It would be easy to call Sony Michel just another high school hot shot – what with him rushing for 1,285 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage to a 9-3 record.
But you can’t: Sony Michel is only in middle school.
That’s right, the leading rusher in football crazy Broward County was an eight-grader. Next month, he’ll be on display at the second annual Football University Youth All-American bowl, Jan. 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Sony Michel may be the best 8th-grade football player in the country.
"We feel that, hands down Sony, is the best eighth-grader in the country right now," FBU National Youth Director Erik Richards said.
It would be hard to argue.
Michel, 5-11, 187 and clearly still growing at age 14, has the speed to go with his size. He already has been timed at 4.47 in the 40. He uses his size and speed on every play.
"He doesn’t run scared," Allen Michel, his older brother and guardian, said. "When he hits a hole, he hits it full blast."
Michel’s coming out party came in his fourth game, when he ran for a season-high 281 yards against North Broward Prep. Michel got stronger as the season wore on, going on 150 yards in five of American Heritage’s final six games.
And while American Heritage is a Class 2A school, Michel didn’t struggle against the top teams. He rushed for 92 yards and a TD in his team’s quarterfinal playoff loss to Glades Central, No. 72 in the final RivalsHigh Top 100.
"A lot of people didn’t expect me to do things like this, but I really fought for it," Michel said.
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