Who Are The Top 2024 Stock-Risers?
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I absolutely love the 2024 class! This new update features 217 ranked athletes with over 60 more on the Watch List. This is an incredibly deep and closely contested class with a crazy amount of D1 grades (I could see…
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Continue ReadingI absolutely love the 2024 class! This new update features 217 ranked athletes with over 60 more on the Watch List. This is an incredibly deep and closely contested class with a crazy amount of D1 grades (I could see anyone in the top 70 playing D1 football). With such a significant update comes a few stock risers! This article will focus on seven of the highest risers in the class and discuss what’s earned them the ranking + dramatic rise.
RB | Nakai Amachree Nakai Amachree 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Haslett | 2024 State MI | Haslett
Since the last update, Nakai went from a Watch List RB to the #1 RB in the class. From the Week 1 kickoff, Nakai showed up and showed out, earning five Division 1 offers and interest from Power 5 programs. The most significant intrigue from Nakai is his return ability, as he proved to be lethal in the return game, taking multiple kicks to the house. I personally love Nakai’s patience, subtle shiftiness, change of direction, and acceleration. This is a very athletic RB with real Power 5 potential!
OL | Miguel Botello Miguel Botello 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Muskegon | 2024 State MI | Muskegon
This has been a long time coming for Miguel. After a sensational sophomore season, I decided to rank him, but I don’t think I ranked him high enough. After closely watching him at the DIII State Championship game, I knew he was a top 3 lineman in the class. Since the conclusion of last season, Miguel has picked up an offer from Eastern Michigan and 3-Star status by 247 Sports. 247 has Miguel ranked #37 in the class, while we have him ranked #27. The complexity of Muskegon’s scheme, Miguel’s mindset, tenacity, and performance against top opponents earned him this ranking.
ATH | CJ Hibbler CJ Hibbler 5'8" | 160 lbs | ATH Petoskey | 2024 State MI | Petoskey
I don’t know an athlete who’s had a more successful offseason than CJ! Despite a season-ending injury, CJ went from a small-town nobody to having 8+ Division 1 offers, most recently with a Kentucky offer. In stock terms, he was $1 per share before the 2022 season, and now, he’s at $100 per share. With all this recent attention, I’m intrigued to see what he can do in his senior season. As long as he plays at the same level as he did this season + stays healthy, I see CJ rising even more.
WR | Jake Vermaas Jake Vermaas 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR South Christian | 2024 State MI | South Christian
Vermaas pretty much came out of nowhere. After not even being in the system for the last update, he’s now #64 in the class and the #7 ranked receiver. His rise began during the State Championship, where he took off for 7 receptions for 152 yards. He was able to make a few contested catches, break a few tackles, and I’m still shocked he didn’t score. Especially coming from a run-heavy offense facing an excellent defense, this was a shockingly impressive performance.
Then came the Legacy Midwest Showcase. He didn’t do much at the showcase except win WR MVP while mossing a few great DBs. In all seriousness, Jake was incredible, and the QBs had massive trust in him. I love his route-running, ability to make contested catches, and YAC ability. With a great 2023 season, he will rise the ranks and pick up offers; I do not doubt it.
RB | Brock Townsend Brock Townsend 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Caledonia | 2024 State MI | Caledonia
I remember when CMU offered Brock and Derek, and my reaction was, “who”? At that point, the Caledonia duo hadn’t done too much, but after this season, oh boy. Brock was a huge part of Caledonia’s State Championship run and proved to be one of the top Running Backs in Michigan. Physically, he’s a muscular 6’0, 185 with great athleticism and good strength. Athletically, Brock has quick acceleration, great vision, and IQ. Also, Brock is an incredible Safety, and I see him as a Divison 1 RB and S prospect. I urge you to take a look at his highlights and see why Brock has 3 MAC Offers!
LB | Derek Pennington Jr. | Caledonia
The second high-riser from Caledonia is Derek Pennington. This was a player I had been itching to watch all season, and I’m glad I got to see him up close at the D1 State Championship. His stat-line from the game was 5 tackles, 1 FF, 2 receptions, 32 yards. Nothing really jumps out aside for the forced fumble, but let me tell you- Derek was Caledonia’s best defensive player when at full strength. Early in the game, Derek suffered a painful lower-body injury but was able to fight through it for much of the game. I loved how quickly Derek was able to react to a given play; he attacked instead of waiting, which is huge for any linebacker. In other words, not all tackles are created equal. I love a linebacker who can react quickly to blow a ballcarrier backward instead of waiting around until the ball comes to him. Derek is smart, resilient, and an attacker. Expect more college offers, and expect a great senior season.
LB | Carter Herriman Carter Herriman 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Davison | 2024 State MI | Davison
Like many of these athletes, my opinions of them significantly increased once I watched them play in person. With Herriman, he’s got a lot of great athletic ability but also a ton of uncoachable traits. Yes, he’s an excellent linebacker who can stop the run, he attacks, has good speed, and makes excellent tackles. Though what I love most about Carter is his passion and competitiveness. In a do-or-die playoff game against Clarkston, Carter was locked-in. He was Davison’s best defensive player during that game, and even though Clarkston ran all over them, little was Herriman’s fault (16 tackles, and he was actually held a few times). Despite the adversity, Carter still played his heart out, and most importantly, he never lost focus. Carter rose to the occasion with insane effort, passion, and healthy competitive emotion. You can tell this guy loves football, and I feel he’s a lock to contribute in college.