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Donovan Peoples-Jones, Kalil Pimpleton, Ambry Thomas and Cody White named to Mr. Football Final Four
EDITOR’S NOTE: Watch the video above as Tom Markowski and Lorne Plant have a complete breakdown explanation for the Mr. Football Award Final Four
The Hungry Howie’s Mr. Football Award Final Four was announced on the STATE CHAMPS! High School Sports Show this morning on Fox Sports Detroit.
Walled Lake Western’s Cody White won the Fan Voting with over 8,540 votes, earning himself an automatic spot into the Mr. Football Award Final Four.
The other three members selected to the Mr. Football Final Four, as selected by our State Champs! Network panel of experts and analysts are Detroit Cass Tech’s Donovan Peoples-Jones, Muskegon’s Kalil Pimpleton and Detroit King’s Ambry Thomas.
This is the second straight year where Detroit King and Walled Lake Western have had a player in the Mr. Football Final Four. Detroit King’s Donnie Corley won the Mr. Football Award in 2015. WL Western quarterback Kyle Thomas made the final four in 2015 as well.
The winner of the Hungry Howie’s Mr. Football Award will be decided after the MHSAA Football State Finals later this month.
Below are the capsules on each player in the Mr. Football Final Four, along with statistics through the District Final Round of the MHSAA Playoffs:
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Detroit Cass Tech, 6-3, 195, WR/FS/KR, senior: Peoples-Jones is likely the best receiver to come out of Cass Tech and one of the best in the last 30 years to come out of Detroit. What also sets Peoples-Jones above the rest in the state is his ability to return kicks and play defensive back with the best of them. He has upwards of 23 scholarship offers and among the ones are Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford. Last season he had 39 receptions for 1,012 yards and 14 TDs. In the season-opening 45-27 victory over Oak Park, Peoples-Jones was named team MVP as he had three receptions for 100 yards and two TDs. In a 41-20 victory over Detroit King in the PSL title game, Peoples-Jones had three receptions for 95 yards and one TD. Last week he had four receptions for 85 yards in a 24-7 victory over Dearborn. For the season Peoples-Jones has 22 receptions for 766 yards and nine TDs.
Kalil Pimpleton, Muskegon, 5-8, 165, QB/SB/KR, senior: Pimpleton started all last season at quarterback but coach Shane Fairfield also used his gifted athlete as a slot receiver this season to get him the ball in space. Pimpleton is a crafty runner, often looking to run behind his taller linemen three, four yards downfield to confuse defenders. In a 36-15 victory over Muskegon Mona Shores on Oct 14, Pimpleton rushed 15 times for 153 yards and one TD. He was 2-of-6 passing for 38 yards and one TD, and he returned a punt 54 yards for a TD. In a 28-10 victory over East Grand Rapids last week Pimpleton had six carries for 74 yards including a 62-yard TD run that gave the Big Reds a 21-10 lead. For the season Pimpleton is 36-of-68 for 642 yards and 14 TDs. He’s rushed 107 times for 1,155 yards and 18 TDs. Pimpleton has 18 receptions for 222 yards and two TDs. Muskegon (10-1) has had a running clock in eight of its 11 games. Pimpleton committed to Virginia Tech.
Ambry Thomas, Detroit King, 5-11, 175, SB/DB/KR, senior: Thomas has tremendous breakaway speed to go with his ability to quickly change direction. A three-year starter, Thomas is a playmaker. Coach Tyrone Spencer has done his best to get the ball in Thomas’ hands this season. Thomas missed six games last season, played the last two, and had ACL surgery when the season ended. He’s been offered a scholarship by Florida, U-M, MSU, Penn State and Pittsburgh. In a 41-20 loss to Cass Tech in the PSL title game Thomas had six receptions for 166 yards and three TDs, and six tackles on defense. In a 34-7 victory over Oak Park last week Thomas had six receptions for 117 yards and two TDs, and he had one interception on defense. For the season Thomas has 25 receptions for 741 yards and nine TDs. He’s returned two punts for a TD, a kickoff and an interception for a TD and, defensively, Thomas has 32 tackles and five pass deflections.
Cody White, Walled Lake Western, 6-3, 195, QB/WR/DB/P, senior: A remarkable all-around athlete, White competed in four sports last season. He had 57 receptions for 1,148 yards and nine TDs as a junior. He committed to Michigan State. White switched to quarterback for the first three weeks due to an injury. White moved to receiver on Sept. 16. In a 38-7 victory over Waterford Mott on Sept. 30 White had three receptions for 50 yards and had two punt returns for 54 yards. Last week in a 31-30 victory over South Lyon on Oct. 28 White had five receptions for 88 yards and two TDs. For the season White is 28-of-52 passing for 597 yards, seven TDs and two interceptions. He’s rushed for 342 yards and five TDs on 356 carries. White has 34 receptions for 574 yards and eight TDs.
