Everyone has heard about football-rich states such as Texas, Florida, California and even Ohio churning out big-time high school gridiron recruits year after year. But not much is said about the top-flight talent produced each season in Michigan. One thing that has always irked me over the years, is the fact Michigan's five Division I playing football universities (U-M, MSU, CMU, EMU, WMU) oftentimes go out of state for the majority of their football recruits. I've never really understood why. I can somewhat see U-M and MSU recruiting out of state and more on a national scale since they are both larger and more prominent programs. However, that doesn't excuse them from at least inking half of their class with in-state talent each year. To me, it's a slap in the face to Michigan high school football and its coaches and players when our major football playing universities look for and eventually sign more out-state players than in-state athletes. Central, Eastern and Western have no excuse. If those programs can't find enough talent here in Michigan to stock their respective rosters with a majority of in-state players, then their recruiting coordinators and other scouts and recruit staff aren't doing their jobs.
It might be completely naive of me, but, hey, I've always been a dreamer, but I believe there's enough talent in Michigan for at least three of our D-I playing schools (each stocked with in-state players) to go to a bowl game every year. If our D-I playing schools would simply increase their recruiting efforts in Michigan, that might someday become a regular occurence.
For those recruiting coordinators out there who don't know, here's a small sampling of some of Michigan's top high school football talent this season. If you haven't already, check out these players and sign them to letters of intent -- they might just help your school have a winning season and earn a bowl invitation.
WR-Fred Smith-6-2, 205-Detroit Southeastern
TE-Joe Lane-6-5, 235-Fowlerville
OT-Dan O'Neill-6-8, 295-Grand Haven
OG-Rocko Khoury-6-6, 285-Traverse City West
C-Dontae Pannell-6-5, 300-Birmingham Groves
OG-Carlin Landingham-6-3, 290-Muskegon
OT-Brent Kryder-6-6, 295-Linden
WR-Jimmy Saros-6-3, 185-Grosse Pointe South
QB-Chris Lum-6-2, 180-Lake Orion
RB-Jonas Gray-5-10, 215-Birmingham Detroit Country Day
RB-Mark Ingram-5-10, 200-Flint Southwestern
PK-Michael Wilson-5-10, 170-East Grand Rapids
DE-Nick Perry-6-4, 250-Detroit King
DT-Michael Martin-6-1, 280-Novi Detroit Catholic Central
DT-Nick Williams-6-2, 270-New Haven
DE-Lonnie Pugh-6-5, 255-Grosse Ile
LB-Jamie Simpson-6-1, 220-Dowagiac
LB-Mitch Zajac-6-1, 245-Holt
LB-Ricky Crosby-6-1, 225-Muskegon
CB-Boubacar Cissoko-5-9, 175-Detroit Cass Tech
CB-James Wade-6-3, 185-Ann Arbor Pioneer
FS-Jonathon Dandridge-6-1, 180-Highland Park
SS-Josh Howard-6-1, 200-Inkster
P-Scott Kovanda-6-3, 180-Novi Detroit Catholic Central
This is just a quick list, there are many, many more top players in the state. If all of our D-I playing schools could improve their in-state signings, I really believe our state schools would fare better on the national playing field.
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2 comments:
I don't keep a seriously close eye on recruiting, but I do know that Cissoko has committed to Michigan.
I think you are being too harsh at least in regard to UM. They always are in the mix for the top 5-10 players in state. Cissoko, Martin, Oneil, Koury have all Committed and they lost Smith to MSU and Gray to Nebraska. They are also high on Perry and waiting on his and other Michigan players decisions.
Some of the top state players have been leaving, not because of UM's effort. Last year: Ron Johnson was UM and MSU's #1 target (he chose USC) and DeAllo Johnson chose FSU, Joseph Barksdale chose LSU all were recruited by UM.
Sorry for any mis-spellings.
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