Big Day Prep Showdown standouts

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Many of the state of Michigan’s top prospects were on the field at Eastern Michigan’s Rynearson Stadium on Saturday night for the final two games of the Big Day Prep Showdown.

Future Michigan State WR Aaron Burbridge is not only a dynamic pass catcher but a capable downfield blocker as well.

Led by Future247 linebacker Jon Reschke and Northern Illinois running back/receiver commit Devin Church, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice was able to hold off Detroit King, 28-21, despite a 230 yard, two touchdown rushing performance by Top247 running back and Cincinnati commit Dennis Norfleet.

In the nightcap, Sports Illustrated’s No. 10 team in the country in Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison was too much for fellow state powerhouse Cass Tech, cruising to a 43-7 victory.

Headliners

Aaron Burbridge: The state’s top-rated prospect and nation’s No. 8 receiver overall has the goods to make an immediate impact at Michigan State. The first thing that stands out about the Harrison standout is how quickly he accelerates from defenders after catching the football. Already playing with college size, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Burbridge is a great route runner with tremendous ball skills. He’s also a physical football player that isn’t afraid to do the dirty work and block. He had a key block that allowed teammate Lorenzo Collins to find the end zone from 22 yards out. Burbridge is so quick off the snap it’s tough for any cornerback to get a hand on him and jam him at the line of scrimmage. He had three receptions for over 50 yards in a game that got out of hand early. Also returned punts and played defensive back in the win.

Devin Funchess: With a game similar to Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley, the four-star Michigan commit is deceptively fast and quick. Will easily add 20 to 30 pounds to his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Funchess played meaningful downs his first year in Ann Arbor. Had a 36-yard touchdown reception where he got behind the Cass Tech defense. Funchess also played outside linebacker and had an interception off a dropped pass. Has long arms and will be an obvious red zone threat for Michigan.

Mario Ojemudia: The Harrison defensive end and Michigan commit had his way with the Cass Tech offensive line, registering a couple sacks, a few more tackles for loss and several quarterback hurries. Listed at 6-foot-1, 215, Ojemudia looks like he’s gotten bigger than that since we last saw him in the summer at the Ohio State Nike Football Training Camp. His explosiveness off the snap was evident. It almost appeared like he knew the Cass Tech snap count as he was so quick to get penetration into the backfield. Ojemudia is an aggressive player that has a motor.

Terry Richardson: Rated as the nation’s No. 8 cornerback, the Michigan commit had the tough assignment of checking Burbridge and his future Wolverines teammate Funchess. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Richardson couldn’t match up physically, but his ability to run was evident. It will be hard to find a receiver in the country Richardson can’t run with. He was able to break up a pass on a slightly underthrown deep ball to Burbridge in the second half. Will likely need a year in the weight room to get stronger. Richardson could also be a threat in the return game for the Wolverines.

Royce Jenkins-Stone: Tabbed as the country’s No. 20 outside linebacker, the four-star Michigan commit and the Cass Tech defense was reeling much of the night, but he did make a few plays behind the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Jenkins-Stone has the look of a Big Ten linebacker and moved well in traffic.

Top247 RB and Cincinnati commit Dennis Norfleet showed he's the total package on Saturday.

Dennis Norfleet: Coming off a great summer where he starred at 7-on-7 events in Florida and Texas, the nation’s No. 6 all-purpose back and Cincinnati commit showed he’s an outstanding 11-on-11 player too. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Norfleet had several runs that made the crowd oooh and awww, including a 29-yard touchdown scamper that ended with an ankle-breaking cut on the safety that allowed him to walk into the end zone. Super quick with good speed, Norfleet is also strong and can be a workhorse on the next level. He carried 34 times on Saturday, and his game resembles former Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers. When the defense finally corrals Norfleet, he’s so strong in the lower-body that he pushes the pile forward as he always keeps his legs churning.

Jon Reschke: The Future247 linebacker from Brother Rice had nine tackles and a fumble recovery in the victory over King. The hard-hitting Reschke was consistently around the football, moving well sideline to sideline. Standing in at 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, Reschke has a good first step and is also fluid when dropping into pass coverage. He holds offers from Michigan State and Toledo, and plans to be at the Spartans first two home games, and the Rockets big home test against Boise State. Reschke added that he’d like to visit Michigan for the Notre Dame game as well. He said the Wolverines are close to offering.

Other Top Prospects

Laron Taylor: It was a quiet night for the future Iowa linebacker. Taylor had a couple first quarter tackles but he and the Cass Tech defense couldn’t do much to slow the Harrison offense.

Ruben Lile: The Cass Tech athlete made his commitment to Iowa public after the game. He played safety, some cornerback and receiver in the loss, and made a couple plays defensively. Lile can tackle in the open field. A big, long kid at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, Lile will most likely begin his college career at safety but it wouldn’t be surprising if he grew into a linebacker.

Gairus Coleman: It’s evident the Harrison receivers are well coached and this talented 2013 prospect falls right in line. Appearing more quick than fast, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Coleman is an excellent route runner that is smooth coming out of his breaks. He has strong hands and teams up with Burbridge and Funchess to give his team one of the top receiving corps in the nation. A slot player that also picked up a good chunk of yardage on a reverse, Coleman doesn’t have any offers yet but looks like a definite BCS player. Michigan State could be the team to beat with his uncle Mill Coleman having starred for the Spartans before going on to a professional career.

Jourdan Lewis: It seems like Cass Tech has at least one sought after cornerback every year, and Jourdan Lewis will fit that bill in the class of 2013. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound Lewis has the speed and hips to cover any receiver, and also appears strong for his size. Lewis had an opportunity to show he could tackle in the open field, and he wasn't afraid to come up and try and hit somebody. Toledo has already offered.

Brandon Berry: The 6-foot, 195-pound safety prospect was the best player on the Cass Tech defense, living around the football. He began the game with a sack and tackle on the first two plays. Berry is a presence against the run and has offers from Cincinnati, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.

Michigan commit Mario Ojemudia of Harrison had his way with the Cass Tech offensive line.

Lorenzo Collins: The Harrison sophomore’s speed was evident as he pulled away from the Cass Tech defense on a 29-yard touchdown run. When playing linebacker, his ability to play physical was also evident as he laid the biggest hit of the night in the second quarter on a Cass Tech running back. The 6-foot, 200-pound Collins looks like the next big recruit to come out of Harrison, and he has already impressed Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson at a camp this summer. Collins added that he grew up a Penn State fan.

Devin Church: The Brother Rice running back and Northern Illinois commit is a slippery player that can run between the tackles, but is at his best beating defenders to the edge and turning upfield. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Church finished with 74 yards in the win against King.

Quick Hitters

-Brother Rice tight end Joe Warner showed good speed for a tight end, scoring the game’s first touchdown as he pulled away from the King defense. Buffalo has offered.

-Norfleet and King did most of their running behind big senior offensive tackle Sam Tate. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Tate is still looking for his first offer, but definitely looked worthy of an opportunity against Brother Rice. An aggressive run blocker, Tate has showed the ability to pass protect as well.

-King junior quarterback Davaun Williams finished 13-of-21 for 114 yards in the loss, with a couple nice throws into tight windows. A good athlete, Williams will be one to watch develop this fall.

-DeShun Brown had 107 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead the Brother Rice offense.

-Collins wasn’t the only 2014 running back to show potential on Saturday. Brother Rice sophomore Brian Walker was the change of pace back, running hard between the tackles. Standing in at 5-foot-8, 195-pounds, Walker is a thick kid that can also catch the football.

-Cass Tech freshman quarterback Jayru Campbell didn’t have any stage fright when he entered in the second half for injured starter Kevin Biscoe. The lanky prospect has a strong arm and threw his first career touchdown pass late in the game. He also had several runs that lifted the Technican fans to their feet. It’s obvious Jayru will be a heck of a playmaker down the road.