Detroit News top prep football players 1-20

1. Donovan Peoples-Jones, 6-2, 195, Sr., WR/CB, Detroit Cass Tech: Peoples-Jones had 68 receptions for 1,161 yards and 18 TD last season. He is being recruited by every national power, including Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Tennessee and Notre Dame. “He loves to compete and it shows every day,” said Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher.

2. Ambry Thomas, 6-0, 175, Sr., CB/WR, Detroit King: Thomas was a star at The Opening Finals, running 4.43 seconds in the 40 and being named to the 7-on-7 All-Star team. Thomas owns more than two dozen offers, including Michigan, Michigan State, Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Arizona. “Ambry’s a great leader,” coach Tyrone Spencer said. “He’s fast, explosive and can make things happen on both sides of the ball.”

3. Josh Ross, 6-1, 225, Sr., LB/RB, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s: Ross is strong and fast with great instincts, allowing him to get to ball carriers to make tackles or force turnovers. He had 100-plus tackles last season, 17 for loss, to help the Eaglets to their second straight Division 3 state title. He had six tackles and an interception in the title game win over Chelsea. Ross will play at Michigan.

4. Jaylen Kelly-Powell, 6-0, 180, Sr., CB, Detroit Cass Tech: Kelly-Powell had a strong junior season, getting in on 62 tackles from his secondary spot while also intercepting three passes and breaking up several more. He also was effective when running the ball when called upon, scoring three TD. Kelly-Powell, who competed in The Opening Finals last month in Oregon, has 43 offers, including Michigan and Michigan State.

5. Antjuan Simmons, 6-1, 215, Sr., RB/LB, Ann Arbor Pioneer: Simmons made a name for himself his junior year when he exploded on the scene and rushed for 1,112 yards and 18 TD while also being a physical force on defense, making 65 tackles, including eight for lost yardage, and earning more than a dozen offers during the season. Simmons will play at Ohio State.

6. JaRaymond Hall, 6-5, 280, Sr., OT, Oak Park: Hall has developed into one of the premier offensive linemen in the state, showing his ability to be a dominating run blocker and outstanding pass protector to receive numerous offers during the season, including one from Michigan. “He is a devastating run blocker and his outstanding quickness allows him to be an excellent pass protector,” coach Greg Carter said. Hall will play at Michigan.

7. Corey Malone-Hatcher, 6-3, 245, Sr., LB/DE/TE, St. Joseph: Malone-Hatcher will be playing with a purpose his senior year after seeing action in just two games as a junior due to an ankle injury. He is extremely strong and earned his first offer, from Ohio State, as a freshman, then received a dozen more as a sophomore, including Michigan and Michigan State. He made the move from defensive end to linebacker and will use his speed and strength to cause havoc while trying to get St. Joseph back to the playoffs. Malone-Hatcher will play at Michigan.

Deron Irving-Bey

9. Phil Paea, 6-5, 280, Sr., G/DE, Berrien Springs: Paea moved from linebacker to defensive end last season and responded with a strong showing, getting in on 67 tackles, including 12 for loss yardage. He also was a physical blocker from his guard position. “He has an explosive nature, a tough, physical kid who is a great athlete for his size and is relentless,” coach Tony Scaccia said. Paea will play at Michigan.

10. Cody White, 6-3, 195, Sr., WR/CB, Walled Lake Western: White is one of the premier playmakers in the state, showing his ability to get things done as a receiver and defensive back. He can also throw the ball, and threw a 50-yard TD pass in a win over rival Walled Lake Central while also grabbing a 62-yard TD pass and scoring on a 35-yard run in that same game. He had 49 receptions for a school-record 927 yards and eight TD, and also intercepted four passes last season. White will play at Michigan State.

11. Hunter Rison, 5-11, 190, Sr., WR, Ann Arbor Skyline: Rison, son of former Michigan State and NFL star Andre Rison, had 48 receptions for 1,046 yards and 10 TD in his first year with Skyline. Rison runs great routes and has excellent speed, making him a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Rison will play at Michigan State, picking the Spartans over 21 other schools, including Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon.

12. Jordan Reid, 6-4, 285, Sr., G, Detroit Cass Tech: Reid has made a rapid climb on the prep scene since transferring from Chippewa Valley after his freshman year. He started as an offensive lineman and defensive tackle, helping the Technicians advance to the Division 1 state championship game. Reid will play at Michigan State; he picked the Spartans over Michigan, Tennessee, Florida and Arizona.

13. Scott Nelson, 6-2, 195, SR., S/QB/WR, U-D Jesuit: Nelson uses his 4.5 speed to play multiple positions, including quarterback, receiver and safety, a reason he has received Big Ten offers from Michigan State, Michigan, Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Purdue. Nelson had 1,955 all-purpose yards, scoring 21 TD. He made 55 tackles while breaking up eight passes, coming up with five interceptions, returning two for TD.

14. Donovan Johnson, 5-9, 180, Sr., CB, Detroit Cass Tech: Johnson was a shutdown corner last season for Cass Tech, also contributing multiple 100-yard rushing efforts to help the Technicians advance to the PSL and Division 1 championship games. He returned a kick 80 yards for a TD in the PSL title game at Ford Field, and scored two rushing TD in the state title game loss to Romeo at the same site. Johnson clocked the fastest 40 time (4.35) at The Opening Finals, and was on Cass Tech’s state championship 4x100 relay team this spring with Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Savalas Morgan. Johnson has multiple offers, including Penn State, Virginia Tech, Missouri and West Virginia.

15. Allen Stritzinger, 6-1, 185, Sr., RB, Warren De La Salle: Big things were expected from Stritzinger after a strong showing during his sophomore year when he ran for 1,356 yards and 20 TD, including a 175-yard effort in the Division 2 title game win, but he never got going last season due to an ankle injury. Now, Stritzinger is fully healthy and ready to go. Stritzinger will play at Syracuse for with former Michigan running back Mike Hart as his position coach.

16. Marquan McCall, 6-4, 320, Jr., G, DT, Oak Park: McCall put on a dominating performance at South Mind Sound Body a year ago, then used the momentum for a strong sophomore season to help Oak Park reach the state playoffs. “He’s really strong and fast for his size,” Coach Greg Carter said. “He played left tackle the majority of last year, but we had to play him out of position and he’ll be at left guard this season.” McCall is ranked the No. 1 guard in Michigan for 2018 by Scout and has offers from Michigan, Tennessee and Penn State.

17. Andrew Ward, 6-1, 210, Sr., LB, Muskegon: Ward is an intimidating force for Muskegon, strong and fast with the ability to get to the ball. He had 83 tackles from his middle linebacker position last year, 23 for lost yardage. Although a senior, Ward just turned 17 and is still growing and developing. He has offers from Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Arizona, along with Penn State, Washington State and Indiana.

18. Jairus Grissom, 6-2, 205, Sr., QB, River Rouge: Grissom had a strong showing his junior year as a dual-threat quarterback at Dearborn Heights Robichaud, throwing for 2,624 yards and 25 TD while running for more than 700 yards and 14 TD. Now, Grissom will play his senior year for Corey Parker at River Rouge, which advanced to the Division 5 state championship game last year. Grissom has offers from Houston, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Purdue, Indiana, Rutgers and multiple MAC schools, including Western Michigan and Toledo.

19. Emani Mason, 6-4, 270, Sr., OT/DT, Detroit East English: Mason is an elite two-way player for East English, which won a district title before falling to eventual Division 2 state champion Detroit King in the regional finals. He played tackle on a team that piled up more than 4,000 yards, giving quarterback Delvin Washington enough time to complete 79 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,500 yards, and opening holes for running backs to slip through and pick up big yardage. “He’s an exceptional run blocker and takes extreme pride in protecting the quarterback’s blind side,” coach Rod Oden said. Mason has offers from Louisville and Cincinnati while getting interest from multiple Big Ten schools.