The debate over who should hold the distinction as the No. 1 football player in state of Michigan for the 2010 class is well under way, and there is no shortage of worthy candidates. Inkster quarterback Devin Gardener is receiving strong consideration, and so too is Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White. At this point, though, the youngster with the best case for the title might be Detroit Southeastern linebacker William Gholston.
"William is very gifted," said Scout.com Midwest analyst Allen Trieu. "Physically he has everything you could ask for. You simply don't find kids pushing 6-7 and 250 pounds that can run from sideline to sideline the way he does. He never stops pursuing either. With him playing a linebacker spot for Southeastern, the main thing he will have to do is learn to put his hand down and shed blocks better to develop as a true defensive end, since that is where he will most likely play in college.
On the field, Gholston's movements are amazingly similar to those of former Michigan standout Shawn Crable. Both have uncanny coordination and flexibility for their size, both change direction extraordinarily well, and both possess a burst that allows them to close short distances very quickly. Gholston is probably a step slower than Crable at the same stage of development, but the Southeastern standout is bigger and stronger in the lower body. That's represents huge growth for young man that first caught the attention of scouts two years ago as a 6-6, 215-pounder at the ThinkDetroitPAL camp at Wayne State. There, Gholston held his own against players two years older, but it was obvious that gains in size and aggression were needed to take his game to the next level.
As a sophomore at Mumford High, the first signs of growth in both areas began to manifest themselves. By season's end he had racked up 19 sacks. That's a fantastic number in any year, but it was overshadowed in one where King's Nick Perry amassed 36 sacks en route to leading his team to a state title. Gholston was nonetheless proud of his impressive accomplishment, but something was still missing.
...
Michigan State was the first to offer a scholarship, on Sept. 1, then Michigan a few weeks later, and most recently Iowa. Add in visits to both in-state schools, Wisconsin and Cincinnati, and you have the beginnings of a process that many other prospects consider hectic. Gholston doesn't believe he will have such an experience. He insists his patient approach and well established priorities will prevent him from going through many of the pitfalls that others have.
"I've got to weigh my options," he told Scout.com. "I've got to pick the right program. I'm looking at academics before I look at athletics because you can play football anywhere. It's about the education you get."
That pecking order is one that is often mentioned by recruits, but seldom followed. Gholston likely will be one of the exceptions to that rule. He seems to have internalized a set of values that have been ingrained in him from the time he first began running around on the football field.
"He's been playing since little league, so we started real early and kept the basics," said Gholston's mother, Pam Ward. "School is first, sports come next."
...Cont'd
