Durant Has The Talent To Challenge

There is much to say about the 2020 season, and while first year head coach <strong>Claybo Varnum</strong> and the coaching staff choose to look back in a positive way, you can see exactly where Plant City Durant is headed. Finishing 5-5 during the pandemic, the Cougars found out about themselves and what was needed to get over that hump this coming season. Perhaps the easy thing to do is look back at the losses – to Lithia Newsome (13-10 OT), powers Bloomingdale (30-0) and Lakeland (35-0), rival Plant City (35-7) and a season-ending playoff loss to Tampa Bay Tech, a game that the Cougars lost just, 7-3. Those losses will go a long way in exposing what needs to be accomplished this spring and into the summer. With the rising senior class (2022) coming back with plenty to prove, prospects such as <strong>Austin Bovee</strong> (LB, 5-11, 200 – 3.1 GPA), <strong>Jordan Fernandes</strong> (LB, 6-1, 175), <strong>Quentin Johnson</strong> (Athlete, 5-11, 185 – 2.6 GPA), <strong>Logan Mayo</strong> (OL, 6-4, 270 – 2.56 GPA) an offensive lineman <strong>Eric McClellan</strong> (6-3, 270 – 3.68 GPA) will be needed for experience and leadership. Players with some game time under their collective belts will also be very important. Talents like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130059" first="Marcus" last="Miguele"]</strong> (QB, 6-1, 170 – 3.1 GPA), <strong>Tyler Newell</strong> (OL, 6-0, 270 – 3.6 GPA), <strong>Nash Sollman</strong> (OL, 6-5, 265 – 3.8 GPA), <strong>Leo Tabakovic</strong> (DL, 6-1, 190 – 2.9 GPA) and offensive lineman <strong>Andy Valentine</strong> (5-10, 230 – 3.7 GPA). <strong>THE UNDERCLASSMEN WILL BE A HUGE HELP</strong> While there are some gifted rising seniors coming back for the Cougars, keep in mind that the underclassmen have been getting ready, and with a solid off-season, will embrace spring and into the summer. Among those prospects looked upon to make a difference over the next few months will be <strong>Ajai Brown </strong>(OL, 6-4, 270),<strong> Calub Connell </strong>(Athlete, 5-9, 140), and athletes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128460" first="Jeremiah" last="Gines"]</strong> (5-10, 150), <strong>Elian Gonzalez</strong> (5-10, 140) and<strong> Zaevion Jordan </strong>(Athlete, 5-7, 145). The Class of 2023 also boasts gifted prospects like <strong>Austin Lewis</strong> (DL, 6-2, 230), <strong>Dylan Penman</strong> (OL, 5-8, 225), <strong>Jacob Reed</strong> (LB, 5-10, 190) and defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128676" first="Greg" last="Smith"]</strong> (6-1, 270). Keeping that theme of underclassmen filling the roster for the 2021 season, Class of 2024 (rising sophomores) athletes will find their way into the mix. Look for players like <strong>Alex Daley</strong> (RB, 5-8, 155), <strong>Jayden Forte</strong> (CB, 5-6, 135), <strong>Jason Freeman </strong>(TE/LB, 5-11, 180), <strong>A.J. Hancock</strong> (OL, 6-1, 240),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="[player_tooltip player_id="126602" first="Luke" last=""]" last=""]" last=""] Machristie </strong>(OL, 6-2, 240),<strong> Luther Scarlett </strong>(Athlete, 5-9, 160), <strong>Jaylin Torres </strong>(WR, 6-0, 175) and linebacker <strong>Jerome Parham</strong> (6-1, 185). With the .500 season behind them – and talent coming back, many are anxious to see what the Cougars and Coach Varnum produce in the spring and into the summer. <strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>