Michigan's most Under-Appreciated Seniors

There's some very well-advertised talent in Michigan. Especially in Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids, several athletes receive a ton of media attention. Though, there are other players equally as skilled who simply don't receive a ton of attention, either because of position or geographic area. Here, I mention five Division 1 prospects who I believe deserve a shoutout!    All linemen are oftentimes unsung heroes. Especially on a program with several Division 1 skill position players, a defensive lineman like Warren doesn't receive the attention he deserves. Warren has the opportunity to play football at Western Michigan because of a combination of size and skillset. In terms of size, Warren is an ideal 6'4" 230. Just an inch or two shorter, and he'd be a D2 prospect. Unfortunately, an inch or two greater may have garnered B1G 10 offers. Regardless, Warren sports great skill as a defensive end. His #1 trait in my opinion is his pass rush. No matter who he's going up against, Warren sports violent hands, good bend, and an unrelenting motor. I especially like how quickly he fires off the ball and how surgical he is with his hands. Warren is also great at defending the run. Time after time on his highlight tape, you'll see Warren push around O-Linemen, oftentimes completely ruining the play. This is an all-around great defensive end who has a very high ceiling in college. I hope to see Warren playing high-level Saturday football in a few years!     Out of all the D1-committed skill position players in Michigan, I've seen the least amount of attention directed toward [player_tooltip player_id='577658' first='Max' last='Macklem']. I recently discussed Max in my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/breaking-down-the-highest-ranked-central-michigan-commits/">In-State Central Michigan Commits article</a>. In short, Max is a player who can thrive in multiple positions. As a receiver, Max is an open-field threat and an overall explosive player. That said, he's not a one-trick pony and he's very well-rounded. Ask him to run deep and snag a contested ball? Max can do it. Want him to run a reverse? Max can do that too. In addition, he's got the athletesism to play defensive back at a very high level. I've seen a ton of athletes who are great at a few things, but lack in other areas. In Max's case, he's earned the opportunity to play at Central Michigan through extremely hard work to become the most well-rounded player he can possibly be.     As I said above, the linemen don't get as much attention. In Derek's case, he's a PHENOMENAL defensive lineman but doesn't get as much attention in part because he's a small-school player outside of any major city. Watch his tape, and you'll see why Derek is committed to Michigan State.   When it comes to skill, Derek is among the best I've seen from a defensive tackle. Time and time again on his highlight tape, Derek explodes out of his stance, pancakes the opposing offensive lineman, and annihilates whoever is carrying the ball. That said, Derek has rare strength and one of the most explosive getoffs I've ever seen from an interior defensive lineman.   Lastly, I'll touch on his size. 6'3" 270lbs is absolutely perfect for an interior defensive lineman. Derek's size doesn't only make him a high-upside player in College, but a potential NFL contributor as well.     Carson might be the most under-appreciated athlete in all of Michigan. Although I don't think he projects very well as a college quarterback, Carson is one of the best High School QBs I've ever seen. His play last season allowed South Christian to compete for a State Championship. Speaking of the State Championship, Carson totaled 441 yards passing, 80 rushing yards, and 3 total touchdowns. He did all of that despite facing once of the most talented defenses in the state, and while he was under constant pressure.   Carson is a rare athlete who's able to play at 100% throughout all four quarters. Last season, I never saw Carson slow down, and he always seemed locked-in. This season, I expect Carson to continue being a phenomenal playmaker and I expect him to lead South Christian to yet another deep playoff run.     Finally, we've got a top 5 player in Michigan. Derrin Strey is among the best offensive linemen in the Midwest but doesn't seem to get as much attention as other linemen attending more prominent programs. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16430348/6537cc35f5602b0e4876b8b1">Watch his tape</a>, and you'll see why he's committed to Kentucky. In short, he's an unstoppable force in the run game, and I'd trust he's a great pass blocker considering the SEC Commitment. Time after time you'll see Darrin bulldoze through opposing defenders. No matter who it is, Darrin seems to effortlessly bulldoze past them. From what I've seen with his tape in addition to conversations with a few coaches, I'm confident that Darrin is set up incredibly well to dominate in the SEC.

There's some very well-advertised talent in Michigan. Especially in Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids, several athletes receive a ton of media attention. Though, there are other players equally as skilled who simply don't receive a ton of attention, either because of position or geographic area. Here, I mention five Division 1 prospects who I believe deserve a shoutout!