Video: Top 25 Preseason Early Contenders - No. 22 Cass Tech View images by photographer Chris Fleck from his preseason photo shoot with the Technicians.
CHASING DREAMS
No. 22 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)
Head coach Thomas Wilcher
Photo by Chris Fleck
The longstanding tradition of 109-year-old Cass Tech, in the heart of Motown, continues to groove.
Thomas Wilcher, a one-time national football and track and field recruit at nearby Central (Detroit), has been with the Technicians for 26 years and the head football coach for 17 years.
Over the last decade, he's helped send 21 Top 1,000 recruits to major colleges, with a particular pipeline to Michigan, where he's sent nine Technicians.
His teams have gone 100-26 over that time, including 12-3 last year when it lost in the MHSAA Division 1 finals to Romeo 41-27.
See Cass Tech Early Contenders photo shoot Since 2010, they've won at least 11 games every season and twice taken state titles in 2011 and 2012.
"We're always right there," Wilcher said. "It's just a matter of how hard the kids want to work toward their dreams."
The Players
Receiver/safety Donovan Peoples-Jones is the fifth-ranked senior recruit in the country, according to 247Sports.
Photo by Chris Fleck
Fortunately for Wilcher and the Technicians, their dreamiest player is probably their hardest worker.
Wide receiver
Donovan Peoples-Jones is the fifth-ranked senior recruit in the country, according to 247Sports Composite, and No. 1 wide receiver. He also plays strong safety.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is being coveted by everyone: Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Florida to name a few.
"He wants to be great," Wilcher said of Peoples-Jones. "He does whatever it takes to be great. His grades. His workouts. His attitude. He sets the tone."
Quarterback Rodney Hall
Photo by Chris Fleck
That's music to the ears of all the Cass Tech coaches and college coaches who are pursuing him.
If the rest of the talented Technicians follow suit, this could be Wilcher's best team ever. It's certainly one of his most talented.
In the secondary, they feature safety
Jaylen Kelly-Powell (6-0, 180), the nation's No. 15 player at his position, and cornerback
Donovan Johnson (5-11, 178), who has 13 offers and appeared headed to Penn State.
Syracuse-bound linebacker
Zachary Morton (6-4, 222) can really move for a big man and guard
Jordan Reid (6-4, 286) anchors the line.
All of those pieces make Wilcher smile, but it's the play of senior quarterback and third-year starter
Rodney Hall that should key everything.
The 6-3, 215-pound left-hander accounted for more than 3,300 yards and 37 touchdowns last season. He's committed to Northern Illinois.
"We ran the spread for the first time last year, largely because of Rodney," Wilcher said. "He makes us go."
The Keys
Cass Tech has 13 returning starters, including seven on defense.
Photo by Chris Fleck
With 13 starters back, including seven on defense, and roughly 16 players who have been offered college football scholarships, the Technicians have the goods to win another state title.
Their biggest challenge might come right away, when they play Oak Park at Wayne State University.
"Oak Park is loaded," Wilcher said. "They have a bunch of Division I kids and great skill players. They got their quarterback back, running backs, entire offensive line. They have a stellar coach too. We're going to have to be ready right from the start.
"I like this group. We have some real good kids. It's really all up to them."
