Blue Days

LOCAL GRIDIRON HEROES MAKE NAMES FOR THEMSELVES UP IN ANN ARBOR

Oakland County was well represented at the recent University of Michigan Elite Prospect Football Camp held in Ann Arbor late last month with several known and unknown commodities from the area putting out impressive performances.

The old standbys like Shawn Conway (Birmingham Seaholm/committed to UofM), James Ross (OLSM), Valdez Showers (MH Madison), Bryan Bell (WL Central) Marques Stevenson (Lake Orion), Josh Harris and Kenny Knight (DCD) and Justin D'agostino (Novi Detroit CC) showed off some sizzling stuff, but so did a number of relative newbies to the local recruiting game.

Here is a short breakdown of the who, why and how: SLEEPER ALERT, SLEEPER ALERT!!

Incoming seniors Willie Beavers (Southfield-Lathrup) and Alex Fine (Lake Orion) both upped the ante on their respective collegiate values by simply outworking and outsmarting fellow campers. Beavers is an imposing offensive lineman who has quietly been carving out a nice prep resume for himself the past two season in the trenches with the Chargers. In the past, Beavers had been criticized for taking plays off. That didn't appear the case while smacking pads in the Big House.

Showing off his natural ballhawking instincts while snaring quite a few picks in the camps various drills and scrimmages, Fine is a heat-seeking missile of a safety. A transfer from Cincinnati Moeller High School, his presence in the Dragons' defensive backfield is going to significantly cushion the blow of losing all-conference safety Vinnie Booker to graduation.

Incoming juniors Matt Godin (CC) and Tyree Monroe (MH Madison) were two of the lesser-known prospects to make their presences felt at the camp. Buzz about Godin, a rising talent of a lineman, has been spreading for months. This kid is showing up and off BIG TIME this offseason and is expected to shine brightly this fall as a major cog in both the Shamrocks' defensive and offensive fronts

Monroe is a quick and crafty split end/db combo, who turned heads throughout the camp by displaying his sheer breakaway speed and elusive-demeanor when catching the ball in the flat. This upcoming season Monroe is expected to step into the role as one of the Eagles premiere receiving options, trying to replace recently-graduated all-conference flanker, Jeremiah McQueen. Two more names to keep a look out for this year at Madison will be the Eagles other top two receivers, D.J. Larkin and Jared Eason, a pair of other local players that are said to be having a productive and improvement-covered offseasons. Oh, by the way, their Eagles' teammate, Valdez Showers(rb-db), is absolutly, totally and completely on fire on the recruiting scene right now, fielding close to 20 offers as we speak

Currently, Beavers (6-5, 335) is generating interest from half the Big Ten Conference. The programs at Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa have all started sniffing around this rotund and raw athletic specimen of an offensive tackle. He has what they call in the recruiting game a "high ceiling."

Fine is the definition of a sleeper and will knock the socks off all opposing receivers and those who come out to watch him this fall while sporting his new green and white digs. Right now, Michigan State, Iowa State, Cincinnati, and Missouri are the biggest name schools taking an interest in him, however after some of his recent outputs don't be surprised if some more of the big boys start jumping into the picture soon.