Football - News Football - News
News | Roster | Schedules--Results | Archives
8/27/2008-Football
Tom Markowski's rankings: Top 10 football players
Tom Markowski / The Detroit News
ONE / William Campbell, 6-5, 315, sr., L, Cass Tech
Sometimes, William Campbell doesn't understand just how big he really is.
The two-way lineman from Cass Tech is 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds. He's quick and agile for someone his size. And, at times, Campbell likes to show off -- whether it's in the weight room where he frequently amazes his teammates with his superior strength (he can bench press 225 pounds 27 times), or on the basketball court where he causes many to take a second look.
"He's the life-force of the team," said RB Teric Jones, who has been friends with Campbell since the ninth grade and who will be his teammate at Michigan next year.
"He likes to joke around sometimes, like when he plays point guard. He's not a clown or anything. When he's on the field he's serious. I just think he realizes he's 6-5 and 315 pounds."
Campbell is the second player from Cass Tech in the last three seasons to be named the top player in the preseason by The Detroit News (Joseph Barksdale, LSU, 2006).
College: Michigan
TWO / Edwin Baker, 5-10, 210, sr., RB, Oak Park
Baker rushed for more than 1,200 yards in six games last season before a knee injury. He was rated as one of the top three running backs at the U.S. Army Elite Combine in Florida this summer. "He has the ability to take a 20-yard gain and go 80 yards," coach Tim Hopkins said. "I haven't seen a defensive back who wants to tackle him head-on."
College: Michigan State
THREE / Andrew Maxwell, 6-3, 195, sr., QB, Midland
A three-year starter, Maxwell led Midland to the Division 2 final (134 for 262, 2,024 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs). "He has good accuracy on the medium routes," coach Eric Methner said. "He's a bright kid. He's a real leader and the players respect him for that."
College: Michigan State
FOUR / Dion Sims, 6-6, 230, sr., WR/DE, Orchard Lake St. Mary's
Perhaps the state's best two-sport athlete, Sims is the playmaker on a St. Mary's team primed for a big season. Sims, who also is a standout forward in basketball, averaged 20.8 yards per catch last season.
College: Uncommitted
FIVE / James Jackson, 6-0, 178, sr., WR/CB, Grand Ledge
A four-year varsity player and three-year starter, Jackson won the 100-meter dash (10.94) as a sophomore. Last season, he had 38 receptions in eight games (shoulder separation forced him to miss one) and rushed for 500 yards. Jackson also will play tailback and quarterback.
College: Ohio State
SIX / Larry Caper, 6-0, 205, sr., RB, Battle Creek Central
A four-year starter, Caper runs with a combination of speed and power, inside and out. Coach Doug Bess said Caper will, for the first time, start at defensive back. "He's not the fastest back around, but he runs very well inside," Bess said. "He's a tremendous young man. He's grounded." Last season, he rushed for 1,473 yards and 14 touchdowns.
College: Michigan State
SEVEN / Blake Treadwell, 6-3, 278, sr., OT/NT, East Lansing
Treadwell switches from end to nose tackle and will remain at left tackle on offense. Coach Bill Feraco said Treadwell could play offense or defense in college. "He competes at everything," Feraco said. "His leadership has surfaced noticeably in the last year. He runs well (4.83 in the 40) and he's athletic."
College: Michigan State
EIGHT / Christian Norman, 6-2, 210, sr., LB/OT, Detroit Renaissance
A three-year, two-way starter, Norman is a gifted diverse athlete. He is a sprinter on the track team and competes in the shot put. He led the team in tackles (100) in '07. "He has a knowledge for the game," coach Antonio Watts said. "He watched Derek Knight (now at West Virginia ) and learned from the way he approached the game."
College: Michigan State
NINE / Donald Spencer, 6-3, 205, sr., WR/CB, Ypsilanti
A three-year starter, Spencer will likely play receiver in college, but what attracted the coaches at Michigan State was his toughness on defense. "He's aggressive and sneaky fast," coach Dave Poole said.
College: Michigan State
TEN / Reid Fragel, 6-7, 255, sr., TE/DE, Grosse Pointe South
A three-year starter, Fragel is an all-around force. "He's equally dominant on both sides," coach Tim Brandon said. "He's a tremendous worker. Some schools offered (a scholarship) as an offensive tackle. He can put on some weight."
College: Ohio State
Copyright 2008, St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake, Michigan. All rights reserved.
No logos, photographs, or graphics on the site may be reproduced without written permission.