Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Michigan high school football produces top talent

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.