Class of 2014
Evan Akins  6-6  285  Sr  OL  Hudsonville  Navy
While Reeths-Puffer will receive a lot of praise below, and rightfully so, let’s not Hudsonville gave those same Rockets their only loss — and rather handily — back in September. This is a good Hudsonville team, playing West Ottawa Friday for a playoff bid.  Akins anchors the line at right tackle, a group that has held together despite losing two starters to injury against Grand Rapids Christian. In many other years, he’d be more heralded, in the class of 2014 he’s part of a bunch of future D1 offensive linemen. Akins is committed to the Naval Academy. Not only does that offer him the possibility of a unique education, but an offense — the flexbone — commensurate with his skills, as he moves well to get out and bury linebackers, and Hudsonville uses some combo blocking schemes. He’s already as big, or bigger, than many of Navy’s linemen, son probably won’t be adding much more weight, between the flexbone needing lighter blockers, and his military training.

Dwayne Barfield  6-2  175  Sr  WR  Grand Rapids Christian
Even without their All-American, GR Christian’s offense has proved potent thanks to guys like Barfield stepping up. He’s the Eagles’ leading receiver and had a two TD game last Friday against the Lake Area’s top team, Lowell. While not a blazer by college standards, Barfield has a knack for getting behind defense, and he’s a good overall athlete with hand-eye, balance and toughness.

Asantay Brown  6-1  190  Sr  WR/DB  Muskegon Mona Shores  Western Michigan
Did what he could to give Mona Shores a chance in their back-and-forth, 32-28 loss to Reeths-Puffer, with 14 catches for 255 yards and two TDs. He can do it all at the high school level, from converting junior QB Tyree Jackson’s patented long balls to tacking on yardage after the catch on shorter throws. Takes advantage of his stronger frame, running consistent routes, sitting and making a big target. Knows how to get open, a constant on a team with some mercurial offensive talent. That said, could end up playing defense at WMU.

Stephen Hanson  6-4  285  Sr  OL/DL  Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Part of one of the better offensive lines we’ve seen this season. Love his attitude up front, more than a little dose of nasty.  He’s out there looking to hit someone at right tackle.  While he’s bigger than he was then, Hanson looked like he was moving better than he did at our March combine. Defensively, a solid two-technique tackle. He’s one of the to dozen uncommitted offensive linemen in the Lake Area.

Lake Area Uncommitted Senior Offensive Linemen
1. Chris Hendricks  6-5  275  Sr  Fruitport
2. Alec Stevens  6-5  270  Sr  West Branch Ogemaw Heights
3. Connor Smith  6-5  270  Sr  Three Rivers
4. Alex VanVossen  6-4  240  Sr  Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
5. Matt Reitsma  6-2  240  Sr  Lowell
6. Ethan Lussky  6-4  285  Sr  Rockford
7. Stephen Hanson  6-4  285  Sr  Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
8. Jacob Compagner  6-5  230  Sr  Zeeland East
9. Aaron Curtis  6-3  275  Sr  Coopersville
10. Zach VandeVusse  6-5  295  Sr  Hamilton
11. Tristan Fleet  6-3  275  Sr  Mancelona
12. Cory Katterheinrich  6-2  285  Sr  Niles Brandywine

Jeremy Stygstra  6-3  260  Sr  DL  Grand Rapids Christian
No one has ever questioned GR Christian’s talent. But they’re not the deepest team, and have been slowed by injuries beyond Drake Harris this season. Having Stygstra back in the lineup in their OT loss for Lowell bodes well for Grand Rapids Christian as their state title defense will soon commence. He makes everyone else’s job easier, as not only does he demand attention on the interior, but he can get loose to make plays himself as either or 3 or 0 technique guy.

Buck Tottingham  6-0  220  Sr  DL/OL  Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Reeths-Puffer has one of the best offensive lines we’ve seen all year, with the likes of Hanson, Tottingham, 5-10, 285 senior tackle Matt Hoover and 6-0, 235 senior center Jake Balkema. Tottingham is a versatile interior offensive lineman, helping spring open R-P’s potent running back attack of seniors Julian Munday and Corey Plichta and junior Dereko Riley. Those three combined for 363 yards and four TDs against Mona. Tottingham’s future is probably on the defensive side of the line. He does a good job mixing it up, strong enough to bull rush (he wrestles in the winter), athletic enough to make his man miss.

2015
Dereko Riley  5-8  170  Jr  RB  Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Shhh, don’t tell Riley he’s the smallest dude on the field. He certainly doesn’t play like it, running the ball inside just as capably as breaking outside, blocking, tackling. It may not look like it based on the stats, but Riley covered Mona Shores’ Asantay Brown pretty well, it’s just that Brown used his size advantage to make the catches.  Riley led the Rockets with 12 stops.