Best Returning Weapons in the Downriver League
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The Downriver League is a huge league made up of 9 great programs. Last season, Carlson and Trenton came out on top of the league, both sporting a 7-1 league record. Not far behind was Woodhaven, Allen Park, and Southgate,…
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Continue ReadingThe Downriver League is a huge league made up of 9 great programs. Last season, Carlson and Trenton came out on top of the league, both sporting a 7-1 league record. Not far behind was Woodhaven, Allen Park, and Southgate, who all finished with an above .500 league record. Not to mention Trenton advancing to the regional finals, with 5 total playoff teams in the Downriver league. Today, we’ll be diving into the best returning weapons in the league!
RB | Izaiah Wright Izaiah Wright 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Gibraltar Carlson | 2026 State MI | Carlson | Hudl
The best up-and-coming talent in the Downriver League is Isaiah Wright. The Freshman RB broke out with great vision and top-end speed for his age. A lot of his highlights are plain fun to watch, as it’s usually a great play all-around with all 11 doing their job, with Izaiah still doing a lot himself and taking it to the house. When everything goes as planned, Izaiah simply follows his blocks and turns on the jets when need be. On more broken plays, Izaiah is also able to make a man miss or use some power to gain extra yards. I’m very excited for his Sophomore campaign, and I know he’s been working hard this offseason. Oh, and he just ran a 10.98 100M.
ATH | Nathan Ariganello Nathan Ariganello 6'1" | 180 lbs | RB Trenton | 2024 MI | Trenton | Hudl
Nathan does a lot on the football field, but If I had to put him at one position, it would be slot. Offensively, Nathan plays a big role in the triple-option plays that Trenton runs. He does a good job at catching the ball in stride and running upfield without trying to do anything fancy. He also isn’t afraid of contact, oftentimes lowering his shoulder at incoming tackles. I can’t help but think Ariganello would be an excellent collegiate Rugby player considering his style of play.
QB | Ben Kolodzielczyk | Woodhaven | Hudl
Ben is heading into his senior year after a good Junior season. As a Junior, Ben did everything in his power to make plays. Doing a lot with the read option, Ben displays real good vision after pulling and running. I’d love to see more athleticism and speed from Ben, as he would have been able to take many more plays to the house. I hope he can be someone that is a vocal leader for Woodhaven and someone that continues to develop, eventually heading into college.
RB/LB | Glen Webster | Allen Park | Hudl
I was pleasantly surprised watching Glen’s tape for the first time! As a running back, Glen is excellent in the shorter-yardage power situations as he’s able to bowl through contact and deliver his hits. His 205lb frame going full speed at you is not easy to bring down! As a linebacker, I like Glen’s instincts and physicality. He’s able to shed blocks at the line and almost play like a run-stuffing IDL at times. Good player, good team, excited to see what Senior year has in store!
LB/RB | Chase Barbosa Chase Barbosa 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Anderson | 2024 State MI | Southgate Anderson | Hudl
Chase Barbosa Chase Barbosa 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Anderson | 2024 State MI has emerged as a great two-way player, being especially successful at OLB. Defensively, Chase has a great get-off that allows him to get into backfields quickly. His tackling is solid, and is not afraid of contact. Chase doesn’t react, he attacks. Offensively, he’s a great role player as a running back and when needed, WR. Chase is a straight-up athlete that is one of Downriver’s must-see prospects!