Class of 2009: Michigan State Stays Home

What’s that old saying?  There’s no place like home.  Well, Coach Mark Dantonio and his staff  have done a tremendous job the past couple of years of essentially recruiting in just two states – Michigan and Ohio.  The February 2008 signing class of 21 had 13 Michiganders, six Ohioans and one prospect each from Georgia and Virginia.   This year’s 13 early verbals include nine Michiganders, three Ohioans and one prospect from Indiana.  Compare that to rival Michigan’s 13 early verbals, who come from nine different states and include only two Michiganders.

In a sense, Michigan State has often benefitted from Michigan’s out-of-state recruiting successes because it frees up more local talent, those who have not received Michigan offers, to head to Michigan State.  Sure, State will sometimes win the one-on-one battle with Michigan for a star in-state prospect, and such names as Andre Rison, Courtney Hawkins, Carl Banks, T.J. Duckett, Charles Rogers, and, most recently, Fred Smith come to mind.  Nonetheless, on average Michigan has won about 80% of those battles in recent history.

This year, however, to coin a phrase from Bob Dylan, “things have changed”.  Dantonio and staff, after a year getting their feet wet on the recruiting trail, have hit the state hard, and with a vengeance.  In the meantime, Rich Rodriguez and his staff of mostly southerners have had to play catch-up in getting to know the in-state programs and coaching staffs.  Moreover, their focus has been evermore south of the Mason-Dixon line, which at the end of the day could be a good thing for both Michigan and MSU.

Players such as Chris Norman and Edwin Baker are nationall elite-level stud prospects who Michigan would have really loved to have.  Larry Capers and Andrew Maxwell are two other in-staters wih outstanding ability who probably would not have been ideal fits in Michigan’s new spread option offense.  But enough of comparisons with Michigan and who would and wouldn’t have been good fits as Wolverines (I’m sure that U-M fans would not like to hear about how certain of their recruits would not be good fits at State, and there are a few).  Dantonio has ramped up recruiting to a level where State is now a major force in-state and a national top twenty player on the national recruiting stage.

Here are some of my thoughts on MSU’s 13 verbals, followed by bios on each of the prospects:

The stars: No question about it, Edwin Baker and Chris Norman are special talents and rank with William Campbell as the top three prospects in the state.

The sleeper: Watch out for Country Day WR Bennie Fowler to really surprise people as a senior and at State.  This is a kid who was injured for half of his junior season, his first year of football, and didn’t get too many touches when healthy with the likes of Jonas Gray around to lug the ball.  He is a sprinter with outstanding potential.

The quarterback:  Andrew Maxwell is a kid who seems to have been around forever at QB at Midland High.  He has a strong arm, but really stands out due to his great accuracy, quick release and game management skills.  He looked very good at the national Elite 11 last week and should be a multiple-year starter for the Spartans.

Skill, skill and more skill: You have to love the offensive skill athletes Dantonio is bringing in.  He has blue-chippers at QB (Maxwell), RB (Baker and Larry Caper) and three talented WR prospects who complement each other very well in Patrick White (could also play DB), Donald Spencer and Fowler.

The enigma:  Larry Caper was touted by some as being possibly the top rising junior in Michigan a year ago.  At early 2008 combines and camps he didn’t really look that quick and was a bit too heavy.  He seems to have slimmed down a bit and looked better at recent events.  He is a bigger back who performs better under live game conditions than in 7-on-7 skeleton drills or combine settings. I look for him to have a huge career at State and form a dynamic one-two punch with Baker.

The big boys: No national blue-chip prospects in this group, but some intriguing athletes who could be a steal for State.  Derek Hoebing really intrigues me a lot as a prospect.  Imagine a kid his size playing OLB in high school.  He really moved up the charts during spring evaluation and looks to be a great get.  Micajah Reynolds is another big kid with quick feet and great power.  He has a nice ceiling.   Nate Klatt and Blake Treadwell are two others I like.  They may be a bit ahead of Hoebing and Reynolds in terms of technique and readiness to contribute early.

Please keep in mind that my database extracts listed below (including offer lists) have not been updated since early May as I only follow prospects for my college clients through late in their junior year (other than updating verbal commitments). Please do not attempt to subscribe to my Recruiting Brain service unless you can verify that you are on a college staff.

Name:	Dana Dixon
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	DB
Position:	DB/WR
Height:	6′3
Weight:	175
Forty:
City/School:	Detroit Renaissance
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	NW, LOU, MIA (OH), AKRON, MICHST
National Ranking Position:	162
State Ranking:
Rating:	5
Sophomore Local Honors:	37-Sophs-Michigan (June 2007)
News And Notes:	One of the top junior skill athletes in Detroit………..He committed to Michigan State in June………Talented FS and WR prospect who has started at both spots since his sophomore season………..One of 4 sophomores on the roster of a 6-4 team and he had 10 tackles and 15 assists…..Free safety…………Nice size and runs well. Has the frame to add 20 pounds………….Plays for a program that has produced several high-level D-I players…………….Third Team All-Camp at the March 2008 Badger Sport/New Level Athletics Passing Camp

Name:	Derek Hoebing
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	DL
Position:	DL/OL
Height:	6′6
Weight:	245
Forty:	4.90
City/School:	Vermillion
State:	Ohio
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST, MD, NW, UVA, AKRON, EMU, MIA (OH)
National Ranking Position:	113
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	2-Conference
Sophomore Local Honors:	Top 250 Ohio Sophomores (June 2007)
News And Notes:	One of the top DE and OT prospects in Ohio……………He committed to Michigan State in July…………..Junior starter at TE and OLB and he had 40 tackles and 4 sacks, but will be an OT in college…………..One of the fastest-rising prospects in Ohio during the 2008 spring evaluation period…………..Quick feet for his size, as evidenced by his playing LB on defense…………Plays basketball…………..3.7 GPA

Name:	Chris Norman
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	LB
Position:	LB/OL
Height:	6′3
Weight:	219
Forty:	4.60
City/School:	Detroit Renaissance
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MIA (OH), TOL, OHIO, CIN, MICHST, PUR, VANDY, NW, IA, ILL, IN, MIN, MICH, WVU, PSU, ORE, WISC, LOU, VT, BC, OHST, ND
Synopsis:
National Ranking Position:	10
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	1-Detroit News-Detroit (LB); 2-Detroit Free Press-Detroit (LB)
Sophomore Local Honors:	13-Sophs-Michigan (June 2007)
News And Notes:	One of the top juniors in Michigan and LBs in the nation………He committed to Michigan State in February 2008…………1-Detroit News-Detroit (LB): “Chris Norman, Jr., Renaissance A menacing and attacking defender, Norman had 97 tackles, including 19 for a loss, and seven sacks. He also forced five fumbles”………………One of 4 sophomores on the roster of a 6-4 team and he had 13 tackles and 29 assists from his LB spot. On offense, he started at OT……..Injured as a freshman…..Runs very well, very aggressive and will really hit you. Needs to work on shedding blocks.  Huge upside.  Huge………Has a knack for getting to the QB……Very impressive at 2007 Michigan State summer camp…………325 bench, 27 bench reps, 38 vertical………….Has skinny legs and needs to improve lower body strength………..Plans to major in biology……….First Team All-Camp at the March 2008 Badger Sport/New Level Athletics Passing Camp………………..”Junior LB Chris Norman (6-2, 225) has the size to stand his ground.”

Name:	TyQuan Hammock
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	LB
Position:	LB/RB/DL
Height:	6′1
Weight:	225
Forty:	4.70
City/School:	Fort Wayne Bishop Luers
State:	Indiana
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	NILL, MIN, IN, BG, CMU, MIA (OH), MICHST
National Ranking Position:	111
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	1-IFCA-Top 50 AS (DL); 1-AP-2A-AS (LB); 1-Bloomington Herald Times-Junior-AS (LB)
Sophomore Local Honors:	HM-AP-3A-AS (LB); HM-Bloomington Herald-Times-Junior AS (RB/LB/DE)
Freshman Local Honors:	HM-Bloomington Herald-Junior-AS (FB/DE)
News And Notes:	One of the top juniors in Indiana……….He committed to Michigan State in July……..A very, very productive prep LB.  Nice combination of size and speed. Does a great job of flowing to the ball…………As a junior, he recorded 164 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, and seven forced fumbles………..Has started since his freshman season, playing OLB as a frosh before moving inside as a sophomore…………He recorded 115 tackles as a sophomore………As a freshman he tallied 75 tackles and 11 sacks…………….Second Team All-Camp at the March 2008 Badger Sport/New Level Athletics Passing Camp………………325 bench, 450 squat, 33 vertical……..2.8 GPA, high 1300s on the SAT……….Wants to major in accounting or criminal justice……….Camped in 2007 at Notre Dame, Minnesota and Northern Illinois……….His brother, Thomas, played at Northern Illinois and is now an assistant coach at Minnesota

Name:	Blake Treadwell
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	OL
Position:	OL/DL
Height:	6′3
Weight:	271
Forty:	4.90
City/School:	East Lansing
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST
National Ranking Position:	108
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	1-Detroit Free Press-Division 3-AS (DL); SM-AP-Division 3-4-AS (L); 1-Lansing State Journal-Area Dream Team (OL)
Sophomore Local Honors:	Top 75 Ohio Sophomores (June 2007); 9-Sophs-Cincinnati (May 2007)
News And Notes:	One of the top junior linemen in Michigan……………..He committed to Michigan State in March………….As a junior two-way starter on a 9-4 team he had 49 tackles, 21 assists and 1 FR…………A versatile lineman who has good quickness, athleticism and technique.  Has gotten much bigger the past year…….1-Lansing State Journal-Area Dream Team: “OL Blake Treadwell East Lansing junior, 6-3/261 Treadwell, a tackle, was the top blocker for an offense averaging 341 yards and 27.4 points per game. Also a defensive end, he earned a Division 3-4 all-state special mention and is a Division I prospect”…………….Was one of the top sophomores in Cincinnati while playing at Mason High but is moving to Lansing, Michigan for his junior year as his father, Donnie Treadway, is a new assistant football coach at Michigan State………….Lansing State Journal, August 2007: “9. We all know about Grand Ledge’s James Jackson. Are there other juniors to watch? Surely, many will emerge this fall. But here are a few that already stick out. East Lansing lineman Blake Treadwell’s name – and 6-foot-3, 261-pound body – was the buzz even before he chose a school after his father Don Treadwell was chosen as Michigan State’s offensive coordinator. He’ll start at offensive tackle and on the defensive line and could be special. ; Fall 2006 Message Board: Top Sophomores Who are the top sohpmores this year? class of 2009 Blake Treadwell from Mason is a manchild. His dad is the offensive coordinater for UC. Blake started as a sophomore on the DL, and IMO was the best out there. That maybe not be saying much considering Mason’s D this year, but he is the best nevertheless. He tore his miniscus mid-season but look for him to dominate offensive lines in years to come.”

Name:	Micajah Reynolds
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	OL
Position:	OL/DL
Height:	6′4
Weight:	285
Forty:
City/School:	Lansing Sexton
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	TOL, WMU, BG, IN, MICHST
National Ranking Position:	113
Rating:	5
News And Notes:	One of the top junior OL prospects in Michigan……….He committed to Michigan State in June…………….A nice-sized, powerful  and athletic OL prospect who is still a bit raw but has a high ceiling…………3.2 GPA…………One of the top sophomore shot putters in Michigan…………..May 31, 2007 e-mail from Micajah: “Mr. Stefani, First off, allow me to thank you for taking the time to read my letter. My name is Micajah Reynolds and I am a sophomore at Lansing Sexton High School (Lansing Michigan of course). I am 6’4 305lbs but unfortunately didn\’t play on varsity due to injury and the fact that we had two division 1 prospects starting at both tackles (Cameron Merchant 07\’ and Matt Armstrong 08\’). This year, I will be starting at right tackle and am currently being recruited by division 1 colleges (mentionable upon request). I was invited to the Midwest Elite Football Combine and am on Michigan Elite football.com. The reason I am emailing you is because I feel that because I didn\’t play last season, I was not able to get the exposure that I really wanted to. I also feel that if I was able to earn a spot on your list of upcoming linemen that I would get exposure from you school like Michigan and Notre Dame instead of you Central Michigan and other M.A.C. schools. I would like to know what I could do to get more exposure”.  He has certainly gotten the exposure he requested!…………….Top sophomore on a Class A team

Name:	Nate Klatt
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	OL
Position:	OL
Height:	6′4
Weight:	274
Forty:	5.58
City/School:	Canal Fulton Northwest
State:	Ohio
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	AKRON, BG, MICHST, NW, KAN, IN
Synopsis:
National Ranking Position:	114
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	1-Division III-AS (OL); 1-Northeast Inland District-Division III (OL)
Sophomore Local Honors:	Top 75 Ohio Sophomores (June 2007); 20-Sophs-Ohio (May 2007); 2-Northeast Inland District-Division III (OL); 1-Northeastern Buckeye Conference (C/DL)
Combines:	Spring 2007: • Klatt • Nate • OL • 76 • 274 • 2009 • 5.58 • 19 • 4.62 • 23.5 • 52.04
Links:
News And Notes:	One of the top junior OL prospects in Ohio…………He committed to Michigan State in July……..Projects as a center in college………..Tenacious and aggressive OL prospect. Good footwork. Can get to the second line of defense. A real finisher…..300 bench, 24 vertical, 4.6 shuttle……….3.9 GPA, 24 ACT………………As a sophomore on a 6-5 team he had 1 assist and started at center and OT…………..Message Board: Posted: 11/8/2007: “I have a junior recruit for major schools to look at Ther is a man child here in Canal Fulton Ohio (Shawn Lazorus old HS), he is 6\’ 4\” tall and weighs 280 pounds. He plays center for the #1 rated Division 3 team in the state. He can move and is very athletic. He is not fat at all. He has room to grow and become a very good college football player. I am wondering if Michigan knows anything about this kid? They should invite him to ther camps. His potential is very upside”……………..”Sophomore Nate Klatt (6-4, 220) and senior Mark Lake (5-9, 230) will play significant roles on both lines”…………..Northwest ‘youngsters’ stand out at OSU camp By DAVID HARPSTER:   ”The summer months are time for football players to hone their skills against top competition at various college camps. Players who were unknown beforehand can put themselves on the map, while good players have the chance to take their game to the next level. Judging from the results of camps held at Ohio State last month, the Northwest Indians have a pair of players who may have accomplished both goals. Junior receiver Teddy Robb and sophomore offensive lineman Nate Klatt were both recognized as being the top performers at their respective positions during their time at camp. While Robb and Klatt were at different sessions, both attended similar three-day camps that brought together hundreds of high school football players to receive instruction from various Buckeye assistant coaches. “They give out awards for the best at each position,” said Robb, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder who hauled in a team-leading 37 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns last year. “I thought I did really well down with the exception of my 40 time. They clocked me in the 4.6 range and I know I can run closer to 4.4. “I was disappointed in that but I still felt like I was faster than some of the kids who were being clocked around 4.4.” Robb also said he worked closely with Ohio State receivers coach Darrell Hazell during his time at the camp. The players performed in positional drills, 7-on-7 drills and in 1-on-1 situations. His showing has only whetted Robb’s appetite even more for the coming football season. “I’m ready to play right now,” Robb said. “I feel like I’m bigger and stronger than last year and I’m ready to go.” Klatt might not be as known as Robb, but the sophomore certainly stood out during his time at the Ohio State camp. Considering Klatt is 6-4, 250, he’s hard to miss when he’s on the field. He was voted the top offensive lineman in his session in Columbus. “We knew about Nate last year when he was a freshman,” Northwest coach Vic Whiting said. “He had a very nice year last year and he was dominating at times.” Klatt played tackle last year for the Indians but Whiting said that a position change will probably await him this year. “We’re going to move him inside and see what he can do,” Whiting said. The fact Northwest has individual standouts at summer camps shouldn’t be a surprise considering the program’s recent run of success under Whiting. The Indians will be aiming for their sixth straight Division III playoff appearance this season. “We usually have kids go to various camps, whether it’s Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio State, Pittsburgh,” Whiting said. “This year we had about 10 kids go to the Ohio State camp. They’re all young kids and it’s good for them to get that kind of exposure.” Whiting said that fans may not know the players names yet, but that’s not an issue a month before fall practice begins. “This team is going to be full of no names, with only three starters returning,” Whiting said. “Without the experience we had last year they’re going to be underdogs all year, but they like that role.””

Name:	Andrew Maxwell
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	QB
Position:	QB
Height:	6′3
Weight:	190
Forty:
City/School:	Midland
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST
National Ranking Position:	15
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	HM-Detroit Free Press-AS (QB); HM-Saginaw Valley (QB)
Freshman Local Honors:	HM-Saginaw Valley Conference
News And Notes:	The top QB prospect in Michigan and among the top QBs in the nation……….He committed to Michigan State in March………..As a junior, he led his team to the state Division 2 finals, passing for just over 2,000 yards and 21 TDs…………Has seen varsity playing time since his freshman season……….Has good arm strength, great accuracy, a quick release and does a fine job of managing the game. Very consistent………………..He looked very good at the July 2008 National Elite 11, proving that he was worthy of his surprise selection to he event…….Very impressive at the April 2008 Fort Worth Nike Camp (QB MVP)………..Very impressive at 2008 Fort Worth Elite 11 Camp and was considered by some to be the top QB at the event………Impressive at 2007 Fort Worth Elite 11 Camp……….Just under a 4.0 GPA……………….Division 2 finals: “Andrew Maxwell, Midland- the junior stud started the game on fire, especially when King was in single coverage without any safeties. Maxwell finished 8 of 23 for 93 yards, a TD, and two INTs. Maxwell’s TD pass to Roberson was on the money as he caught his back in stride up the sideline. His picks were just evident of a King defense that was just too fast for Maxwell to react to. Maxwell had a fantastic post season as he showed his ability to be a high major recruit”…………….Division 2 Regional Finals Preview November 07, 2007: “Midland has arguably the best junior QB in the state in Andrew Maxwell”………….. Midland Daily News:  “Andrew Maxwell, Midland- the junior QB looks to be a div. 1 prospect with his mechanics and composure. Nothing went right early in the game but Maxwell kept his head up and got the job done.” …….Midland Daily News:  “Leading the way offensively is 6-foot-3 junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell, who has started the past two years and brings experience and a strong arm to the Midland offense. Maxwell threw for nearly 850 yards and five touchdowns last season”……………….Midland Daily News:  Week 3: “Midland junior QB Andrew Maxwell completed 9 of 14 passes for 193 yards and 2 TDs in a big win over Saginaw Heritage”………………..Midland Daily News:  “Midland High 19, Bay City Central 13: Andrew Maxwell threw a 6-yard TD pass to Samuel Franjione and Kevin Alcott returned an interception 10 yards for another Midland High score for a Saginaw Valley League win. Joel Parsons, who led the Chemics with 80 yards rushing, ran for a 6-yard TD for the Chemics’ other score. Michael Albrecht added 85 yards rushing, while Maxwell completed 10 of 18 passes for 139 yards”………..One of 3 sophomores on the roster…………..Midland Daily News:  Week 9-”Chemics get second shot at Heritage 10/26/2006 Southwestern. In addition to deOliveira’s running, Midland can also move the ball through the air. Andrew Maxwell threw for 644 yards and five touchdowns during the year. He stunned Dow last week with a 59-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the game……………PS-Only returning sophomore starter”……………………………..Detroit Free Press:  “22. Midland (8-3)Playoff record: 16-16. Top players: DEs Pete House, Justin Barnes; DTs Jeremy Suave, Zach Bugosh; QBs Jake Yoder, sophomore Andrew Maxwell”…………….Detroit News:  “5 MIDLAND, 8-3, CLASS A The Chemics will miss RB Jim Parsons (graduation), but coach Terry Wilczek has 11 starters returning. They are led by an experienced defensive line that includes Justin Barnes (DE), Jeremy Sauve (DT) and Zack Bugosh (DT). Senior A.J. Deoliveria should carry the running load. Senior QB Jacob Yoder might be pushed by sophomore Andrew Maxwell”……………..Midland Daily News:  Week 11- “Midland High was paced by Jimmy Parsons’ 120 yards rushing. He also caught a 54-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter from freshman quarterback Andrew Maxwell. Back came the Chemics in a hurry. With 7:14 left in the third, backup quarterback Andrew Maxwell hooked up with Parsons on a 54-yard touchdown strike. Maxwell, who came into the game one play earlier, faked a handoff to Parsons and rolled to his right. He turned and threw a long pass to Parsons who was running down the left sideline. Parsons caught the ball, bounced off a Western defender and scampered the final 25 yards untouched into the end zone. The PAT made it 21-14. Maxwell came in for Prokop at quarterback after Prokop took a hard hit while gaining a first down three plays before the touchdown. “George took a little ding and he needed to come out so we took him out,” Wilczek said. “He needed some time to regroup and refocus a little bit. I was very happy with the job he was doing. In fact, I would have liked to have kept him in there. His running gave us a spark and his leadership on the field (was key). But he wasn’t able to continue for a while so we had to make a change.” Maxwell completed 5 of 13 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown”……………….More freshmen are cracking the varsity lineups in high school sportsFred Kelly, Midland Daily News 10/16/2005:   ”At a healthy 6-foot, 3-inches tall and 175 pounds, and with a cannon for an arm and decent mobility, Midland High freshman Andrew Maxwell has all the natural tools to be a varsity quarterback. But physical ability alone is not enough to impress Chemics’ football coach Terry Wilczek. And that alone wasn’t what earned Maxwell the starting nod under center earlier this season, as the first freshman to start at quarterback at either Midland or Dow High. Instead, what Wilczek saw in Maxwell was “a complete package.” “The physical traits, you notice as a coach,” Wilczek said of Maxwell. “But he also conducts himself very well. He has poise, and he’s bright. He’s confident. He’s polite and courteous. There’s a complete package there.” And that’s important if a ninth-grader is going to be thrown into the fire of varsity competition like Maxwell, who’s either started or seen playing time in all eight Chemic games. More freshmen athletes — from fall to spring seasons — are getting playing time at the varsity level, which in past years was typically reserved for juniors and seniors, and occasionally, a sophomore. No more. A lot more coaches are giving freshmen equal opportunity. In Maxwell’s case, maturity played a big part in him making the team. “What I like about guys like him is that they can handle the good times and the bad times. They can accept criticism or praise. They don’t fall apart,” Wilczek said”………………Midland Daily News:  Week 9-”Trailing 17-16 and in need of a big play with less than three minutes remaining and the ball on their own 21-yard line, Midland coach Terry Wilczek turned to none other than a freshman. But this freshman quarterback isn’t your ordinary freshman. Five plays later, 6-foot-3 Andrew Maxwell proved that, when he calmly dropped back into the pocket, scanned the field and found senior wide receiver Michael Goodwin open over the middle. Maxwell threw a strike to Goodwin, who hauled in the pass and turned the play into a game-winning 66-yard touchdown pass. I was a little nervous out there, but I told myself I had to calm down and do my work,” Maxwell said. “I was looking for a shorter route, but then I saw Goodwin get open and I just let it fly.” Starting quarterback George Prokop, who was replaced by Maxwell in the second half, returned, and ran in the two-point conversion to give the Chemics a seven-point bulge”…………..Midland Daily News:  Week 7-”Two plays later, Midland committed another costly penalty — this time an illegal block which negated a 33-yard completion from Andrew Maxwell to Michael Goodwin that would have given the Chemics first-and-10 at Western’s 45. Instead, Midland faced second-and-22 from its own 7 and had to punt shortly afterward Maxwell struggled the entire game against Western’s pressure, completing only 4 of 14 passes for (minus) 2 yards and an interception. “This boy throws like a seasoned kid,” Eurick said of Maxwell, a freshman. “I thought he threw some nice passes, but we did get pressure on him. That was the key. We just wanted to get enough pressure to get his feet moving and get him out of the pocket.” “We didn’t protect (Maxwell) very well, and we didn’t run-block very well,” Wilczek said. “We left our defense out on the field too much. We didn’t make any plays. The last couple of weeks, we’ve been making some plays offensively, but we didn’t make any tonight”……………..Week 6-MICK MCCABE (Detroit Free Press): “Freshman QB passes test September 30, 2005 Andrew Maxwell had a lot on his mind last week. First, he was the freshman class representative on the homecoming court at Midland High. That meant he had to be involved in all of the week-long festivities like an assembly, the parade and, of course, the halftime ceremony during the game in which the unbeaten Chemics were playing unbeaten Saginaw Heritage. He also had one other little detail to worry about: He was the varsity’s starting quarterback. When senior George Prokop suffered a concussion in Midland’s previous game, Maxwell found himself taking snaps with the starting unit. That can be intimidating for any reserve, but a 14-year-old freshman who was playing before friends and family and no one else in middle school games a year ago? “I tried not to think about it too much,” he said, “but I was nervous.” Nervous? Most 14-year-olds would be terrified. Hey, this isn’t some small Division 7 or 8 school. This is Midland High, a Division 1 power that hasn’t had a losing season since 1976. Of course, this is where you might want to ask what Midland coach Terry Wilczek was thinking, putting a 14-year-old in charge of his offense. “During the summer, he had a presence about him that was different than a new person coming in for weight lifting,” Wilczek said. Maxwell, 6-feet-3, 176 pounds, immediately earned the backup job and took a few snaps in Midland’s first four games, but that really didn’t seem to prepare him to start against Heritage, then ranked seventh in Division 1. It looked like Wilczek had made a colossal mistake when Maxwell’s first pass on the first play was intercepted. Most freshmen would have been toast for the rest of evening after that. “Yeah, that was pretty bad,” Maxwell said. “But I told myself, ‘I got that out of my system.’ I thought: ‘Hey, I can play with these guys. I’m going to show them what I’m made of.’ ” It helped that seniors Zach VanTonne and Eddie Fillmore calmed Maxwell down on the sidelines. And then there was running back Jimmy Parsons, who gained 146 yards on 31 carries and threw a halfback pass for a touchdown. “It was good to look to my side and see Jimmy there,” Maxwell said. “I know he has the potential to break any play wide open. It was really a good feeling.” So was leading Midland on an 83-yard scoring drive on its second series. “After that I knew we were going to have a good game,” Maxwell said. “I tried not to mess up.” Maxwell did mess up one more time, throwing an interception. But by the time the game ended, Maxwell had completed six of nine passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, leading Midland to a 37-7 victory. It was a truly remarkable performance for a freshman. That may be why he had difficulty falling asleep after the game. “I stayed up pretty late that night,” Maxwell said. “I was feeling pretty proud. I knew it was a big challenge. It was pretty cool.”"………….Midland Daily News:  Week 6-”Last Friday the Chemics defeated a then unbeaten and talented Saginaw Heritage squad 37-7 to mark the 29th consecutive season of winning at least five football games. The Chemics had to overcome adversity to stay undefeated as they played the game without starting quarterback George Prokop who missed the game due to a concussion. Freshman Andrew Maxwell stepped in and did not miss a beat as he completed six-of-nine passes for 152 yards”…………Midland Daily News:  Week 5-”The Chemics had no problem adjusting, even with a freshman, Andrew Maxwell, taking over under center. The Chemics also scored on a 5-yard run by Parsons and a 34-yard pass from Maxwell to Michael Goodwin. Maxwell completed 6 of 9 for 159 yards, despite two interceptions in the first half. “What a night for the freshman,” Wilczek said. “He starts his first game, it’s homecoming, he’s in the homecoming court, he comes back after throwing two interceptions and has a great game. “The best thing for me, though, was after throwing the two interceptions, the whole team picked him up on the sideline, encouraging him. That was great to see.”"…………..Midland Daily News:  Week 2- “Midland freshman quarterback Andrew Maxwell started in place of senior George Prokop, who was battling injury and illness but still played at receiver and defensive back. Maxwell led the Chemics on three first-half scoring drives and finished 7-of-15 for 60 yards with one TD and two interceptions. He also ran for a score”…………………Midland Daily News:  Week 1-”Freshman Andrew Maxwell also saw time at quarterback. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 175-pound Maxwell completed his first pass, a 30-yard toss to Andy Angus. Maxwell also was picked off and fumbled. But he definitely made a positive impression. “He showed some promise, didn’t he?” Wilczek said. “He’s got a ways to go, but it’s nice when you’re 6-3.”"………………Midland Daily News:  PS- “Wilczek said Prokop will run an option offense for part of the time. Also seeing time at quarterback in practice is freshman Andrew Maxwell (6-3, 175). “He just lacks the experience,” Wilczek said. “He brings a little size to the position, but it’ll take some time for him to develop.”"

Name:	Edwin Baker
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	RB
Position:	RB/LB
Height:	5′9
Weight:	204
Forty:	4.37
City/School:	Oak Park
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST, PUR, GA, MICH
Synopsis:
National Ranking Position:	7
State Ranking:
Rating:	5
National Honors:
Junior Local Honors:	2-Detroit Free Press-North (RB); 2-OAA-Red (RB)
News And Notes:	One of the top RB prospects in the nation…………He committed to Michigan State in February 2008………….He played just six games as a junior due to a slight knee injury and he carried the ball 113 times for 1,295 yards (11.5 ypc) Nice size, fine instincts and runs a 10.6 100-meters………..Really moved up the charts with an outstanding junior season. His coach says he will have his choice of schools on a national level………3.3 GPA, 17 ACT………….Visited Michigan for the 2007 Ohio State game……………….September 21, 2007 BY VINCE ELLIS DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER: “One of the other guys mentioned in the article, junior running back Edwin Baker, said: “That was just a spirit-of-the-moment thing. We really don’t want to go to Oregon. That’s not going to happen. That’s not true.” Baker is a junior, so it’s early, but trust us, the 5-10, 210-pounder who ran a 10.6 in the 100 meters last year during track season, won’t have any problems getting interest.”………………..Detroit Free Press:  “September 2007: Troy (2-0) @ Oak Park (1-1) Troy is coming off a huge win to Lake Orion last week and Oak Park blew out North Farmington . The big question in this game is if Troy can stop the running game of Oak Park . Joevell Hoseay and junior sensation Edwin Baker both rushed for over 200 yards last week and have been dominant this season”……………..Detroit Free Press: “The line is solid with G/LB DiMarco Scarber, OT Matthew Salim and TE/LB DeShawn Scott back”…………….Observer & Eccentric:  “Sophomore quarterback Brandon Woods (6-4, 210), junior center Matthew Salim (6-5, 300), junior defensive back Jonathan Bryant (6-1, 200) junior running back/defensive back Jovevall Hosey (6-1, 210) and junior running back Edwin Baker (6-0, 220) are among the key guys Oak Park will look to in its turnaround attempt.” …………….Oakland Press:  “Oak Park Knights Last year: 7-3, 6-2, lost 17-14 to Hazel Park in first round of Division 2 state playoffs Key dates: Sept. 15 at Pontiac Northern, Sept. 30 vs. Bloomfi eld Hills Lahser, Oct. 20 vs. Royal Oak Overview: Oak Park might not have longtime head coach Keith Stephens anymore, but the same versatile, athletic squad remains. Both lines will be big behind senior C/DT Adam Johnson (6-4, 255), senior OT/DT Princeton Holmes (6-2, 275), senior DT DeAndre Dickerson (5-11, 240) and sophomore OL manchild Matthew Salim (6-5, 290). The skilled positions are also solid, with senior WR/FS/KR David Mosley (6-4, 190), junior WR/DB Jeriel Whittfield (6-2, 185), sophomore RB/ LB Josevall Hosie (6-1, 220), sophomore RB/LB Edwin Baker (6-0, 215), senior WR/FS Antoine Mason (6-3, 185), senior LB/FB Samir Haakim (6-0, 240), junior DB Jonathan Bryant (6-1, 185) and LB DeMarco Scarber 6-0, 220) ready to wreak havoc. Juniors Marquise Williams (5-11, 185) and Robert Cross (6-4, 180) are competing for the QB job.”

Name:	Larry Caper II
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	RB
Position:	RB
Height:	5′11
Weight:	215
Forty:	4.50
City/School:	Battle Creek Central
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST, MICH, WMU, IA, STAN, PUR, CIN
Synopsis:	Written after sophomore season:  Caper saw early varsity playing time as a freshman at BCC and followed that up with a solid sophomore start (467 yards, 8 TDs) before going down with a season-ending shoulder injury and sharing carries with blue-chip senior FB Brandon Reynolds and talented junior RB Bill Young. His father starred at BCC back in the 1980s. Capers really made a name for himself at the 2006 Michigan summer camp, where this tall and lean back showed surprising quickness and speed for a mere freshman. A prospect who will receive numerous early offers.
National Ranking Position:	23
Rating:	5
National Honors:	20-Sophomores-National (fvsports.com – June 2007)
Junior Local Honors:	1-Detroit News-Division 1-2-AS (RB); 1-Detroit Free Press-Division 1-AS (RB); SM-AP-Division 1-2-AS (RB); 1-Battle Creek Enquirer-City (RB)
Sophomore Local Honors:	1-Sophs-Michigan (June 2007)
Freshman Local Honors:	HM-Battle Creek Enquirer-City
News And Notes:	One of the top RB prospects in the nation and among the top overall junior prospects in Michigan………….He committed to Michigan State in March…………..As a junior, he carried the ball 182 times for 1,473 yards (8.09 ypc) and 14 TDs,and had 3 receptions for 24 yards……………As a sophomore, he played just 5 games due to a shoulder injury but carried the ball 55 times for 467 yards (8.5 ypc) and 9 TDs……An instinctive runner who combines nice size and speed. Is light on his feet when he keeps his weight down, has good vision and is always running forward……….Reminds some of Shaun Alexander………..At the 2008 U.S. army Combine he ran a 4.24 shuttle……….His father was a star RB at Western Michigan…….Captain as a junior and is a good leader…….3.8 overall GPA entering his junior year…….. …..1-Battle Creek Enquirer-City: “LARRY CAPER BATTLE CREEK CENTRAL A junior running back will be among the top seniors in the state next season, getting recruited by several Big Ten schools as well as Notre Dame. Caper finished with 1,473 yards rushing, second most in BCC history, and had 98 points. Had a single-game rushing record of 311 yards. “A great athlete and a great student who appears headed for a quality Division 1 program after his senior year,” Slamer said”……………….Posted: 9/22/2007 7:42 AM “Junior recruit Larry Caper II sets school record BCC’s junior sensation ran for a school record 311 yards on 30 carries to lift the Bearcats to a 47-18 victory over Kalamazoo Central at C.W. Post Field Caper had four touchdowns on runs of 62, 1, 37 and 44 yards. The 37-yarder in the third quarter was especially impressive, as the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Caper rushed around left end, hit the sideline with a burst of speed and then tight-roped his way barely staying in-bounds until reaching the end zone. It was the type of run that has recruiting analysts saying Caper is the early favorite to be next year’s No. 1 college prospect in Michigan. He already appears on the recruiting Web site, Rivals.com, among 100 juniors to watch nationally. Caper has been offered scholarships to Michigan and Michigan State and on Friday he reiterated that he has no favorite”…………………Visited Michigan for the 2007 Ohio State game……………..Battle Creek Enquirer:  “BCC’s Larry Caper II hopes to follow in Dad’s footsteps Jeff Karzen The Enquirer Having just finished dazzling onlookers at a University of Michigan summer football camp, 15-year-old Larry Caper II sat next to his father in the office of Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr. With massive Michigan Stadium serving as a backdrop, Carr asked the football phenom to “tell me something good about yourself.” Caper, who is entering his junior season at Battle Creek Central, said, “I have a 3.0 GPA at the Math and Science Center.” It was exactly what Carr wanted to hear. Minutes later, the 15-year-old had a full scholarship offer from the University of Michigan. Caper is the closest thing a football prospect could be to the elusive “total package” title. On the field, he’s big and fast with a perfect running back build. Off it, he’s a soft-spoken, intelligent teenager with a 3.8 overall GPA who has never had worse than a ‘B’ on his high school report card. The kid’s got genes, too. Caper’s father, Larry, graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1978 as the school’s all-time leading rusher. The elder Caper was offered scholarships by Michigan and Michigan State, but opted to stay local and attend Western Michigan, where he played four years and is the school’s sixth all-time leading rusher with 2,449 yards. Although Caper II hurt his shoulder last season and played just four games, he’s become a priority recruit for both Michigan and Michigan State, according to sources close to the two programs. MSU has offered a scholarship, too — in fact that came before Michigan’s — and Caper II said he likes both schools but doesn’t have a favorite yet. “Of the guys I’ve seen in the Class of 2009 (in Michigan), Larry Caper is the best I’ve seen,” said Josh Helmholdt, recruiting analyst for The Wolverine magazine and thewolverine.com. “It’s a really, really talented and deep class of kids. But he’s special, there’s no doubt about it. Larry is so light on his feet for how big a kid he is. If he can stay healthy, he’s going to set the world on fire this year.” Helmholdt added that Caper II has a good chance of being a five-star prospect by the major recruiting services, which generally means a player is top 25 nationally, regardless of position. He might only be 15 years old, but Caper II already looks the part of big-time running back. At 5-foot-10 1/2 and 210 pounds, he added 10-15 pounds of muscle this summer by lifting weights. He says there was an emphasis on squatting and that most of the added weight is in his legs. It doesn’t appear to have affected his speed. During team testing drills at BCC, Caper II ran a 4.38, 40-yard dash. “Larry has something you can’t teach. When he runs, he has a great forward lean,” said BCC coach Al Slamer. “You work on that, but naturally he’s always done that.” Caper II, who turns 16 next month, has been around football since he could walk. Tagging alongside his father, who coached Rocket Football as well as helping out at local high schools, Larry II grew up on the sidelines. He’s not off to the side anymore, but Larry II vows to not let all the attention inflate his ego. “I really don’t want to put all that information in my head,” Caper II said. “Psychologically, you’re not going to think about it but when you’re on the field, you think you’ve got to prove something to somebody. And I don’t want that to happen. I just want everything to be free.” Slamer, who has sent numerous players to collegiate programs, isn’t worried about his latest stud prospect. “He’s an outstanding football player, but that’s not the story,” Slamer said. “Larry is just a complete young man. He’s a very nice young man, he’s very, very intelligent. He’s a hard worker in school, and his dad won’t have it any other way. That’s the neat part.” This summer, Caper II is reading “Black Boy” and “The Other Side of the River” for his Advanced Placement English class. By now, it seems, working hard in school has become a habit. “When I was little, my dad said I couldn’t play football unless I had higher than a C-plus,” Caper II said. “So I carried that throughout high school and I set that standard for myself. So then when football is over, I’ll have something to lean back on.” While it’s still extremely early in the recruiting process, Caper II lists Wisconsin and Cincinnati as the other schools he may visit after the season, along with Michigan and MSU. Wisconsin, North Carolina and Indiana came to BCC during the spring evaluation period. Caper II says he’d like to verbally commit before his senior season. “I think Mark Dantonio has really reached out to the in-state schools to getting out earlier to kids than they have in the past,” Jim Comparoni, editor of spartanmag.com, said about MSU’s new coach. “They’re making sure the in-state schools know they are a priority for Michigan State. That’s one of the reasons they’re going full blast for Larry Caper. With Jonas Gray (Detroit Country Day) picking Nebraska over Michigan State, that opens the door for MSU to go after a blue-chip running back in the Class of ‘09.” Rivals.com, one of the leading recruiting services, released their list this week of 100 players to watch in the Class of 2009 and Caper was one of four Michigan players mentioned. Detailed rankings lists don’t generally come out until the summer before a football player’s senior year. MSU’s recruiting coordinator Mark Staten, who played at Dowagiac, said the Spartans will keep a close eye on west Michigan prospects. (Staten is not permitted to discuss individual prospects, per NCAA rules). “Knowing Coach Slamer and the job that he does in the Battle Creek area, shoot, that’s going to be a gold mine. And there are good ones in ‘09,” Staten said. As for U-M, Caper II will never forget that summer day in Carr’s office. “Butterflies,” Caper II said when asked what it was like. “I was so nervous and I couldn’t stop smiling. I looked at my dad and he was smiling back at me. It was crazy.”Larry Caper Sr. is enjoying the ride. After coaching his son in Rocket Football for several years, the elder Caper, who is the boys’ head track coach at BCC, is just another parent on Friday nights. Except, obviously, his son isn’t just another player. “He reminds me of myself a little bit, but he’s going to be a lot better than I was,” Caper said. “I told him I don’t care how good people say you are, when you get on the field you still have to perform. Because talking is not going to get the job done.”"…………….Soph Rushing Stats: 88 Larry Caper, Central (Battle Creek) 5 55 467 64 9 8.49 93.4………..Battle Creek Enquirer:  Week 9-”Pigskin playoffs kick off The Bearcats counter with 5-11, 235-pound Brandon Reynolds at fullback. Reynolds rushed for 736 yards and nine touchdowns while sharing carries with Larry Caper II (467 yards, 8 TDs, before a season-ending shoulder injury) and Bill Young (714, 8)”…………Battle Creek Enquirer:  Week 4 of 2006: “Larry Caper – BCC’s stable of backs shared a lot of carries, so Caper only had 50 yards on 12 carries, but managed to get into the endzone once for a score.; Week 3 of 2006-Week 3-Larry Caper – Our road trip featured player last week, Caper has gone over 100 yards each of the first three games and has scored 3 TDs in each. He had 116 yards on only 12 carried and 3 scores this week”………………Battle Creek Enquirer:  Week 4-”Freshman running back Larry Caper II continues to shine for the Bearcats as he tallied six carries for 62 yards and touchdown………..Battle Creek Enquirer:  Week 1-”The Bearcats’ production in the backfield didn’t stop with Alexander and Reynolds. In the second half with the starting backs on the bench, sophomore James Williams and freshman Larry Caper II gave BCC fans a glimpse at the future. Caper scored touchdowns on runs of 5 and 21 yards and certainly didn’t show the nerves that usually accompany a debut varsity game. Later, Williams came on and scored from 48 yards out, making the score 49-14.”

Name:	Donald Spencer
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	WR
Position:	WR/DB
Height:	6′4
Weight:	197
Forty:	4.65
City/School:	Ypsilanti
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST, IN
National Ranking Position:	52
Rating:	5
Sophomore Local Honors:	29-Sophs-Michigan (June 2007)
News And Notes:	One of the top junior receivers in Michigan…………He committed to Michigan State in February 2008………….As a junior, he had 18 receptions for 435 yards and eight touchdowns……………A D-I prospect who has nice height and is elusive…………..Looked pretty good at 2008 U.S. Army Combine…………..Visited Michigan for the September 8, 2007 Oregon loss…………Chelsea, Ypsi ready for kickoff By Don Richter, Sports Editor PUBLISHED: August 23, 2007 “”They line up with two receivers that will probably be the two best receivers we see all year,” Bush said. “Marvon Sanders, a senior and Donald Spencer, a junior are very talented. Spencer is a big-time recruit. He’s 6-foot-4, can run and he’s elusive.”"…………..Detroit News:  “CB E.J. Wilson and WR/DB Donald Spencer (WR/DB) will limit big plays”…………….One of 2 sophomores on the roster; Spencer, Donald Ypsilanti 10 WR 6′2″ 185

Name:	Bennie Fowler
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	WR
Position:	WR
Height:	6′1
Weight:	188
Forty:	4.60
City/School:	Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day
State:	Michigan
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	MICHST, EMU, IN, TOL
National Ranking Position:	68
Rating:	5
Combines:	2008:  Bennie Fowler 09 Detroit Country Day MI WR 6-1 188 4.60 4.19 30.9 36\’0\” 97.32
Links:
News And Notes:	One of the top junior receivers in Michigan………..He committed to Michigan State in July…………..His junior season is his first year of football as he played on the basketball and track (ran the 100-meters and 4×100-meters relay) teams as a sophomore……..Halfway through his junior season he had 5 receptions and 2 TDs playing in a run-oriented offense led by Class of 2008 superstar Jonas Gray. He missed much of the season with an injury……..A real sleeper prospect who shot up the charts in recruiting circles during the spring and summer of 2008 following several very impressive performances at camps and combines.  He has tremendous speed and did not play football until his junior season, and he was out with an injury for much of the year.  He plays for an elite prep school that is as strong as any school in the state academically and churns out atghletes in both basketball (Chris Webber, Shane Battier, many others) and football (most recently Michigan freshman Kenny Demens and Notre Dame freshman Jonas Gray)…….    Junior back-up at WR on the state Division 4 runner-up team…………First Team Columbus Nike Combine (March 2008)………..Among the top SPARQ performers at the March 2008 Columbus Nike…………….Hearing from numerous Big Ten schools

Name:	Patrick White
Class:	2009
Projected College Position:	WR
Position:	WR/DB
Height:	6′0
Weight:	171
Forty:	4.49
City/School:	Pickerington Central
State:	Ohio
College Commitment:	Michigan State
Top Offers:	AKRON, CIN, IN, ORE, KAN, LOU, MICHST
National Ranking Position:	76
Rating:	5
Junior Local Honors:	17-Juniors-Ohio (Bill Kurelic, December 2007); SM-Division I-AS; 1-Central District-Division I (DB)
Combines:	Patrick White Pickerington Central OH 5-11.5 171 4.22 7.12 35.5 8-9
News And Notes:	One of the top junior skill athletes in Ohio…………He committed to Michigan State in June……Through 8 games as a junior he had 29 receptions for 354 yards and 2 TDs as a WR and 31 tackles and 3 INTs as a DB……………Prefers to play on defense but has great hands as a WR……….Very impressive at May 2008 Columbus Nike Camp………..Very impressive at the 2007 Ohio State summer camp……..First Team All-Combine at the March 2008 Pittsburgh Scout.com/Under Armour Combine……………..Older brother Terence was a talented but injury-prone blue-chip prospect…………265 bench, 300 squat, 34 vertical, 4.24 shuttle……….Actively recruited by the Big Ten, including Ohio State, early in his junior year………..Columbus Suburban News:  “Four offensive starters have returned — senior left guard Aaron Rittgers (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), senior right tackle Tim McGougan (6-1, 235), junior wide receiver Patrick White (6-1, 175) and junior tight end Blaine Burgess (6-3, 230). White had 20 catches for 366 yards and one touchdown. The returning starters are senior inside linebacker Brennen Fraley (5-10, 190), senior cornerback Eisen Hardy (5-10, 170), junior linebacker Zach Boren (6-1, 240) and White at cornerback”………………Xolumbus Suburban News:  “An experienced group of wide receivers has returned, including seniors Brian Peters and Tim Robinson, junior Kyle Wood and sophomores Patrick White (brother of Terence) and Jamie Wood. Senior Michael Ward and Patrick White are back to start at cornerback, and seniors Jack Hickman and Matt Smith are back on the defensive line”………………Columbus Suburban News:  “Anderson can throw to receivers like senior Tim Robinson (5-7, 165) sophomore Patrick White (5-10, 160), senior Brian Peters (6-4, 205) and sophomore Jamie Wood (6-0, 159). Senior Jordan Jarrell (5-10, 190) can handle running back chores.”