2025 Mr. Football?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mr. Football is arguably the greatest "individual award" you can receive as a high school football player. Every year, State Champs gives out this honor to Michigan's most outstanding player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the NFL MVP or Heisman trophy, there are very clear trends with Mr. Football. Looking at trends since 2010, every Mr. Football has been a senior. Additionally, 7 of the last 8 Mr. Football winners have been quarterbacks, and ZERO have been anything but QB, WR, or RB. Finally, the vast majority Mr. Football winners also won a state championship at a big school, although several non-championship players have been nominated, and even in the final four. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although this is technically an individual award, history tells us that a state championship significantly boosts your odds at Mr. Football. I'll reference this for everyone, but the reality seems to be that the surrounding cast also needs to compete at an extremely high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, for this article, we're looking at players who fit this critera:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A. Player must be an offensive skill position player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B. Player must be a senior (class of 2026). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B. Player must be on a state-championship-contending "big school".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C. Player must already be very highly ranked. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212358"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5c1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If I had to pick a favorite, it would be [player_tooltip player_id='212358' first='Corey' last='Sadler']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though Corey no longer plays QB, he's absolutely one of those special players that is an exception to the trend. Corey is an elite athlete on both sides of the ball, an excellent weapon in space, a ball hawk on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anyone who knows anything about Michigan High School Football knows who [player_tooltip player_id='212358' first='Corey' last='Sadler'] is. IF Cass Tech defends its state championship, I think it's extremely likely that Corey is Mr. Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["119260"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5c7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaxson is the heart and soul of one of the most high-octane offenses in Michigan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reality for Mr. Football candidates is that a state championship run is almost required for the award. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skill-wise, Jaxson has what it takes. He's got what I think is the best arm in Michigan, and he's absolutely the most athletic QB in Michigan. Experienced, polished, and absolutely a candidate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["570285"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5cc5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I gotta say it for everyone- if East Kentwood makes a state championship run, Kayd has a great shot at Mr. Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kayd is a major sleeper for this award. Heck, East Kentwood nearly upset the state runner-up Hudsonville in the first round of last year's playoffs. With this being Kayd's senior season, this could be the year that East Kentwood explodes back into the State Championship conversation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, Kayd should take a leap. The game should slow down, as he's now used to what OK Red defenses are going to throw at him. A jump in production + better supporting cast could result in Mr. Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["909904"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5d08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">High-scoring offense, breakout 2024 as a team, trending up this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The recipe is there for a [player_tooltip player_id='909904' first='Jake' last='Morrow'] / Grand Blanc Mr. Football run. Again, Grand Blanc is probably going to have to surpass all expectations and make it to Ford Field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to [player_tooltip player_id='909904' first='Jake' last='Morrow'], I'm supremely confident that he'll once again lead Grand Blanc to an excellent year on offense. Grand Blanc will score points, and Jake will do well. It's late in the playoffs against the really hot teams that will make or break Jake and this team as a whole. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318570"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5d48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's not going to come easy for Vitti. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dudes a game-breaker. No question that he's talented enough for this award. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like everyone on this list, team performance is going to play a big role. I like the pieces on this Divine Child roster, but they've got to get it done in the postseason. A state championship run will almost certainly propel Vitti into the Mr. Football conversation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["566987"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5d87"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps a bit of a reach, but absolutely deserving of being in the conversation if Adams goes on a State Championship run as they did in 2021. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I know that Ryland's got the stuff to lead this offense to success. They're my #1 team in the OAA Red this year, and much of that is because of Watters and the proven offensive and defensive scheme. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though if we look back to 2021, Adams had another elite QB, Parker Picot. I personally cannot find a source mentioning Picot as a Mr. Football candidate. Picot deserved a look in 2021, and if Adams makes a run to Ford Field, Watters will be deserving of a nomination. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1148715"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68924c8dd5dc3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gash has a lot of things going for him when it comes to Mr. Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For one, Gash is at a big, prestigious school that was probably the 2nd best team in Michigan last season. Catholic Central returns a ton of talent. On paper, this program is better than they were last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second, Gash is a cheat code out there. He can do everything that the previous Mr. Footall WRs could do. Take the top off the defense, elusiveness in space, consistent hands, and more. If DCC makes a state championship run, which I feel they have a great chance at doing, Gash could be Mr. Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->