Senior Matt Ellis is a terrific is a standout runner, linebacker for Grand Rapids Christian.

Class of 2017

Collin Alvesteffer  5-11  205  Sr  ATH  Cedar Springs: He injured his ankle in a loss to GR Christian. Few teams are more affected by the loss of a single player than Cedar Springs. Alvesteffer is a third-year starter at QB, a grinder, leader and winner in the wing T. He’s also a back-line blanket at free safety. And the long snapper. So for their sake we’ll hope he’s back this week as it doesn’t get any easier against undefeated Lowell. This is the kind of prospect who will find his way on a GLIAC roster somehow, from fullback to linebacker to special teams.

Matt Ellis  6-0  190  Sr  RB/LB  Grand Rapids Christian: The MVP of a 5-0 team, as Ellis is the Eagles’ leading rusher and tackler. He’d have monster rushing totals but shares carries with third-year starter Davaunte Dickens while junior QB Isaac Newhouse has an embarrassment of receiving threats in seniors Emmet Warners and O’Kelly Elliott and juniors Darius Barfield and Anthony Ladd. As a runner Ellis can shake initial hits and finishes falling forward. He’s a true football player who has good hands catching the ball out of the backfield, takes direct snaps after which he can throw as well as run, and while Christian doesn’t have to punt often, Ellis averages over 40 yards a kick.

JaCorey Sullivan  6-3  205  Sr  WR/DB  Muskegon: Not just a guy who can run and catch, Sullivan is with guys like Alvesteffer and Ellis above, a true all-around football player. His size and physicality make him a security blanket, third-down converter and corner end zone target for Muskegon’s QBs. As is a requisite for Big Reds receivers, he’s an engaged downfield blockers. Sullivan doesn’t finesse and bide time on defense, where he’s one of the team’s biggest hitters. A plus MAC recruit.

Dane Stambough  6-4  335  DL/OL  Lakewood: Like Portland’s Mark Brooks the previous year, Stambough pushed the border a bit to become a Westsider and standout lineman at LMFR’s spring combine (where he tested as the strongest lineman). Brooks is now at WMU, and Stambough is also a MAC target, with a visit to Toledo pending. Their games are dissimilar though, Portland a lanky tackle prospect while Stambough is a truly wide space eater who you can’t run against and projects best as magnet-type defensive tackle at the college level. He is also Lakewood’s left tackle, a punishing run blocker.

Emmet Warners  6-5  185  Sr  WR  Grand Rapids Christian: The Eagles have myriad quick, smaller receivers making things happen after underneath routes. Warners is the split end who can go 15 yards and post up for a first down, using his size to go back and get balls. With his size and ball skills if Warner could run a 4.7, he’ll have some options.

Class of 2018

Trenton Lane  5-10  150  Jr  RB  Hamilton: A little speed back bursting from between and around a big, veteran offensive line, Lane has been one of the Lake Area’s breakout offensive performers. He had a 92-yard TD run from scrimmage against Holland. There was another telling play when Lane was stripped of the football, exposing his game’s biggest need — physical strength. If he can really pack it on over the next two years while maintaining his speed, could be a college runner.

Cade Peterson  6-4  190  Jr  QB  Maple City Glen Lake: A transfer from Lake City, where he threw for over 2,000 yards with 17 TDs as a sophomore. If Peterson were in Grand Rapids and not playing on the Leelanau Peninsula, he’d be a better known commodity. Physically he’s very similar to Rockford’s Jason Whittaker, but it’s just so hard for a small school QB to mimic the kind of sophisticated and physical defenses Whittaker sees in the O-K Red. But for a 21-13 loss to Traverse City St. Francis, Peterson and company have dominated the North. He has nice touch on downfield balls out of the Lakers’ spread offense and has thrown for 963 yards and nine TDs. Pure arm strength needs to be seen at workouts. Moves well for his size when things break down.

Cole Schut  6-3  290  Jr  OL  Holland: The Dutch left tackle by default, he’s a more natural interior blocker. In Holland’s homecoming loss to 5-0 Hamilton, Schut on the outside sometimes found himself lost in space against the Hawkeyes’ quickness. With improvement on technique, flexibility and think of him as a guard, and a year from now could be one of the better linemen in the class, like Hudsonville’s Lane Potter is this season.

Class of 2019

Anthony Bradford  6-5  320  So  OL  Muskegon: The Big Reds had an underclassman All-American last season at left tackle in Antwan Reed. Now there’s a sophomore right tackle and while that’s not as sexy, Bradford is superior as an actual ballplayer than was Reed as a soph. He’s a big-time run blocker who separates himself from many kids his size in age in that he plays with some motor, some meanness, and keeps attacking through the whistle.

Lake Area Offensive Player of the Week

Zac Saltzgaber  Sr  QB  Byron Center: He ran for 178 yards and three TDs and threw for 146 and another score as Byron Center gave Zeeland West a rare O-K Green loss.

Lake Area Defensive Player of the Week

Cameron Pietrzykowski  Sr  DL  Portage Northern: A quick end who complements Portage Northern’s standout tackle Brandon Kerr, Pietrzykowski made 15 tackles in the Huskies’ defeat of Kalamazoo Central.

Lake Area Small School Players of the Week

Eric Wenzel  So  QB  Kalamazoo United & Anthony Evilsizor  Sr  RB  Constantine: We had to take two from Kalamazoo United’s 62-57 win over Constantine. Wenzel came off the bench to throw for 413 yards and four TDs while running for three more scores; Evilsizor ran for 229 yards and six TDs.

Lake Area Northern Michigan Player of the Week

Nick Apsey  Jr  RB  Maple City Glen Lake: In what was expected to be a battle against unbeaten Charlevoix, Glen Lake whipped short-handed Charlevoix 49-7 .Apsey had TD catches of 91 and 90 yards and also ran for two TDs

Lake Area Coach of the Week

Marc Cisco, Byron Center: Any time you can get a league win against Zeeland West it’s something to savor, and the Bulldogs did 24-14. It was their first defeat of the Dux since Cisco’s first season, 2009.

Lake Area Offensive Player of the Week

Devaunte Dickens  Sr  RB  Grand Rapids Christian: He ran for 227 yards and three TDs on 24 carries in GR Christian’s 52-42 win over South Christian.

Lake Area Defensive Player of the Week

Cole DeVries  Sr  LB  Hudsonville Unity Christian: He stopped Zeeland West’s overtime, two-point conversion attempt at the one-yard line, giving Unity Christian a 24-22 win, maybe the biggest in program history. Zeeland West had won 28 consecutive regular season games.

Lake Area Small School Player of the Week

Blake Dunn  Sr  QB  Saugatuck: The state’s premier four-sport athlete carried the ball seven times for 262 yards and four TDs, including scores of 49, 52, 53 and 60 yards. Saugatuck shut out Martin to improve to 4-0.

Lake Area Northern Michigan Player of the Week:

Griffin Kelly  Jr  RB  Frankort: In the Panthers’ 38-8 win against Mancelona, Kelly was all over the field. He caught a 75-yard TD and tied a state-record with a 99-yard rushing TD. The only other Lake Area player to score on a run that long was this week’s Northern Michigan Player of the Week, Saugatuck’s Blake Dunn last season against Decatur.

Lake Area Coach of the Week

Kyle Jewett, Reeths-Puffer: Trailing 39-36 with the ball on Mona Shore’s first yard line and five seconds to play, Jewett chose to go for the win and not the tie. Thanks to the effort of R-P’s line and running back Theo Stevenson, that choice paid off as the Rockets improved to 3-1.

Hudsonville senior center Lane Potter.

Class of 2017

Bryce Atkins  6-4  215  Sr  DL/TE  Hudsonville: The Eagles are 3-0 going into today, Friday’s, game with similarly 3-0 Grandville. The Bulldogs will have to account for Hudsonville’s pair of athletic D ends, Atkins and 6-2, 220 junior Hunter Stearns. While he surrendered some wingspan, Atkins gave EK’s young left tackle Logan Brown a workout in the O-K Red opener with his second effort. Atkins and Stearns helped contain Kentwood’s speed around the edge to just 17 rushing yards while the Falcons were pressured into three picks.

Conner Chupailo  6-4  280  Sr  TE/OL  Zeeland West: Dux can fly after all as they have two players projecting as … 100-yard receivers this season. They give you different looks at tight end, lanky athletic 6-5, 235 senior Jayk Slager and the widebody thumper Chupailo. It turns out the big fella can catch and move some himself on a 23-yard TD catch as West pulled away from West Catholic in week 3, bringing to mind Jordan VanDort’s legendary catch-and-run as a sophomore in the state final. On a field full of talent between two defending state championship programs, Chupailo was often the biggest, baddest boy out there. Size, versatility, toughness, winning pedigree, make him one of the top available 2017 recruits in the Lake Area. The West/West Catholic matchup was loaded with talent, befitting two state champions, with four of the Lake Area’s top 10 uncommitted seniors.

Top 10 Available 2017 Prospects

1. Andrew Ward  6-1  215  Sr  LB  Muskegon
2. JaCorey Sullivan  6-3  205  Sr  WR/DB  Muskegon
3. David Fox  6-1  215  Sr  ATH  Grand Rapids West Catholic
4. Ben Sherwin  6-4  260  Sr  OL/DL  Traverse City Central
5. Conner Chupailo  6-4  280  TE/OL  Zeeland West
6. Jayk Slager  6-5  235  Sr  DL/TE  Zeeland West
7. Nick Isley  6-2  200  Sr  RB  Rockford
8. Walker Christoffersen  5-9  175  Sr  ATH  Muskegon Catholic Central
9. Drew Couturier  5-10  150  Sr  WR/DB  Allendale
10. Sam Neville  6-3  200  Sr  WR  Grand Rapids West Catholic

David Fox  6-1  215  Sr  ATH  Grand Rapids West Catholic: Zeeland West is amidst such a dominant run, it has taken a special mix of explosion, toughness and just pure football talent for an individual player to have his way against the Dux. It’s a short list that includes the top receiver, Grand Rapids Christian’s Drake Harris, and running back, Zeeland East’s Jordan Viening, that the Lake has covered in the past five years. Add Fox to the list, after West Catholic’s senior QB accounted for all three scores in their loss to West, running for two and throwing for another. The TD pass included a physical finish from WC’s other scholarship-talent senior 6-3, 200 Sam Neville. Fox started both ways and also led West Catholic in tackles, cleaning up the second tier and limiting ZW’s patented big breakout runs. Squares and delivers consistently when hitting and may end up a college linebacker. A healthy Fox finds him one of the fastest rising senior prospects among college coaches.

Top 10 Fastest Rising 2017 Prospects

1. Kelvyn Valdez  6-3  185  Sr  WR  Godwin Heights
2. David Fox  6-1  215  Sr  ATH  Grand Rapids West Catholic
3. Ross Koella  6-7  210  Sr  TE  Grand Haven
4. Joe Brown  5-11  200  Sr  RB  Portage Northern
5. Brady Eding  6-7  270  Sr  OL  Hamilton
6. Roger Stein  6-4  215  Sr  TE  Kalamazoo Central
7. Drew Couturier  5-10  150  Sr  WR/DB  Allendale
8. Biran Durr  6-0  170  Sr  WR/DB  East Kentwood
9. Griffin Beaudette  6-0  175  Sr  QB  St. Joseph
10. Reide Klinger  6-4  295  Sr  OL  Jenison

Jalen Mitchell  6-4  280  Sr  DL  Wyoming: In 2015 the Wolves featured one of the Lake Area’s most dangerous edge threats in Chris Veenstra, now plying his trade at Davenport. His heir apparent, Mitchell, doesn’t have the same kind of wingspan or flexibility but is an interesting prospect himself. He’s pretty slippery in space for his size and projects best as a two-technique tackle as he puts on weight.

Lane Potter  6-3  270  Sr  OL  Hudsonville: In a year has grown from prospect to impact player. He helped make the A gap a no-go zone for the Lake Area’s top underclassman, EK DT Mazi Smith, keeping him away from  asset No. 1 Eagles QB Jack Mandryk as Hudsonville ground out a week 3 win at Kentwood. Potter is more prepared than many prep centers as Hudsonville both runs and throws, and he’s doing it against some of the state’s best in the O-K Red. He also played on the Eagles’ D line helping them hold EK to under 20 yards rushing. A wrestler who is predictably combative in close space. Of similarly sized players at the spring 2016 LMFR combine, only Loy-Norrix’ Joe Hruska was faster than Potter’s 40 and pro agility times among similarly sized interior linemen. Both will likely have productive GLIAC careers.

Top 2017 Center Prospects

1. Sam Allen  6-3  265  Sr  Portage Central
2. Lane Potter  6-3  270  Sr  Hudsonville
3. Turner Ruby  6-4  310  Sr  East Kentwood
4. Levi Seeley  6-3  265  Sr  Grandville
5. Levi Finley  6-4  260  Sr  Mattawan

Class of 2018

Job Mayhue  6-3  200  Jr  LB  East Kentwood: Has ideal frame, physical tools and is a load on the blitz covering space quickly once he’s through the line. Mike linebacker who could be one of the Lake Area’s top 10 overall 2018 prospects as he grows in the responsibilities and nuances of the position, to become an instinctive gap closer and vocal leader. If not, still has potential as a more primarily pass-rush role.

Class of 2019

Logan Brown  6-6  260  So  OL  East Kentwood: He’s the Falcons’ starting left tackle and also sees time at defensive end. Brown has an offer from Wisconsin and it’s easy to like his potential. He’ll only get better in the war of attrition that is the O-K Red schedule, build a thick skin and start playing with the anger of the grind, maintain his blocks and finish plays.

Mazi Smith  6-3  300  So  DL  East Kentwood: While he didn’t spent much time in Hudsonville’s backfield in his O-K Red debut, Smith still played an important role because he commanded a consistent double-team, including occupying the Lake Area’s top center in the Eagles’ Lane Potter. Smith was still able to free himself to make some plays on running backs. Checks in at 3 bills but is fit and played nearly every down on defense. He’s on track to join West Ottawa’s Rob Renes and Muskegon’s Terrance Taylor as the best interior line prospects from the Lake area in a quarter century. They both went to U-M, and a Wolverines offers seems likely for Smith.

Lake Area Offensive Player of the Week:

Jake Bouma  Sr  QB  Grandville Calvin Christian: Bouma led the Squires to their first win of the year, throwing for 294 yards on 21-of-31 while rushing for 125 yards and three TDs against Godwin Heights.

Lake Area Defensive Player of the Week:

Khale Showers  Jr  LB  Rockford: He led a Rams defense that held one of the Lake Area’s top backs, Mona Shores’ Marcus Collins, to 41 yards on 14 carries. Showers had a team-high 11 tackles, including 1 1/2 behind the line, and recovered a fumble in Rockford’s first win of 2016.

Lake Area Small School Player of the Week:

Michael Myers  Sr  RB/DL  Gobles: He excelled both ways as Gobles improved to 3-0 against Galesburg-Augusta. Myers ran 11 times for 248 yards and three TDs while pacing the defense with 10 tackles

Lake Area Northern Michigan Player of the Week:

Nick Vandenboss  Jr  LB  McBain: He had three sacks among his dozen tackles as McBain improved to 3-0 handing Evart its first loss of the season. Vandenboss also caught a 68-yard TD pass.

Lake Area Coach of the Week: 

Chris Myers, Hamilton: After defeating previously unbeaten Zeeland East 34-21, Hamilton has already won more games than it has in a season since 2012 (a campaign that included a W over Zeeland West). Perhaps not coincidentally, 2012 was the last season Myers coached until returning in 2016. Hamilton was 79-44 in Myers’ first tenure, then 4-23 without him. The Hawkeyes twice converted fourth downs against East, including a TD.

Senior Joe Brown is a workhorse back for Portage Northern.

Class of 2017

Tyler Black  6-0  175  Sr  WR  Forest Hills Northern: While not possessing the size or explosion to dominate, Black still impresses with how light he is on his feet, smoothness in routes and cuts, and his easy hands away from the body. Has a knack for finding open spots. Moves with finesse but can hold onto it and take a hit. One of the top return threats in the Lake Area.

Joe Brown  5-11  200  Sr  RB  Portage Northern: A power working class back who can find the end zone and is the Lake Area’s early rushing leader. Rumbling, full effort interior back, it’s not always pretty but somehow seems to always take two for three guys to take him down. Not particularly short yet still runs with a lower center of gravity. It was at times more like Jim than Joe Brown in week 2 against Gull Lake when he ran for four TDs, including a 93-yarder, and a screen pass he took for a 61-yard tackle-breaking score. He’s having a breakout senior season powering his way into the running back prospect rankings after the Gull Lake game and opener with Lakeview which saw Brown rush for 152 yards and two TDs. He’s already surpassed his junior year totals.

Ethan Hart  6-1  210  Sr  LB  Hastings: Mike linebacker who is exceptionally strong, when he gets a bead on you, going down. Uses quick hands and active feet to shed blockers. Questions will be about his 5 flat speed and flexibility to cover. Also start at right tackle for the Saxons where he’s a fast, eager blocker. Could get some looks at tight end.

Carson Rosa  6-5  215  Sr  QB  Traverse City West: The senior class has a dearth of prospects with the physical profile of the classic pro-style QB, which makes Rosa intriguing. He threw for 1,400 yards and 13 TDs as a junior and has led West to a 2-0 start going into their Thirlby Field clash with TC Central. He’s the vet you want in an environment like the Patriot Game in front of 10,000 fans, and playing with an extra edge to avenge last season’s OT loss. Rosa has a good not great arm. He can make plays outside the pocket and has deceptive speed for his size to extend for first downs on called runs. Will be that much more dangerous as he progresses and looks to second and third options. Most appealing his the heart he shows in the red zone.

Zac Saltzgaber  6-0  190  QB/DB  Byron Center: Trigger man for one of the Lake Area’s elite offenses which has scored 99 points in a 2-0 start. They have athletes galore and he mixes it up nicely between his own touches, twin brother Josh, power runner Chris Chin, big speed threat Shane Tagg and of course the Lake Area’s most explosive big receiver since Drake Harris, WMU bound Brayden Smith. Saltzgaber hit Smith for a pair of 27-yard scores in their blowout of Middleville, and hooked up for a 50 yard score against Forest Hills Northern. While leading the team in tackles as a third-year starter at safety.

Ben Sherwin  6-4  260  Sr  Traverse City Central: Fit, athletic two-way lineman who is similar to Derek Smith, now at CMU via Kenowa Hills. Spends a lot of times in opposing backfields putting pressure on QBs, running backs and even punters. Going the other way, defenses get a whole lot of Sherwin in TC Central’s running game with Ben pulling from left tackle to join junior brother Sam Sherwin their right tackle.That fraternal double-team is welcomed as the Trojans only use a tight end with goal line formations.  He’s a finesse, technique pass blocker who takes advantage of his wingspan, and in the run game moves well enough to get out on linebackers. Not particularly wide through the shoulders may give some coaches pause as to how much weight he’ll put on at the next level.

Devante Walker  5-8  160  Sr  ATH  Traverse City Central: Often the smallest kid on the field, but just as often making the biggest plays. The Trojans are deep with quick skill guys similar to Walker, he is the old hand sophomore QB Tobin Schwanekke looks to in the red zone. He is a threat returning kicks, showing some wiggle after the catch from the slot or rushing the ball and turning the corner on the reverse. With John Pupel having chosen the prep school route, the onus is also on Walker to lead TC Central’s defensive backfield.

Erik Walker  5-8  160  Sr  RB  Dowagiac: Another small but good Walker. Nice fit for Dowagiac’s versatile, blue-collar running game. They marched all over South Haven in week 2. Walker went five yards around right end untouched for his first TD, then was really impressive showing high-end quickness on a cut back before his 4.6 speed was good enough to beat three defenders again to the right corner. That just confirms what we saw in the spring LMFR combine where he blew it away with pro agility shuttle times of 4.09 and 4.15 seconds.

Class of 2018

Ryan Hayes  6-7  250  Jr  TE/DL  Traverse City West: With Antwan Reed matriculating from Muskegon to IMG Academy, Hayes becomes the Lake Area’s top line prospect for 2018. While technique is still in progress, he’s a much improved, more physical blocker than he was as a sophomore starter. Plays with some attitude and isn’t shy about tossing around smaller opponents. Has hands and body control as a receiver. On the D line Hayes is a 5 technique defensive end who is strong against the run. Could see him switching from TE to OT in college, like TC West alumnus Jake Fisher did at Oregon on his way to the Cincinnati Bengals. Hayes isn’t as explosive as Fisher, closer in talent to MSU tackle Cole Chewins who was a Clarkston tight end. He’s also a well regarded pitching prospect and was a sophomore starter in basketball.

Shane Tagg  6-1  200  Jr  RB  Byron Center: The Bulldogs have an embarrassment of offensive threats. Game 1 showed a glimpse of the future, when all of them will have graduated save Tagg. He scored three TDs against Forest Hills Northern include a 51-yard score. Tagg tested as one of the top underclassmen at the spring LMFR combine, where he ran a 4.6 40 with a 33-inch vertical and 4.28-second pro agility.

Lake Area Offensive Player of the Week

Colton Kloote  Sr  QB  Allendale: Allendale piled up 70 points against Calvin Christian. Kloote was at the command completing 14-of-22 throws for 222 yards and five TDs while running 15 times for 167 yards.

Lake Area Defensive Player of the Week

Levi Six  Sr  LB  Fruitport: He’s been causing havoc for years, and did it again against Spring Lake when Six blocked what would have been the game-tying extra point with 7 seconds left in the game. He also recovered a fumble and returned it for a TD in Fruitport’s first win of the season.

Lake Area Small School Player of the Week

Jacob Mauntler  Sr  RB  Onekama: He was a thousand-yard rusher last year sharing carries with Jon Acton. Now Mauntler is the show and came up big in an win over Inland Lakes. He rushed 32 times for 252 yards and three TDS and caught two balls for 43 yards and a pair of TDs.

Lake Area Northern Michigan Player of the Week

Devante Walker  Sr  RB/DB  Traverse City Central: He rushed for 121 yards and three TDs on 10 carries while also catching a TD and leading the Trojans’ defensive backfield in their win over Marquette.

Lake Area Coach of the Week

Noel Dean, Lowell: It’s rarely been more apparent what kind of juggernaut program Dean has built than the start of this season. Despite returning just one starter from last year’s Divisoin 2 state runner-up team, the Red Arrows opened up with a win over Warren De La Salle, then defeated Rockford 21-10 in Week 2.

West Ottawa junior Xavier Wade is the Lake Area’s top 2018 prospect at receiver.

Class of 2017

Weston Geans  6-3  275  Sr  DL/OL  Three Rivers: When he has a size advantage at defenstive tackle and gets a step going downhill, commands a double team and can create some havoc in the backfield. Needs to work on technique, explosion, fitness to win the matchups he’ll see in college against similarly sized or larger linemen.

Chris Kolarevic  6-1  220  Sr  LB  Traverse City St. Francis: Passes the look test, rangy wingspan you like at OLB. He shows good quickness around the right end to pressure the pocket and moves well enough to stay out there in coverage. Would like to see more violent hands and second, third efforts through the whistle at the point of impact. He made a terrific third-down play against Marquette, coming from his coverage of the slot receiver to catch the wideout on a reception in the flat for a 7-yard loss. St. Francis’ athleticism trumped Marquette’s size advantage in the Glads’ win.  Kolarevic also plays tight end, where he’s most useful with his speed blocking downfield.

Dalton Riddle  6-2  190  Sr  WR/LB  Buchanan: A crucial component of Buchanan’s historic recent success. He has soft hands in tight places and uses his size advantage to get clean looks at the ball. Stays dialed in when going over the middle. As an outside linebacker he shows no signs of receiver privilege, an ears back hustler on the ends who delivers legit but legal hits. Hustle and versatility that a college special teams coach would love to use. Could see some tight end in Riddle’s future too. Also a college baseball prospect.

Class of 2018

Nolan Fugate  6-1  205  ATH  Grand Rapids Catholic Central: He scored the first touchdown at Catholic Central’s new stadium. It came on a one-yard rush, but with a player like Fugate it could have conceivably been via a reception, interception or fumble recovery. Versatile athlete is producing on the field commensurate with his outstanding performance at the spring 2015 LMFR Combine where he ran two 40s in the 4.5s, jumped over 32″ in the vertical and recorded one of the top five powerball tosses.

Xavier Wade  6-2  180  Jr  WR/DB  West Ottawa: He should flourish playing the slot in the spread under new WO coach Ryan Oshnock. He piles up yards after catch because even if he has to adjust to the ball Wade accelerates really quickly once he has it. His running ability also makes him a threat carrying it out of stop motion. Deceptive speed and got behind Mona Shores’ defense for a 54-yard TD in the Panthers’ season opening loss. Has the athletic bonafides to also project as a starter for WO’s basketball team which will be top 10 in Class A.

Class of 2019

Ryan Ringler  5-9  180  So  LB  Cedar Springs: Linebacker savant who was the Red Hawks’ leading tackler as just a freshman. That football IQ makes Ringler versatile, a mike linebacker who will also play with a hand down on the interior line, is eager in special teams coverage and can run and block out of the wing T. A stronger version returns, and Ringler was a two-way standout in Cedar Springs opener as the pushed defending D4 state champion Zeeland West through the fourth quarter. You don’t see too many defenders dance through a Dux line like Ringler did. Finishes with pop whether tackling or running the ball. Will need to shave a couple tenths off his 40 as an upperclassman for the offers to ensue.