Nate Schneider
Sports Scene
Kolin Demens has a last name that is probably familiar to football fans in the state of Michigan.
That’s because his older brother, Kenny, starred at Detroit Country Day and the University of Michigan before spending a few seasons with the Arizona Cardinals until he was cut in the 2016 preseason.
Now it is Kolin’s turn to grab the spotlight, which he’s already done for three years in his Country Day career. Now a senior, the standout outside linebacker has one more prep year to shine before he continues his football career at a university that he has not yet determined.
Demens has no shortage of possible suitors and has taken trips over the summer to UCLA and Arizona, while Michigan is also among the schools still in play due to his brother’s ties.
“It’s nice knowing schools are looking at me and my options are wide-open,” Demens said. “Before now, I was a young player on the team and I’m playing in a state where there are a lot of great players. It’s a good feeling knowing college coaches see you’re putting in the work and what you can do on the field.”
Although Demens had missed recent practices with an illness and a minor injury, he took part in a usual amount of reps during the August 17 scrimmages versus Ann Arbor Skyline and Plymouth Salem.
He will look to improve on last year’s numbers, when he racked up 66 tackles including 16 stops for a loss and 3.5 sacks plus an interception.
Demens also contributed heavily on offense, catching 12 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed his only pass for 59 yards, which went for a touchdown.
His outstanding play helped Country Day to a 13-1 record and the Division 4 state championship game, where the Yellowjackets fell 10-7 in a heartbreaker to Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Having experienced state semifinals losses as a freshman and sophomore before last year’s difficult defeat, it’s all acted as a motivating factor entering his senior campaign.
“We’ve been so close the last three years,” Demens said. “We have to get back and we’re working on that now.”
Demens and Country Day will have a chance to exact a bit of revenge on August 25 when it travels to GRCC to open the 2017 season.
“We’re getting right into it in week one,” Demens beamed.
Yellowjackets head coach Dan MacLean, in his 20th year as head coach and 33rd total with the program, has certainly seen his fair share of players go on to play at the Division I college level.
MacLean sees Demens as a special talent.
“First of all, Kolin is a great young man,” MacLean said. “He’s a very nice guy and very approachable no matter if you’re a senior or a freshman. But he’s also an outstanding football player and has been since the moment he walked onto campus. He’s the younger brother of one of the greatest players all-time here at Country Day. He’s a different personality, but a tremendous kid to have in your program.”