A quick look at the best high school football player from each Midwest state in the 2016 class.
(Come back to freep.com this week for more Best of the Midwest coverage!)
Michigan: Donnie Corley
WR, 6-2 1/2, 187 pounds, Detroit King
Best moments: Army All-American, 2015 National Player of the Year finalist, 2-time All-State Dream Team, Mr. Football Award, 2015 USA Today All-USA Michigan 1st Team; 59 receptions, 1,408 yards 16 TDs? 10 INT, 1 defensive TD
Coach Ty Spencer, King assistant: “Donny is an amazing footballer and a great kid. What makes him such a special player is his work ethic and selfless attitude. During winter and summer training we had to tell Donnie to slow down because he is always focused on working outside with someone else. In the first two games of our season, Donnie didn't hit many balls, but that never changed the way he approached practice or the game. He was only interested in winning.”
College Choice: Michigan State
Iowa: John Raridon
OG, 6-4, 271 pounds, West Des Moines Valley
Best moments: Four year starter on our offensive line, 3 time elite 1st team all state in Iowa. Army All American.
Coach Gary Swenson: “John is the most dedicated footballer I have ever coached. His passion for the game and his own personal improvement is unparalleled. Giannis was the captain of the team this year and an excellent teammate. Giannis was the type of leader who could put the team on his back and want them to succeed. John is the most physical offensive player I've seen at the high school level.”
College Choice: Nebraska
Illinois: Josh King
DE, 6-6 260 lbs., Darien Hinsdale South
Best moments: 82 tackles, 8 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries. US Army All-American, two-time Conference Defensive Secretary of the Year, All-Conference, All-State and All-American.
Coach Mike Barry: “Josh is a state champion wrestler and All-American football player, but he remains humble and realizes that the best is yet to come. He knows what sacrifice is and remains hungry to achieve his potential.”
College Choice: Michigan State
Ohio: Jonathan Cooper
DE, 6-3, 235 pounds, Columbus Gahanna Lincoln
Best moments: 65 tackles, 18 for a loss, a forced fumble and a blocked punt. All-USA Ohio, USA Today Ohio Defensive Player of the Year, AP Ohio All-State first team
Coach Bruce Ward to the Columbus Dispatch: “The simple answer is its engine. He just has an incredible motor on the football field. He's obviously a big, strong kid, a tremendous athlete. And he's probably an even better kid overall. I'm sure all of those things together make him a complete package for a college like Ohio State.”
College Choice: Ohio State
Indiana: Brandon Peters
QB, 6-4 1/2, 209 pounds, Avon
Best moments: Completed 218-of-363 passes for 3,103 yards and 37 touchdowns with five interceptions. He ran for 133 yards and four touchdowns.
Indiana Coaches Association Top 50 Player of the Year, Indiana Mr. Football from the Indianapolis Star. Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. One of six finalists for the US Army All-American Player of the Year.
Coach Mark Bless: “He is very coachable, he understands the game very well, on the pitch he is a fierce competitor, he wants to win and do a very good job. He has a very active hand. For us, he started as a sophomore and earned a senior. The big thing we noticed early is that he has a good presence in the pocket and had some escape ability. Every year he's improved and it's definitely helped us have three successful seasons. It was the first time in 11 years that we won the regional competition… It was a very good year.”
College Choice: Michigan
Minnesota: Carter Coughlin
LB, 6-3 1/2, 221 pounds, Eden Prairie
Best moments: He had 90 tackles, 41 unassisted, 8 for loss, 5 sacks, an interception, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery.
Coach Michael Grant: “Carter was a three-year starter for the Eden Prairie Eagles as they won two state championships. As captain of his team in 2015, he led it to a 10-1 record and district championship. Carter provides excellent leadership along with his tremendous speed and commitment to the game. He has championship and work ethic.”
College Choice: Minnesota
Nebraska: Noah Fant
TE, 6-5, 210 pounds, Omaha South
Best moments: Greater Omaha Fall Athlete of the Year, 1st Team All-Nebraska Defensive Line, 1st Team All-State Class A Defensive Line, school records for season (46) and career (78) receptions, season (10) and career (18) touchdowns, season yards (203).
Coach Chris Fudt: “My favorite thing about coaching Noah is that no matter how good he was or the exposure he got, he never let it get to his head or change who he is as a person and it never affected his work ethic. I know Noah will do well in his college career because he has a very strong will to be great and succeed.”
College Choice: Iowa
Pennsylvania: Miles Sanders
RB, 6-0, 200 lbs., Woodland Hills
Best moments: Under Armor All-American. First-team Pennsylvania Class AAAA all-state. Had 508 carries, 4,573 yards, 59 touchdowns in his career, rushed for 1,529 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2015.
Coach George Novak: “He's a nice size athlete, close to 6-foot, 200 pounds, he's quick, runs a 4.4, has great feet, lateral movement, great acceleration, strong in the weight room. Benches over 300 kg. We had some eta players, great running backs. In eighth grade, he played on a junior high team. We brought him up… We don't even have ninth graders on varsity and he had a great year. He had over 60 career touchdown runs of over 50 yards. He also had about 20 touchdowns of 70/80 yards returned. Mark different runners, speed guy, slash guy, he does it all.”
College Choice: Penn State
Wisconsin: Ben Bredeson
OG, 6-4 1/2, 293 pounds, Hartland Arrowhead
Best moments: 2x All-State, Under Armor All-American, Classic 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He led his team to four consecutive state championship games. Played in 55 games and started 54. Never gave up a sack in practice or a game.
Coach Greg Malling: “Ben is the epitome of Big Ten football. He's a big, strong, intelligent, humble striker who is affable off the pitch and the opposition's nightmare on it. No player has ever been a better teammate and leader — on and off the field — than Ben. He is an impressive young man in every way.”
College Choice: Michigan
Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.
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