Best Returners & Biggest Shoes to Fill in the OAA-Red

The OAA Red is among the most elite leagues in the entire state. Year after year, there’s at least 1 if not 2 state championship contenders in this elite league. This coming season, the OAA Red boasts elite division 1 talent on each and every team. No team will have any "bye" weeks in 2022. In the OAA Red, you come to play. Here are some of the best graduating athletes, as well as the best returner on each squad. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">West Bloomfield</span></strong> <strong>Biggest Shoes - RB <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11140848">[player_tooltip player_id="30133" first="Dillon" last="Tatum"]</a></strong> <strong>Best Returner - ATH <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13195104">Semaj j. Morgan</a></strong> I expect West Bloomfield to get back to its dominant ways. They return a ton of elite starters and are of course historically amazing. [player_tooltip player_id="30133" first="Dillon" last="Tatum"] is headed to be the future RB1 at Michigan State, while Semaj Morgan is one of the most underrated talents in the state headed to Michigan. Look out. West Bloomfield will be great. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Clarkston</span></strong> <strong>Biggest Shoes - QB <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11106945">[player_tooltip player_id="30159" first="Mike" last="DePillo"]</a></strong> <strong>Best Returner - G <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13192685">[player_tooltip player_id="30321" first="Cole" last="Dellinger"]</a></strong> The Wolves are consistently great, and they lose a great one in 6’6" QB [player_tooltip player_id="30159" first="Mike" last="DePillo"], though they retain some amazing talent, including D1 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="30321" first="Cole" last="Dellinger"]. Up and down the board, Clarkston is just as talented as West Bloomfield. Look out for Clarkston to be at the top of their game in 2022 and back in the State Championship mix. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Oxford</span></strong> <strong>Best Returner - <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13053729">Cameron Jarrett</a></strong> Nobody can ever fill the shoes of [player_tooltip player_id="244236" first="Tate" last="Myre"]. That’s why I didn’t put him, or anyone down as shoes to fill. [player_tooltip player_id="244236" first="Tate" last="Myre"] is an American Hero and would have been Oxford’s best returner. Myre was legitimately a D1 prospect. The amount that the Oxford community has gone through and continues to go through is immeasurable. Speaking through a scout’s lens, Oxford has a massive 2022 senior class and many players will have to step up in order for Oxford to make a playoff run. It’s not impossible, but I’m afraid that it’s improbable for Oxford to be as good as they were in 2021 souly based on how many senior starters they had. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Stoney Creek</span></strong> <strong>Biggest Shoes - QB [player_tooltip player_id="93674" first="Jacob" last="Best"] </strong> <strong>Best Returner - OL J<a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14471078">acob Kropchak</a></strong> This team has greatly improved over the years. Kropchak is legitimately one of the best linemen in the entire state, and he’ll be able to manhandle most everyone that steps in his path. In general, Stoney Creek has some nice turnaround from 2021 to 2022. I would not count them out of the OAA Red one bit. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lake Orion</span></strong> <strong>Biggest Shoes - WR <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11127678">[player_tooltip player_id="164644" first="Stephen" last="Brown"]</a></strong> <strong>Best Returner - DE <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13127454">James Patterson Jr</a></strong> The Dragons just plainly need to put it together. They were inconsistent last season, and they lose a good amount of seniors as well. James Patterson Jr is an incredible defensive end that will undoubtedly make a huge difference any and every Friday night. Losing [player_tooltip player_id="164644" first="Stephen" last="Brown"] will hurt, as some young receivers are going to have to step up. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Southfield A&amp;T</span></strong> <strong>Biggest Shoes - LB <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14483158">Jerome Baker</a></strong> <strong>Best Returner - QB <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14556350">[player_tooltip player_id="77216" first="Isaiah" last="Marshall"]</a></strong> Seems strange seeing Southfield A&amp;T at the bottom of the league standings considering their talent. Of course, the face of this team is [player_tooltip player_id="77216" first="Isaiah" last="Marshall"], one of the premier QB’s in the state who will have the opportunity to play Division 1 College Football. T<a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16038485">ashi Braceful</a> stands out as a top-target for Marshall and he will be able to get some offers with a great year as well. All in all, this is a stacked OAA-Red and Southfield A&amp;T will be in the mix for a while.