MaxPreps 2013 Michigan preseason football Fab 5

MaxPreps 2013 Michigan Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard 1. Cass Tech (Detroit)
Head coach: Thomas Wilcher
2012 finish: 12-2; Division 1 state champion
Team preview

Cass Tech entered 2012 with great expectations. Following a two-loss regular season, it rose to the occasion in the playoffs and took home a Division 1 state title. Junior quarterback Jayru Campbell and running back Michael Weber are back from that squad. The defense has a chance to be special, with the likes of Damon Webb in the secondary and Deon Drake leading the linebackers. This team very well could go undefeated, but it will need to avoid being upset in the regular season for the third straight year.

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2. Clarkston
Head coach: Kurt Richardson
2012 finish: 11-1
Team preview

Clarkston was relatively young last season when it lost to Rockford in the Division 1 quarterfinals. In 2013, it looks very strong, led by defensive end David Beedle, a Michigan State commit, and defensive tackle Nicholas Matich, a Western Michigan pledge. Joining him in Kalamazoo is Tim Cason, who will man the secondary for Clarkston. The offense features junior quarterback D.J. Zezula and running back Cain Watlington.

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3. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills)
Head coach: Al Fracassa
2012 finish: 12-2; Division 2 state champion
Team preview

For all the talent that Brother Rice returns on the field, the story will be the man roaming the sidelines: octogenarian and 416-game winner Al Fracassa, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. Fracassa will lean on running back Brian Walker and receiver Corey Lacanaria to pace the offense. The team should have enough to play for Fracassa’s ninth state title.

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4. Southfield
Head coach: Tim Conley
2012 finish: 7-4
Team preview

Few teams in the country will have a more impressive pair of defensive ends than Southfield. In addition to Michigan commit Lawrence Marshall, head coach Tim Conley’s squad also added Malik McDowell, a transfer from Loyola who is the nation’s No. 53 recruit according to 247Sports. With signal-caller Jalen Brady also transferring in, Southfield can challenge the best in the state if it gels.

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5. Christian (Grand Rapids)
Head coach: Don Fellows
2012 finish: 13-1; Division 3 state champion
Team preview

In one of the more memorable Michigan state finals in recent history, Grand Rapids Christian knocked off St. Mary Prep 40-37 to capture a Division 3 crown. With Drake Harris, the state’s most explosive player, back at receiver this fall, there’s a good chance Grand Rapids Christian will be back playing for a state title.

See every Michigan FBS football signee from 2013 National Signing Day