Most Crucial players in the D2 Regional Finals

The field is WIDE open in Division 2. In my opinion, seven of eight of the remaining teams have a shot at the State Championship. I believe this D2 bracket did a great job of giving us a final eight that pretty accurately shows us the top 8 teams at the regional stage. With that knowledge, it only makes sense that we're in for some extremely competitive games where certain players will need to step up.   QB | Justin Osterhouse | Forest Hills Central   I remember Osterhouse balling out last year during their game against Grand Blanc. I believe he was the backup last season, but he performed extremely well against a team who went on to beat Rockford on their way to the Semifinals. This season, he's been sound, and he'll have to continue taking good care of the football. East Lansing is an athletic team that flies all over the field, and they are known for developing good DBs. This is the time when Osterhouse can make a name for himself, but it's also the time when he'll have to elevate his game.   DB | [player_tooltip player_id='251945' first='Ty' last='Hudkins'] | Forest Hills Central   The OK-White isn't known for high-octane passing offenses, but East Lansing has some of the best receivers in the state. This is Ty's time to shine. This is a prospect with high-end speed and elite athleticism. He can stop and start on a dime, and I believe he has some of the best potential in the 2024 class. He has an offer from Western Michigan, and I'd be surprised if he didn't continue to get more offers with a great performance this weekend.   QB | [player_tooltip player_id='300131' first='Dalen' last='Adams'] | East Lansing   #4 can sling it, and it doesn't hurt that his receiving core is one of the best in the state. When watching Adams, you can easily see him going through progressions and him being decisive with the football. He throws the deep ball often and many times has a great touch to his throws. There are some slight underthrows on tape, which is a bit concerning when East Lansing goes up against the better secondaries in the state. As long as Adams protects the ball and stays calm, I expect East Lansing will do well. After all, the Capital Blue is balling out in the postseason thus far!   RB/DL | Colin Coffey | Midland   For the first time this year, Midland is a pretty big underdog. This is uncharted territory for the Chemics as they face off against the high-powered Dexter Dreadnaughts. Two-way players like Colin Coffey will play a huge role in this game. As a defender, Coffey must wrap up and make secure tackles against the best RB room in the state. Coffey needs to do his job, and he needs to do it well. He cannot allow himself to be moved on the defensive line, and with his 6'0", 225lb frame, he shouldn't be moved. Offensively, Coffey bursts through holes and has impressive acceleration for his size. With his bigger size, it will be critical for Coffey to fight for extra yards against a defense unwilling to give up an inch.   RB/LB | Joshua Woods | Groves   Woods has been a postseason standout thus far, having had two amazing games against Seaholm and another against Warren Mott. As a running back, Woods shines as a power-style back, oftentimes inviting contact. Throughout a game, his (and Groves as a whole) will physically impose their will against you. I think Frankin is well-adjusted to talented teams, but Woods is going to be extremely difficult to stop, no matter what. Now, on the defensive side of the ball, he's a good linebacker, but I'd like to see him be more aggressive and decisive. This is the time of the season when high tackles and indecisiveness aren't going to cut it.   RB | [player_tooltip player_id='344198' first='Alan' last='OuYang'] | L'Anse Creuse   OuYang is a great running back who remains somewhat unheard of. During this past off-season, OuYang performed amazingly at various camps, especially the Northwood Showcase at Farmington High School. Very twitchy but a bit tall at 6'0, OuYang will be facing his biggest test yet against De La Salle. I love how he follows his blocks and hits the holes hard, though he is unproven when his offensive line breaks down. To be fair, every RB is worse when their O-Line is inconsistent, but I feel that OuYang will have to make things happen against an amazing DLS front 7. If OuYang has a standout game, then L'Anse Creuse might have a fighting chance.

The field is WIDE open in Division 2. In my opinion, seven of eight of the remaining teams have a shot at the State Championship. I believe this D2 bracket did a great job of giving us a final eight that pretty accurately shows us the top 8 teams at the regional stage. With that knowledge, it only makes sense that we're in for some extremely competitive games where certain players will need to step up.