Updated: WMich HS football signings

February 3, 2010 Comments { 23 }

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Perhaps more so than any other part of high school sports, collegiate recruiting has  a massive amount of mainstream appeal (if you subscribe to either Rivals.com or Scout.com you know what I’m talking about).  I can certainly understand the interest it receives, as there’s really nothing like the thrill of watching an athlete who you have followed through his prep career succeed at the collegiate (or sometimes professional) level.  They’re not your kids, but it’s a similar feeling. Call me a sports nerd, but it’s just cool.

That being the case, I’m as excited as every other nerd out there that it’s that time of year again for high school football — signing day.  And every time you turn around you’re hearing news about so-and-so giving a verbal commitment to such-and-such a school.  Drink it in, because it’s gone before you know it.

To make this complex artform easier to follow for those in West Michigan, on this post I will attempt to aggregate all the latest signings as they happen.  I’ll keep updating as I hear the latest, so keep checking back.

West Michigan High School Football Signings

See one I missed?  Let me know in the comments!

Keep up with the latest football action and analysis by becoming a WMAS fan on Facebook, or join the conversation by following WMAS on Twitter.  Heck, even start your own topic over at Allstars Among Us.

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  • ejs

    Kelsy Kilbry, OL Grand Haven- Mich Tech
    Brian Kiel, QB Grand Haven, Ferris State Univ.
    Jordan Goetz, OL/DL Grand Haven, Northwood

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      Check! Thanks for the update!

  • Pingback: Updated: WMich HS football signings | West Michigan Allstar | I Love High School Football

  • SMAC_man

    Antonio Hutchins, RB Portage Northern- Grand Valley
    Ben Hutchins, RB/WR Portage Northern- Grand Valley
    Spencer Munson, RB/DB Portage Central- Ferris St.

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      Good looking out, SMAC_man!

      • Pmc

        IMO, the east side of the state always gets the D-1 scholarships and this is not based on having the best or better talent, but it is partlly based on the larger media (i.e. Free Press) being located in the east and this gives athletes more exposure over there when compared to the west side of the state. Also, most of the instate D-1 colleges are located over there as well. So, players on the west side of the state have to be twice as good to get the opportunities that east-side players get. I am not buying the assertion of “better teams are in the west but better individuals players are in the east”…No, good individual players make up good teams…Tailback Kirk Spencer of EGR signed with D-II Grand Valley..if he and many other were playing in the Detroit area, they would be signing with UMich, MSU, Eastern, and even Western after leading his team to multiple championships and piling up big numbers. This can be said for many players in the west. Westside coaches are going to have to work hard for thier players and establish better relationships with D-1 coaches and establish the pipe-line the way schools such as Detroit Cass Tech, which never wins a title but places multiple D-1 players each year. Steps have to be taken to right this wrong, because this is about created opportunities for current and future westside players to explore their athletic AND academic dreams.

        • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

          First off, whoa.
          Second off, you’re right, to an extent. The media does play a huge role in the process, as they are the channel through which these players are typically seen by coaches. This is one major reason for WMA.
          However, it is a larger process — what really needs to happen is the West side needs to take a larger portion of the focus on a national scale. When people think of Michigan they need to think of the West side, instead of just Detroit. Thing is, it took a long time for Detroit to develop the reputation it has (in many ways representative of the entire state), and will likely take a long time to switch that paradigm.

          • Pmc

            I hear what you saying, but Athletic Directors AND coaches in the west have 2 choices..1: Wait 20 or 30 or more years HOPING for the paradigm to shift to get west side kids scholarship opportunities OR 2: Be proactive in establishing constant and continuous relationships with coaches such as Rich Rod, Mark D’antonio, etc and letting them know about the athletic prowess of our West side kids. This is not unique to just high school recruiting, it is the same in business and other endeavors as well (I had to go through the same thing as I trying to get into a big-6 accounting firm years ago even though they weren’t recruiting at my undergrad university). Relationship building (also known as networking in the business world) is highly important/mandatory and is the proactive thing to do. I grew up in West Mich but left many years ago and Detroit players got all the hype and praise, live in DC now, but back in Michigan as of last year to attend law school. The paradigm has not changed in years all the years and things are still the same regarding receiving scholarships. The only thing that has changed is that the players and teams on the west side are more dominant than when I was here years ago. University of Michigan is right next to Detroit, Free Press is the largest news source in Michigan. So, is the U of Mich more likely to know about Devin Gardner of Inkster or Cody Kater Montague way in Muskegon County and extend them a scholarship? I thing we all know the answer to this question. Furthermore, there are some former Detroit High School players that played at U Mich, but are now coaching in Detroit high schools (i.e. RBs Thomas Wilcher and Tyrone Wheatley), this serves purpose that the pipeline between Detroit and Michigan will continue (Wilcher of Cass Tech has sent recent players such as Teric Jones, Boubacar Cissoko, Will Campbell and it will continue)….There is no drop off in talent between the east and west…just exposure that the players receive and subsequent opportunities….but we in the west either have to wait 30 or 40 years for the paradigm to shift, or KICK DOWN DOORS by being proactive the way business people do if they really want an opportunity at a big 5 law firm or accounting firm or any other opportunities (which will improve their lives….its all the same!

        • E. Adams

          I strongly disagree that players on the Eastside have more opportunities because of the location. I think coaches look at it like this. How projectable is the player, meaning how good will he be over a 4 year span. Secondly if my job is on the line are you the type of player that can save it. And last if I put 11 players on the field that are clones of you, how good will we be. Most coaches are looking to improve their situation, instead of keeping it the same.

          Lastly coaches are very leary of players that play against weak competition. Many High School teams are good because of the system, and not because of the athletes they put on the field. It’s hard to say if a kid can turn the corner in a college game, when he’s ruuning past kids that are running very slow 40 times in a High School contest. This player needs to attend camps at schools that he thinks he can play at. Then he can show them that he’s ready for D1.

  • Carol Cronan

    Greg Wickliffe, Muskegon, DB, Saginaw Valley

  • Randy Ford

    Justin Ford Kenowa Hills Bowling Green State University.

  • Joe Smith

    Charlie Ainsworth(WR) Grand Haven-Wayne State University

  • Jon

    Dejuan Howland – OL Muskegon to GRCC
    David Churchwell – DB Muskegon to Wayne State

  • Pmc

    Also, the players on the West side of Mich must participate in the various combine-like camps (i.e. NIKE) and this will also provide exposure on a regional and national basis. Everything helps to improve the recruiting climate!

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      I sent you an email, PMC. Let me know if you’re interested!

  • Jay Lattig

    Derrik Lattig (DB) 5’8” 170. Grand Haven HS – Grand Rapids CC

  • Bud Ainsworth

    derrik lattig is not going to grcc.

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      Uh oh, we have a debate brewing. Where’s he going, Bud?

  • JT

    Austin Tackmann – Northwood

  • AT

    Derek Cornish Lowell Wide Out- Northwood

  • Bud Ainsworth

    charlie ainsworth never signed with wayne state and derrik lattig is undecided but is not going to grcc

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      Thanks for the info, Bud.

  • james cooper jr

    Jamicah Cooper….muskegon catholic-St Joesph Catholic University Ind. Good luck Jamicah