Football Recruiting Updates

There is a lot of news on some of our football verbals, as the post-season honors roll out.  Let's scan the wire....

Kevonte Martin-Manley and DJ Lynch were both named all-Oakland County.

Check out what the paper had to say about each of them..

Kevonte Martin-Manley, Birmingham Brother Rice Sr. WR — As dangerous a deep threat as there was in the state, Martin-Manley closed out a fine high school career by catching 43 passes for 745 yards and 10 touchdowns despite facing constant attention from opposing defenses. For his three-year career at Brother Rice, the Bowling Green-bound Martin-Manley had 1,545 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.

“Kevonte is one of the best all-around athletes I’ve ever had at Brother Rice,” Brother Rice head coach Al Fracassa said. “He is a hard worker in the offseason and dedicated to continuous improvement. His knack for making the big play in crucial situations has helped us win many games over the past three years.”

D.J. Lynch, Auburn Hills Avondale Sr. LB — The focal of point of Avondale’s defense all year long, Lynch in nine games had 49 tackles, 14 of which came for loss in being named honorable mention all-state in Division 1-2. Committed to Bowling Green, Lynch also rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries and caught 19 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns on offense.

QB Trent Hurley led his team to its first Western Pennsylvania football title (if you don't know, football is kind of a big deal over there).  

Caleb Watkins of Middletown finished D-1 All-Ohio, along with numerous other district and country titles.  This article is very positive, and talks about how he sacrificed his personal stats so they team could win.  (article also notes he is graduating early and will be in Spring practice for the Falcons.) 

“It stopped being about me throwing for 250 yards and a couple of touchdowns in a game this year,” said Watkins, the 2009 JournalNews Butler County Offensive Player of the Year. “It was about Antonio (Banks) getting his yards and us just doing everything we need to to win.”

Marcus Beaurem continued to excel, even as his team was defeated in the state playoffs.

Lorain OT Isaiah Byler was named first-team all-state.

Dlineman Darius Gilbert was named second team all-Butler County.