Area gridders head down to Alabama, Auburn for group visits
A group of local football recruits spent last week touring the SEC on their quests for scholarships.
Sophomore Avery Gach (Birmingham Groves), freshman A.J. Marks (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) and juniors Tashi Braceful (Southfield A&T) and Billy Roberson (Lake Orion) all visited SEC powerhouse Alabama over the weekend.
Prior to their trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., Gach, Marks and Braceful joined Braceful’s teammate, junior Jalen Todd (Southfield A&T) across the state at Crimson Tide rival Auburn. Roberson (6-foot0,180-pound RB) only has one current power conference offer, from Louisville.
Gach (6-5, 285 OL) and Todd (6-1, 175 CB) came home with Auburn offers. Todd and Gach first visited Mississippi State together and both bagged offers on their way to Alabama. Marks’ (6-0, 175 CB) first stop in his SEC tour was at LSU.
“The kid (A.J.) plays like a veteran, he’s got that down
south swag to his game,” St. Mary’s head coach Jermaine Gonzales said.
Besides ‘Bama, Auburn and Mississippi State, Gach earned bids from SEC schools Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, too. The area’s top offensive lineman prospect in the Class of 2025, Gach visited Ole Miss before linking up with Todd for their Mississippi State visit in Starkville.
“Avery is a handful for opposing teams to deal with in run and pass blocking situations, his tape is making the rounds and getting college coaches excited,” longtime Groves head coach Brendan Flaherty said.
Setting the slate
The 18th annual Xenith Prep Football Kickoff Classic presented by the Detroit Sports Commission recently announced its 2023 schedule and once again Oakland County will well represented down at Wayne State on the first weekend of the season.
On Thursday, Aug. 24, the event will open with an LVC battle when Walled Lake Western and Waterford Mott square off at 4 p.m.. The nightcap at 7 p.m. will feature defending OAA Red co-champ West Bloomfield and MAC Red frontrunner Chippewa Valley. Saturday’s 1 p.m. kickoff sees OAA White champion Southfield A&T taking on Detroit Cass Tech of the PSL.
Tweet of the Week
“Mase got IT” — Farmington alum and Michigan State basketball player Jaden Akins on Troy sophomore gunner Mason Parker who got heated from deep in his first AAU action of the spring.