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TOP 25 SENIORS: Muskegon's Johnson ranks best of the best
Back from injury, he's constant threat
August 23, 2006
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
<!-- SIDEBAR PHOTOS AND FACT BOXES --><!-- ARTICLE SIDEBAR --><!-- BODY TEXT --> <!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT--> In alphabetical order:
Dionte Allen, 6-0, 175, defensive back/wide receiver, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. He has an uncanny awareness when he is on the field on defense. College coaches love the way he moves his hips, allowing him to turn so quickly and break on a ball. He had seven interceptions last season and also a dangerous receiver. Committed to Florida State.
Josh Allison, 6-2, 250, nose guard, Lake Orion. He is one of the fastest defensive linemen in the state. He makes plays from sideline to sideline. A year ago he tied the state record with 26 sacks. He uses his strength and speed to shed blockers and get to the quarterback. Committed to Minnesota.
Joseph Barksdale, 6-5, 320, offensive tackle/defensive tackle, Detroit Cass Tech. Because of his surprising speed (4.95 in the 40) for someone his size, he is slotted to be a defensive lineman in college. In addition to his straight ahead speed, he moves well laterally. Offensively he is a dominating blocker.
Chris Colasanti, 6-2, 238, linebacker/fullback, Birmingham Brother Rice. One of the key performers in Rice's Division 2 state championship team last fall, he was in on 135 tackles. He is assignment oriented and seems to be in the right place at the right time. Because he is a fullback, he runs well, which allows him to make tackles all over the field. He was a valuable blocking back last season and should carry the ball more this season. Committed to Penn State.
Darrell Davis-Budaunarro, 6-5, 361, offensive tackle/defensive tackle, East Grand Rapids. Last winter he moved to EGR from Texas, where he was one of the top offensive line prospects in the state. He moves surprisingly well for someone his size and when he blocks an opponent, the guy stays blocked. He can also be a dominating force on defense. Committed to Michigan State.
Mark Dell, 6-1, 180, wide receiver/defensive back, Farmington Hills Harrison. Yet another outstanding receiver from Harrison. A standout in basketball, Dell is an acrobatic receiver who can out jump defenders for the ball. He runs excellent routes to go with his speed. Defensively, he seems to have a sense for where the ball is going and can read a quarterback's eyes.
Cedric Everson, 6-0, 170, defensive back/wide receiver, Detroit Mumford. He has exceptional speed, winning the Division 1 400 meter title and running legs of two relay state winners. He was sensational as a two-way player in helping Mumford win the PSL title last year. He has outstanding hands and covers receivers like a blanket.
Kelvin Grady, 5-11, 178, running back, East Grand Rapids. The younger brother of Kevin Grady (Michigan), he is a much different back from his brother, although they both gained tons of yards. Kelvin averaged 10.8 yards per carry last season in topping the 1,800-yard mark. He is a more explosive back than his brother and a bit quicker. Once he turns the corner, he is gone. Committed to Michigan (basketball).
Vince Helmuth, 6-2, 237, fullback/linebacker, Saline. Perhaps the most powerful runner in the state. No defender has been able to knock him backwards when trying to tackle him. He doesn't gain a ton of yards because of Saline's wing-T, but he is a load. He started on the defensive line the last two years and has been moved to linebacker where he can make plays sideline to sideline. Committed to Michigan.
Darius Johnson, 6-1, 225, running back/linebacker, Highland Park. He ran for 2,274 yards last season in helping the Parkers reach the Division 4 semifinals. He has quick feet and a head-and-shoulders move that makes defenders miss him. While he has made his name as a running back, he will likely be a linebacker in college. On defense he gets to the ball quickly and hits with authority. Committed to Indiana.
Ronald Johnson, 6-0, 185, defensive back/wide receiver-running back-quarterback, Muskegon. Unquestionably the top player in the state. He tore his ACL after the third game last season so doesn't have much to show for his junior season. But as a sophomore he set a school record with nine interceptions in helping the Big Reds win a state championship. He has tremendous closing speed on the ball and his ability to run so fast laterally makes him a lock-down cornerback. Offensively he will be used in a variety of spots and he is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
Derek Knight, 6-0, 198, linebacker/fullback, Detroit Renaissance. He always finds himself in the middle of things defensively, registering 148 tackles with nine sacks and two interceptions a year ago. He hustles on every play and is a ferocious hitter. He is a terrific blocker coming out of the backfield. Will likely move to strong safety in college.
Quincy Landingham, 6-0, 205, running back/defensive back, Bloomfield Hills Lahser. He has the ability to stop and go and get into second gear before the defense can catch him. He gained over 950 yards last season and once he gets into the secondary he is gone. He is expected to be a strong safety in college. He is tough enough to line up at outside linebacker and quick enough to drop into the secondary and cover even the fastest wide receivers Committed to Michigan State.
Keith Nichol, 6-2, 205, quarterback, Lowell. He has been a force in the state since he led Lowell to the Division 3 state championship as a sophomore. Last season he completed 67% of his passes as he threw for 2,100 yards. He also proved he is more than just a passer, running for an additional 1,100 yards. He had a terrific spring and summer, and participated in the prestigious Elite Eleven quarterback camp in California. Committed to Michigan State.
James Rogers, 6-2, 175, running back-wide receiver/defensive back, Madison Heights Lamphere. Despite gaining 1,400 yards rushing and 350 yards receiving last season, he was something of an unknown until he wowed everyone at the Michigan camp. He combines tremendous speed with power. He can bull his way through the line of scrimmage and then he is gone. He will play safety for the first time this season and has the speed to blanket the secondary. Will be a receiver in college. Committed to Michigan.
Josh Rooks, 6-5, 255, tight end/defensive end, Holland Christian. He is a mismatch waiting to happen. Because of his speed, linebackers have no chance of defending against him. He has soft hands and he can gain a lot of yards after the catch. Defensively, he is a monster as a rush end and he has excellent pursuit all over the field.
Darris Sawtelle, 6-5, 290, offensive tackle/defensive tackle, Birmingham Brother Rice. He has become an excellent technician in the art of blocking. He is always in good position and moves his feet well. He has excellent strength. All of the attributes that make him such a good offensive player, work for him on defense, where he is tough against the run. Committed to Tennessee.
Justin Siller, 6-4, 205, quarterback/defensive back, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. A broken hand in the 11th game ended a superb junior season. He has been a varsity player since he started as a freshman at Detroit DePorres. He threw for over 1,000 yards last season. Because of added strength, look for him to keep the ball more this season.
James Stallons, 6-6, 171, quarterback, Macomb Dakota. Last season he completed 57% of his passes for over 2,200 yards and 18 TDs in carrying his team to the Division 1 semifinals. He has a nice touch on the short routes and can throw the long ball with anyone. Committed to Wisconsin.
Steve Threet, 6-6, 230, quarterback, Adrian. This is your classic pro-style drop back passer. He threw for over 1,800 yards last season and a spot in the state playoffs. He throws the deep out as well as you would want a high school QB to throw it. He plays basketball and worked hard to improve his foot speed, but he is comfortable sitting in the pocket. In addition to his arm, you have to like his overall knowledge of the game. Committed to Georgia Tech.
Ryan VanBergen, 6-5, 255, defensive end-defensive tackle/tight end, Whitehall. The biggest thing you notice right away is his agility for his size. He is a fine basketball player and also runs sprints for the track team, so he moves well. Over half of his tackles last season came behind the line of scrimmage. Defensively he will move between end and tackle depending on the opposition, he has improved his blocking offensively and caught 20 passes for 374 yards last fall.
Taurian Washington, 6-2, 190, wide receiver/defensive back, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. He has breakaway speed that makes him one of the state's most dangerous deep threats. Last season he caught 20 passes for over 450 yards. He has exceptional hands and runs good routes. Although he will likely be a receiver in college, he is also a standout in the secondary. Committed to Ohio State.
Martell Webb, 6-5, 225, wide receiver/linebacker, Pontiac Northern. One of the top athletes around, he is also a top-notch basketball player. He runs precise routes and has excellent hands. Because of his size and rebounding ability in basketball, he can catch the ball in a crowd. First-year Northern coach Keith Stephens believe he can be an even better defensive player where he has the speed to cover backs coming out of the backfield and chase ball carriers all over the field.
Ryan Wheat, 6-5, 300, defensive tackle/offensive tackle, Flint Carman-Ainsworth. He has only played defense until this season. He is huge and his footwork has made him a tremendous pass rusher. He is a force in the middle of the line, closing down an entire side against the run. Because of his size and footwork, some colleges are looking at him as an offensive tackle.
George White, 6-3, 250, linebacker/offensive guard, Flint Carman-Ainsworth. His size and speed makes him a terror defensively, which is where he will play in college. Plus, he has that knack for knowing where the ball is going and he gets there in a hurry. That same speed allows him to be a fine pulling guard. He can turn the corner and go downfield and wipe out a cornerback. Committed to Michigan State.
TOP 25 SENIORS: Muskegon's Johnson ranks best of the best
Back from injury, he's constant threat
August 23, 2006
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FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
<!-- SIDEBAR PHOTOS AND FACT BOXES --><!-- ARTICLE SIDEBAR --><!-- BODY TEXT --> <!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT--> In alphabetical order:
Dionte Allen, 6-0, 175, defensive back/wide receiver, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. He has an uncanny awareness when he is on the field on defense. College coaches love the way he moves his hips, allowing him to turn so quickly and break on a ball. He had seven interceptions last season and also a dangerous receiver. Committed to Florida State.
Josh Allison, 6-2, 250, nose guard, Lake Orion. He is one of the fastest defensive linemen in the state. He makes plays from sideline to sideline. A year ago he tied the state record with 26 sacks. He uses his strength and speed to shed blockers and get to the quarterback. Committed to Minnesota.
Joseph Barksdale, 6-5, 320, offensive tackle/defensive tackle, Detroit Cass Tech. Because of his surprising speed (4.95 in the 40) for someone his size, he is slotted to be a defensive lineman in college. In addition to his straight ahead speed, he moves well laterally. Offensively he is a dominating blocker.
Chris Colasanti, 6-2, 238, linebacker/fullback, Birmingham Brother Rice. One of the key performers in Rice's Division 2 state championship team last fall, he was in on 135 tackles. He is assignment oriented and seems to be in the right place at the right time. Because he is a fullback, he runs well, which allows him to make tackles all over the field. He was a valuable blocking back last season and should carry the ball more this season. Committed to Penn State.
Darrell Davis-Budaunarro, 6-5, 361, offensive tackle/defensive tackle, East Grand Rapids. Last winter he moved to EGR from Texas, where he was one of the top offensive line prospects in the state. He moves surprisingly well for someone his size and when he blocks an opponent, the guy stays blocked. He can also be a dominating force on defense. Committed to Michigan State.
Mark Dell, 6-1, 180, wide receiver/defensive back, Farmington Hills Harrison. Yet another outstanding receiver from Harrison. A standout in basketball, Dell is an acrobatic receiver who can out jump defenders for the ball. He runs excellent routes to go with his speed. Defensively, he seems to have a sense for where the ball is going and can read a quarterback's eyes.
Cedric Everson, 6-0, 170, defensive back/wide receiver, Detroit Mumford. He has exceptional speed, winning the Division 1 400 meter title and running legs of two relay state winners. He was sensational as a two-way player in helping Mumford win the PSL title last year. He has outstanding hands and covers receivers like a blanket.
Kelvin Grady, 5-11, 178, running back, East Grand Rapids. The younger brother of Kevin Grady (Michigan), he is a much different back from his brother, although they both gained tons of yards. Kelvin averaged 10.8 yards per carry last season in topping the 1,800-yard mark. He is a more explosive back than his brother and a bit quicker. Once he turns the corner, he is gone. Committed to Michigan (basketball).
Vince Helmuth, 6-2, 237, fullback/linebacker, Saline. Perhaps the most powerful runner in the state. No defender has been able to knock him backwards when trying to tackle him. He doesn't gain a ton of yards because of Saline's wing-T, but he is a load. He started on the defensive line the last two years and has been moved to linebacker where he can make plays sideline to sideline. Committed to Michigan.
Darius Johnson, 6-1, 225, running back/linebacker, Highland Park. He ran for 2,274 yards last season in helping the Parkers reach the Division 4 semifinals. He has quick feet and a head-and-shoulders move that makes defenders miss him. While he has made his name as a running back, he will likely be a linebacker in college. On defense he gets to the ball quickly and hits with authority. Committed to Indiana.
Ronald Johnson, 6-0, 185, defensive back/wide receiver-running back-quarterback, Muskegon. Unquestionably the top player in the state. He tore his ACL after the third game last season so doesn't have much to show for his junior season. But as a sophomore he set a school record with nine interceptions in helping the Big Reds win a state championship. He has tremendous closing speed on the ball and his ability to run so fast laterally makes him a lock-down cornerback. Offensively he will be used in a variety of spots and he is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
Derek Knight, 6-0, 198, linebacker/fullback, Detroit Renaissance. He always finds himself in the middle of things defensively, registering 148 tackles with nine sacks and two interceptions a year ago. He hustles on every play and is a ferocious hitter. He is a terrific blocker coming out of the backfield. Will likely move to strong safety in college.
Quincy Landingham, 6-0, 205, running back/defensive back, Bloomfield Hills Lahser. He has the ability to stop and go and get into second gear before the defense can catch him. He gained over 950 yards last season and once he gets into the secondary he is gone. He is expected to be a strong safety in college. He is tough enough to line up at outside linebacker and quick enough to drop into the secondary and cover even the fastest wide receivers Committed to Michigan State.
Keith Nichol, 6-2, 205, quarterback, Lowell. He has been a force in the state since he led Lowell to the Division 3 state championship as a sophomore. Last season he completed 67% of his passes as he threw for 2,100 yards. He also proved he is more than just a passer, running for an additional 1,100 yards. He had a terrific spring and summer, and participated in the prestigious Elite Eleven quarterback camp in California. Committed to Michigan State.
James Rogers, 6-2, 175, running back-wide receiver/defensive back, Madison Heights Lamphere. Despite gaining 1,400 yards rushing and 350 yards receiving last season, he was something of an unknown until he wowed everyone at the Michigan camp. He combines tremendous speed with power. He can bull his way through the line of scrimmage and then he is gone. He will play safety for the first time this season and has the speed to blanket the secondary. Will be a receiver in college. Committed to Michigan.
Josh Rooks, 6-5, 255, tight end/defensive end, Holland Christian. He is a mismatch waiting to happen. Because of his speed, linebackers have no chance of defending against him. He has soft hands and he can gain a lot of yards after the catch. Defensively, he is a monster as a rush end and he has excellent pursuit all over the field.
Darris Sawtelle, 6-5, 290, offensive tackle/defensive tackle, Birmingham Brother Rice. He has become an excellent technician in the art of blocking. He is always in good position and moves his feet well. He has excellent strength. All of the attributes that make him such a good offensive player, work for him on defense, where he is tough against the run. Committed to Tennessee.
Justin Siller, 6-4, 205, quarterback/defensive back, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. A broken hand in the 11th game ended a superb junior season. He has been a varsity player since he started as a freshman at Detroit DePorres. He threw for over 1,000 yards last season. Because of added strength, look for him to keep the ball more this season.
James Stallons, 6-6, 171, quarterback, Macomb Dakota. Last season he completed 57% of his passes for over 2,200 yards and 18 TDs in carrying his team to the Division 1 semifinals. He has a nice touch on the short routes and can throw the long ball with anyone. Committed to Wisconsin.
Steve Threet, 6-6, 230, quarterback, Adrian. This is your classic pro-style drop back passer. He threw for over 1,800 yards last season and a spot in the state playoffs. He throws the deep out as well as you would want a high school QB to throw it. He plays basketball and worked hard to improve his foot speed, but he is comfortable sitting in the pocket. In addition to his arm, you have to like his overall knowledge of the game. Committed to Georgia Tech.
Ryan VanBergen, 6-5, 255, defensive end-defensive tackle/tight end, Whitehall. The biggest thing you notice right away is his agility for his size. He is a fine basketball player and also runs sprints for the track team, so he moves well. Over half of his tackles last season came behind the line of scrimmage. Defensively he will move between end and tackle depending on the opposition, he has improved his blocking offensively and caught 20 passes for 374 yards last fall.
Taurian Washington, 6-2, 190, wide receiver/defensive back, Orchard Lake St. Mary's. He has breakaway speed that makes him one of the state's most dangerous deep threats. Last season he caught 20 passes for over 450 yards. He has exceptional hands and runs good routes. Although he will likely be a receiver in college, he is also a standout in the secondary. Committed to Ohio State.
Martell Webb, 6-5, 225, wide receiver/linebacker, Pontiac Northern. One of the top athletes around, he is also a top-notch basketball player. He runs precise routes and has excellent hands. Because of his size and rebounding ability in basketball, he can catch the ball in a crowd. First-year Northern coach Keith Stephens believe he can be an even better defensive player where he has the speed to cover backs coming out of the backfield and chase ball carriers all over the field.
Ryan Wheat, 6-5, 300, defensive tackle/offensive tackle, Flint Carman-Ainsworth. He has only played defense until this season. He is huge and his footwork has made him a tremendous pass rusher. He is a force in the middle of the line, closing down an entire side against the run. Because of his size and footwork, some colleges are looking at him as an offensive tackle.
George White, 6-3, 250, linebacker/offensive guard, Flint Carman-Ainsworth. His size and speed makes him a terror defensively, which is where he will play in college. Plus, he has that knack for knowing where the ball is going and he gets there in a hurry. That same speed allows him to be a fine pulling guard. He can turn the corner and go downfield and wipe out a cornerback. Committed to Michigan State.
