Many Michigan football observers think that a Detroit Public School League power might have an outside chance to accomplish a rare feat this season: win a state Division I title.
But when it comes to NCAA Division I talent, Detroit Southeastern has more than just defensive end and tight end William Gholston, considered in most circles as the state's top-ranked high school football player.
Gholston has already committed to Michigan State, but is focusing on playing for a team that is loaded with Division I prospects, including quarterback Edward Thomas, who threw for 2,828 yards and 24 touchdowns last season in leading his team to the third round of the playoffs.
But the 6-foot-7, 245-pound Gholston, who has the reputation of being a devastating pass rusher, is drawing a lot of attention. Donshell English has coached Gholston for three varsity seasons.
“He was pretty doggone good last year,” English said. “But he's a lot stronger and a lot faster. He has a motor that's second to none. He never stops. He's always around the ball. Last year, when we were looking for a leader, he stepped up. This year, our leaders are established.”
English pointed out that there are other Division I prospects on the Southeastern roster that make it dangerous for offenses to consider double teaming Gholston. The other prospects getting attention include Gihad Rasheed at linebacker, lineman Johnathan Hankins and defensive end James York.
Southeastern runs a 3-4 defense.
“We basically run to the ball all the time. We like to blitz and always put pressure on the quarterback,” English said.
Gholston had 13 tackles in Southeastern's first game, a 40-0 win over Detroit Osborn.
“I've improved a lot. My teammates have pushed me to work harder,” he said.
He's played football since he was 4 years old.
“I've played every position out there except corner or safety,” said Gholston, who started playing linebacker five years ago. “I wasn't always that tall. I went wherever the coaches put me.”
Gholston said he was only 5-8 during elementary school, 6-4 in the ninth grade and has grown three inches since his freshman season.
He said he felt comfortable with Michigan State's program and made his decision to be a Spartan in June.
“They run a similar defense to what we do here,” he said. “That can help me get to maybe the highest level of football.”
Thomas is “shaping up to be” the best quarterback English has ever coached. “I've had some good quarterbacks,” he said. “He has the ability to get out of trouble and has a nice, strong arm.”
Gholston thinks his team has the talent to bring a Division I title to Detroit.
“If we work hard and stay focused, we have a chance to win a state championship,” he said.
Michigan-bound
Greg Carter coached four state championship teams when he was at Detroit St. Martin dePorres. But now that he's at Inkster, Carter might be coaching the best quarterback he's ever seen in Devin Gardner, who has already committed to the University of Michigan.
He was 10-for-14 for 110 passing yards and a touchdown, and ran for 147 yards in his season opener.
“He's improved tremendously in just about every phase of the game,” Carter said. “He's gotten stronger. He understands our system a lot better. He continues to improve every day. He's an extremely hard worker. During the summer, he went to each and every camp that he could to refine his skills to make sure he's ready for the season. He had already committed to Michigan, but he went over and beyond to make himself a great player.”
Carter said Gardner is seeing defenses throw just about everything at him so far. “They blitz to try to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible,” Gardner said. “But he's a quick decision maker. He's an excellent runner. If he gets up the lanes, he can get up the field and make good things happen. He's definitely ready for any situation that might occur.”
Gardner has an opportunity to be a “fantastic quarterback” at the Big Ten level, Carter said. “He's only going to get better. I can't see his work ethic decreasing at all. He's able to handle all the publicity he's gotten. I can't see why he can't improve and be an outstanding player."
From sideline to sideline
When it comes to a player who is dangerous enough to make tackles from sideline to sideline, C.J. Olaniyan of Warren Mott seems to have it all as a 6-4, 225-pound defensive end. College scouts are drooling over his combination of his size, strength and speed. Last season, he had 81 tackles, including 14 for losses. But despite that, this season, “he has a lot of greater potential,” said Mott coach Tom Milanov.
“His strength is up. His speed is still there, but he'll improve that the most. He's improving on his footwork.”
Olaniyan says he has about 25 scholarship offers, including from Michigan, Michigan State and Oklahoma State. Defense is his forte, but Olaniyan isn't bad as a receiver, either, considering he caught 33 passes for 536 yards last season.
Coaching success
One of the state's most successful coaches in recent seasons, Mike Giannone of Macomb Dakota, is getting close to 100 wins, just a year shy of his 30th season.
Giannone led his Cougars to a 35-0 victory over Anchor Bay on Friday. Giannone is in his 12th season as head coach at Macomb Dakota, where he has a 97-32 record and back-to-back Division I state titles in 2006 and 2007.
His team has been in five state semifinal games. He is in his 29th season as a high school football coach.
Championship coach steps down
The only coach to lead a Detroit Public School League team to a state football title retired as head coach last week for health reasons.
James Reynolds, 64, coached King for 35 years and had a 253-112 record. His 2007 team won the state's Division II title and was 14-0. He guided King to the Division II title in 2007. King finished that season 14-0, capped by a 47-21 victory over Midland in the final.
Players of the week
Top performances in the first week of Michigan football included:
• Nick Hill, who has committed to Michigan State, had 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns in Chelsea's win over Ann Arbor Huron.
• Terrell Porter rushed for 211 yards and three TDs for host Berkley in a 36-28 loss to Hazel Park.
• Franc’ois Mathews rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries in Auburn Hills Avondale's 48-0 victory over Bloomfield Hills Andover.
• Jimmy Pickens of Birmingham Brother Rice had five carries for 149 yards and four touchdowns to lead Rice over University of Detroit Jesuit 49-0.
• Anthony Lewis had seven carries for 178 yards and three touchdowns in Gilbralter Carlson's 55-7 romp over Lincoln Park.
• Running back Terrance Hartfield had two rushing touchdowns and an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and Marvin Dismuke had a rushing TD and a 74-yard kickoff return for a TD for Harper Woods in a 46-22 win over River Rouge.
