State Champs! Sports Network

Zak Ahern

Rockford | Position: QB

Class: 2022 | Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 200 pounds

Commitment: Ferris State

As a junior, Ahern threw for 1,423 yards and 20 scores, completing 67 percent of his 184 passes, and ran for another 820 yards and 11 scores on 119 carries, helping lead the Rams to a 9-1 season and a trip to the semifinals in Division 1. As a senior, the GLIAC recruit has found the end zone at least once in every game through Week 8, and accounted for more than 200 yards of offense in every game but one. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Went 14-for-22 passing for 218 yards and rushed 21 times for 89 yards and four scores in a 28-27 loss to Grand Blanc in the regional finals. On the season, he was 127 of 209 passing for 1,840 yards and 18 scores, and rushed for 1,457 yards and 30 touchdowns on 184 carries.

Antonio Gates Jr.

Dearborn Fordson | Position: WR/DB

Class: 2022 | Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 185 pounds

Commitment: Michigan State

The son of the future NFL Hall of Fame tight end, Antonio Gates Jr. had 30 receptions for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 93.75 yards per game and 25 yards per reception as a junior for the Tractors, helping them to a 5-3 record and a spot in the district finals. Gates Jr. earned first-team all-state honors in Division 1 from the MHSFCA and the Associated Press. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Limited to just one rush for a loss of yards in a 12-7 loss to Belleville in the regional finals. On the season, had 51 catches for 866 yards and 16 touchdowns in a 9-3 season for the Tractors.

Cephus Harris

Chippewa Valley | Position: RB

Class: 2022 | Height: 5-foot-8 | Weight: 195 pounds

Commitment: Youngstown State

STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 2: Carried the ball 26 times for 157 yards and three TDs in a 38-35 loss to Sterling Heights Stevenson in the district final, adding a catch for 34 yards and a score. On the season, finished with 1,985 yards and 27 touchdowns (180.5 yards per game, 9.4 per rush), 26 catches for 548 yards and eight scores and 383 yards and a score on 11 kick returns, good for 36 total touchdowns. He had a school-record seven scores against Grosse Pointe South.

Tyrell Henry

Roseville | Position: WR/DB

Class: 2022 | Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 170 pounds

Commitment: Michigan State

As a junior, Henry racked up 676 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns, four of those through the air on 22 passes (282 yards). He helped Roseville to a 4-3 record and its third playoff appearance in four seasons, garnering first-team all-state honors in Division 2 from the MHSFCA. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Had a 39-yard touchdown catch in a 45-14 loss to Warren De La Salle in the regional finals. Had seven catches for 167 yards and two scores in a 41-2 win over Port Huron Northern in the district final. Returned a kick 75 yards for a score and added an interception in Roseville’s 27-0 win over L’Anse Creuse in Round 1. In the regular season, had 37 catches for 613 yards and four receiving touchdowns, four interceptions — returning two for touchdowns in one quarter, tying an MHSAA record — and four punt returns for touchdowns, three of them in Week 6, tying the single-game MHSAA record, along with a kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 7. Threw a 39-yard touchdown pass in Week 8.

Ty Holtz

DeWitt | Position: QB/FS

Class: 2022 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 195 pounds

Commitment: Brown

As a junior, in his first year as the Panthers’ starting quarterback, Holtz threw for 2,396 yards and 35 touchdowns (against just two picks), and ran for 452 yards and four scores, leading DeWitt to its first state title in Division 3. His showing led to Associated Press Player of the Year honors in D3, first-team all-state honors from the MHSFCA and a final four spot in the 2020 Mr. Football contest. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Was 9-for-14 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-14 win over Cedar Springs in the regional finals, adding 48 yards rushing and another score. On the season, he’s completed 128 of 208 passes for 2,484 yards and 36 touchdowns, and rushed for 745 yards and nine scores.

Elijah Jackson-Anderson

Grand Blanc | Position: RB/DB

Class: 2022 | Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 180 pounds

Commitment: Eastern Michigan

The versatile Jackson-Anderson scored on three touchdowns as a receiver in the Bobcats’ district semifinal win over Clarkston, part of his 14 total scores on the year. He had eight scores through the air (19 catches, 279 yards) and six on the ground (41 rushes, 336 yards), helping Grand Blanc to a 7-2 season, and earning honorable mention all-state honors in Division 1-2 from the Associated Press. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Carried the ball 20 times for 96 yards and two scores in a 28-27 win over Rockford in the regional finals, adding two catches for 21 yards. On the season, he’s got 164 carries for 1,086 yards and 16 touchdowns, along with 21 catches for 195 yards and two scores. [DNP in Week 9]

Brayden McKenna

Lapeer | Position: RB/SS

Class: 2022 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 190 pounds

Commitment: Uncommitted

As a junior, McKenna led the Saginaw Valley League in rushing for the second straight season, finishing with 982 all-purpose yards, earning his second straight honors as the first-team all-league running back, as well as honorable mention all-state honors. His 2,044 yards rushing through the regular season of his senior year were 700 more than any other player in the SVL, and 500 more than any other TEAM in the SVL Red Division (only Blue Division teams Bay City Western and Mt. Pleasant had more in the entire SVL). STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 1: Had 190 total yards — 101 rushing and 89 receiving — along with a 2-point conversion in a 42-20 loss to Rochester Adams. For the season, he has [211] carries for 2,149 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground, along with [12] catches for 307 yards and three TDs in a 7-2 regular season.

Dante Moore

Detroit King | Position: QB

Class: 2023 | Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 180 pounds

Commitment: Undecided

A star since he set foot on campus, Moore completed 70 percent of his passes as a sophomore (119 of 170) for 1,710 yards, 30 touchdowns and just three interceptions, helping lead the Crusaders to a 6-4 mark and a berth in the regional finals after a 3-3 regular season. His play earned him first-team all-state honors in Division 3-4 from the Associated Press. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Completed 12 of 21 passes for 200 yards and three touchdown passes in a 28-7 win over Allen Park in the regional finals. In 10 games through the regional finals, he has completed completed 146 of 212 passes for 2,626 yards and 37 TDs, including five scores in King’s Week 7 win over Renaissance. [Forfeit wins in Week 5 and 6]

Christion Stokes

Harper Woods | Position: RB/DB

Commitment: West Virginia

STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 1: Had two sacks and an interception in Harper Woods’ 14-6 overtime loss to River Rouge, along with 136 yards rushing. For the season, Stokes rushed for 1,622 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Pioneers (7-4), adding a pair of receiving touchdowns. On defense, he had 48 tackles and four sacks in the regular season. [Forfeit win in Week 6, DNP in Week 9]

Dillon Tatum

West Bloomfield | Position: RB/DB

Class: 2022 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 190 pounds

Commitment: Michigan State

Even with last year’s Mr. Football, Donovan Edwards, on the field for the Lakers, Tatum was still a big-play threat, racking up more than 650 yards from scrimmage (500-plus rushing, 150 receiving) and four scores, earning second-team all-state honors in Division 1-2 from the Associated Press. While he’ll get a more expanded role as an offensive weapon as a senior, Tatum will likely play defensive back in college. STATS AFTER PLAYOFFS ROUND 3: Had 15 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-13 loss to Rochester Adams, adding two catches for 12 yards and a kickoff return for 28. On the season, he has 166 carries for 1,174 yards and 23 scores, eight catches for 74 yards and 1011 combined punt/kick returns for 215 yards, along with 52 tackles and three interceptions on defense.