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Southeastern's Gholston sizing up as a Crable-like talent

Michigan State offered 2010 recruit William Gholston a scholarship on Sept. 1, and Michigan followed suit a few weeks later. (Allen Trieu / Scout.com)

Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sam Webb: Recruiting

The debate over who should hold the distinction as the No. 1 football player in state of Michigan for the 2010 class is well under way, and there is no shortage of worthy candidates. Inkster quarterback Devin Gardener is receiving strong consideration, and so too is Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White. At this point, though, the youngster with the best case for the title might be Detroit Southeastern linebacker William Gholston.

"William is very gifted," said Scout.com Midwest analyst Allen Trieu. "Physically he has everything you could ask for. You simply don't find kids pushing 6-7 and 250 pounds that can run from sideline to sideline the way he does. He never stops pursuing either. With him playing a linebacker spot for Southeastern, the main thing he will have to do is learn to put his hand down and shed blocks better to develop as a true defensive end, since that is where he will most likely play in college.

On the field, Gholston's movements are amazingly similar to those of former Michigan standout Shawn Crable. Both have uncanny coordination and flexibility for their size, both change direction extraordinarily well, and both possess a burst that allows them to close short distances very quickly. Gholston is probably a step slower than Crable at the same stage of development, but the Southeastern standout is bigger and stronger in the lower body. That's represents huge growth for young man that first caught the attention of scouts two years ago as a 6-6, 215-pounder at the ThinkDetroitPAL camp at Wayne State. There, Gholston held his own against players two years older, but it was obvious that gains in size and aggression were needed to take his game to the next level.

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