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FOOTBALL RECRUITING: Michigan turns into “Secondary Central,” as four different star DBs from across the state land at D1 colleges
The state of Michigan transformed into an assembly line for secondary recruits recently.
And the Division I college football recruiting world gives thanks.
Four separate defensive backs from the state’s prep ranks rolled off the factory floor this weekend, accepting Division I scholarships to the next level.
Detroit East English Village Prep’s Desmond King committed to Iowa, Walled Lake Western’s Josh Jones committed to North Carolina State, Allegan’s Gary Jones committed to Central Michigan and Clarkston’s Timmy Cason committed to Toledo.
All but Cason, who is a top recruit in the state’s Class of 2014, are seniors. Cason (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) and King (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) are cornerbacks, while Gary Jones (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and Josh Jones (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) are safeties.
Both King and Josh Jones de-committed from a pair of previous schools in the past six months. King de-committed from Central Michigan to commit to Ball State before bolting the Mid-American Conference to join the Big Ten with the Hawkeyes. Jones first de-committed from Toledo at the end of the summer and then from Illinois, prior to pledging his allegiance to the Wolfpack and new head coach Dave Doeren.
In their days as prepsters on the gridiron, King and Josh Jones each had prolific careers on both sides of the ball. Leading his prep squad to back-to-back district titles, King rushed for 2,370 yards and 32 touchdowns on offense during his senior campaign in 2012, in addition to tallying 42 tackles and seven interceptions from his cornerback spot.
Highlighted by Jones’ electrifying antics at a multitude of positions – running back, cornerback, safety, kick-off returner, punt returner – , Walled Lake Western made an appearance in the final four in 2011 and captured a district title in the fall. His senior year was his best statistically – racking up more than 2,000 total yards and 24 touchdowns and posting 95 tackles to go along with five interceptions.
Last season as a junior, Cason helped spearhead Clarkston (11-1) to league and district crowns.
Some recruiting analysts view Cason’s commitment to Toledo as “soft,” since bigger Division I programs are already starting to sniff in his direction.
Gary Jones is a pure athlete. A three-sport standout at Allegan, he also stars on the hardwood and on the track. He won a state title last spring as a sprinter in the 200-meter dash.
