Rankings Analysis: Michigan’s Best Sophomores 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer Player Rankings for Michigan for the Class of 2025 was released last week. The sophomore class in Michigan is a tremendous group that has already experienced considerable success on the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Michigan Tigers 07 team won the US Youth Soccer National Championship over the summer. Many players from that team appear in the rankings, but most of them are playing for new clubs now.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are also a handful of players from this class who have left Michigan over the years and accepted spots at MLS academies.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the exodus of some talent, Michigan remains rich with ballers. The Michigan Jaguars 07/U16 team is a perfect example of that - and should be considered one of the favorites in the MLS Next this season. Jaguars added a couple of key pieces from the Michigan Tigers team to the squad, and they are running through the competition in MLS Next in the first month of the season. Jaguars have wins over Indiana Fire and Vardar to kick off the campaign. With eight goals for and only one goal conceded, the squad made a statement during the opening weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's far from a one-team state though. Michigan Wolves, Midwest United, Nationals, Vardar, and others are all represented in the rankings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a scouting breakdown of a handful of players in the Michigan Class of 2025 rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[Picture above: Nationals 08 team. We did not have a Nationals 07 photo on file] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632e010591c4b","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["36246"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The midfielder for Midwest United 06/U17 MLS Next is a big-time talent. He is the vocal leader of his side. As one would expect, he is a coach on the field - he is the son of one of the best soccer coaches in state history. Watching Conlon on film, one of the standout attributes of his game is that he seems to use the least amount of energy to make the most impact. That's not to convey that he is taking plays off, rather that he seems to be working smarter than everyone else around him. It's a fascinating prospect study in how an elevated approach to the game can deceive on film, but it's clear that he is making winning players and is a highly intelligent player. There are few defensive midfielders in the nation with the type of soccer smarts of Conlon. He is a rare talent in that position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["58835"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Cassell is the top Michigan Jaguars player on the rankings, but he plays on the club's U17 team. He is an attacking midfielder with a bit of magic to his game. Cassell is one the smaller size, but he has a big impact on the game. He is brilliant on the ball and explosive in space. He is great at taking advantage of the opposition when the balance of the team is off. He uses his skill and pace to attack teams in the transition. He has already scared one great goal this season and will likely have quite a few more by the end of the campaign.rnrnu003cdiv style=u0022width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:50.324%;u0022u003eu003ciframe src=u0022https://streamable.com/e/kmwsoiu0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 width=u0022100%u0022 height=u0022100%u0022 allowfullscreen style=u0022width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;u0022u003eu003c/iframeu003eu003c/divu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["58839"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Zogaib is the best left back in Michigan in this class. Not hyperbole, just an honest assessment of a tremendous talent who has a great game. Zogaib is strong in every facet of the game. He possesses elite speed and can get up and down the touch line. He is a weapon in the attack as he can finish and put in a cross as well. He already has a goal on the season on a nice team move from the Michigan Jaguars that ended with the left back finishing off the chance. He is also a major reason why Jaguars only conceded one goal on the opening weekend of games - he makes life miserable for the wingers on the opposition. Zogaib has not had the most attention among defenders from Michigan in the past, but his future looks the brightest.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["58822"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Borg is a left center back with good physical attributes for the position. He has the size and strength to match up well with top forwards. His best attribute is his passing. He is left footed and can hit a ball accurately and consistently to anywhere on the field. He has a ton of confidence on the ball - probably a bit too much at times as he will try to take players on while in possession, which is not something most coaches want from a center back. If Borg cleans up his decision-making while in possession and continues to add an aerial weapon to his game, he will be a top center back from this class.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["58847"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Amin is the type of player that coaches never want to take off the field. He is influential for his team. He is a high effort type of player. He has an all-around game that makes him a key piece for his side. He is good on the ball and does well connecting passes between the lines.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["58825"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Billings is a joy to watch on tape, but probably scary for a coach. My notes from his game read: “Brave as hell.” He is a goalkeeper who lives off his line. He is a firm believer in being the 11th player on the field and the gloves are merely a suggestion of his position. It's been a while since I've seen a goalkeeper making the type of clearances that Billings has in MLS Next play through the opening part of the season with his feet over 30 yards from goal. All that said, it works for him. He is comfortable doing it and it allows his defense to play with a high line. His shot stopping has been solid from what I have seen. He is a goalkeeper that will be one to watch in Michigan this season.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["58813"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Weinrich is a target forward who jumps off the screen with his physical approach. It takes minute to appreciate his quality on the ball. He is more agile than one would anticipate. He can dance a bit but he does not shy away from contact. He uses his size well and was dominant in aerial duels including a goal off a header on a corner kick. He also has some breakaway speed and can be hard to catch once he is at full sprint. Check out one of his recent goals below. He is a good finisher and one player who could quickly climb the rankings as he strings together strong performances at the club level.rnu003cdiv style=u0022width:100%;height:0px;position:relative;padding-bottom:50.324%;u0022u003eu003ciframe src=u0022https://streamable.com/e/9anbyvu0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 width=u0022100%u0022 height=u0022100%u0022 allowfullscreen style=u0022width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;u0022u003eu003c/iframeu003eu003c/divu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->