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.