09/07/2026
TOP 24 All Time Football Players !
150 players. Countless legends. One No. 1. 🏈
The countdown is over.
High School Sports Scene’s No. 1 Michigan High School Football Player of All-Time has been revealed.
Did we get it right?
No. 1-24
1. JEROME BETTIS, RB/LB, DETROIT MACKENZIE (1987-1989): The top player in the state in 1989 and a high school all-American, Bettis went on to fame with Notre Dame in college and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. A dominating linebacker and fullback in high school, Bettis led Mackenzie to the West Division title in the Detroit PSL league and a state playoff berth. Bettis played 13 seasons in the NFL and is eighth in career rushing yards with 13,662. Bettis won a Super Bowl with the Steelers, was a six-time Pro Bowler and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. EARL MORRALL, MUSKEGON (1949-1951): Few quarterbacks can match the legacy of Morrall. In 1951 Morrall led the Big Reds to a state championship as he threw for a then school record 851 yards and 11 touchdowns. Morrall was a nationally recruited quarterback who picked Michigan State over Michigan and Notre Dame. Morrall led Michigan State to the 1955 Rose Bowl title. After college Morrall had a 21-year NFL career that included winning 1968 NFL MVP award. Morrall was also part of three Super Bowl champion teams. Morrall passed for 20,809 yards and 161 touchdowns during his NFL career.
3. MARK INGRAM JR., RB, GRAND BLANC, FLINT SOUTHWESTERN (2005-2007): the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner with the University of Alabama, Ingram enjoyed a sparkling high school career. Ingram transferred to Southwestern his senior year and opened the 2007 season by establishing a new Flint rushing record when he ran for a city-record 319 yards and four touchdowns. Ingram ended his senior year with 1,699 yards and 24 touchdowns. After becoming the first Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy, Ingram played 12 seasons in the NFL where he played in three Pro Bowls and rushed for 8,111 career yards and 65 touchdowns.
4. MILL “THE THRILL” COLEMAN, QB, ALBION/FARMINGTON HILLS HARRISON (1986-1989): There was a reason Coleman was called “The Thrill” and high school football fans will never forget the electricity that came from Coleman. A winner who could beat you with his arm or legs, Coleman led Harrison to two Class B state titles and one state runner-up during his career. Coleman finished his career with 7,464 passing yards but it was his “big-play” ability on the high school level that has not been seen since.
5. ANTONIO GATES, TE, DETROIT CENTRAL (1997-1998): A standout basketball player in college, Gates went on to be the first Pro Football Hall of Famer who did not play college football. An undrafted free agent, Gates played 16 years in the NFL with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. Gates was an eight-time, Pro Bowl selection and six-time All-Pro who set the record for most touchdowns by a tight end.
6. AIDAN HUTCHINSON, DE, DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD (2015-2017): Hutchinson was a high school, all-American who helped lead Divine Child to the state semifinals and a pair of Detroit Catholic League titles. A two-time, all-Big Ten player at the University of Michigan, Hutchinson won the Lombardi Award, was the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2021. Selected with the second pick of the 2022 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, Hutchinson has twice been named to the Pro Bowl and has 43 sacks over his first four years in the NFL.
7. TYRONE WHEATLEY, RB, DEARBORN HEIGHTS ROBICHAUD (1987-1990): From a pure talent level, few players could match the gifts that Wheatley brought to the football field. With linebacker size and world-class speed, Wheatley was a threat to go the distance every time he touched the football. Wheatley finished his career with 70 career touchdowns and 484 points and went on to success at both Michigan and in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders.
8. BRAD VANPELT, LB, OWOSSO (1967-1969): One of the greatest all-around athletes to ever come out of Michigan, VanPelt was an all-state quarterback in 1969 while also earning all-conference honors on defense as well as all-state honors in basketball and baseball. VanPelt was a three-sport letterman at Michigan State and a two-time football all-American who also won the Maxwell Trophy. VanPelt went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL where he was named All-Pro seven times and played in five Pro Bowls as a linebacker.
9. ANDRE RISON, WR, FLINT NORTHWESTERN (1982-1985): One of the greatest all-around high school athletes to come out of Flint, Rison was a dynamic wide receiver in high school along with being an all-state guard in basketball who also played in college at Michigan State. Rison broke numerous receiving records at Michigan State before a 12-year NFL career that included helping the Green Bay Packers win the 1997 Super Bowl. Rison played in five NFL Pro Bowls.
10. CHARLES ROGERS, WR, SAGINAW HIGH (1997-1999): While his NFL career left much to be desired and his potential may not have been reached in college at Michigan State, there is no denying that Rogers was arguably the most dangerous wide receiver in the history of high school football in the state of Michigan. Rogers finished his high school career with 2,525 career receiving yards and caught 40 career touchdown passes.
11. T.J. DUCKETT, QB/RB/LB, KALAMAZOO LOY-NORRIX (1996-1998): A rare combination of size and speed, Duckett was a Parade all-American in 1998. Duckett was named the National Player of the Year by Superprep magazine as he totaled 102 tackles, nine sacks and four forced fumbles. On offense he rushed for 1,623 yards (11.2 avg.) and threw for 920 yards and nine touchdowns. During his junior year Duckett totaled 140 tackles and three sacks while accounting for 2,080 total yards and 20 touchdowns. Duckett went on to play at Michigan State and was drafted 18th overall in the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
12. LAMARR WOODLEY, LB, SAGINAW (1999-2002): Woodley had the rare ability to dominate a football game from the defensive side of the ball and was part of a renaissance of Saginaw High football in the late 1990’s and early 2000s. In 2002 he was rated the No. 4 overall recruit in the nation by Rivals.com and committed to the University of Michigan where he earned all-American honors and was the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Woodley was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft and played nine seasons in the NFL winning a Super Bowl with the Steelers and playing in one Pro Bowl.
13. BENNIE OOSTERBAAN, MUSKEGON (1921-1924): Arguably the first ‘super prep’ athlete from the state of Michigan. Oosterbaan was an all-state end in football for the Muskegon Big Reds and was also a basketball and baseball star. At the University of Michigan Oosterbann was a three-time, all-American football player, a two-time all-American basketball payer who led the Big Ten in scoring and he also led the Big Ten in batting average on the baseball team. Oosterbaan was also a successful football coach who guided Michigan to the 1948 national championship.
14. RON KRAMER, DE, EAST DETROIT (1951-1953): One of the greatest football players and athletes in University of Michigan history, Kramer was an all-state player in high school at East Detroit. A three-time, all-American at Michigan, Kramer was named by Sports Illustrated in 1999 as the seventh greatest sports figure from the state of Michigan. Kramer played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
15. DON COLEMAN, FLINT CENTRAL (1954): Coleman played only one year of high school football but it was a memorable one as he earned all-state honors and helped to lead Flint Central to a state championship. Coleman went on to Michigan State University where he was the first-ever, African-American football player. Although he weighed only 180 pounds, Coleman was a dominating offensive and defensive lineman who is still regarded to this day as the greatest Michigan State football player ever. Coleman was also the first Michigan State football player to ever have his uniform retired.
16. BRYCE UNDERWOOD, QB, BELLEVILLE (2021-2024): In his second season as the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan, Underwood turned in a memorable high school career where he led Belleville to a pair of state titles. Underwood finished a record-breaking high school career with MHSAA all-time records for career passing yards with 10,911 and career touchdown passes with 138.
17. RICK LEACH, QB, FLINT SOUTHWESTERN (1972-1974): One of the finest quarterbacks produced in the state. Leach led one of the greatest high school teams of all time, the 1974 Flint Southwestern squad, to a perfect season as he passed for 1,668 yards and 23 touchdowns in an era dominated by the ground game. Leach went on to start at quarterback for four years at the University of Michigan in the golden era of Wolverine football under Bo Schembechler and was a three-time Heisman Trophy finalist.
18. BRANDON GRAHAM, LB, DETROIT CROCKETT (2003-2005): Graham was one of the most decorated high school players ever in state history. After making all PSL in Detroit as a sophomore, Graham was a two-time, all-state player and earned numerous all-American honors as a senior including being named a captain of the U.S. Army Bowl game. Graham was an all-American in college at Michigan and was drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
19. NICK PERRY, DE, DETROIT MACKENZIE/DETROIT KING (2004-2007): As a senior at Detroit King in 2007, Perry recorded a state record 36 sacks along with 147 tackles as he helped lead King to the Division 1 state title. As a tight end Perry also caught eight touchdown passes. During his junior year as Mackenzie Perry totaled 75 tackles and 11 sacks. Perry was named the MVP of the all-state Dream Team and was a first-team, all-USA Today pick. Perry went on to be a an all-Pac 10 selection at USC and was drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers.
20. PAUL KRAUSE, WR/DB, BURTON BENDLE (1957-1959): Krause was an all state football, basketball and baseball player at Bendle. A two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back in college at Iowa, Krause was an eight-time, Pro Bowl player for the Minnesota Vikings. A member of the professional football Hall of Fame, Krause holds the NFL record for interceptions (81) in a career with 81.
21. CARL BANKS, LB, FLINT BEECHER (1976-1979): A dominating defender and all-state player for the Bucs, Banks is one of the greatest high school players ever in the city of Flint. Banks went on to an all-American career at Michigan State and was three-time, all-Big 10. Banks played 12 seasons in the and was part of two Super Bowl championship teams along with being named a member of the all-decade team for the 1980s.
22. JOE DELAMIELLEURE, OL, CENTER LINE ST. CLEMENT (1967-1969): One of the finest offensive guards to ever play the game, DeLamielleure was a six-time, Pro Bowl player for the Buffalo Bills after graduating from Michigan State. DeLamielleure was part of the “Electric Company” offensive line that blocked for O.J. Simpson. DeLanielleure was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
23. KIRK COUSINS, QB, HOLLAND CHRISTIAN (2005-2007): Cousins passed for 3,204 yards and 40 touchdowns during his high school career despite missing his entire junior season with a broken ankle. Cousins went on to play in college at Michigan State where he passed for over 9,100 yards and 66 touchdowns. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins, Cousins has played 15 seasons in the NFL passing for 44,700 yards and 298 touchdowns heading into the 2026 season.
24. JAKE LONG, OT, LAPEER EAST (2000-2002): Long was a dominant blocker in high school at Lapeer East. During his three-year career he never allowed a quarterback sack. He graded out a 90% or higher all three years. At defensive end he totaled 213 career tackles and added 11 quarterback sacks during his career. Long was a two-time, all-American offensive tackle at the University of Michigan and has played for the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams during his nine-year, NFL career where he was named to four Pro Bowls.
