Florida Memorial University Has Impact Signing Class
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This past season was not what Florida Memorial University first year head coach Tim “Ice” Harris had in mind when it was announced that the school would start football after six decades away. While he understood that things would take…
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Continue ReadingThis past season was not what Florida Memorial University first year head coach Tim “Ice” Harris 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.
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 Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year Award and 2007 USA Today National Coach of the Year 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.”
MORRISON IS A KEEPER
Funny how things work out in this life, and for Miami-Dade County’s all-time leading passer Torey “Scooter” Morrison, 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 Daniel Richardson’s passing mark.
In addition to Richardson, Morrison also surpassed some Miami-Dade County greats such as Jacory Harris and Rakeem Cato.
“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 The’Andris Freeman, a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports.
Harris’ staff also pulled another coup at the receiver position, bringing in a Eugene Witherspoon 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.
Here is a look at this year’s signees:
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
Torey Morrison Torey Morrison 5'8" | 160 lbs | QB Miami Booker T. Washington | 2021 FL , QB, 5-8, 145, Miami Booker T. Washington
Keyon Pierre, RB, 6-0, 175, North Miami Beach
Kareem Roberts Kareem Roberts 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Miami Northwestern | 2021 FL , 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
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.