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8/24/2008-Football

Early commitments are the trend for area's best prospects

By DAN STICKRADT • O&E Staff Writer

Football players from the Observer & Eccentric coverage area are often on the radar of Division I and Division II collegiate recruiters. That is nothing new.

The trend with this year's elite crop is that many have already given their verbal commitments early, or will make their decision soon, getting rid of the in-season recruiting pressures.

With the season set to begin this week for most teams in the state, here's a look at the area's top players heading into the 2008 season. The list was put together with input from area coaches, along with various recruiting Web sites and scouting services.

1. DION SIMS, Orchard Lake St. Mary's sr. WR/LB/DE (6-6, 235): His second season in a St. Mary's uniform should be a big one. A first-team all-state, all-area and all-county pick last year, Sims had 604 receiving yards, a 20.9-yard average, and was a key player on defense. This year Sims, a top-10 player in Michigan by all recruiting services, will be a key cog in all of St. Mary's schemes. Multiple big-name schools are hot on his trail in both football and basketball.

2. BENNIE FOWLER, Detroit Country Day sr. WR/DB (6-2, 190): Another top-10 recruit, Fowler is a phenomenal athlete, going undefeated and winning the state long jump title in D-2 last spring. Committed to Michigan State, Fowler has great hands and is exceptionally quick with great leaping ability.

3. ADAM FENTON, Birmingham Seaholm sr. OLB (6-2, 220): One of two top-20 recruits in the state for the Maples, Fenton recently gave his verbal to Central Michigan. A top-75 nationally-ranked linebacker, Fenton picked up 98 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.

4. SHAMARI BENTON, Birmingham Brother Rice sr. LB/SS (6-0, 195): With offers coming in from Minnesota, Central Michigan, Bowling Green and Akron, Benton is widely considered the top safety in Michigan. He had 44 tackles and four sacks last year despite missing three games.

5. EDISON VUSHAJ, Walled Lake Northern sr. SE/TE/FB/OLB (6-3, 235): An all-area and all-league pick as a junior, the two-way starter is a fierce competitor and simply powerful. Already sending his verbal to Michigan State, Vushaj is listed as the state's top tight end. He had 74 tackles, four sacks and is school record holder for career fumble recoveries and throws close to 50 feet in the shot put.

6. MITCH KESSELL, Birmingham Seaholm sr. TE/OL (6-5, 245): Headed for Cincinnati, Kessel is slated for a big year. He had 18 catches and 350 yards as a junior and 45 tackles and six sacks on defense.

7. WILL SCHWARZ, Troy sr. OLB (6-5, 220): Schwarz is a powerful backer who moves well and gets to the ball in a hurry. The all-league player has been offered by several MAC schools, along with Stanford of the Pac-10. Also throws the discus over 150 feet.

8. ERIC FISHER, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. OT/DT (6-8, 255); A physical specimen on both sides of the football, the Central Michigan recruit will clear plenty of space on offense and will hound any running backs that come near him. Stoney Creek's new skilled-position athletes will have to run behind him.

9. ANDREW WASZAK, Rochester Adams sr. QB (6-2, 185): Division I recruit both as a quarterback and pitcher in baseball, the strong-armed Waszak has accuracy and leadership skills, going 18-1 as a starter the past two years. All-area and all-county as a junior, Waszak had more than 1,300 passing yards, 600 rushing yards and tied a school record with 14 passing TDs as a junior.

10. JUSTIN SEMMES, Orchard Lake St. Mary's sr. FB/LB (6-1, 220): With his older brother playing at Iowa, this Semmes is ready to carve his own niche in St. Mary's history. Honorable mention all-county last year, Semmes had 699 rushing yards and those numbers will be expected to go up with a stacked unit in front of him.

11. CODY WILSON, Rochester Adams sr. RB/WR/DB (5-9, 175): The Highlanders' No. 1 option this year has committed to Central Michigan. Very quick and explosive, Wilson had 30 catches, 550 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, while he made 60 tackles and five interception on defense.

12. JARETH GLANDA, Birmingham Brother Rice sr. OT (6-4, 260): Gaining interest from several Ivy League schools, along with Boston College and Kentucky, Glanda is a top-notch pass blocker. He has great speed for his size and is quite agile, being the netminder on the Warriors' hockey team.

13. KENNETH WATKINS, Birmingham Brother Rice sr. DB (6-1, 190): Committed to Indiana, Watkins is one of many great defensive players in the Warriors' lineup. His strength, speed and vertical leaping ability are a warning for teams not to throw the ball in his region of the field.

14. RODNEY WOODLAND, Orchard Lake St. Mary's sr. WR (5-7, 170): May not have the numbers on paper, but Woodland is sure-handed and extremely quick. One of five local players that have given an oral commitment to Central Michigan, Woodland is one of many reasons why the Eaglets will be one of the state's premier teams again this season.

15. AJ BOLDEN, West Bloomfield sr. CB (6-2, 180): A sub-50 runner in the 400 meters who placed seventh at the D-1 state meet, Bolden has received notice from Auburn and Alabama, among others. He had 41 solos and 35 assists last year and is a top-100 recruit in the state this year.

16. KEVIN MUMA, Troy sr. K/P/QB/WR (6-0, 170): Listed by some services as the state's No. 1 placekicker, Muma has range of 50-plus yards on field goals and averages close to 35 yards a punt. Three-sport athlete will also be utilized on offense. There are 13 D-I programs pursuing Muma's powerful leg.

17. JORDAN SANDERS, Rochester Adams jr. OT/DE (6-2, 280): A starter since his freshman year, Sanders is already drawing interest from major-conference D-I schools. Son of hall of famer Charlie Sanders, this is the last in a line of standout Sanders players at Adams. All-league and all-county as a sophomore.

18. NOLAN PROCTER, Birmingham Groves sr. WR/DB (5-9, 170): Akron will be the lucky recipient next year of this solid two-way starter. Procter is going to be counted on heavily on a team that lost its fair share of college-bound players. He will be the center of attention in the Falcons' attack.

19. SAM WELCH, Walled Lake Western jr. QB (5-11, 190): Only a junior, Welch enters his third year as the starter for one of the area's better teams. As a sophomore, the heady Welch had 1,105 passing yards, 13 TDs, 568 rushing yards and six rushing TDs.

20. SIDNEY AVERY, Southfield sr. SE/LB (6-3, 215): Already with an offer from EMU, Avery has a great combination of size and speed, running 4.5 in the 40. Collected 41 tackles and forced three fumbles a year ago with bigger numbers on the horizon.

21. SUAVE LaVALLIS, Orchard Lake St. Mary's sr. WR/CB/KR (5-9, 170): Another multi-faceted player, LaVallis will step up into a more featured role this season for the Eaglets. A 95-yard kickoff return last year is only a slight indication of his speed.

22. JARIUS SANDERS, Rochester sr. CB/WB/WR/KR (5-10, 160): One of the area's most versatile athletes, Sanders is high on Central Michigan's recruiting wish list. The second-year player runs the 100 in 10.6 and the 200 in 22.2, placing fifth in the D-2 state meet in that event. Teams should not allow Sanders into open territory.

23. ANTWON ROBINSON, Southfield sr. TE/FS (6-0, 165): Robinson has swift feet and is hard to stop in the red zone. MAC schools are keeping an eye on Robinson, who collected 690 yards on 40 catches last year and 33 tackles and two picks, after noteworthy performances at combines the past two years.

24. TRISTAN MIMMS, Bloomfield Hills Andover sr. DB/RB/WR (5-11, 180): After missing five games last season due to injury, Mimms has worked hard to get back on track. He is being courted by several MAC schools as a cornerback and slot receiver.

25. DERRELL HAYGOOD, Southfield-Lathrup sr. DL (6-3, 245): The Chargers will have solid line play again this year with the likes of Haygood being a force down the middle. Haygood is another one of several big linemen in the area that are being courted by Division I schools.

OTHERS TO WATCH (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Zach Abbate, Rochester sr. OT/DT (6-2, 245); Roji Alexander, Walled Lake Western sr. OL (6-4, 265); Matt Andonian, Bloomfield Hills Andover jr. RB/LB (6-0, 180); James Andrzejewski, Troy sr. WR/DB (6-3, 195); Charles Anthony, Farmington jr. RB/DB (6-2, 180); Kris Armstead, Southfield-Lathrup sr. QB (6-2, 185); Jake Aubrey, Troy Athens sr. OL (5-10, 220); Mike Bartniak, Birmingham Groves sr. DE/FB (6-2, 220); Eddie Beal, Southfield sr. QB (5-10, 170); Robert Bolden, Orchard Lake St. Mary's jr. (6-4, 200); Christian Brandt, Orchard Lake St. Mary's sr. OT (6-5, 285); Jon Cado, Troy sr. ILB (6-0, 205); Zach Cherocci, Birmingham Brother Rice sr. OL/DL (6-1, 240); Kyle Cross, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. OT/LB (6-1, 225); Nick Cronovich, Rochester sr. LB/FB (5-10, 205); Donnell Davis, Farmington Harrison sr. LB (5-10, 210); Kevin Davis, West Bloomfield sr. RB (5-10, 160); David Dietz, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood sr. C/LB (5-10, 210); Omari Droubi, Bloomfield Hills Andover sr. FB/DE/LB (6-0, 230); Ali Evans, Auburn Hills Avondale sr. LT (6-3, 270); Adam Finn, Farmington sr. FS (6-2, 205); Joey Freiman, Troy Athens jr. WR (6-2, 170); Devon Gamble, North Farmington sr. FB/RB (5-9, 215); Tevin Gibson, Bloomfield Hills Lahser sr. RB (5-10, 205); Darius Givins, Farmington Harrison sr. DT/OT (6-0, 215); Ziair Hill, Rochester sr. RB (6-1, 195); Mose Hogan, Birmingham-Detroit Country Day sr. OL/RB/LB (5-10, 180); Drew Jackson, Bloomfield Hills Lahser sr. QB (6-0, 180); Gilvanni Johnson, Walled Lake Western SR. DB (5-9, 170); Tim Keith, Southfield sr. RB/SS (5-11, 175); Andrew Lietke, Walled Lake Central sr. OL (6-0, 225); John Lewis, Birmingham Seaholm sr. OL (6-3, 270); DJ Lynch, Auburn Hills Avondale jr. WR/OLB (6-1, 215); Brad Lyons, Walled Lake Central sr. K (5-11, 175); Shaquille Marshall, Birmingham Brother Rice sr. FB/LB (6-0, 225); Kevonte Martin, Birmingham Brother Rice jr. (6-1, 185); Francois Mathews, Auburn Hills Avondale jr. TB/SS (5-9, 175); Stephen Miller, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. WR/DB (6-1, 175); Stephen Peck, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood sr. WR/DB (6-1, 185); Steve Pelletier, Farmington Harrison sr. TE/SE (6-3, 190); Jimmy Pickens, Birmingham Brother Rice soph. RB (6-1, 190); Frankie Popp, Birmingham Brother Rice jr. QB (6-0, 175); Chris Pride, Farmington Harrison jr. TB (6-0, 190); Mike Radich, Bloomfield Hills Andover sr. QB (6-1, 180); Joe Reynolds, Rochester Adams sr. WR/DB (6-1, 175); Matt Rolf, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest sr. QB (5-10, 190); Steve Sadler, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest sr. OT/DE (6-2, 255); Marco Santi, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. RB/DB (5-8, 155); Devon Shadwick, Orchard Lake St. Mary's sr. OG/DT (6-1, 225); Mike Sirosky, Rochester Adams sr. DE/OG (6-2, 215); Kyle Sislar, Walled Lake Central sr. OT (6-3, 250); O'Neal Swanson, Birmingham-Detroit Country Day sr. TB/DB (5-9, 170); Jayson Thomas, Southfield-Lathrup jr. C (5-11, 280); Zach Trumble, Rochester Adams sr. DT/OL (6-1, 260); Kevin Waksmundzki, Farmington jr. RD/LB (5-10, 200); Leo Wilson, Farmington Harrison sr. LB (5-11, 215); Scott Yockey, North Farmington sr. OL/DL (6-0, 235); Rami Yousif, West Bloomfield sr. K/P (6-0, 185).

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