Ocala Vanguard Wins UCF 7-on-7

From the moment teams and prospects started to arrive in Orlando on Saturday, it was evident that it was so good to be back. As first year head coach <strong>Gus Malzahn</strong> and his staff at the University of Central Florida hosted a 7-on-7 tournament and impressive lineman challenge. As Ocala Vanguard beat Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna in the finals – and Tampa Gaither and defending 8A state champion Sanford Seminole reached the Final 4, the first full team event was in the books, and the Knights are ready for more. With Malzahn getting a chance to meet coaches and prospects, the Dark Period was a mere memory – as teams with many prospects made it count on Saturday. Vanguard, which has Class of 2022 standouts <strong>Dewhitt Betterson Jr. </strong>(RB), <strong>Emile Sancho</strong> (CB) and <strong>Tyrell Randall</strong> (RB), and 2024 cornerback <strong>Frederick Gaskin III.</strong> Chaminade-Madonna, winners of three of the past 3A state titles, also boasts some quality prospects such as 2022 defensive secondary standouts <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50049" first="Brian" last="Dilworth"], [player_tooltip player_id="111710" first="Jeremiah" last="McGill"], [player_tooltip player_id="108633" first="Ryan" last="Turner"] </strong>and recent DE transfer <strong>George Sklavenitis.</strong> The Lions also boast linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50288" first="Dylan" last="Reid"]</strong> and 2023 receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128485" first="Edwin" last="Joseph"]</strong>. Class of 2024 nationally-rated prospects <strong>Zaquan Patterson </strong>(safety), running back <strong>Dylan Gause</strong>. Defensive back <strong>Chris Ewald</strong> and quarterback <strong>Cedrick Bailey.</strong> Gaither also showed why they will be a team to watch this season – with seniors <strong>Tawfiq Thomas</strong> (DT), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50200" first="Drelin" last="Pittman"] </strong>(WR) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50061" first="Kobe" last="McCloud"]</strong> (LB) – as well as 2023 standouts <strong>Eugene Wilson III</strong> (CB) and quarterback <strong>Brooks Bentley</strong>. The defending state champion Seminoles will also be worth watching again. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50302" first="DeMari" last="Henderson"]</strong> (safety) and <strong>Jacari Henderson</strong> (CB), linebacker <strong>Kam Moore</strong>, running back <strong>Donta Whack</strong>, and 2023 quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128344" first="Luke" last="Rucker"]</strong> and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128490" first="Darren" last="Lawrence"]</strong>. Here is a look at some of the other teams that took part on Saturday: <strong>Armwood (Seffner) – James Smiley Jr.</strong> (2022, RB) and <strong>Jyalin Cumby </strong>(2023, CB). <strong>Booker T. Washington (Miami) – [player_tooltip player_id="128057" first="Adam" last="Moore"]</strong> (2022, WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50074" first="Semaj" last="Flagg"]</strong> (2022) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128811" first="Fabian" last="Scott"] Jr.</strong> (CB, 2023). <strong>Clearwater</strong> <strong>Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) – [player_tooltip player_id="128079" first="Rico" last="Jackson"]</strong> (OL, 2023) and <strong>Armondo Blount</strong> (DE, 2025). <strong>Edgewater (Orlando) – [player_tooltip player_id="128013" first="Cedric" last="Baxter"]</strong> (RB, 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50188" first="Jeremiah" last="Connelly"]</strong> (RB, 2022), <strong>Shaheem Hill</strong> (OG, 2022) and <strong>Winston Griffin</strong> (DE, 2022). <strong>Eustis</strong> <strong>Foundation Academy (Winter Garden) – [player_tooltip player_id="128819" first="Brian" last="Thomas"] Jr</strong> (LB, 2022), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="111550" first="Reggie" last="Jean"] </strong>(DT, 2022), <strong>Donovan Branch</strong> (DE, 2022) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50247" first="Hunter" last="Moss"]</strong> (OL, 2022). <strong>Gateway (Kissimmee)</strong> <strong>Hialeah</strong> <strong>Horizon</strong> <strong>Jefferson (Tampa) – Eric Felder (</strong>CB, 2022), <strong>ZyCarl Lewis Jr</strong> (Athlete, 2024) and <strong>Mike Coley Jr.</strong> (WR, 2024). <strong>Lake Mary – Braedcen Marshall</strong> (QB, 2023). <strong>Mainland (Daytona Beach) – Isaiah Morrison</strong> (DT, 2022), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50064" first="Isaiah" last="Gordon"]</strong> (RB, 2022) and <strong>Jonathan Campbell</strong> (S, 2022) <strong>Miramar – Claudel Bazile</strong> (DE, 2022), <strong>Dee Thomas</strong> (S, 2022) and <strong>Se’maj Banks </strong>(RB, 2022). <strong>Nease – Sam Dec</strong> (OL, 2022) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="111488" first="Grant" last="Stevens"]</strong> (TE, 2022). <strong>Newsome (Lithia) – Jason Albritton</strong> (RB, 2022) and <strong>Devan Belcher</strong> (WR, 2022). <strong>Orlando Christian Prep – [player_tooltip player_id="128819" first="Brian" last="Thomas"] </strong>(RB, 2023),<strong> Valentino Garcia</strong> (OL, 2024) and <strong>Demarion Jenkins</strong> (WR, 2024) <strong>Osceola (Kissimmee) – [player_tooltip player_id="50039" first="Chad" last="Mascoe"]</strong> (QB, 2022), <strong>Lamont Lee</strong> (LB, 2022), <strong>Jeremiah Wilson</strong> (CB, 2022), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128797" first="Bo" last="Mascoe"] </strong>(DB, 2023) and <strong>Ja’Keem Jackson</strong> (WR, 2023). <strong>Palm Bay – [player_tooltip player_id="128772" first="Daniel" last="Harris"] (DE, 2023)</strong> <strong>Plant (Tampa) – John Owens Jr.</strong> (LB, 2022). <strong>Spruce Creek (Port Orange)</strong> <strong>University (Orange City) –</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="111714" first="Noble" last="Thomas"]</strong> (CB, 2022). <strong>West Port (Ocala) – [player_tooltip player_id="128095" first="Elijah" last="Hopkins"]</strong> (RB – 2022) and <strong>Jylique Barnes </strong>(WR, 2022). <strong>Winter Park – [player_tooltip player_id="50003" first="Terrance" last="Gibbs"]</strong> (RB, 2022), <strong>Hudson Gibbs</strong> (S, 2023) and <strong>Amaris Shaw </strong>(RB, 2023). <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>