Florida Memorial University Has Impact Signing Class

This past season was not what Florida Memorial University first year head coach <strong>Tim “Ice” Harris </strong>had in mind when it was announced that the school would start football after six decades away. While he understood that things would take time to build, Coach Harris and his team had to experience Covid, and it took its toll on the first year. <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-106511" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/Recruiting-Logo-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" />FMU, which played just three games during the 2020 fall season before it canceled the remaining games for health and safety, needed to have a solid signing period – and they did, setting a new benchmark for the highest-rated recruits it has ever signed. The Lions received official letters of intent from 23 new student-athletes between National Signing Day (Feb. 3) and the days following. Harris also confirmed that he anticipates adding two to three more players to the class. This year’s group is Florida Memorial’s second modern-day recruiting class, building on the program’s momentous first class in 2020. Harris, a three-time winner of the<strong><em> Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year Award</em> </strong>and<strong><em> 2007 USA Today National Coach of the Year</em> </strong>during his tenure as the head coach of Miami Booker T. Washington High School, said that he’s excited about what the 2021 recruiting class can bring to FMU’s football program. “This class is full of good young men that are very talented football players,” Harris explained. “Our coaching staff did a great job of recruiting and evaluating so that we can bring in student-athletes that would be able to elevate Florida Memorial University’s football program on and off the field. We feel like this group has a lot of guys that will be able to come in and make an immediate impact and do exactly what we’ve been telling all of our recruits to do when they come here – leave a legacy.” <strong>MORRISON IS A KEEPER</strong> Funny how things work out in this life, and for Miami-Dade County’s all-time leading passer <strong>Torey “Scooter” Morrison</strong>, the quarterback position at Florida Memorial University has had his name on it since the day it was announced that the Lions would be playing football. Morrison is indeed the quarterback you pick to go into battle – no matter what size he happens to be. He’s a winner a program definer, and helps keeping that talent pipeline from Miami Booker T. Washington to the next level. Rated a 2-star prospect by 247 Sports, Morrison has always defied the odds, winning a state title as a junior and breaking <strong>Daniel Richardson’s </strong>passing mark. In addition to Richardson, Morrison also surpassed some Miami-Dade County greats such as <strong>Jacory Harris</strong> and <strong>Rakeem Cato.</strong> “Morrison is one of those special athletes,” Harris said. “A lot of people look at his size and think he’s too small or that he’s just a runner, but he is definitely a quarterback. You don’t finish as one of all-time passing yards leaders in Miami-Dade County if you can’t throw the ball. He’s played a lot of football and knows how to handle himself on the field, I’m excited to see him in the Blue and Orange.” In addition to Morrison, the Lions also Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas receiver <strong>The’Andris Freeman</strong>, a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports. Harris’ staff also pulled another coup at the receiver position, bringing in a <strong>Eugene Witherspoon </strong>as a transfer from Mid-South Conference rival Southeastern University. The 6-foot-4, 197-pound receiver spent the past two seasons with the Fire, recording 1,030 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns – also ranking No. 19 in the country in receiving yards per game (86.1) during the 2019 season A Miami, Florida native (graduating from Miami Jackson High School), Witherspoon gives the Lions a seasoned wide receiver that can not only make plays for their young quarterback but can provide leadership to the receiver corps and the team – as he’ll be one of the few upperclassmen on the roster. <strong>Here is a look at this year’s signees</strong>: Delbert Anthony, DL, 6-3, 235, Miami Northwestern Christopher Berryhill, OL, 6-2, 250. Coral Gables602 Serge Champagne, DL, 6-3, 245, Coral Springs Calvin Clark, WR, 6-2, 180, Bradenton Southeast Antwan Davis, DL, 6-3, 215, Miami Central Henry Farmer, OL, 6-2, 285, Miami Northwestern The-Andris Freeman, WR, 5-11, 175, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas Matthew Godbee, DB, 5-9, 170, Hallandale Deondric Hardy, OL, 6-2, 300, Miramar Jaray Harrison, WR, 6-2, 185, Sebring Siddiq Jackson, RB, 5-8, 201, Miami Northwestern Kavontae Jones, WR, 6-3, 180, Sebring Zamir Jones, QB, 5-11, 160, Fort Lauderdale Dillard Devonte Lee, OL, 6-3, 305, Miami Edison Alann Louis, OL, 6-3, 300, Miami Central Brandin Luzincourt, OL, 6-4, 280, Palm Beach Lakes Tre’Darious Moore, OL, 6-3, 240, Jacksonville Andrew Jackson [player_tooltip player_id="32773" first="Torey" last="Morrison"], QB, 5-8, 145, Miami Booker T. Washington Keyon Pierre, RB, 6-0, 175, North Miami Beach [player_tooltip player_id="32904" first="Kareem" last="Roberts"], LB, 6-1, 225, Miami Northwestern Corey Vandyke, DB, 6-2, 210, Flagler Palm Coast Ja’Quez White, OL, 6-0, 270,Valdosta, Ga. Eugene Witherspoon, WR, 6-4, 197, Southeastern University <strong>Y<em>ou Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on </em></strong><strong><em>Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>