Player Spotlight: FL QB Dereon Coleman Named All-American
Isaac Tanis Isaac Tanis 6'3" | 240 lbs | OL Plantation American Heritage | 2026 FL , an 8th grader at Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School in Fort Meade, Florida has been named a 2022 Under Armor Next All-American. The 5-foot-10, 145-pound prospect will compete against more than 70 of the best middle school prospects in his home state of Florida in January.
“I’m honored to be selected to compete in this event,” Coleman said. “To have the opportunity to play with elite 8th graders from all across the country, it shows that I’m on the right path with all of the hard work that I’ve put in at practices, the workouts and my actual games.”
Coleman earned the starting job for his high school football team this summer and has helped lead the Fort Meade Miners to a 4-4 record so far this season. As an 8th grader, he’s completed 55 of 98 passes for 969 yards and 12 touchdowns.
While on the field, you’d never guess that Coleman was just an 8th grader as he shows good composure in the pocket with quick, fluid feet and a quick release that allows him to fit the football into tight windows.
He credits much of his success to date to his trainer, Kenny Kelly, who played quarterback at the University of Miami and his high school coach Jemalle Cornelius, who played wide receiver at Florida as a member of their National Championship team during the 2006-2007 season.
Coleman will look to take the knowledge he’s gained from his coaches and showcase it in Orlando in front of some of the country’s top young prospects.
“I’m looking forward to going out and competing alongside the other All Americans,” he said. “I hope to accomplish and complete to be recognized amongst the best top 8th grader in the country and hope to gain additional knowledge of the game from the prestigious coaches and mentors in attendance.”
Although he hasn’t heard from any college coaches to date, he does have a few colleges that he hopes reach out with offers in the near future.
“I’d love to earn offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State and West Virginia,” he said. “These schools all have a history of developing pro quarterbacks and it’d be an honor to have the chance to be next in line.”
For now, his immediate goals are to continue to do well in school with the hopes of maintaining a high GPA and help his team win a state championship in the coming years.