The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/80972
MICHIGAN TOP 15 MICHIGAN TOP 15 The Best In The State In The Class Of 2013 T BY TIM SULLIVAN he Wolverines' coaching staff is putting an emphasis on the Mid- west, and particularly in protecting their home turf of Michigan. Although it is not known for producing as much talent as Florida, Texas or California — or even as much as its neighbor to the south in Ohio — the Great Lakes State is home to many players with Division I talent on the gridiron. 1. Shane Morris, QB Warren De La Salle Collegiate H.S. Morris has been considered the top 2013 prospect in the state since prior to his junior year of high school ball — and a recent invitation to the Elite 11 quarterback event in California backs up that lofty ranking, No. 22 nationally according to Rivals.com. The 6-3, 190-pound lefty has a strong arm and the ability to make every throw that will be asked of him at the next level. Morris committed to Michigan prior to his junior year, in which he threw for 1,644 yards and 19 touchdowns. De La Salle fin- ished the year with a 9-3 record. 2. Steve Elmer, OL Midland H.S. Elmer's massive 6-6, 305-pound frame makes him an impos- ing sight for high school defenders. He has the strength to drive block and the quickness to seal pass rushers on the edge. Elmer was a key factor in Midland's 9-2 season in 2011. Both in-state Big Ten schools offered El- mer prior to his junior year, as did several regional schools, including Wisconsin. How- ever, his childhood favorite was Notre Dame, making it an easy choice to select the Irish. 3. Wyatt Shallman, Athlete Novi Detroit Catholic Central Detroit Catholic Central compiled an im- pressive 12-2 season in 2011, but Shallman was only available for part of it. Due to a hamstring in- jury, he missed most of the year. When healthy, he's a bruising fullback in Cath- olic Central's Wing-T of- fense and a defensive end on the other side of the ball. Thanks in part to an opportunity to enter his college career as a tailback, Shallman picked Michigan over offers from Michigan State, Syracuse and others. 4. Jourdan Lewis, CB Detroit Cass Technical H.S. Morris, who committed to Michigan prior to his junior year, is rated the No. 22 player in the country by Rivals.com. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Opponents had a tough time passing on Detroit Cass Tech last season — 2012 Mich- igan signee Terry Richardson was at one corner and Lewis manned the opposite side 270 s THE WOLVERINE 2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW of the field. Lewis is a 5-11, 170-pounder with a smooth athleticism that allows him to excel on both sides of the ball for Cass Tech's 11-3, state championship-winning team. Despite his skill, Lewis held offers from only Michigan and Toledo at the time of his February commitment to the Wolverines. 5. David Dawson, OL Detroit Cass Technical H.S. Dawson played his freshman and sopho- more years of high school ball at Cass Tech, and then moved to Houston as a junior, where he played at Cypress Ridge High School. However, he's back in Detroit for his fi- nal year of high school, where he's expecting to use his 6-5, 305-pound frame to help the Technicians repeat as state champions. Despite one of the most impressive offer lists in the state of Michigan — including such schools as Alabama and USC — Daw- son elected to stay home and play for the Wolverines. 6. Jon Reschke, LB Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice H.S. The 6-2, 225-pound Reschke is a solidly built linebacker with good instincts. His knowledge of and feel for the posi- tion allow him to make plays even though his athleticism is not on par with the top linebackers in the nation. As a junior, he helped lead Brother Rice to the Division 2 state title, making more than 100 tackles. Reschke is a Michigan State legacy and committed to Mark Dantonio's coaching staff in February. 7. Riley Norman, OL Cadillac H.S. At 6-7, 315 pounds, Norman has an excel- lent frame for the offen- sive tackle position. He is also an exceptionally athletic big man, capable of running a sub-5.0 sec- ond time in the 40-yard dash. What Norman needs now is experience playing football. Once he learns