Big players out there

I'm either getting shorter and smaller in my old age, or kids today are simply gigantic. I think it's a little of both.

Last Thursday I covered the Dexter-Ann Arbor Pioneer football game. I was amazed at the size of the Pioneers' offensive linemen. A lot of small college football teams would be lucky to have the size and talent the Ann Arbor front five possess. From left tackle to right tackle, the Pioneers start with senior tackle Devin Smith (6-5, 290), then senior guard Esham Farha (6-2, 265), senior center Chris Biggs (6-1, 230), a right guard rotation of senior Ryan Richmond (6-2, 260) and junior Brandon Hammond (6-3, 270) and tackle senior Jimmy Spaly (6-4, 275). Whoa!

That's a lot of beef. It's because of that O-line I think Pioneer can have one of its best seasons in years. Add a bevy of speedy, shifty skill players led by U-M recruit wide receiver Ricardo Miller (6-3, 210), a fast, hard-hitting defense and solid kicking and the Pioneers will be trouble for any opponent this season.

This Friday's match-up with unbeaten Saline and MSU-bound quarterback Joe Boisture should go a long way toward determining the Southeastern Conference Red Division champion.

When I was in high school back in the 1980s, our biggest offensive lineman was 6-2, 235. We thought he was huge! Heck, we had a guy from my high school team play at Michigan and when he was a senior he was a 6-4, 220 pound defensive end/offensive tackle. Pioneer's Ricardo Miller, a wide receiver, is about his same size. How times and sizes change, huh?