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Add commentMichigan prep football preview: Analyzing The D Zone's top-10 teams
Friday night lights have returned to Michigan for the 2024 high school football season.
The Great Lakes state features an abundance of talented teams and players. A supply-chain of future D1 college athletes will take the field this weekend to start the 2024 season.
All eight divisions feature numerous contenders, and 8-man football has really caught on in recent years.
Here’s a look at the top-10 ranked teams by The D Zone:
#1 Belleville - Michigan’s version of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Tigers have lost one game or less every season since 2017. During that span, Belleville has won two state titles and earned a state runner-up finish. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, an LSU commit, is the top-ranked QB nationally for the class of 2025. Belleville just missed out on a three-peat last year with a 36-32 state-title loss against Southfield A&T. They will be ready for redemption.
Key Matchup: In all honesty, this Belleville team is so good and so loaded with talent, its first major test will likely come somewhere in the playoffs. With that being said, a state title is the expectation, so the championship game will be this team’s key matchup of the season.
Key Players: Bryce Underwood (QB), Elijah Dotson (WR, S), Andre Thomas (RB, OLB), Adrian Walker (WR, CB), Antwon Thomas (WR, CB), Rashad Jones (TE, DE), Lamar Fairfax (OL, DL) Trey Graham (WR, CB), Charles Britton (WR)
#2 Cass Tech - A model of consistency, the Technicians have made the playoffs every season since 2008. Cass Tech won a state title in 2016, and have a few state semifinal appearances mixed in over the last 15 years. Five-star recruit Corey Sadler is elite on both sides of the ball and will have even more help around him this season. Cass Tech had a semi-disappointing 7-4 record last fall, so they should be hungry to improve.
Key Matchup: Another tough schedule awaits the Technicians, who certainly have the squad to deliver. A Week 1 matchup against Rockford will pit one of Detroit’s best against Grand Rapids’ highest-ranked team. That’s always a compelling matchup.
Key Players: Corey Sadler (ATH, DB), Cashus Shivers (DB), Marcus Jennings (DB), Logan Howell (DL), John Baker (TE, DE), Derrick Jackson (S), De’Mari Hendrix (RB), Collin Sumpter, (OLB), Gavin Fernandez (G), Khalief Canty Jr. (OT), Cam Summerour (RB, LB), Emory Jones (WR, DB), Seth Sendry (QB)
#3 Muskegon - Muskegon has reached every playoff since the 2000 season. The Big Reds always boast a roster filled with future college stars. In the last 25 years, Muskegon has won five state titles and finished runner-up five more times. That sort of elite consistency has turned coaches and programs into legends. Fresh off a state title last fall, Muskegon will have to prove its still hungry to win.
Key Matchup: On September 27, Muskegon will battle rivals Mona Shores in a fight for the city. Mona Shores was a tough opponent last year and might be even better this fall. Muskegon always puts on a great show, but this could be a trap game.
Key Players: Recarder Kitchen (DE), James Young (QB), Darekeo Speech (OLB), Jamir Matthews (WR, DB), Jayvon Burmiester (WR, DB), Keith Hudson (RB, DB), Ameer Ware (RB, LB), Javen Puhalski (OL, DL), N-Kye Wynn (OL), Jim Harris (OL)
#4 De La Salle - On the heel of seven straight postseason appearances - and an overall record of 63-18 during that span - the Pilots have entrenched themselves among the upper-echelon football programs throughout the state. From 2018 through 2023, De La Salle played in five state championship games. They won three of them. The Pilots play in the tough Catholic League, which primes them for a long playoff journey.
Key Matchups: Talk about tone setters. The Pilots will begin the season with top-10 matchups against Davison and Detroit King. All three squads are physical and determined to make deep tournament runs. If De La Salle walks out of the matchups unscathed, they could run the table.
Key Players: Dalton Drogosh (LB), Damion King (WR), Sante Gasperoni (QB), Jacob Tur (DL), Phoenix Glassnor (WR, DB), Terrall Turner (OL, DL), Jacob Hoffman (OL), Drew Bouhanna (WR, LB), Sebastian Rouse (WR, KR, DB), Walker Neff (WR, DB),
#5 Davison - The Cardinals have routinely reached the playoffs since 2001. Missing the postseason only four times during that span. Davison lost to Belleville in the semifinals last fall, lost the state title in 2020, and claimed a state title in 2019. The Cardinals boast some gritty, physical players who are still trying to expand their recruiting reach. This should be a hungry squad who plays some passionate football every week.
Key Matchup: The Cardinals face off against East Lansing on October 4 in a battle of top-10, preseason teams. After losing in the state semifinal last season, Davison will be eager to prove they can repeat that success.
Key Players: Jaxson Dosh (QB, DB), Robbie Martin (WR, DB), Warren Cain (DE), Micah Kemp (WR), Ben Nichols (OL), AJ Hill (RB), Braylen Naves (WR), Payton Kokaly (TE, WR)
#6 West Bloomfield - Ten straight playoff appearances has boosted this program into an annual title threat. During that time, West Bloomfield has won at least nine games eight times. The Lakers hope they can recapture the magic that led them to a state championship in 2020. West Bloomfield lost to Southfield in the semifinals last fall, a disappointing end after beating Southfield in the regular season.
Key Matchup: Clarkston versus West Bloomfield has produced some close and exciting contests in recent years. On September 27, the two teams will meet for their latest, thrilling installment. The winner should get a nice mid-season boost.
Key Players: Joshua Tate (RB, LB), Elisha Durham (WR, S), Jeremiah Benson (OL, DL), Kamren Flowers (WR), Jay Gardenhire (OL), Jonathan Edison (DB), Jaiden Allos (WR, LB), Beau Jackson (QB), Corey Pittman (WR, LB)
#7 Detroit King - The Crusaders have only missed the playoffs one time (2008) since the end of the 1998 season. Detroit King won a state title in 2022, defeating Muskegon by a convincing 56-27 margin. Despite losing five regular-season games last fall (three against out-of-state teams), King still rallied to make a long postseason run, ended by Mason in the semifinals. If you like points, check out the Crusaders because they’ve scored over 400 points in all but two seasons since 2017.
Key Matchup: A September 20 matchup against state-title hopefuls Cass Tech will be a spirited intercity grudge match. Since 2020, the two teams have played close matchups, with eight points the largest margin of victory. This should be a physical, thrilling battle.
Key Players: Darryl Flemister III (RB, CB), Xavier Newsom (TE, DE), Jaidon Windom (S), Damon Stennis (WR), Willie Fletcher (RB, DE), Don Spiller (DB), Jacobe Finley (OL, DL), Calvin Wahington (G), Jameer Henry (OT, DE), Trevor Dhue Reed (OT, DE), Michael Dukes (RB, LB)
#8 East Lansing - The Trojans have been a borderline elite program since 1990, making 27 playoff appearances in the last 34 years. Although East Lansing has been great at getting to the playoffs, they haven’t always been able to produce long runs. That could change this year, as the Trojans have state title hopes in both football and boys basketball.
Key Matchup: The Trojans started last season with a loss against Portage Central. The two teams will again kick off the season August 30. East Lansing has the rare chance to win both a football and boys basketball state title this school year. Beating Portage Central might create positive vibes.
Key Players: Dwayne Sams (RB, S), Jace Clarizio (RB), Darryle Geter (DB), Jaquai Potter (WR, CB), Owen Fortman (WR), Tommy Stout (OL), BJ Windham (DB)
#9 Rockford - People have a better chance of cheating death than seeing the Rams miss the playoffs. Rockford has reached the postseason every year since 1995. That’s nearly 30 years of continued excellence. It doesn’t get much better than that. During that time, the Rams have won three state titles and lost a few more. This well-balanced team has challenged itself with a tough schedule, which should be fun for everyone in the Grand Rapids area.
Key Matchup: The Rams defeated Muskegon in Week 1 last fall. This year, they face the Big Reds on the second Friday, September 6, in a key OK Conference clash. Rockford has only lost four games since 2019, and they won’t want to add to that so early in the season.
Key Players: Blake Linsley (OL), Zane Panchula (OL, DL), Lucas Pitsch (WR), Logan Haglund (LB), Isaac Poot (DB), Chase Vogt (K), Luke Ahern (DB)
#10 Harper Woods - Michigan was awoken to a sleeping giant last fall when Harper Woods rattled off eight straight wins - after a 3-3 start - to earn a state title. The Pioneers have only made the playoffs five times since 2010, but clearly figured things out last season. It will be interesting to see how Harper Woods handles another tough schedule. But then again, the Pioneers proved last year a few regular-season losses doesn’t really mean much.
Key Matchup: Harper Woods has lost to Southfield each of the last two seasons, but the third time might be the charm on October 4. The Pioneers won a state title last fall despite losing three regular-season games. Beating Southfield would continue to add another accomplishment.
Key Players: Dakota Guerrant (WR, DB), Nate Rocheleau (QB), Corey Bailey (DE), Bryant Witherspoon (TE, DE), AJ Henley (WR, TE), Matt McCraw (LB), Donald Adams (RB), Jajuan Jones (DB), J-Shawn Kennedy (DL, OL), Kenneth Franklin (OL, DL), Vory Peacock (DE)