Michigan high school football Power 25: Belleville remains team to beat in 2023
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The 2023 Michigan high school football season reaches full swing on August, 24, and once again there is plenty of talent to watch this season.
Here is where we think the top teams stand heading into another exciting year.
Click on team names to reach their team page and follow for more content throughout the season from SBLive Michigan.
The Tigers are coming off of two straight Division I state titles. Led by Bryce Underwood, the highest ranked player in the country for the class of 2025, Belleville enters 2023 on a 25-game winning streak.
Senior running back and linebacker Jeremiah Beasley committed to Michigan this summer. With new head coach Calvin Norman at the helm, the Tigers will look to cement themselves as the next dynasty in Michigan high school football.
Photo by Mario Nowak
Cass Tech saw its 2022 season end after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Belleville--29-28--in the Division I state semi-finals. The Technicians have multiple players with NCAA Division I offers, including Corey Sadler Jr., who was arguably the best freshman in the state last season.
Cass Tech seems to always be in the mix at the end of the season, and it's poised to be one of the top teams in the state again in 2023.
Photo by Mario Nowak
De La Salle has won two Division II state titles in a row, and it has lost just one game since 2021. The airstrip could get bumpy for the Pilots this season. They are set to play three teams from Ohio, including the state’s Division II champion from last season, Central Catholic.
Head coach Dan Rohn will look to lead the Pilots to their third state championship since he took over in 2020.
Photo by Mario Nowak
Southfield A&T finished 2022 8-3, and after defeating Cass Tech 58-56 in the first game of the season, the Warriors fell short to Cass Tech in the second round of Division I playoffs 25-14.
The Warriors have most of their stars back for 2023, including senior Kansas commits Isaiah Marshall (QB) and Jalen Todd (CB/WR). Southfield A&T should have one of the most explosive offenses in the state this season.
Photo by Mario Nowak
The Fighting Scots come into this season following a 35-17 loss to Belleville in the 2022 Division I state title game. Caledonia has won at least ten games in each of the last two seasons.
Caledonia might not have the nationally ranked prospects to show for it, but it should be one of the top teams in the state once again.
Photo by Mario Nowak
The Lakers have a new head coach in 2023. Tyrice Grice retired and handed the reins over to West Bloomfield alum Zach Hilbers. Hilbers will be taking over one of the most talented rosters in Michigan, sporting multiple NCAA Division I commits.
After Cass Tech ended their season in the first round of the playoffs in 2022, the Lakers could go further this season.
King comes into 2023 after winning two straight Division III state titles. The Crusaders have some big shoes to fill in the quarterback room. Dante Moore has moved on to UCLA after dominating Michigan high school football.
The Crusaders still possess much of the talent they’ve displayed over recent years and will look to remain atop the Division III ladder this season.
Photo by Mario Nowak
The Big Reds fell short to Detroit King 56-27 in last season’s Division III state final. In 2023, Muskegon will be competing in Division II.
On September 1, the Big Reds will take on De La Salle in their second game of the season, so they’ll get a great chance to prove they’re ready for the boost in competition.
Photo by Mario Nowak
Led by senior wide receiver Nick Marsh (Michigan State), the Panthers should be one of the top teams in the state again this year. Of River Rouge’s four losses in 2022, three came to teams in the top seven of this list (Detroit King, Southfield A&T and De La Salle), and the other was to St. Ignatius of Cleveland, Ohio.
If the Panthers can get better luck this season, they should find themselves in a great spot come playoffs.
Dakota finished last season 11-1, with its only loss coming to Cass Tech in the Division I regional final. The Cougars only allowed 104 points all of last season, and their middle linebacker Dimari Malone received his fair share of offers in the offseason.
Dakota will look to ride its defense deep into the season once again in 2023.
Saline lost to Belleville in the Division I district final by a score of 62-44 last season. The Hornet's 44 points was the most scored against Belleville by any team in 2022, and the next closest was Cass Tech’s 28.
If Saline improves defensively, they could have what it takes to compete at the top of Division I.
The Wolves got shutout by Caledonia in the Division I semifinals last season 21-0. Two NCAA Division I commits are returning for Clarkston, senior tight end and wide receiver Brady Kosin (Indiana) and senior wide receiver and defensive back Desman Stephens (Boston College).
Clarkston is one of those teams always in the mix in the postseason, and this season should be no different.
Photo by Mario Nowak
Chippewa Valley suffered a 22-21 loss to Romeo in the first round of Division I playoffs last season. The Big Reds have one of the best QB/WR duos in the state returning for their last run together, as senior quarterback Andrew Schuster (Grand Valley State) and senior wide receiver Shemar Heard (undecided) get ready for their senior seasons.
Rochester Adams is led by one of the top tight ends in the country, Michigan commit Brady Prieskorn. The Highlanders went 10-2 last season, losing to Clarkston 36-33 in the Division I regional final.
If Prieskorn’s supporting cast can elevate its game, Adams should be a team to reckon with once again.
Photo by Mario Nowak
Mariusz Nowak, SBLive Sports
Rockford went 10-1 in 2022, with its only loss coming to Caledonia in double overtime (14-13) in the Division I district final. A lot of Rockford’s top players from last season graduated, so it remains to be seen how quickly it can reload.
The Rams will have a great chance to prove themselves when they face Muskegon on August, 25.
The Cardinals finished last season 9-2 after falling short of Clarkston 49-40 in the Division I district final. Davison has a few players with NCAA Division I offers, including offensive lineman Ben Nichols, who visited Michigan State in July.
Davison opens 2023 against the defending Division II champion De La Salle, and it couldn’t be much better of a measuring stick.
The Bulldogs went 12-1 last season, and their lone loss came against Detroit King in the Division III semifinal (52-17). Senior linebacker and receiver Kaleb Parrish leads Mason, and he’s received a couple of Division I offers since the end of last season.
A lot of returning players and a somewhat soft schedule could have Mason back in the mix when the postseason rolls around.
Romeo finished 8-3 last season after being shutout by Dakota 17-0 in the Division I district final. Senior running back and linebacker Victor Earl committed to Central Michigan in June, and he will look to lead the Bulldogs back to the playoffs.
They’ll have their work cut out for them from the jump as they are set to play last season’s Division I runner up Caledonia on August, 25.
19. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central was the runner up in Division II last season as it finished 13-1. The Rangers have two Division I commits in senior safety and wide receiver Ty Hudkins (Northwestern), as well as junior linebacker and receiver Max Richardson (Stanford).
The Rangers will look to get back to Ford Field to finish the job in 2023, with Hudkins and Richardson at the forefront of their effort.
Dexter lost to Forest Hills Central 20-17 in double overtime in last season’s Division II state semifinal. In 2023 they’ll have to get back there without the help of running back Cole Cabana, as well as safety and wide receiver Micah Davis, both of which are now playing for Michigan.
Dexter has a tough test week two against Saline, and it could be a great indicator of what’s to come this season.
Photo by Antonio Cooper
The Panthers finished 10-4 last season after Muskegon bounced them out of the Division III semifinals with a 49-21 loss. DeWitt has a lot of young talent, including sophomores Traverse Moore and Jadon Bender, who both play defensive back and wide receiver.
DeWitt plays Mason in week two, and a win over the Bulldogs could put the Panthers on a path to success.
The Shamrocks lost to Belleville 33-10 in their 2022 Division I regional final. Catholic Central has a lot of its talent returning in 2023, including quarterback Beau Jackson, who has several NCAA Division I offers.
The Shamrocks have a somewhat soft schedule this season, so they should be able to get back a similar spot in the playoffs.
The Comets went 9-3 last season after losing to Caledonia 42-14 in the Division I regional finals. Much of their production graduated, but the first big test for Grand Ledge probably won’t come until it faces DeWitt on September, 29.
If the Comets are able to make up for their lost talent, they could make some noise in the playoffs again.
Groves finished 9-4 in 2022 and their final loss came against De La Salle in their Division II semifinal game (43-15). Junior offensive tackle and defensive end Avery Gach has a plethora of NCAA Division I offers, and there is a lot of talent around him.
The Falcons should be a formidable opponent for every team they face this season.
25. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice
2022 saw Brother Rice lose a lot of close games to a lot of good teams, as they finished 5-6 after losing to King 22-12 in their Division III regional final game. In the regular season, the Warriors were able to defeat the eventual Division II champion De La Salle, and it was De La Salle’s only loss of the season.
If Brother Rice can find itself on the other end of close games, they could do some damage in Division III.
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