Elite Eight - Oakland County Football MVP

8. Brian Walker - Birmingham Brother Rice
Walker was the definition of a workhorse in his junior season as the Brother Rice running back carried the ball over 250 times on the season for just under 1,500 yards rushing. Walker also broke the school record for touchdowns in a season with 21, breaking Devin Church's record of 20 set last year, to lead the Warriors to the D-2 state title.

7. Jon Reschke - Birmingham Brother Rice
Reschke was nothing short of dominant this season, showing just why he was one of the country's most coveted linebacking prospects. The soon-to-be Michigan State linebacker finished the 2012 season with over 130 tackles and eight sacks, while helping Brother Rice win its second straight state title.

6. Jake Slobin - Farmington Hills Harrison
Slobin flew under the radar all season long, but was one of the state's biggest force on the defensive line in 2012. Slobin tallied just under 100 tackles, including an 18 tackle effort early in the season, and six sacks from his defensive tackle position as he helped lead the Hawks to the playoffs once again.

5. Matt Kosmalski - Walled Lake Northern
Kosmalski, did a little bit of everything for the Knights in 2012, as he did damage at running back as well as wide receiver and was one of the area's top defensive backs all season long. The senior rushed for over 1,000 yards and received for over 600, while recording 92 tackles and seven interceptions.

4. Anthony Darkangelo - Novi Detroit Catholic Central
Darkangelo was one of the state's best two-way players all season long as he started at running back as well as linebacker for the Shamrocks. The senior rushed for over 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns offensively, and tallied 124 tackles on defense to help lead the Shamrocks back to Ford Field in the D-1 state final.

3. Richie Wilson - Birmingham Detroit Country Day
Wilson rushed for over 1,300 yards and 200 yards receiving in his junior campaign for the Yellowjackets to help lead them to Ford Field and the D-4 state finals. Wilson also tallied over 30 total touchdowns on the season and was one of the areas best defensive backs in the Country Day secondary.

2. Ian Eriksen - Clarkston
Eriksen, much like Wilson, was all over the place out of the Clarkston backfield this season. Finishing with over 2,000 yards rushing on the season to go along with 30 touchdowns on the season, Eriksen helped keep the Wolves unbeaten into the playoffs and ranked No. 1 in the state for much of the season.

1. Grant Niemiec - Orchard Lake St. Mary's
Niemiec did a little bit of everything for the Eaglets in 2012, rushing for a school record of 1,910 yards and almost 30 touchdowns on the season, while also tallying 128 tackles in his first year starting at linebacker. The Miami (OH.) commit was also named the Division 3-4 player of the year and helped lead St. Mary's to its fourth consecutive D-3 state title appearance.


Honorable Mention (No Order): Josh Jones (WL Western); Cam Thomas (South Lyon East); Kyle Bambard (WL Western); Collin O'Donnell (WL Northern); Jason Alessi (Birmingham Brother Rice); Justice Bolling (Waterford Mott); Austin Johnson (OL St. Mary's); Matt Linehan (OL St. Mary's); Parker McInnis (OL St. Mary's); Lawrence Marshall (Southfield); Nick Matich (Clarkston); Tyler Wiegers (Country Day); Garrett Moores (Catholic Central); Connor Mohr (Farmington); Brian Williams (Oak Park); Spencer McCourt (BH Lahser); Ross Williams (Birmingham Groves); Jesse Chadwell (Clarkston); Derric Williams (Lake Orion); Nick Booker (Lake Orion); Dylan Roney (Catholic Central)