Recruiting stock rising for Cranbrook football's Anthony Warchuck

Two drills into the workout, two Calvin assistants pulled Warchuck aside to meet with him. The Knights later offered him a roster spot.

Later in the day, coaches from Grand Valley State stopped by campus to talk to him.

“My goal for him, as it is for all of these kids since our season ended, has been to get their film out there,” Green said. “That’s why I’ve gone to conventions, clinics and spring visits, doing everything we can to put him on every coach’s radar. But it’s really difficult right now because every Division I, Power Four and schools at the FCS level already have their 2027s set, especially at the wide receiver position. That’s the hardest position to get a class of 2027 kid the proper looks he should get because of how late in the process it is.”

It might be late in the game, but Warchuck has proved he can be an immediate contributor.

Cranbrook's Anthony Warchuck reaches for a pass during a Catholic League football game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.

After a breakout freshman season with the Cranes, he followed it with 1,032 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. This past fall, he caught 52 passes for 1,450 yards and 18 TDs.

He’s shown the ability to separate from defensive backs, but he’s also athletic enough to outleap defenders for tough grabs in traffic.

Everywhere he’s played, he’s been electric, from being named MVP at a Legacy 7-on-7 event as a sophomore to earning MVP honors after helping Sound Mind Sound Body’s 18-U Gold team go undefeated at the Pylon tournament this winter in Indianapolis.

Yet the stigma of playing for a lesser-known program like Cranbrook has followed him around. No matter the success he’s had, his recruiting has remained limited.

“Everywhere I go, they’re (other players and recruits) are telling me to transfer,” Warchuck said. “Obviously, that’s not going to happen. I want to be here because I know I can be the best while still playing here, and I want to be here to help teach these guys in this program.”

Fortunately, Green, the Cranes’ second-year coach, has done his best to make sure Warchuck gets a chance to play at the next level.

Green played at Penn State and has coached at nearly every level of the sport, from high school and college to the professional ranks in the United Football League. He’s built an extensive network of college contacts who respect his opinion, which helped Warchuck land an offer from Long Island University, an FCS program, in April.

Cranbrook's Anthony Warchuck runs for a TD during a football game on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

“I bumped into one of Long Island’s coaches at a college visit,” Green recalled. “I sent him Anthony’s film, and it jumped off to him. He talked to Anthony on the phone a couple of times, to the point where I’m telling these guys at places like Wayne State, Adrian College that they better act quick because they do not want to let this kid get out of the state of Michigan.”

What also could help Warchuck land a few late offers as a senior is how much Green has challenged him.

Warchuck has played lacrosse, but Green encouraged him to run track so he could post measurable times for college coaches. His personal bests in the 100-meter dash (11.34 seconds), 200 (23.69) and high jump (6 feet) this spring back up the speed and athleticism coaches see on HUDL.

Green also pushed Warchuck to branch out to other 7-on-7 programs. He had already spent plenty of time at Legacy in Brighton, but he’s since worked with coach Curtis Blackwell at Sound Mind Sound Body and Reggie Wynns at Rising Stars.

“Anthony has met every challenge that we’ve put in front of him,” Green said. “Anthony is used to coming out here, being the best and then going home. Nobody has been here to challenge him in the weight room. No one has challenged him to show up. I challenged him to do Sound Mind Sound Body, to go out there and make the team. He goes out there and wins MVP at the Indy Battle and competes there. He’s shown that with every challenge that I throw at him, he has the ability to play at the next level at a high level.”

Warchuck, who has also heard from Lafayette College and Northern Illinois, is out to prove it’s not too late to catch the attention of a bigger program.

Cranbrook's Anthony Warchuck celebrates a TD during a Catholic High School League-Intersectional 1 football game on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.

“I hope to show these coaches what I can produce, even though I’m from a school that’s often overlooked,” Warchuck said. “Whatever recognition I get now, I want them to know that nothing is going to change about me my senior year. My senior year is going to be my best year, and, hopefully, that brings even more college looks for me.”

And, for Green, Warchuck’s success could help Cranbrook grow its program and become a regular recruiting stop for colleges in the area. State powers Brother Rice and Detroit Country Day are right down the road. Why not check in at Lone Pine Road, too?

Warchuck is laying the foundation for what future Cranes can do to draw college attention. Green wants coaches to know how much work Warchuck has put in over the last year.

“Anthony has met every challenge since I’ve met him,” Green said. “I’m fully confident that he’ll be able to do that at the next level, too.”

Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.

This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Recruiting stock rising for Cranbrook football's Anthony Warchuck