TOP PREP FOOTBALL PLAYERS

READY TO RUMBLE: Zach collins is isgoing to be a four-year starter at linebacker atClarkston and one of the reasons why the Wolves are one of the state's top teams in Division 1. File Photo | LarryMcKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

TOP PREP FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Senior Editor Dan Stickradt scouts the top prep football players in the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area for 2011.

1. ZACH COLLINS, Clarkston sr. LB (6-2, 210): Just the third, fourth-year starter under veteran coach Kurt Richardson, who is in his 25^th season with the Wolves, Collins is like flies on ribroast when attacking the football. He has great anticipation skills, can hit with the best of them and has good hands to make the pick. He is being courted by several Division I schools with an eye on the Ivy League.

2. MITCH ROBINSON, Auburn Hills Avondale sr. QB (6-1, 185): This talent is going to be a third-year starter at quarterback and a fourth-year starter as a catcher in baseball. He has a powerful, accurate arm, as displayed by a school record 46 touchdown passes last season with over 3,600 total yards. His abilities will be under more of a watchful eye of college recruiters this season with the arrival of several new skilled athletes in the Yellowjackets’ lineup. Division I Lehigh is one of many who have an eye on Robinson’s progress.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS: Auburn Hills Avondale's Mitch Robinson passed for 46 touchdowns last season and is one of the state's top quarterbacks. File Photo

3. SEAN CHARETTE, Lake Orion sr. QB (5-11, 175): Although he missed the final 2.5 games of the Dragons’ Division 1 title run last autumn, this fourth-year starter is calm, cool and collected while in the lineup. A high-character player with rare high-level leadership qualities, Charette collected 20 touchdowns and over 1,500 passing yards last season. He will be leading a young, but ever-talented group this season with the graduation of 18 starters.

4. MATT DELLINGER, Clarkston sr. LB-WR (6-2, 205): Already committed to Kent State, this two-sport athlete is part of a deep and talented defensive lineup at Clarkston. He will be turned loose on every down to haunt opposing players with the football. Tough-minded, relentless player should be one of the area’s leaders in tackles by season’s end.

5. PRESCOTT LINE, Oxford sr. LB-RB (6-2, 220): Line, another three-sport athlete, will join his older brother, Zach Line, down at Southern Methodist next school year. Not before he has some unfinished business on the prep scene. He is a ferocious linebacker with great agility, speed and has the ability to swarm the ball in a hurry. He is also a power back that can barrel people over. Line was also a D-1 team and individual state champion 215-pounder in wrestling and heaved the shot put 46 feet in track.

6. TONY ANNESE, Rochester Adams sr. SE-QB-WR (6-2, 200): Last season, Annese transferred over from Hartland and played all over the field. It’s that ability that makes him so dangerous and valuable. The sole returning starter on offense for Adams reads defenses well and has a strong arm. On defense as a safety, a position he’ll play in college, he can read the play before it happens and has the capability to switch on a dime and step in and cause havoc on the intended receiver. He has committed to Central Michigan University.

7. COLLIN GOETZ, Oxford sr. OL-DL (6-7, 255): Already sending a verbal to Central Michigan, Goetz is a prospect on the rise. He is strong, powerful and versatile. He plays basketball and was 12^th in the state in shot put at the D-1 state finals last June. He was hurt part of last season but is healthy and will be tough to move out of the way on the lines.

8. JOHN GALL, Lake Orion sr. LB (6-0, 200): One of just four regular starters back for Lake Orion, the third-year starter was an all-league and all-area selection last season. He earned Team Defensive MVP last season with his consistent ability to make both the routine and clutch play throughout the Dragons’ 14-game schedule last season. Gall is on the radar of several college scouts.

9. JUSTIN MEZSETS, Ortonville Brandon sr. OL (6-5, 300): This player brings in plenty of experience as a third-year starter and his stock has been steadily been rising. Also a thrower in track and field, Mezsets has the size and ability to play in college and is far from reaching his ceiling. He is the consummate pile-mover, creating plenty of space for the Blackhawks’ skilled athletes to move the football.

NOT ON MY WATCH: Ortonville-Brandon's Justin Mezsets is a towering figure in the trenches and one of the reasons why the Blackhawks are slated to contend in the Flint Metro League this season. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

10. CODY DEVOE, Rochester sr. RB (5-10, 190): An all-state wrestler, DeVoe is quick and powerful and is tough to bring down when carrying the football. He earned all-league status last season in the OAA Red Division last season and should be one of the better backs in Oakland County this season.

11. ANDREW SHAFKALIS, Lake Orion sr. DE (6-2, 215): Transferring over from Rochester midway through his sophomore school year, Shafkalis was a welcome addition to the Dragons’ defensive schemes last season. Known to make several clutch plays, the hard-hitting Shafkalis will be relied upon to lead an inexperienced but large and talented line this season. His play this season will determine which level of college football he ends up playing one year from now.

12. NATHAN DREWS, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest jr. QB-DB-K-P (6-1, 195): One of the better small-school players in the state, Drews is a leader in both football and basketball, where he is a starter at point guard. He will be a four-year player in basketball and three-year starter in football before he graduates. He has a strong arm with tons of upside and with two years of high school ball still on the docket. Drews passed for more than 1,600 yards as a sophomore.

13. KURT APOSTOL, Rochester sr. LB (6-2, 220): Apostol is rugged player that is hard to move out of the way. He has great agility and is quick to hound the football. Apostol earned all-league honors last season and is now on the radar of several D-I and D-II college scouts. He also plays center in basketball, showcasing similar abilities on the hardcourt.

14. ANDREW AURAND, Troy Athens sr. OL (6-4, 290): A Division I recruit being courted by some MAC schools, Aurand has continued to bulk up but has possessed great mobility for a player his size. He is the type of player that keeps getting better with age.

15. LUCAS SANDERS, Clarkston sr. OL-DE (6-1, 300): Teams will think again trying to run up the middle against Clarkston. Sanders is a wide-body with great mobility for a player his size and he has the ability to close down holes in a hurry and knock players out of the way with authority.

16. SERGE ANDREOU, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. OG/DT (5-11, 235): Just one of two regular starters back for the Cougars, Andreou is as tough as nails. Another all-state wrestler, he is as strong of a player pound-for-pound to come through the Stoney Creek program and is a strong pile mover on both sides of the football. He is another player to that should show up on college scouts’ radars.

17. JOEY GOSS, Clarkston sr. RB (5-8, 170): Goss has improved his size and speed in the offseason with some relentless training and will be the key back in the Wolves’ attack this season. His ability to get to the holes will be crucial, because he has the speed and acceleration to be one of the better running backs in the OAAL.

18. NICK GAJDZIK, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. C-DT (6-3, 225): A state runner-up 215-pounder in wrestling to the aforementioned Prescott Line of Oxford, Gajdzik is athletic, quick, agile and powerful, the type of player any team needs from a two-way lineman. Suiting up for an extremely young team, Gajdzik will see his own stock rise if he can cover a lot of ground for the Cougars.

19. BEN BARTNOWAK, Troy Athens sr. QB (6-1, 230): This third-year starter has bulked up to aid the running game and he has worked hard on his passing accuracy, which will lend a hand in Athens making a comeback on the football field after a few down years. If Bartnowak can get the ball to the right players with consistency, then he’ll be a player to watch and Athens will be a sleeper pick in the OAA.

20. MATT ECONOMOU, Oxford sr. DB-WR (6-1, 190): Another prospect who is being courted by schools in more than one sport, including baseball and football, Economou is hoping to bounce back from an injury-plagued junior season. He combines great anticipation skills with good speed, lateral movement and hand-eye coordination. Another fine example of cross-sport training helping athletes become college prospects.

OTHERS TO WATCH (Listed Alphabetically):

Robert Aiello, Lake Orion sr. WR (6-3, 180); Mitch Baenziger, Clarkston sr. QB (6-2, 175); Jarrett Bochniak, Troy sr. OL-LB (6-2, 225); Adam Boike, Rochester Adams sr. RB-DB (5-11, 170); Lonnie Bolden, Troy Athens sr. DB-RB-WR (5-10, 190); Clark Clancy, Auburn Hills Avondale jr. OT (6-4, 240); Matt Cobb, Rochester Adams jr. OT/DT (6-2, 240); Craig Colombo, Clarkston jr. C (6-2, 250); Kevin Cronin, Lake Orion sr. OL (6-0, 245); Jake Doetsch, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes sr. DE-RB (6-3, 200); Jeff Douglas, Auburn Hills Avondale sr. WR-SE (6-1, 175); Mitchell Essian, Troy Christian Leadership Academy sr. RB-QB-DB (5-11, 170); Shane Frakes, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep RB-LB (6-0,195); Austin Hopkin, Holly sr. WR-DB (6-4, 190); Ryan Housworth, Holly sr. DE (6-2, 190); Justin Losey, Troy jr. QB-FS (5-7, 145); Shane Mahaffy, Ortonville Brandon sr. QB (5-10, 170); Nick Mattich, Clarkston soph. OG (6-0, 240); Chaz Miller, jr. WR (6-6, 210); Kevin Mooney, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes sr. RB-DB (5-9,185); Matt Oppenlander, Troy sr. OLB-RB (6-0, 180); Jacob Romeo, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep RB-CB (6-0,195); Troy Sassack, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep sr. WR (6-4,190); Mike Schwartz, Clarkston sr. WR (6-3, 170); Shawn Scott, Holly sr. LB (6-2, 200); Matt Selak, Ortonville Brandon sr. OT (6-3, 250); Matt Sokol, Rochester Adams soph. FB-QB-TE-LB (6-5, 200); Eric Stubbs, Auburn Hills Avondale jr. WR-RB (6-1, 175); Jalen Thomas, Troy Athens jr. DT/OT (6-4, 260); Lawrence Walls, Rochester sr. DL (6-1, 280); James Ward, Rochester jr. RB (5-9, 160); Greg Webber, Troy jr. OG-DT (6-3, 275); Jake Weir, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes sr. OL-DL (6-0, 185); Johnny Williams, Holly sr. QB (5-9, 170); Paul Ziemba, Rochester Stoney Creek sr. TB-LB (6-1, 205).

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS TO WATCH — Alex Barta, Clarkston sr. K-P (6-3, 210); Mike Kitchner, Oxford sr. K-P (6-3, 190); T.J. Dean, Rochester sr. P (5-10, 170); Shawn Murphy, sr. K (5-7, 145).

TRANSFERS TO REMEMBER — Kris Gervin, Troy Athens sr. RB (5-8, 195); Lonnie Jaynes, Troy Athens jr. RB-DB (5-11, 205); Manny Mandoiza, Rochester jr. WR (6-3, 195); Cortez Saine, Troy Christian Leadership Academy sr. DB-RB (5-10, 180).

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Category: All Area Teams, Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Christian Acadamy, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Clarkston, Clarkston Everest Catholic, Clarkston Springfield Christian, High School, High School (M-Z), Holly, Lake Orion, Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Ortonville Brandon, Oxford, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Hills Christian, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Rochester Stoney Creek, Stats / Area Leaders, Troy, Troy Athens, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Acadamy, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes