Grand Valley State’s recruiting formula looks as successful as ever with this 2013 class, getting top talent from the backyard of the Lake Michigan area, while cashing in on its brand to bring in high-end players not just from throughout Michigan, but Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

“Our name recognition and the success of our football program enables our coaching staff to get in on some players that are being recruited at the Division I level,” Lakers head coach Matt Mitchell said in announcing the class. “It is important for us to continue to battle those Division I schools for those players if we want to continue to build our program.”

Here’s who Grand Valley signed from the Lake Michigan area, with the player’s ranking from our final top 100:

• 3. Heath Hoogerhyde  6-2  215  ATH  Caledonia
• 30. Joel Schipper  5-11  180  K  Grand Rapids Christian
• 31. Collin Schlosser  6-0  215  LB  Forest Hills Central
• 46. Keane Belcher  6-2  230  DL  Grand Rapids Catholic Central
• 56. Nick Keizer  6-5  220  TE  Portage Northern
• 66. Josh  Dentler  6-6  265  OL  Portage Northern
• 69. Kyle Short  6-2  185  QB  Rockford

Obviously per his ranking Heath Hoogerhyde is a favorite around here, a true football player who could fit any system, any era. He came out of virtually nowhere to become a consensus all-stater as a senior. Hoogerhyde projects positively to any number of positions, but will likely end up at linebacker. He was the best player on the field in Caledonia’s state semifinal loss to Muskegon, a game Mitchell attended.

“Caledonia was very good this year, and Heath was the driving force on the defensive side of the ball,” Mitchell said. “He played some defensive back, he layed some linebacker, we’ll figure out where he fits in when he gets here. He’s just a very good fooball player and the type of person we’re looking for on the defensive side, a physical football player that’s going to be a multi-sport person for us.”

Hoogerhyde plans to also play baseball for GVSU, as does the next highest-ranked player, kicker Joel Schipper. Everyone saw his leg and poise in the D3 state finals, where Schipper kicked field goals to tie and then win the state championship.

Grand Valley adds an interior D lineman with a good motor in GR Catholic Central’s Keane Belcher, and one of the Lake Michigan area’s most prolific tacklers, Forest Hills Central’s Collin Schlosser.

“Collin’s a prototypical inside linebacker,” Mitchell said. “He’s very intelligent, the type of kid you could see eventually leading our defense.”

He sees another leader on the offensive side, in Rockford QB Kyle Short. He’s one of three QBs in the Lakers’ class, including Grand Blanc’s 6-5, 200 all-stater Bart Williams.

“Kyle brings so many intangibles that you’re not going to see on a highlight tape,” Mitchell said. “We really love his leadership and his approach to things.”

GVSU turned to Portage Northern for two big prospects, 6-6, 265 lineman Josh Dentler and 6-5, 220 tight end Nick Keizer.

“The thing you’ll see about (Keizer) is his size and his versatility,” Mitchell said. “Nick can be off the ball and blocking at an H-back or tight end, can dominate guys in the run game, while at the same time stretching the field vertically.”