2026 Michigan Mr. Football Watch: Metro Detroit Stars Headline the Race as Playoffs Approach
Seven Metro Detroit-area standouts are among the 10 candidates competing for one of Michigan high school football’s biggest individual honors.
DETROIT, Mich. — The final week of Michigan’s 2026 high school football regular season is here, and while teams across the state are fighting for playoff positioning, another competition is heating up.
The race for Michigan’s Mr. Football Award.
STATE CHAMPS! Sports Network has identified 10 candidates for its 2026 Mr. Football Award, recognizing outstanding skill-position players from across Michigan.
Seven candidates represent programs in the Metro Detroit area, giving local football fans plenty of reasons to follow the race.
From Cass Tech and Detroit King to Harper Woods, Belleville, Macomb Dakota, Detroit Catholic Central, and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, the region has no shortage of talent competing for recognition.
But with the playoffs approaching, the biggest question remains: Who has made the strongest case to be Michigan’s Mr. Football?
Detroit’s Talent Takes Center Stage
Among the most intriguing names is Donald Tabron II, the Cass Tech quarterback who has helped guide the Technicians through another successful season.
Tabron’s leadership was on display in Cass Tech’s 21–20 victory over Detroit King in the Detroit Public School League championship at Ford Field.
The victory delivered another city championship for the Technicians and gave Tabron a significant accomplishment to strengthen his candidacy.
Across the city, Darryl Flemister, Detroit King’s standout playmaker, has also earned a place on the Mr. Football ballot.
Although the Crusaders fell short against Cass Tech in the PSL championship, Flemister remains one of the area’s recognizable talents.
Their inclusion gives Detroit two representatives in a statewide conversation traditionally filled with high-profile athletes from across Michigan.
Harper Woods, Belleville and Macomb Dakota Represent the Region
The Mr. Football race extends well beyond Detroit’s city limits.
Dakota Guerrant of Harper Woods is among the candidates attracting attention as the Pioneers approach the postseason.
Harper Woods has established itself as a program capable of competing against strong opposition, and Guerrant’s candidacy adds another storyline to the team’s playoff journey.
At Belleville, Tre Britton III represents a Tigers program that has become a consistent presence in Michigan’s championship conversation.
Belleville’s expectations remain high, and postseason performances could provide Britton with additional opportunities to make his case.
Elijah Goins of Macomb Dakota gives Macomb County a representative in the race.
Goins is listed among the state’s candidates as a defensive back and wide receiver, highlighting the value of athletes capable of influencing games in multiple phases.
Catholic League Standouts Enter the Conversation
Two of Metro Detroit’s most recognizable Catholic League programs also have representatives.
Gideon Gash of Detroit Catholic Central and Chad Willis of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s are both included on the ballot.
Both players compete in environments where expectations are high and meaningful games are a regular part of the schedule.
For Gash, the final week of the regular season brings another opportunity to perform on a major stage as Catholic Central prepares to face Brother Rice.
A strong showing in that rivalry matchup could provide additional momentum entering the playoffs.
Willis, meanwhile, remains part of the conversation as Orchard Lake St. Mary’s looks toward postseason football.
The Statewide Competition
While Metro Detroit has a strong presence, the award is far from a local contest.
Lundon Hampton of Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, Bryce Kish of Howell, and Colin O’Connor of East Kentwood round out the 10-player field.
Kish has attracted attention for his versatility, contributing on offense, defense, and special teams while playing through a fractured finger.
His ability to impact multiple phases of the game makes him an especially interesting candidate.
Hampton and O’Connor also give voters options outside Metro Detroit, underscoring the statewide depth of the field.
DVS Analysis: Recruiting Hype Doesn’t Win Mr. Football
At Detroit Varsity Sports, we believe the Mr. Football conversation should be about more than recruiting rankings or social media popularity.
Talent matters, but so does performance.
The strongest candidates should be judged on their production, consistency, leadership, strength of competition, and ability to deliver when their teams need them most.
That’s what makes the coming weeks important.
A player can dominate the regular season, but the postseason offers a different kind of stage.
The pressure increases. The competition gets tougher. Every possession carries greater significance.
For players such as Tabron, Flemister, Guerrant, Britton, Goins, Gash, and Willis, the opportunity to strengthen their cases is still there.
And with seven Metro Detroit-area candidates in the field, there’s a legitimate possibility that one of the region’s own could claim the award.
DVS will be watching more than the vote totals. We’ll be watching what these players do on Friday nights.
Because when the season is over, the strongest Mr. Football argument should be built on what happened between the lines.
What’s Next?
The final week of the regular season concludes this weekend, followed by the announcement of Michigan’s high school football playoff pairings on Sunday, October 25.
Fans can participate in the Mr. Football voting process through STATE CHAMPS! Sports Network.
Detroit Varsity Sports will continue following the candidates, highlighting standout performances, and evaluating which players are making the strongest case as the postseason unfolds.
Detroit Varsity Sports provides independent coverage of Metro Detroit high school athletics. The Mr. Football Award and official voting are administered by STATE CHAMPS! Sports Network; DVS is not affiliated with the award’s selection process.
