, Hairston is a quick, smothering-type DB that battles for every ball thrown his way. Verbal to Kentucky Jaylin Mines-6-1, 190-Oak Park -- Hard-hitting safety for Oak Park. Mines has good speed and excellent size. I see him adding 10-15 pounds at the next level and bringing the pain from his secondary position. Verbal to Toledo, despite offers from Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Rutgers, Kentucky.
Other top defensive back prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 (all are D-I recruits at some level) -- Leroy Watson-5-10, 165-River Rouge (Verbal to Army), Eric Reese-5-11, 170-Macomb Dakota (Verbal to CMU), Jacob Taylor-5-11, 170-Detroit Cass Tech (CMU, WMU, Bowling Green State offers), Anton Ricumstrict-6-0, 175-Mount Pleasant (Verbal to Buffalo), Jacob Bendtsen-6-2, 185-Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (also top QB, threw for 1,800 yards and 26 TDs last season as junior), Daveon Turner-5-9, 165-Harper Woods (Verbal to Army), Joe Taylor-5-10, 170-Chelsea (named Division 3-4 All-State as junior, selected Ann Arbor News Defensive Player of Year as a sophomore, Verbal to U-M for baseball), Darryl Cooper-6-1, 180-Ecorse, Owen Franklin-6-1, 185-Oscoda (named to Bay City Times Dream Team last year, three-sport star for Oscoda, one of northern Michigan's best all-around athletes), Julian Ama-5-10, 170-Farmington, Rishad Hence-5-9, 165-Detroit King (Verbal to Akron), Jimari Moultrie-5-10, 175-Riverview (News-Herald Dream Team, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs) Rocco Milia-6-2, 175-Birmingham Brother Rice, Mason Breit-5-10, 180-Byron Center (Grand Rapids Press Dream Team as junior, three interceptions, 20 tackles), Logan Heath-6-0, 185-Merrill (Saginaw News Dream Team as junior, four interceptions, 62 tackles, 17 career interceptions). Jordan Wilson-5-11, 170-Ann Arbor Skyline, Eli Gordon-5-11, 170-Midland (selected to Midland Daily News Dream Team, had 37 tackles, six TFL), Trent Reed-6-3, 180-Beaverton (named Midland Daily News Player of Year as junior, led Beaverton to first-ever 9-0 record, 47 tackles, five interceptions as safety, with two picks returned for TDs, passed for 579 yards and seven TDs, while rushing for 1,080 yards and 16 TDs, one of northern Michigan's top prospects).
PHOTO -- Detroit King's Jaylen Reed (6-0, 190) is the No. 2-ranked defensive back prospect in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. One of the top recruits in the Midwest, Reed is verbally committed to Penn State.
PHOTO -- Muskegon's Julius Sims (6-2, 185) is a hard-hitting safety for national powerhouse Muskegon. Ranked the No. 7 overall defensive back prospect in Michigan's class of 2021, Sims helped lead the Big Reds to a Division 3 state runner-up finish last season. Sims is verbally committed to Bowling Green State.
PHOTO -- Detroit Cass Tech's Kalen King (5-11, 170) is a lock down corner for the Technicians and the No. 5-ranked defensive back prospect in Michigan. An intense, hard-working competitor, King can shut down any receiver he's assigned to cover. King is verbally committed to Penn State.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Michigan's Top 10 Quarterbacks for the Class of 2021
With everything going on right now and the state of Michigan on lock down, I figured it was as good of a time as ever to talk a little high school football. In this blog installment, let's take a look at the 2021 quarterback class for the Great Lakes State. The state of Michigan's 2021 class at the signal-caller position is arguably the deepest, most-talented and best ever in Great Lakes State high school football history. I've been covering and following high school football in Michigan for close to 40 years and the 2021 quarterback class is by far the highest-rated and most-skilled I can remember. It ranks right up there and easily surpasses the most recent "best class ever" at the quarterback position (2018 class) in the Great Lakes State. The class of 2018 had nine quarterbacks commit to Division I college football programs -- Theo Day-Dearborn Divine Child-Michigan State, Jason Whittaker-Rockford-Northwestern, El-Julien Jordan-Detroit Central-WMU, Bryce Veasley-West Bloomfield-Bowling Green State, Caden Prieskorn-Orchard Lake St. Mary's-Memphis, Max Wittwer-Utica Eisenhower-Michigan, Aaron Jackson-Detroit Cass Tech-EMU, Joel Wilson-Petoskey-CMU and John Paddock-Bloomfield Hills-Ball State.
I believe, the state of Michigan's 2021 class has at least 10 Division I-level quarterback prospects. If the Great Lakes State's five D-I college football playing schools (MSU, U-M, CMU, EMU, WMU) can't find, properly evaluate and sign at least one signal-caller from Michigan's class of 2021, the above mentioned schools' individual recruiting coordinators and recruiting staff should have their collective eyes checked and their ability to evaluate talent questioned because the prospect level at the quarterback position is off the charts for 2021.
That being said, here are the Top 10 quarterbacks for Michigan's class of 2021 --
Top 10 Quarterback Prospects for the class of 2021 --
1. Christian Dhue-Reid-5-11, 220-Belleville -- He might not be the tallest or the fastest, but this kid is just a flat-out gamer and winner. He's tough, hard-nosed and a true leader. He's a "Brett Favre-like" competitor who consistently makes big plays in big moments for Belleville. I love Dhue-Reid's moxie and poise. I look for a quarterback who values the football and can move the chains, as well as make highlight-reel plays when called upon. Dhue-Reid is that type of player. A four-year starter for the Tigers, one of the Midwest's top high school football programs, which every year sends multiple players to Big Ten-level schools, Dhue-Reid threw for 2,706 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, with only three interceptions. Behind Dhue-Reid, Belleville reached the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals last season. Dhue-Reid completed 63 percent of his passes last year, while also scoring four rushing TDs. Big Ten, c'mon, where are you on this kid? Miami (OH) offer.
2. Brendan Sullivan-6-3, 190-Davison -- Sullivan can do it all on the football field. A true dual-threat signal-caller, Sullivan led Davison, a school near Flint, to Michigan's Division 1 (big school) state championship last season. Behind Sullivan, whose father (offensive tackle from East Lansing) played college football at the University of Michigan, the Cardinals averaged 44 points per game last year en route to their state title. Last season, Sullivan passed for 3,044 yards and 33 touchdowns, while also rushing for 700 yards and 11 TDs. Sullivan earned Associated Press Division 1-2 first team All-State honors last year. An all-around athlete, Sullivan is also a high-level basketball player, garnering All-Saginaw Valley first-team honors last season as a junior. Verbal to Northwestern
3. Colin Parachek-6-4, 195-Dexter -- Parachek already looks like a Big Ten quarterback. Long, lanky and athletic, Parachek should flesh out to a solid 6-4, 215-220 at the next level. With a strong, powerful arm, Parachek passed for 2,817 yards and 39 touchdowns last season, with three rushing TDs, as well. With Parachek under center the Dreadnaughts, a school near Ann Arbor, have reached the state football playoffs the past two seasons, going 8-2 last year and 6-4 the previous season. While that might not be too impressive to the casual observer, one has to realize before Parachek, Dexter football went winless for four straight years (0-36) and as a program had never made the state playoffs in school history. With the talented Parachek at quarterback, Dexter has gone 14-6 the past two seasons, which is an incredible turnaround for a program thought to be basically dead only three years ago. Unbelievably, Parachek isn't being recruited heavily by D-I schools. This is one of the reasons why I write this blog. How can a player of Parachek's talent, size and leadership not be on every Big Ten and/or MAC football program's radar? This kid is the real deal and a bonafide, high-level D-I college football prospect. I just shake my head...
4. Zach Trainor-6-2, 205-Walled Lake Western -- The latest big-time quarterback prospect out of Walled Lake Western (Sam Johnson, class of 2019, Boston College signee), Trainor enters his second season as a starter for the Warriors. Last year, Trainor finished with video-game-like numbers, passing for 3,843 yards and 44 touchdowns, achieving a 74 percent completion rate, with only four interceptions. On the ground, Trainor rushed for four touchdowns. Last season, Trainor teamed with wide receiver Abdur-Raheem Yaseen (86 receptions, 1,646 yards, 20 TDs, Purdue commit), Michigan's AP Division 1-2 Player of the Year, to form one of the most explosive pass-catch combos in the nation. For his performance last year, Trainor was named to Michigan's AP Division 1-2 first-team All-State squad. Florida Atlantic, Southern Miss, EMU offers.
5. Mareyohn Hrabowski-6-4, 210-River Rouge -- I love this kid. Hrabowski might have the highest ceiling, talent-wise and skill-wise, as any player on this star-studded list. Hrabowski burst on not only the statewide scene, but the national scene, after last season's performance in the Division 3 state championship game against Muskegon. Behind Hrabowski, River Rouge defeated the nationally-ranked Big Reds (No. 18 in the country by USA Today), 30-7 in the D-3 state title contest. Hrabowski out-performed Muskegon's all-everything quarterback/playmaker Cameron Martinez (Ohio State commit) in the game. Arguably the top dual threat quarterback in the Great Lakes State, if not the Midwest, Hrabowski passed for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns, with only two interceptions last year, while rushing for 1,175 yards and 14 TDs. Big, strong and quick, Hrabowski is a handful for opposing defenses. A bit raw right now, this kid's future is bright, indeed. Verbal to WMU
6. Drew Collins-6-3, 210-Montague -- Most years, Collins would be a top three quarterback prospect, but in this stacked 2021 class of signal-callers, I have him ranked as Michigan's No. 6 recruit at the position. Like the players above, Collins is a big-time Big Ten-level prospect. A coach's son, Collins is polished and knowledgeable football-wise, but possesses a high-level skill as both a passer and runner. Last season, Collins led the Wildcats to the Division 6 state semifinals, passing for 2,425 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only three interceptions, while on the ground, he rushed for 807 yards and 16 TDs. Last year, Collins was named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 6 All-State first team and to the Detroit Free Press D-6 All-State first squad. Incredibly, like Dexter's Colin Parachek, Collins isn't receiving the D-I college football interest he so richly deserves. Where are you MSU, U-M, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, etc. and MAC schools?
7. Braylon Silvas-6-1, 180-Flint Kearsley -- Silvas is another top-rated dual-threat-type of quarterback for Michigan's class of 2021. Neck-and-neck with Davison's Brendan Sullivan as the Flint area's best quarterback, Silvas passed for 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, while rushing for 1,022 yards and 19 TDs. The Flint Journal's Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore (Davison's Sullivan was the Flint Journal's Offensive Player of the Year last season), Silvas recorded 2,822 yards of total offense last season for Kearsley.
8. Conor Easthope-6-2, 200-Ann Arbor Pioneer -- From John Harbaugh's (Baltimore Raven head coach) and Jim Harbaugh's (University of Michigan head coach) former high school, Easthope is one of the state of Michigan's top quarterback prospects. A strong pocket passer, with scrambling ability, Easthope, a three-year starter for Pioneer, was 107-for-210 passing for 1,884 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. On the ground, Easthope ran for 368 yards and eight TDs last year. Verbal to Harvard
9. Carson Gulker-6-3, 190-Zeeland West -- I just like this kid's athleticism and play-making ability. One of the top basketball players on the state of Michigan's west side, Gulker is a top-level athlete. A quarterback on a power-running team, Gulker still managed to pass for 1,239 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. A three-year starter for Zeeland West, a school near Grand Rapids, Gulker has excellent speed and mobility and a strong arm. I think once Gulker gets into a D-I college football program, redshirts, learns the system and gets bigger and stronger, the sky is the limit for this kid. There won't be too many quarterbacks a better all-around athlete than Gulker, that's for sure.
10. Jalin Pitchford-6-0, 205-Wyandotte -- Maybe the best pocket presence out of all the top 10 quarterbacks on this list. Excellent movement, lateral ability and footwork in the pocket, Pitchford is strong and accurate throwing on the run while scrambling or from a drop back position. Plays good competition in Detroit's blue-collar Downriver suburbs (southern suburban area), Pitchford will be a three-year starter for Wyandotte. A team captain, Pitchford holds a 4.0 grade point average. It's a bit of a cliche for quarterbacks Pitchford's size, but his game does resemble Russell Wilson's somewhat in his skill as a passer and runner. Pitchford runs a 4.7 40 and a 12.2 100-meters. Pitchford already holds multiple Division I college football offers, including CMU, Buffalo, Bowling Green State, EMU and Miami (OH).
Other top quarterback prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 (all are Division I prospects) -- Gavin Ganun-6-2, 190-Blissfield (will be four-year football starter for Royals, a strong southern Michigan program, an outstanding all-around athlete, Ganun, also a four-year varsity performer on the diamond, has verbally committed to play baseball at Bowling Green State), Austin Myers-6-3, 215-New Boston Huron (News-Herald Dream Team selection, was 84-of-141 passing for 1,351 yards and 12 TDs, with four interceptions, had 678 yards rushing and 11 TDs, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs), Bobby Skinner-6-1, 180-Montrose (will be a four-year starter for Rams, helped lead Montrose to Division 6 state quarterfinals as a junior and state semifinals as a sophomore, has led Rams to 27-8 overall record in three years as starter), Ali Beydoun-6-2, 220-Dearborn Fordson (led Tractors to 9-2 overall record last season as junior), Brady Hessbrook-6-1, 190-Ithaca (led Yellowjackets to 8-2 overall record last season as junior, head coach's son, Ithaca is a five-time state championship program and two-time state runner-up, the Yellowjackets had a national-best 69-game winning streak from 2009 through 2014, Morehead State, Valpariso, Butler offers), Al Money-6-0, 180-Midland (Midland Daily News Dream Team selection, passed for 1,433 yards and 21 TDs, while rushing for 463 yards and four touchdowns, will be three-year starter), , Owen Swanson-6-2, 190-Muskegon Orchard View, Alex Tholes-5-10, 185-Schoolcraft (small town prospect, Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team selection, 145-of-199 passing for 2,999 yards and 38 TDs with only three interceptions), Noah Beaudrie-5-11, 190-Erie-Mason (another southern Michigan standout, Beaudrie is one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the Great Lakes State, might be the best scrambler/open field runner at the QB position in Michigan, finished 109-of-190 passing for 1,636 yards and 12 TDs, while rushing for 1,470 yards and 25 TDs last season).
PHOTO -- Davison's Brendan Sullivan (6-3, 190) is the state of Michigan's No. 2-ranked quarterback for the class of 2021. Last season, Sullivan led the Cardinals to the Division 1 (big school) state championship, passing for 3,044 yards and 33 touchdowns. Sullivan is verbally committed to Northwestern. Photo by Jake May/MLive.com.
PHOTO -- Dexter's Colin Parachek (6-4, 195) is the state of Michigan's No. 3-ranked quarterback prospect for the class of 2021. Last year, Parachek threw for 2,817 yards and 39 touchdowns. Photo by Ben Allan Smith.
PHOTO -- Wyandotte's Jalin Pitchford (6-0, 205) drops back to pass during a game last season. Pitchford is the No. 10-ranked quarterback recruit for the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Pitchford currently holds multiple Division I college football offers, including CMU, Buffalo, Bowling Green State, EMU and Miami (OH).
I believe, the state of Michigan's 2021 class has at least 10 Division I-level quarterback prospects. If the Great Lakes State's five D-I college football playing schools (MSU, U-M, CMU, EMU, WMU) can't find, properly evaluate and sign at least one signal-caller from Michigan's class of 2021, the above mentioned schools' individual recruiting coordinators and recruiting staff should have their collective eyes checked and their ability to evaluate talent questioned because the prospect level at the quarterback position is off the charts for 2021.
That being said, here are the Top 10 quarterbacks for Michigan's class of 2021 --
Top 10 Quarterback Prospects for the class of 2021 --
1. Christian Dhue-Reid-5-11, 220-Belleville -- He might not be the tallest or the fastest, but this kid is just a flat-out gamer and winner. He's tough, hard-nosed and a true leader. He's a "Brett Favre-like" competitor who consistently makes big plays in big moments for Belleville. I love Dhue-Reid's moxie and poise. I look for a quarterback who values the football and can move the chains, as well as make highlight-reel plays when called upon. Dhue-Reid is that type of player. A four-year starter for the Tigers, one of the Midwest's top high school football programs, which every year sends multiple players to Big Ten-level schools, Dhue-Reid threw for 2,706 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, with only three interceptions. Behind Dhue-Reid, Belleville reached the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals last season. Dhue-Reid completed 63 percent of his passes last year, while also scoring four rushing TDs. Big Ten, c'mon, where are you on this kid? Miami (OH) offer.
2. Brendan Sullivan-6-3, 190-Davison -- Sullivan can do it all on the football field. A true dual-threat signal-caller, Sullivan led Davison, a school near Flint, to Michigan's Division 1 (big school) state championship last season. Behind Sullivan, whose father (offensive tackle from East Lansing) played college football at the University of Michigan, the Cardinals averaged 44 points per game last year en route to their state title. Last season, Sullivan passed for 3,044 yards and 33 touchdowns, while also rushing for 700 yards and 11 TDs. Sullivan earned Associated Press Division 1-2 first team All-State honors last year. An all-around athlete, Sullivan is also a high-level basketball player, garnering All-Saginaw Valley first-team honors last season as a junior. Verbal to Northwestern
3. Colin Parachek-6-4, 195-Dexter -- Parachek already looks like a Big Ten quarterback. Long, lanky and athletic, Parachek should flesh out to a solid 6-4, 215-220 at the next level. With a strong, powerful arm, Parachek passed for 2,817 yards and 39 touchdowns last season, with three rushing TDs, as well. With Parachek under center the Dreadnaughts, a school near Ann Arbor, have reached the state football playoffs the past two seasons, going 8-2 last year and 6-4 the previous season. While that might not be too impressive to the casual observer, one has to realize before Parachek, Dexter football went winless for four straight years (0-36) and as a program had never made the state playoffs in school history. With the talented Parachek at quarterback, Dexter has gone 14-6 the past two seasons, which is an incredible turnaround for a program thought to be basically dead only three years ago. Unbelievably, Parachek isn't being recruited heavily by D-I schools. This is one of the reasons why I write this blog. How can a player of Parachek's talent, size and leadership not be on every Big Ten and/or MAC football program's radar? This kid is the real deal and a bonafide, high-level D-I college football prospect. I just shake my head...
4. Zach Trainor-6-2, 205-Walled Lake Western -- The latest big-time quarterback prospect out of Walled Lake Western (Sam Johnson, class of 2019, Boston College signee), Trainor enters his second season as a starter for the Warriors. Last year, Trainor finished with video-game-like numbers, passing for 3,843 yards and 44 touchdowns, achieving a 74 percent completion rate, with only four interceptions. On the ground, Trainor rushed for four touchdowns. Last season, Trainor teamed with wide receiver Abdur-Raheem Yaseen (86 receptions, 1,646 yards, 20 TDs, Purdue commit), Michigan's AP Division 1-2 Player of the Year, to form one of the most explosive pass-catch combos in the nation. For his performance last year, Trainor was named to Michigan's AP Division 1-2 first-team All-State squad. Florida Atlantic, Southern Miss, EMU offers.
5. Mareyohn Hrabowski-6-4, 210-River Rouge -- I love this kid. Hrabowski might have the highest ceiling, talent-wise and skill-wise, as any player on this star-studded list. Hrabowski burst on not only the statewide scene, but the national scene, after last season's performance in the Division 3 state championship game against Muskegon. Behind Hrabowski, River Rouge defeated the nationally-ranked Big Reds (No. 18 in the country by USA Today), 30-7 in the D-3 state title contest. Hrabowski out-performed Muskegon's all-everything quarterback/playmaker Cameron Martinez (Ohio State commit) in the game. Arguably the top dual threat quarterback in the Great Lakes State, if not the Midwest, Hrabowski passed for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns, with only two interceptions last year, while rushing for 1,175 yards and 14 TDs. Big, strong and quick, Hrabowski is a handful for opposing defenses. A bit raw right now, this kid's future is bright, indeed. Verbal to WMU
6. Drew Collins-6-3, 210-Montague -- Most years, Collins would be a top three quarterback prospect, but in this stacked 2021 class of signal-callers, I have him ranked as Michigan's No. 6 recruit at the position. Like the players above, Collins is a big-time Big Ten-level prospect. A coach's son, Collins is polished and knowledgeable football-wise, but possesses a high-level skill as both a passer and runner. Last season, Collins led the Wildcats to the Division 6 state semifinals, passing for 2,425 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only three interceptions, while on the ground, he rushed for 807 yards and 16 TDs. Last year, Collins was named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 6 All-State first team and to the Detroit Free Press D-6 All-State first squad. Incredibly, like Dexter's Colin Parachek, Collins isn't receiving the D-I college football interest he so richly deserves. Where are you MSU, U-M, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, etc. and MAC schools?
7. Braylon Silvas-6-1, 180-Flint Kearsley -- Silvas is another top-rated dual-threat-type of quarterback for Michigan's class of 2021. Neck-and-neck with Davison's Brendan Sullivan as the Flint area's best quarterback, Silvas passed for 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, while rushing for 1,022 yards and 19 TDs. The Flint Journal's Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore (Davison's Sullivan was the Flint Journal's Offensive Player of the Year last season), Silvas recorded 2,822 yards of total offense last season for Kearsley.
8. Conor Easthope-6-2, 200-Ann Arbor Pioneer -- From John Harbaugh's (Baltimore Raven head coach) and Jim Harbaugh's (University of Michigan head coach) former high school, Easthope is one of the state of Michigan's top quarterback prospects. A strong pocket passer, with scrambling ability, Easthope, a three-year starter for Pioneer, was 107-for-210 passing for 1,884 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. On the ground, Easthope ran for 368 yards and eight TDs last year. Verbal to Harvard
9. Carson Gulker-6-3, 190-Zeeland West -- I just like this kid's athleticism and play-making ability. One of the top basketball players on the state of Michigan's west side, Gulker is a top-level athlete. A quarterback on a power-running team, Gulker still managed to pass for 1,239 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. A three-year starter for Zeeland West, a school near Grand Rapids, Gulker has excellent speed and mobility and a strong arm. I think once Gulker gets into a D-I college football program, redshirts, learns the system and gets bigger and stronger, the sky is the limit for this kid. There won't be too many quarterbacks a better all-around athlete than Gulker, that's for sure.
10. Jalin Pitchford-6-0, 205-Wyandotte -- Maybe the best pocket presence out of all the top 10 quarterbacks on this list. Excellent movement, lateral ability and footwork in the pocket, Pitchford is strong and accurate throwing on the run while scrambling or from a drop back position. Plays good competition in Detroit's blue-collar Downriver suburbs (southern suburban area), Pitchford will be a three-year starter for Wyandotte. A team captain, Pitchford holds a 4.0 grade point average. It's a bit of a cliche for quarterbacks Pitchford's size, but his game does resemble Russell Wilson's somewhat in his skill as a passer and runner. Pitchford runs a 4.7 40 and a 12.2 100-meters. Pitchford already holds multiple Division I college football offers, including CMU, Buffalo, Bowling Green State, EMU and Miami (OH).
Other top quarterback prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 (all are Division I prospects) -- Gavin Ganun-6-2, 190-Blissfield (will be four-year football starter for Royals, a strong southern Michigan program, an outstanding all-around athlete, Ganun, also a four-year varsity performer on the diamond, has verbally committed to play baseball at Bowling Green State), Austin Myers-6-3, 215-New Boston Huron (News-Herald Dream Team selection, was 84-of-141 passing for 1,351 yards and 12 TDs, with four interceptions, had 678 yards rushing and 11 TDs, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs), Bobby Skinner-6-1, 180-Montrose (will be a four-year starter for Rams, helped lead Montrose to Division 6 state quarterfinals as a junior and state semifinals as a sophomore, has led Rams to 27-8 overall record in three years as starter), Ali Beydoun-6-2, 220-Dearborn Fordson (led Tractors to 9-2 overall record last season as junior), Brady Hessbrook-6-1, 190-Ithaca (led Yellowjackets to 8-2 overall record last season as junior, head coach's son, Ithaca is a five-time state championship program and two-time state runner-up, the Yellowjackets had a national-best 69-game winning streak from 2009 through 2014, Morehead State, Valpariso, Butler offers), Al Money-6-0, 180-Midland (Midland Daily News Dream Team selection, passed for 1,433 yards and 21 TDs, while rushing for 463 yards and four touchdowns, will be three-year starter), , Owen Swanson-6-2, 190-Muskegon Orchard View, Alex Tholes-5-10, 185-Schoolcraft (small town prospect, Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team selection, 145-of-199 passing for 2,999 yards and 38 TDs with only three interceptions), Noah Beaudrie-5-11, 190-Erie-Mason (another southern Michigan standout, Beaudrie is one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the Great Lakes State, might be the best scrambler/open field runner at the QB position in Michigan, finished 109-of-190 passing for 1,636 yards and 12 TDs, while rushing for 1,470 yards and 25 TDs last season).
PHOTO -- Davison's Brendan Sullivan (6-3, 190) is the state of Michigan's No. 2-ranked quarterback for the class of 2021. Last season, Sullivan led the Cardinals to the Division 1 (big school) state championship, passing for 3,044 yards and 33 touchdowns. Sullivan is verbally committed to Northwestern. Photo by Jake May/MLive.com.
PHOTO -- Dexter's Colin Parachek (6-4, 195) is the state of Michigan's No. 3-ranked quarterback prospect for the class of 2021. Last year, Parachek threw for 2,817 yards and 39 touchdowns. Photo by Ben Allan Smith.
PHOTO -- Wyandotte's Jalin Pitchford (6-0, 205) drops back to pass during a game last season. Pitchford is the No. 10-ranked quarterback recruit for the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Pitchford currently holds multiple Division I college football offers, including CMU, Buffalo, Bowling Green State, EMU and Miami (OH).
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Top 10 Defensive Line Prospects for Michigan's Class of 2021
The state of Michigan has always been a national leader when it comes to the level of high school football talent produced along the defensive line. Year after year, season after season, the Great Lakes State has multiple big-time Division I college football prospects disrupting offenses on high school football fields from Detroit to Grand Rapids and all points in between.
This past college football season, the state of Michigan was well-represented along the defensive line on high-level squads throughout the Midwest. Just off the top of my head, four of the Midwest's top college football programs had plenty of Great Lakes State D-line talent making life miserable for opposing offenses this past season.
At Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish had three players from Michigan high school football programs starting or as part of the rotation along the defensive line this season. Senior Khalid Kareem (6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Farmington Hills Harrison) and juniors Daelin Hayes (6-4, 260, Ann Arbor Skyline) and Ade Ogundeji (6-4, 255, Walled Lake Central) were dominant players for Notre Dame this past year up front. Kareem and Hayes (before being injured) were starters, while Ogundeji saw plenty of snaps every game as part of the Fighting Irish's D-line rotation. Kareem is projected as a possible first-day NFL draft pick this April, while Hayes and Ogundeji are penciled in as starters next season in South Bend with both more than likely having NFL futures.
At Iowa, senior Cedrick Lattimore (6-3, 295, Detroit East English Village) and junior Chauncey Golston (6-5, 270, Detroit East English Village) were starters this past season for the Hawkeyes. Lattimore has an NFL future, as does Golston, who's expected to be one of the Big Ten's best next year along the defensive line.
At Michigan State, senior Kenny Willekes (6-4, 260. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian) was one of the nation's top defensive ends this past season and is expected to be an early round NFL draft pick this April, while over at Michigan, sophomore Aidan Hutchinson (6-6, 280, Dearborn Divine Child) is already the bell cow on the Wolverines' defensive line. Hutchinson eventually could be a first round NFL draft pick.
If that wasn't enough, at Division II Ferris State, senior defensive end Austin Edwards (6-5, 280, Lansing Waverly) is an NFL prospect, as well. This past season, Edwards was named the GLIAC Player of the Year, a Division II All-American and earned the Gene Upshaw Award as the top interior lineman in Division II. Edwards looks to follow in the footsteps of former Ferris State star defensive end Zach Sieler (6-6, 300, Pinckney), in his second NFL season with the Miami Dolphins. Sieler was the first Bulldog player ever selected in the NFL draft when he was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2018 draft.
The above players are a small, but extremely talented, sample of the defensive line talent from the state of Michigan scattered throughout the college football landscape this past season. Below are the next crop of future All-Big Ten, All-American and NFL players along the defensive line from the Great Lakes State. There are so many quality Division I-level defensive lineman in the state of Michigan's 2021 class it's incredible.
Here are the top 10 defensive line prospects for the state of Michigan's class of 2021.
Top 10 Defensive Line Recruits (All are D-I prospects at some level)--
1. Damon Payne-6-4, 295-DT-Belleville- A top five recruit in the state of Michigan, Payne received his first college football scholarship offer as a middle school student. One of the best defensive line recruits in the nation, Payne is also a talented O-line prospect, as well. Thick, powerful and strong as an ox, Payne projects out to 6-4, 335 or so at the next level, with not only strength, but good mobility and quickness for a player his size. Verbal to Alabama
2. Rocco Spindler-6-4, 290-DT-Clarkston- Maybe the best two-way player in the trenches in the Midwest, though Belleville's Damon Payne might have something to say about that. Similar to Payne, I project Spindler to flesh out around 6-4, 325-330 or so at the next level. Big, physical and tough, Spindler is also one of the nation's top offensive line prospects. Imagine having Spindler and Payne as your college program's defensive tackles for the next four or five years to develop and teach. If only one of Michigan's five Division I college football playing schools could make that happen, that would be incredible. Verbal to Notre Dame
3. Rayshaun Benny-6-5, 270-DE-DT-Oak Park- The next big-time lineman from Oak Park. Marquan McCall (6-3, 320, starting DT at Kentucky) and Justin Rogers (6-3, 300, No. 1 player in Michigan for 2020 class and Kentucky commit) are the past two Oak Park standouts along the defensive line. Benny is definitely in the same talent class as McCall and Rogers. With long arms and good feet, Benny could be one of those players at the next level who fleshes out to 6-5, 295 and can play DE and also move inside to DT in certain packages. Benny is also a skilled offensive lineman. He could play on either side of the line of scrimmage in college. Verbal to Michigan State
4. Derrick Harmon-6-3, 320-DT-Detroit Loyola- A beast inside for Detroit Loyola, Harmon is an overpowering force up front at the high school level. A run-plugger of the highest order, Harmon is an immovable object in the trenches. Another outstanding two-way player (as most players are on this list), Harmon would also make a nice bulldozing offensive guard or center in college. Verbal to Michigan State
5. Caleb Banks-6-6, 255-DE-Southfield A & T- With a huge wingspan and good quickness off the edge, Banks is a big-time prospect. Colleges are looking at Banks on both sides of the football. With his reach and mobility, Banks could develop into a talented offensive tackle at the next level. On defense, though, Banks can basically control one side of the field with his strength and athleticism. Verbal to Louisville
6. Tyson Watson-6-6, 270-DE-Warren Mott- Gritty, tough, physical player off the edge for Mott, a high school in Warren, a blue-collar Detroit suburb. Great length and size along the D-line, Watson could also project out to an offensive tackle in college. I like him on the D-line, though. I see him fleshing out at 6-6, 280-290 at the next level and being a pass-rushing monster off the edge. Verbal to Michigan State
7. Ru'Quan Buckley-6-6, 280-DE-Wyoming Godwin Heights- One of the Grand Rapids area's top prospects, Buckley is raw, but extremely talented on either side of the football. Buckley's high school coach said he had to hold Buckley out of 1-on-1 and full contact team drills for fear of his star lineman hurting his teammates. That's how tough and physical Buckley is on the football field. A guy who will develop at the next level, Buckley's ceiling is as high or higher as any player on this list. Verbal to Nebraska
8. Pius Odjugo-6-3, 325-DT-River Rouge- I love this kid. He's one of my "sleeper" players in Michigan for the class of 2021. A run-plugger by trade, what impressed me about Odjugo, however, was his relentless effort and pursuit of the ball carrier on every play in this past year's state title contest. For a player of his size, Odjugo has surprising nimbleness and quick feet. Against nationally-ranked Muskegon in this past season's D-3 state championship game, Odjugo was all over the field chasing, pressuring and bringing down the Big Reds' star player QB Cameron Martinez (Ohio State commit) helping the Panthers soundly defeat Muskegon (ranked No. 18 by USA Today), 30-7. Making his performance even more impressive was the fact Odjugo was squared up most of the state title game against Muskegon's standout senior center D'Andre Mills-Ellis (6-2, 305) and fared well against one of the state of Michigan's best at that position. Verbal to CMU
9. Kyle Fugedi-6-6, 300-DT-Livonia Franklin- Fugedi just looks like a Big Ten recruit. Like others on this list, Fugedi is a talented two-way player. On defense, he's a powerful, lanky end prospect, who can move inside and use his long arms to disrupt pass attempts, while offensively, he uses that same long reach to keep rushing defensive linemen at bay. Fugedi is a player who could project out to 6-6, 320 and be used inside on defense or be an outstanding tackle on offense. Verbal to Miami (OH) despite Indiana, Kentucky offers.
10 (3-WAY TIE). Harry Unger-6-3, 230-DE-Davison- The closest thing the state of Michigan's class of 2021 has to Kenny Willekes (MSU's All-American DE from Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian). Like Willekes coming out of high school, Unger is flying under the recruiting radar, but is most certainly a Division I-level college football prospect. Like Willekes, Unger spends most of his time during games in the opposing team's backfield. Last season, Unger recorded 27 TFL and eight sacks, along with 54 total tackles, helping lead Davison, a town near Flint, to the D-1 state championship. Named to the Detroit News Division 1 and 2 All-State first-team and the Flint Journal Dream Team last year, Unger is a high-motor, never-stop-chasing-type of player. Big Ten, MAC, check this kid out. You can thank me later... Verbal to Air Force Carter Cushman-6-4, 250-DE-DT-Plainwell- The best player and prospect out of Plainwell, a small town in southwest Michigan, since Jack Conklin (6-6, 310, Michigan State, current All-Pro OT for Tennessee Titans), Cushman brings an unique combination of size, toughness and athleticism not seen often in a player of his height and weight. Not only talented on the football field, Cushman is also a standout swimmer and track and field athlete for Plainwell. Cushman had 41 tackles and seven TFL last season. I like the potential of this young man because of his well-rounded athletic ability, coupled with his massive size and length. Connor Hindenach-6-3, 250-DE-Paw Paw- A play-maker from the DE position for Paw Paw, a small community in southwest Michigan. Reminds me of former Paw Paw great and NFL two-time Pro Bowl DE Jason Babin (6-3, 265, two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year at WMU, first round draft pick in 2004 of Houston Texans). Like Babin (64.5 career sacks), Hindenach lives in the opponent's backfield and is a quarterbacks worst nightmare. Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State selection, Detroit Free Press All-State, one of Michigan's top sleeper/diamond-in-the-rough prospects, 4.8 40, Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team, 95 tackles, 26 TFL, eight sacks last season.
Other top D-line recruits for the state of Michigan's class of 2021 (all are D-I-level players)-
Clarence Wilson-6-4, 235-DE-Detroit Cass Tech (Verbal to Toledo), Esean Carter-6-3, 265-DE-DT-Detroit King (Cincinnati, Temple, CMU offers), Dorian Ray-6-3, 260-DT-Detroit Cass Tech (Verbal to Toledo), Hezekiah Green-6-3, 255-DE-Detroit Western (Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first-team last season, 13 sacks, 12 TFL), Arnez Polk-6-3, 290-DT-Detroit Western, Walker Martin-6-2, 280-DT-Montague (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team, 61 tackles, 11.5 TFL, two sacks, one fumble recovery last year), Blake Smithers-6-2, 295-DT-Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport (one of the top prospects in Michigan's Thumb region), Kevarr Ellis-6-2, 305-DT-Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Isiah Daniels-6-2, 245-DE-DT-Warren Mott (named All-Macomb County first-team last season, Detroit News Division 1 and 2 All-State second team), Dan McKiernan-6-2, 260-DT-Richmond (All-Macomb County first-team, 40 tackles, seven TFL), Joe Brown-6-3, 245-DE-St. Joseph, Toby MacPhee-6-5, 225-DE-Bad Axe, Mitchell Umlor-6-3, 240-DE-Allendale, Ryan Wood-6-1, 320-DT-Cadillac, Mike Elliot-6-4, 230-DE-Traverse City West, Darren Chinery-6-2, 245-DE-Saginaw Nouvel (Saginaw News Dream Team), Mario Disanto-6-3, 270-DT-Riverview Gabriel Richard, Michael Momber-6-3, 290-DT-Hudsonville, Austin Henard-6-2, 240-DE-Fenton (Flint Journal Dream Team, 42 tackles, 10 TFL, eight sacks), D.J. Greenbay-6-1, 270-DT-Big Rapids, Noah Kindle-6-2, 230-DE-Port Huron, Max Alvarez-6-2, 240-DE-Allen Park (News-Herald Dream Team selection, 45 tackles, 15 TFL, two sacks, one safety, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs), Jamari Littlejohn-6-3, 235-DE-Okemos, Will Leggon-6-2, 280-DT-NG-Detroit Country Day (helped lead Country Day to Division 4 state runner-up finish last year, Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State pick), Logan Murray-6-3, 305-DT-Flint Powers Catholic (Verbal to Michigan State).
PHOTO -- Belleville's Damon Payne (6-4, 295) is the state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked defensive line prospect for the class of 2021. Payne is verbally committed to Alabama.
PHOTO -- Oak Park's Rayshaun Benny (6-5, 270) is one of the top two-way linemen in the Midwest. An all-around, talented player, Benny is the state of Michigan's No. 3-ranked defensive lineman for the class of 2021. Benny is verbally committed to Michigan State.
PHOTO -- Wyoming Godwin Heights' Ru'Quan Buckley (6-6, 280) is one of the Grand Rapids area's top prospects and one of the state of Michigan's best players for the class of 2021. A two-way talent at defensive end and offensive tackle, Buckley is ranked the No. 7 defensive line prospect in the Great Lakes State. Buckley is verbally committed to Nebraska.
This past college football season, the state of Michigan was well-represented along the defensive line on high-level squads throughout the Midwest. Just off the top of my head, four of the Midwest's top college football programs had plenty of Great Lakes State D-line talent making life miserable for opposing offenses this past season.
At Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish had three players from Michigan high school football programs starting or as part of the rotation along the defensive line this season. Senior Khalid Kareem (6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Farmington Hills Harrison) and juniors Daelin Hayes (6-4, 260, Ann Arbor Skyline) and Ade Ogundeji (6-4, 255, Walled Lake Central) were dominant players for Notre Dame this past year up front. Kareem and Hayes (before being injured) were starters, while Ogundeji saw plenty of snaps every game as part of the Fighting Irish's D-line rotation. Kareem is projected as a possible first-day NFL draft pick this April, while Hayes and Ogundeji are penciled in as starters next season in South Bend with both more than likely having NFL futures.
At Iowa, senior Cedrick Lattimore (6-3, 295, Detroit East English Village) and junior Chauncey Golston (6-5, 270, Detroit East English Village) were starters this past season for the Hawkeyes. Lattimore has an NFL future, as does Golston, who's expected to be one of the Big Ten's best next year along the defensive line.
At Michigan State, senior Kenny Willekes (6-4, 260. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian) was one of the nation's top defensive ends this past season and is expected to be an early round NFL draft pick this April, while over at Michigan, sophomore Aidan Hutchinson (6-6, 280, Dearborn Divine Child) is already the bell cow on the Wolverines' defensive line. Hutchinson eventually could be a first round NFL draft pick.
If that wasn't enough, at Division II Ferris State, senior defensive end Austin Edwards (6-5, 280, Lansing Waverly) is an NFL prospect, as well. This past season, Edwards was named the GLIAC Player of the Year, a Division II All-American and earned the Gene Upshaw Award as the top interior lineman in Division II. Edwards looks to follow in the footsteps of former Ferris State star defensive end Zach Sieler (6-6, 300, Pinckney), in his second NFL season with the Miami Dolphins. Sieler was the first Bulldog player ever selected in the NFL draft when he was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2018 draft.
The above players are a small, but extremely talented, sample of the defensive line talent from the state of Michigan scattered throughout the college football landscape this past season. Below are the next crop of future All-Big Ten, All-American and NFL players along the defensive line from the Great Lakes State. There are so many quality Division I-level defensive lineman in the state of Michigan's 2021 class it's incredible.
Here are the top 10 defensive line prospects for the state of Michigan's class of 2021.
Top 10 Defensive Line Recruits (All are D-I prospects at some level)--
1. Damon Payne-6-4, 295-DT-Belleville- A top five recruit in the state of Michigan, Payne received his first college football scholarship offer as a middle school student. One of the best defensive line recruits in the nation, Payne is also a talented O-line prospect, as well. Thick, powerful and strong as an ox, Payne projects out to 6-4, 335 or so at the next level, with not only strength, but good mobility and quickness for a player his size. Verbal to Alabama
2. Rocco Spindler-6-4, 290-DT-Clarkston- Maybe the best two-way player in the trenches in the Midwest, though Belleville's Damon Payne might have something to say about that. Similar to Payne, I project Spindler to flesh out around 6-4, 325-330 or so at the next level. Big, physical and tough, Spindler is also one of the nation's top offensive line prospects. Imagine having Spindler and Payne as your college program's defensive tackles for the next four or five years to develop and teach. If only one of Michigan's five Division I college football playing schools could make that happen, that would be incredible. Verbal to Notre Dame
3. Rayshaun Benny-6-5, 270-DE-DT-Oak Park- The next big-time lineman from Oak Park. Marquan McCall (6-3, 320, starting DT at Kentucky) and Justin Rogers (6-3, 300, No. 1 player in Michigan for 2020 class and Kentucky commit) are the past two Oak Park standouts along the defensive line. Benny is definitely in the same talent class as McCall and Rogers. With long arms and good feet, Benny could be one of those players at the next level who fleshes out to 6-5, 295 and can play DE and also move inside to DT in certain packages. Benny is also a skilled offensive lineman. He could play on either side of the line of scrimmage in college. Verbal to Michigan State
4. Derrick Harmon-6-3, 320-DT-Detroit Loyola- A beast inside for Detroit Loyola, Harmon is an overpowering force up front at the high school level. A run-plugger of the highest order, Harmon is an immovable object in the trenches. Another outstanding two-way player (as most players are on this list), Harmon would also make a nice bulldozing offensive guard or center in college. Verbal to Michigan State
5. Caleb Banks-6-6, 255-DE-Southfield A & T- With a huge wingspan and good quickness off the edge, Banks is a big-time prospect. Colleges are looking at Banks on both sides of the football. With his reach and mobility, Banks could develop into a talented offensive tackle at the next level. On defense, though, Banks can basically control one side of the field with his strength and athleticism. Verbal to Louisville
6. Tyson Watson-6-6, 270-DE-Warren Mott- Gritty, tough, physical player off the edge for Mott, a high school in Warren, a blue-collar Detroit suburb. Great length and size along the D-line, Watson could also project out to an offensive tackle in college. I like him on the D-line, though. I see him fleshing out at 6-6, 280-290 at the next level and being a pass-rushing monster off the edge. Verbal to Michigan State
7. Ru'Quan Buckley-6-6, 280-DE-Wyoming Godwin Heights- One of the Grand Rapids area's top prospects, Buckley is raw, but extremely talented on either side of the football. Buckley's high school coach said he had to hold Buckley out of 1-on-1 and full contact team drills for fear of his star lineman hurting his teammates. That's how tough and physical Buckley is on the football field. A guy who will develop at the next level, Buckley's ceiling is as high or higher as any player on this list. Verbal to Nebraska
8. Pius Odjugo-6-3, 325-DT-River Rouge- I love this kid. He's one of my "sleeper" players in Michigan for the class of 2021. A run-plugger by trade, what impressed me about Odjugo, however, was his relentless effort and pursuit of the ball carrier on every play in this past year's state title contest. For a player of his size, Odjugo has surprising nimbleness and quick feet. Against nationally-ranked Muskegon in this past season's D-3 state championship game, Odjugo was all over the field chasing, pressuring and bringing down the Big Reds' star player QB Cameron Martinez (Ohio State commit) helping the Panthers soundly defeat Muskegon (ranked No. 18 by USA Today), 30-7. Making his performance even more impressive was the fact Odjugo was squared up most of the state title game against Muskegon's standout senior center D'Andre Mills-Ellis (6-2, 305) and fared well against one of the state of Michigan's best at that position. Verbal to CMU
9. Kyle Fugedi-6-6, 300-DT-Livonia Franklin- Fugedi just looks like a Big Ten recruit. Like others on this list, Fugedi is a talented two-way player. On defense, he's a powerful, lanky end prospect, who can move inside and use his long arms to disrupt pass attempts, while offensively, he uses that same long reach to keep rushing defensive linemen at bay. Fugedi is a player who could project out to 6-6, 320 and be used inside on defense or be an outstanding tackle on offense. Verbal to Miami (OH) despite Indiana, Kentucky offers.
10 (3-WAY TIE). Harry Unger-6-3, 230-DE-Davison- The closest thing the state of Michigan's class of 2021 has to Kenny Willekes (MSU's All-American DE from Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian). Like Willekes coming out of high school, Unger is flying under the recruiting radar, but is most certainly a Division I-level college football prospect. Like Willekes, Unger spends most of his time during games in the opposing team's backfield. Last season, Unger recorded 27 TFL and eight sacks, along with 54 total tackles, helping lead Davison, a town near Flint, to the D-1 state championship. Named to the Detroit News Division 1 and 2 All-State first-team and the Flint Journal Dream Team last year, Unger is a high-motor, never-stop-chasing-type of player. Big Ten, MAC, check this kid out. You can thank me later... Verbal to Air Force Carter Cushman-6-4, 250-DE-DT-Plainwell- The best player and prospect out of Plainwell, a small town in southwest Michigan, since Jack Conklin (6-6, 310, Michigan State, current All-Pro OT for Tennessee Titans), Cushman brings an unique combination of size, toughness and athleticism not seen often in a player of his height and weight. Not only talented on the football field, Cushman is also a standout swimmer and track and field athlete for Plainwell. Cushman had 41 tackles and seven TFL last season. I like the potential of this young man because of his well-rounded athletic ability, coupled with his massive size and length. Connor Hindenach-6-3, 250-DE-Paw Paw- A play-maker from the DE position for Paw Paw, a small community in southwest Michigan. Reminds me of former Paw Paw great and NFL two-time Pro Bowl DE Jason Babin (6-3, 265, two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year at WMU, first round draft pick in 2004 of Houston Texans). Like Babin (64.5 career sacks), Hindenach lives in the opponent's backfield and is a quarterbacks worst nightmare. Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State selection, Detroit Free Press All-State, one of Michigan's top sleeper/diamond-in-the-rough prospects, 4.8 40, Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team, 95 tackles, 26 TFL, eight sacks last season.
Other top D-line recruits for the state of Michigan's class of 2021 (all are D-I-level players)-
Clarence Wilson-6-4, 235-DE-Detroit Cass Tech (Verbal to Toledo), Esean Carter-6-3, 265-DE-DT-Detroit King (Cincinnati, Temple, CMU offers), Dorian Ray-6-3, 260-DT-Detroit Cass Tech (Verbal to Toledo), Hezekiah Green-6-3, 255-DE-Detroit Western (Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first-team last season, 13 sacks, 12 TFL), Arnez Polk-6-3, 290-DT-Detroit Western, Walker Martin-6-2, 280-DT-Montague (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team, 61 tackles, 11.5 TFL, two sacks, one fumble recovery last year), Blake Smithers-6-2, 295-DT-Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport (one of the top prospects in Michigan's Thumb region), Kevarr Ellis-6-2, 305-DT-Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Isiah Daniels-6-2, 245-DE-DT-Warren Mott (named All-Macomb County first-team last season, Detroit News Division 1 and 2 All-State second team), Dan McKiernan-6-2, 260-DT-Richmond (All-Macomb County first-team, 40 tackles, seven TFL), Joe Brown-6-3, 245-DE-St. Joseph, Toby MacPhee-6-5, 225-DE-Bad Axe, Mitchell Umlor-6-3, 240-DE-Allendale, Ryan Wood-6-1, 320-DT-Cadillac, Mike Elliot-6-4, 230-DE-Traverse City West, Darren Chinery-6-2, 245-DE-Saginaw Nouvel (Saginaw News Dream Team), Mario Disanto-6-3, 270-DT-Riverview Gabriel Richard, Michael Momber-6-3, 290-DT-Hudsonville, Austin Henard-6-2, 240-DE-Fenton (Flint Journal Dream Team, 42 tackles, 10 TFL, eight sacks), D.J. Greenbay-6-1, 270-DT-Big Rapids, Noah Kindle-6-2, 230-DE-Port Huron, Max Alvarez-6-2, 240-DE-Allen Park (News-Herald Dream Team selection, 45 tackles, 15 TFL, two sacks, one safety, News-Herald covers the southern Downriver Detroit suburbs), Jamari Littlejohn-6-3, 235-DE-Okemos, Will Leggon-6-2, 280-DT-NG-Detroit Country Day (helped lead Country Day to Division 4 state runner-up finish last year, Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State pick), Logan Murray-6-3, 305-DT-Flint Powers Catholic (Verbal to Michigan State).
PHOTO -- Belleville's Damon Payne (6-4, 295) is the state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked defensive line prospect for the class of 2021. Payne is verbally committed to Alabama.
PHOTO -- Oak Park's Rayshaun Benny (6-5, 270) is one of the top two-way linemen in the Midwest. An all-around, talented player, Benny is the state of Michigan's No. 3-ranked defensive lineman for the class of 2021. Benny is verbally committed to Michigan State.
PHOTO -- Wyoming Godwin Heights' Ru'Quan Buckley (6-6, 280) is one of the Grand Rapids area's top prospects and one of the state of Michigan's best players for the class of 2021. A two-way talent at defensive end and offensive tackle, Buckley is ranked the No. 7 defensive line prospect in the Great Lakes State. Buckley is verbally committed to Nebraska.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Top 10 Offensive Line Prospects for Michigan's Class of 2021
I wish I could do this full time. As usual, that little thing called life interrupted what is truly my love and passion -- high school football in the state of Michigan -- more specifically, blogging about high school football in the Great Lakes State.
It's been over a year since I last sat down to blog. Crazy... Anyhow, watching the two NFL conference championship games today, I felt compelled to put pen to paper, err, I mean, fingertips to keyboard, and write a bit about the offensive line talent in the state of Michigan.
In today's NFL conference title match-ups, there were eight starting offensive tackles combined for the four teams left in the playoffs. Of the eight starting tackles, FOUR were from the state of Michigan. If that fact alone doesn't tell a college football recruiter, especially those from Michigan's five Division I college football-playing programs, the level of offensive line talent in the Great Lakes State, then I don't know what will.
Of the eight starting tackles, four were from the state of Michigan and one each from Pennsylvania, California, Arizona and Illinois. The four tackles from the Great Lakes State were Eric Fisher (6-7, 315, Kansas City Chiefs, CMU, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek), Jared Veldheer (6-8, 320, Green Bay Packers, Hillsdale, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern), Joe Staley (6-5, 295, San Francisco 49ers, CMU, Rockford) and Jack Conklin (6-6, 310, Tennessee Titans, MSU, Plainwell). The other four starting tackles were Mitchell Schwartz (Kansas City, native of California), Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay, native of Illinois), Mike McGlinchey (San Francisco, native of Pennsylvania) and Taylor Lewan (Tennessee, native of Arizona).
I've said it many times before in this blog, but it is truly mind-boggling how any of Michigan's five D-I college football playing schools could ever have offensive line issues. There is so much high school football offensive line talent in the state of Michigan every single year, it, at best, defies logic or, at worst, a complete ignorance of high school football in the Great Lakes State, that our five D-I college football programs can't have top-notch O-lines each and every season. It's inexcusable and downright unforgivable to those who know high school football in Michigan to watch our five D-I football programs struggle upfront offensively -- ever.
If you look at our five D-I football playing schools, you could make an argument the best offensive lineman in recent years from each program has been a player from the state of Michigan. At WMU, Taylor Moton (6-5, 290, Carolina Panthers current starting offensive tackle, Okemos HS), is a standout, while at CMU, the aforementioned Fisher (Kansas City starting tackle and former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft), is a star. Over at U-M, Jake Long (6-7, 320, former No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 NFL draft, four-time Pro Bowl pick, first-team All-Pro, played from 2008 through 2016 for Dolphins, Rams, Falcons and Vikings, Lapeer East HS), is one of the greatest ever from the Great Lakes State, while at EMU, T.J. Lang (6-4, 315, two-time Pro Bowl pick, Super Bowl champion, played from 2009 through 2018 for Packers and Lions, Birmingham Brother Rice HS), was one of the NFL's elite offensive guards during his playing days and at MSU, the aforementioned Conklin (Tennessee starting tackle, first round draft pick and first-team All-Pro selection), is currently one of the NFL's best.
On a side note, Andrew Wylie (6-6, 310, EMU. Midland HS) started for the Chiefs all season this year at offensive guard before an injury sidelined him. Along with Lang, Wylie is one of the Eagles' greatest offensive linemen in recent memory. Why Eastern's entire O-line isn't stacked with state of Michigan talent is beyond me.
Anyhow, I'll step off of my soapbox for now. It's just amazing to me when I see our five D-I playing football programs without a dominant state of Michigan presence on each of their O-lines every season. I just shake my head...
Speaking of dominant offensive line presence, the class of 2021 in the state of Michigan is absolutely stacked from top to bottom with O-line talent this upcoming season. Off the top of my head, there are at least 20 to 25 Big Ten-level offensive line prospects in the Great Lakes State for the class of 2021. This upcoming year's O-line class is one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory. I know the rest of the country recruits the state of Michigan hard for its high school football talent every year, but it's still no excuse for our five D-I-playing programs to not sign four or five O-linemen from the Great Lakes State every season -- especially this upcoming year.
Here are the Top 10 offensive line prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Garrett Dellinger -6-6, 280-OT-OG- Clarkston-Will be four-year starter for one of the Midwest's top high school football programs. Outstanding athlete. Played hoops for Wolves' top-ranked basketball team. Has all the tools. Good feet, long arms, coordination, solid knee and waist bend and good strength. Verbal to LSU
2. Rocco Spindler-6-4, 290-OT-OG-Clarkston-Might be the best two-way player in the state of Michigan, if not the Midwest. Father Marc played defensive tackle in the NFL for the Detroit Lions. Like his father, Rocco is also a high-level D-Tackle prospect. Intense, physical and powerful, Spindler is a man among boys at times. Teams with Garrett Dellinger to form arguably the best 1-2 lineman combo in the nation. Verbal to Notre Dame
3. Giovanni El-Hadi-6-6, 285-OT-Sterling Heights Stevenson-Smooth, efficient offensive tackle for the Titans. Behind El-Hadi, Stevenson reached the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals last season. Long arms, excellent pass protector, but also a strong run-blocker for Titans. Verbal to U-M
4. Raheem Anderson-6-3, 285-C-Detroit Cass Tech-The state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked center prospect. When Anderson locks on to a defensive lineman, it's all over. A strong, bull of a young man, Anderson is also a top recruit along the defensive line. Verbal to U-M
5. Josh Thompson-6-4, 295-OG-C-Fenton-Maybe the most physical, powerful, road-grader of an offensive lineman in the Great Lakes State. Still raw, like most of these players, but Thompson's upside is off the charts. I love his size and brute strength. I see him being a 6-4, 320-pound beast of a center/guard at the next level. Verbal to Northwestern
6. Caleb Tiernan-6-8, 265-OT-Detroit Country Day-Incredible prospect. A bell-cow-type player on both sides of the line of scrimmage for Country Day, last year's Division 4 state runner-up. Good range, long arms, solid balance and a physical, intense nature have made Tiernan a Big Ten-level recruit. Verbal to Northwestern
7. Cole Pape-6-6, 315-OT-Delton-Kellogg-So unbelievably under-recruited. Will be a three-year starter for southwest Michigan program that has sent two linemen to Division I college football programs in the past few seasons. I love this kid's potential. A big, mean, small-town, farm-boy-type physical giant, Pape is also one of his area's top basketball players. Not just a big kid, Pape is an athlete with exceptional feet and coordination. His ceiling is as high or higher than any player on this list.
8. Terrence Enos Jr.-6-5, 310-OT-OG-Detroit Cass Tech-From one of the nation's top programs, Enos Jr. is a physical brute of an offensive lineman. I see him being 6-5, 330-pounds at the next level and playing inside as a run-blocker of the highest order. Verbal to Pittsburgh
9. Ramier Lewis-6-7, 295-OT-Belleville-A massive young man from one of the country's top programs. Raw, but has all the physical tools. After four or five years at a high-level college football program, Lewis could be playing on Sundays. U-M, Kansas, Iowa State, Kentucky offers
10. (tie) Dalton Dueweke-6-4, 290-OG-C-Utica Eisenhower-Physical, strong O-Lineman from suburban Detroit school. Plays some of the best competition each and every week the state of Michigan has to offer in the Macomb Area Conference, Dueweke would make a nice guard or center at the next level. Verbal to WMU, Michael McAninch-6-4, 295-OG-C-Jackson County Parma Western-I love this kid. Never stops. Good motor. Strong lean/bend and terrific run-blocker. Might be the best overall run-blocker of any offensive linemen in the state of Michigan. Named to the Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team last season as a junior. Like Josh Thompson and Cole Pape, McAninch is highly under-recruited, in my opinion. It's baffling to me. Big Ten, where are you on this kid?
Other top offensive line prospects in Michigan's class of 2021 (this list is fluid and will be filled in with additional prospects as the year progresses) -- Brandon Honorable-6-7, 295-OT-Detroit King (Verbal to Pittsburgh), Davion Weatherspoon-6-2, 285-C-OG-Harper Woods (Verbal to Ohio), Carson Briggs-6-5, 270-OT-OG-Traverse City Central (Verbal to WMU), Charlie Sims-6-5, 320-OG-Detroit Cass Tech (Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri offers), Weston Jones-6-5, 265-OT-Romeo (Verbal to Brigham Young), Carter DeGraaf-6-5, 290-OT-OG-Hudsonville (CMU, WMU offers), Carter Cushman-6-4, 250-OT-Plainwell, Kyle Main-6-4, 285-OT-Frankenmuth, Brayden Swartout-6-7, 285-OT-Essexville-Garber (Verbal to CMU), Ethan Boyd-6-7, 285-OT-East Lansing (Verbal to Michigan State), Walker Martin-6-2, 280-C-Montague (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team), Lucas Edgar-6-2, 280-OG-C-Davison (Flint Journal Dream Team), Max Munn-6-5, 265-OT-Ludington, Matt Valleries-6-5, 325-OT-Walled Lake Western, Conner Compton-6-4, 290-OT-Lake Orion, Jonathan Scott-6-3, 325-OG-Detroit Mumford, Alex Lanzon-6-3, 285-OG-C-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (will be three-year starter for Division 1 powerhouse program), Ben Simmons-6-6, 240-OT-Birmingham Groves, Trevor Jones-6-4, 265-OG-Ypsilanti Lincoln (Verbal to CMU), Tayvid Elmore-6-1, 280-OG-C-Muskegon (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team), Logan Fuller-6-5, 305-OT-Hudson, Will Felts-6-3, 280-C-Clinton, Jackson Marsh-6-4, 290-OT-Sand Creek, Dalton Hart-6-1, 280-C-Jackson Lumen Christi, Josh Kipp-6-3, 265-OT-OG-Coleman (Midland Daily News Dream Team selection, one of northern Michigan's top prospects), Grant Porter-6-4, 295-OG-C-Howell (350 bench, 5.2 40), Ben Haas-6-4, 250-OG-Clarkston, Landon VanBeek-6-5, 230-OT-Grand Haven (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team), Jalen Johnson-6-3, 310-OG-River Rouge (Verbal to Ball State), Chance Moore-6-4, 315-OT-River Rouge (Verbal to Morgan State), -- **the following players are two-way big-time D-I prospects who could play on either side of the ball at the next level -- they are in my Top 10 for defensive line in Michigan** -- Damon Payne-6-4, 295-OG-DT-Belleville (Verbal to Alabama), Derrick Harmon-6-3, 320-OG-DT-Detroit Loyola (Verbal to Michigan State), RuQuan Buckley-6-6, 260-OT-DE-Wyoming Godwin Heights (U-M, Iowa State, Florida State, Kentucky, Nebraska offers), Kyle Fugedi-6-6, 270-OT-DE-Livonia Franklin (Verbal to Miami (OH)), Caleb Banks-6-6, 255-OT-DE-Southfield A & T (Verbal to Arizona State), Rayshaun Benny-6-5, 270-OT-DE-Oak Park (MSU, U-M, LSU, Ohio State, Auburn, Texas A & M, Iowa, Florida State, Oregon, Purdue, Arkansas, Nebraska offers).
PHOTO -- Detroit Cass Tech junior Raheem Anderson (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) is the No. 4-ranked offensive line prospect overall and the No. 1 center prospect for the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Anderson is also a big-time defensive tackle recruit. Verbal to U-M.
PHOTO -- Clarkston junior Garrett Dellinger (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) is the state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked offensive line prospect for the class of 2021. Dellinger, also a skilled basketball player, is an all-around athlete and one of the top O-line recruits in the nation. Verbal to LSU.
PHOTO -- Detroit Country Day junior offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan (6-foot-8, 265 pounds) is a towering presence on both sides of the football for the Yellowjackets. Tiernan, who helped lead Country Day to a Division 4 state runner-up finish last season, is the No. 6-ranked offensive line prospect for Michigan's class of 2021. Verbal to Northwestern.
It's been over a year since I last sat down to blog. Crazy... Anyhow, watching the two NFL conference championship games today, I felt compelled to put pen to paper, err, I mean, fingertips to keyboard, and write a bit about the offensive line talent in the state of Michigan.
In today's NFL conference title match-ups, there were eight starting offensive tackles combined for the four teams left in the playoffs. Of the eight starting tackles, FOUR were from the state of Michigan. If that fact alone doesn't tell a college football recruiter, especially those from Michigan's five Division I college football-playing programs, the level of offensive line talent in the Great Lakes State, then I don't know what will.
Of the eight starting tackles, four were from the state of Michigan and one each from Pennsylvania, California, Arizona and Illinois. The four tackles from the Great Lakes State were Eric Fisher (6-7, 315, Kansas City Chiefs, CMU, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek), Jared Veldheer (6-8, 320, Green Bay Packers, Hillsdale, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern), Joe Staley (6-5, 295, San Francisco 49ers, CMU, Rockford) and Jack Conklin (6-6, 310, Tennessee Titans, MSU, Plainwell). The other four starting tackles were Mitchell Schwartz (Kansas City, native of California), Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay, native of Illinois), Mike McGlinchey (San Francisco, native of Pennsylvania) and Taylor Lewan (Tennessee, native of Arizona).
I've said it many times before in this blog, but it is truly mind-boggling how any of Michigan's five D-I college football playing schools could ever have offensive line issues. There is so much high school football offensive line talent in the state of Michigan every single year, it, at best, defies logic or, at worst, a complete ignorance of high school football in the Great Lakes State, that our five D-I college football programs can't have top-notch O-lines each and every season. It's inexcusable and downright unforgivable to those who know high school football in Michigan to watch our five D-I football programs struggle upfront offensively -- ever.
If you look at our five D-I football playing schools, you could make an argument the best offensive lineman in recent years from each program has been a player from the state of Michigan. At WMU, Taylor Moton (6-5, 290, Carolina Panthers current starting offensive tackle, Okemos HS), is a standout, while at CMU, the aforementioned Fisher (Kansas City starting tackle and former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft), is a star. Over at U-M, Jake Long (6-7, 320, former No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 NFL draft, four-time Pro Bowl pick, first-team All-Pro, played from 2008 through 2016 for Dolphins, Rams, Falcons and Vikings, Lapeer East HS), is one of the greatest ever from the Great Lakes State, while at EMU, T.J. Lang (6-4, 315, two-time Pro Bowl pick, Super Bowl champion, played from 2009 through 2018 for Packers and Lions, Birmingham Brother Rice HS), was one of the NFL's elite offensive guards during his playing days and at MSU, the aforementioned Conklin (Tennessee starting tackle, first round draft pick and first-team All-Pro selection), is currently one of the NFL's best.
On a side note, Andrew Wylie (6-6, 310, EMU. Midland HS) started for the Chiefs all season this year at offensive guard before an injury sidelined him. Along with Lang, Wylie is one of the Eagles' greatest offensive linemen in recent memory. Why Eastern's entire O-line isn't stacked with state of Michigan talent is beyond me.
Anyhow, I'll step off of my soapbox for now. It's just amazing to me when I see our five D-I playing football programs without a dominant state of Michigan presence on each of their O-lines every season. I just shake my head...
Speaking of dominant offensive line presence, the class of 2021 in the state of Michigan is absolutely stacked from top to bottom with O-line talent this upcoming season. Off the top of my head, there are at least 20 to 25 Big Ten-level offensive line prospects in the Great Lakes State for the class of 2021. This upcoming year's O-line class is one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory. I know the rest of the country recruits the state of Michigan hard for its high school football talent every year, but it's still no excuse for our five D-I-playing programs to not sign four or five O-linemen from the Great Lakes State every season -- especially this upcoming year.
Here are the Top 10 offensive line prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Garrett Dellinger -6-6, 280-OT-OG- Clarkston-Will be four-year starter for one of the Midwest's top high school football programs. Outstanding athlete. Played hoops for Wolves' top-ranked basketball team. Has all the tools. Good feet, long arms, coordination, solid knee and waist bend and good strength. Verbal to LSU
2. Rocco Spindler-6-4, 290-OT-OG-Clarkston-Might be the best two-way player in the state of Michigan, if not the Midwest. Father Marc played defensive tackle in the NFL for the Detroit Lions. Like his father, Rocco is also a high-level D-Tackle prospect. Intense, physical and powerful, Spindler is a man among boys at times. Teams with Garrett Dellinger to form arguably the best 1-2 lineman combo in the nation. Verbal to Notre Dame
3. Giovanni El-Hadi-6-6, 285-OT-Sterling Heights Stevenson-Smooth, efficient offensive tackle for the Titans. Behind El-Hadi, Stevenson reached the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals last season. Long arms, excellent pass protector, but also a strong run-blocker for Titans. Verbal to U-M
4. Raheem Anderson-6-3, 285-C-Detroit Cass Tech-The state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked center prospect. When Anderson locks on to a defensive lineman, it's all over. A strong, bull of a young man, Anderson is also a top recruit along the defensive line. Verbal to U-M
5. Josh Thompson-6-4, 295-OG-C-Fenton-Maybe the most physical, powerful, road-grader of an offensive lineman in the Great Lakes State. Still raw, like most of these players, but Thompson's upside is off the charts. I love his size and brute strength. I see him being a 6-4, 320-pound beast of a center/guard at the next level. Verbal to Northwestern
6. Caleb Tiernan-6-8, 265-OT-Detroit Country Day-Incredible prospect. A bell-cow-type player on both sides of the line of scrimmage for Country Day, last year's Division 4 state runner-up. Good range, long arms, solid balance and a physical, intense nature have made Tiernan a Big Ten-level recruit. Verbal to Northwestern
7. Cole Pape-6-6, 315-OT-Delton-Kellogg-So unbelievably under-recruited. Will be a three-year starter for southwest Michigan program that has sent two linemen to Division I college football programs in the past few seasons. I love this kid's potential. A big, mean, small-town, farm-boy-type physical giant, Pape is also one of his area's top basketball players. Not just a big kid, Pape is an athlete with exceptional feet and coordination. His ceiling is as high or higher than any player on this list.
8. Terrence Enos Jr.-6-5, 310-OT-OG-Detroit Cass Tech-From one of the nation's top programs, Enos Jr. is a physical brute of an offensive lineman. I see him being 6-5, 330-pounds at the next level and playing inside as a run-blocker of the highest order. Verbal to Pittsburgh
9. Ramier Lewis-6-7, 295-OT-Belleville-A massive young man from one of the country's top programs. Raw, but has all the physical tools. After four or five years at a high-level college football program, Lewis could be playing on Sundays. U-M, Kansas, Iowa State, Kentucky offers
10. (tie) Dalton Dueweke-6-4, 290-OG-C-Utica Eisenhower-Physical, strong O-Lineman from suburban Detroit school. Plays some of the best competition each and every week the state of Michigan has to offer in the Macomb Area Conference, Dueweke would make a nice guard or center at the next level. Verbal to WMU, Michael McAninch-6-4, 295-OG-C-Jackson County Parma Western-I love this kid. Never stops. Good motor. Strong lean/bend and terrific run-blocker. Might be the best overall run-blocker of any offensive linemen in the state of Michigan. Named to the Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team last season as a junior. Like Josh Thompson and Cole Pape, McAninch is highly under-recruited, in my opinion. It's baffling to me. Big Ten, where are you on this kid?
Other top offensive line prospects in Michigan's class of 2021 (this list is fluid and will be filled in with additional prospects as the year progresses) -- Brandon Honorable-6-7, 295-OT-Detroit King (Verbal to Pittsburgh), Davion Weatherspoon-6-2, 285-C-OG-Harper Woods (Verbal to Ohio), Carson Briggs-6-5, 270-OT-OG-Traverse City Central (Verbal to WMU), Charlie Sims-6-5, 320-OG-Detroit Cass Tech (Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri offers), Weston Jones-6-5, 265-OT-Romeo (Verbal to Brigham Young), Carter DeGraaf-6-5, 290-OT-OG-Hudsonville (CMU, WMU offers), Carter Cushman-6-4, 250-OT-Plainwell, Kyle Main-6-4, 285-OT-Frankenmuth, Brayden Swartout-6-7, 285-OT-Essexville-Garber (Verbal to CMU), Ethan Boyd-6-7, 285-OT-East Lansing (Verbal to Michigan State), Walker Martin-6-2, 280-C-Montague (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team), Lucas Edgar-6-2, 280-OG-C-Davison (Flint Journal Dream Team), Max Munn-6-5, 265-OT-Ludington, Matt Valleries-6-5, 325-OT-Walled Lake Western, Conner Compton-6-4, 290-OT-Lake Orion, Jonathan Scott-6-3, 325-OG-Detroit Mumford, Alex Lanzon-6-3, 285-OG-C-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (will be three-year starter for Division 1 powerhouse program), Ben Simmons-6-6, 240-OT-Birmingham Groves, Trevor Jones-6-4, 265-OG-Ypsilanti Lincoln (Verbal to CMU), Tayvid Elmore-6-1, 280-OG-C-Muskegon (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team), Logan Fuller-6-5, 305-OT-Hudson, Will Felts-6-3, 280-C-Clinton, Jackson Marsh-6-4, 290-OT-Sand Creek, Dalton Hart-6-1, 280-C-Jackson Lumen Christi, Josh Kipp-6-3, 265-OT-OG-Coleman (Midland Daily News Dream Team selection, one of northern Michigan's top prospects), Grant Porter-6-4, 295-OG-C-Howell (350 bench, 5.2 40), Ben Haas-6-4, 250-OG-Clarkston, Landon VanBeek-6-5, 230-OT-Grand Haven (Muskegon Chronicle Dream Team), Jalen Johnson-6-3, 310-OG-River Rouge (Verbal to Ball State), Chance Moore-6-4, 315-OT-River Rouge (Verbal to Morgan State), -- **the following players are two-way big-time D-I prospects who could play on either side of the ball at the next level -- they are in my Top 10 for defensive line in Michigan** -- Damon Payne-6-4, 295-OG-DT-Belleville (Verbal to Alabama), Derrick Harmon-6-3, 320-OG-DT-Detroit Loyola (Verbal to Michigan State), RuQuan Buckley-6-6, 260-OT-DE-Wyoming Godwin Heights (U-M, Iowa State, Florida State, Kentucky, Nebraska offers), Kyle Fugedi-6-6, 270-OT-DE-Livonia Franklin (Verbal to Miami (OH)), Caleb Banks-6-6, 255-OT-DE-Southfield A & T (Verbal to Arizona State), Rayshaun Benny-6-5, 270-OT-DE-Oak Park (MSU, U-M, LSU, Ohio State, Auburn, Texas A & M, Iowa, Florida State, Oregon, Purdue, Arkansas, Nebraska offers).
PHOTO -- Detroit Cass Tech junior Raheem Anderson (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) is the No. 4-ranked offensive line prospect overall and the No. 1 center prospect for the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Anderson is also a big-time defensive tackle recruit. Verbal to U-M.
PHOTO -- Clarkston junior Garrett Dellinger (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) is the state of Michigan's No. 1-ranked offensive line prospect for the class of 2021. Dellinger, also a skilled basketball player, is an all-around athlete and one of the top O-line recruits in the nation. Verbal to LSU.
PHOTO -- Detroit Country Day junior offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan (6-foot-8, 265 pounds) is a towering presence on both sides of the football for the Yellowjackets. Tiernan, who helped lead Country Day to a Division 4 state runner-up finish last season, is the No. 6-ranked offensive line prospect for Michigan's class of 2021. Verbal to Northwestern.
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