James Stallons, blessed with a big-time arm, a 6-foot-5 frame and a state championship last year at Macomb Dakota, has packed his bags and taken his football skills to Madison, Wis., to hopefully lead the Badgers to more prominence.

"I liked the coaches a lot, and they have built a winning tradition," James Stallons said of the University of Wisconsin. "The campus had a lot to do with it there. There's always something to do during downtimes. It's a good academic school, too."

James Stallons said Michigan State came in late, and Michigan recruited a Texas quarterback, leaving him to pick between the Badgers and Spartans.

About the only blemish on the football field for James Stallons in the past 12 months is the 9-7 loss he suffered as the East quarterback during the 27th annual Michigan High School Football Coaches Association all-star game at Spartan Stadium.

During the week leading up to the game, he got the opportunity to mingle with his peers before the real work of trying to learn the Wisconsin offense.

"I got a chance to play with guys I had played against, and they told me some interesting things," James Stallons said. "They told me about some of the advantages and disadvantages of playing against me. One linebacker I played against told me things I could do to help me, and I told him some things to help him. It was a fun week."

James Stallons left an indelible imprint at Dakota, where senior Mitch Lovett is attempting to take over at quarterback.

"The thing I remember about James is that he always knew how to pick the guys up when things were down," Lovett said. "I remember the game against Stevenson when we were down, 14-0, and James kept telling the guys, 'C'mon, we can do it.' We came back and won that game, 31-28. He knew how to motivate guys."

For Dakota coach Mike Giannone, James Stallons proved he belonged with the stable of other solid quarterbacks that have come out of his system, including Todd Wojciechowski, who played at Grand Valley State University.

"He came up as a sophomore and started his first game against Chippewa Valley, and we were in the semifinals three years with him," Giannone said of James Stallons. "Last year, obviously, he took us to the right spot. He's a good athlete. ... He has good football intellect."

Giannone said James Stallons reminded Wisconsin recruiter Henry Mason a lot of former Fraser standout Jim Sorgi, who also was recruited by Mason and starred at Wisconsin.

"James might not be the most mobile quarterback; I think he has good mobility," Giannone said, "but for Wisconsin's offense, which is pro-style drop-back passing offense, I think he'll fit in pretty well."

Sorgi lived about five miles from where James Stallons grew up. James Stallons hopes to have his same type of success.

"We played Fraser in the regular season, and he came to the game and we talked," James Stallons said. "It was cool."

James Stallons spent time in Madison before the all-star game in hopes of learning the offense early.

"It's different for a quarterback because there are so many things to learn," he said. "A quarterback has to know all the formations, all the routes. I know the guys are going to be bigger, faster and stronger, and faster receivers. In college, you can put the ball up and the receivers can pretty much go get it. In high school, you had to be right on target."

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