8th Grade Standouts from the Florida FBUNC Bracket

In recruiting and exposure the question often asked is, "who's next?" Well, the class of 2026 is the answer to that question. Eighth graders across the country are getting scholarship offers, as college aim to keep the pipelines going. The eighth grade athletes in the Florida bracket of the FBU National Championship tournament came out to play last week.  Here's a look at the standouts from round one and two of the FBU National Championship tournament in the Florida bracket. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Round One</strong></span></span> <strong>Jaylen Mason Blunt</strong> – Central Florida, Taveres Middle School, Leesburg - Number 73 immediately caught the eye as he walked on the field Saturday. Huge frame and has the skill to go with it. Powering the offensive line, Blunt helped the offense of Central Florida on Saturday vs South Florida in the Seminfinal Round. The balanced offensive lineman will be a force in the state of Florida for the next several years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="212355" first="Noah" last="Maddox"]</strong> – Central Florida, Central Florida Christian Academy, Orlando – Number 1 made his presence known early against South Florida, providing hits and tackles all over the field. With a large frame and an ability to locate the ball carrier, Maddox moves very well through traffic. Sky is the limit for this Class of 2027 defender. His nose for the ball, fearlessness, and poise separate him from his peers. <strong>Curtis Dewberry III</strong> – Central Florida, East Ridge Middle School, Orlando – Number 4 made big time grab over a defender in the 1^st half against South Florida on Saturday. With the defensive back draped all over him, Dewberry snagged the ball out of the air and made it look routine. Has a great frame and will give defenses fits when trying to gameplan for him. <strong>Jeffar Jean-Noel</strong> – South Florida, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Miami - Number 8 stood out on the defensive side of the ball. Making tackles and shutting down the run, Jean-Noel looks like a future star on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Playing linebacker, Jean-Noel has no true position in a great way. <strong>Ma'Rail Harp</strong> – South Florida, Bright Future School of Excellence, Opalocka - Number 11 came flying off the edge on Saturday, collecting a sack in the 1^st half vs Central Florida. With a large frame and the motor of someone much older and experienced, keep an eye on this South Florida product. His frame at this stage is scary, catching the eye as a prospect with a high ceiling. <strong>Jadrien Carmo</strong> – Southwest Florida, Trafalgar Middle, Cape Coral - Number 11 for Southwest Florida helped put the game away on Saturday vs Jacksonville by scoring a rushing TD in the 4^th quarter. In a one score game, and a bid to the championship round on the line, Carmo was relied on and scored the lone offensive touchdown of the game. This running back weaved his way through defenders on his way to putting the game away. <strong>Xavier Williams</strong> – Jacksonville, Highlands Middle School, Jacksonville - Number 13 made a huge play on Saturday, intercepting a pass and completely changing the momentum of the game in the Semifinal Round against Southwest Florida. Showing his ability by breaking on the ball, Williams made a great play look routine. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Round Two</strong></span></span> <strong>Aiden Byrer</strong> – Southwest Florida, East Naples Middle School, Naples – Number 3 for Southwest Florida looked the part of a big time contributor on Saturday's. His frame is long and he towers over his competition. The big receiver looked like a man among boys on the field. Showing his ability to run and make catches, his ceiling is very high. He will only get better in the future. Size is a premium at the position, which he has more than enough of. Coaches will love developing him into a big time prospect. With plenty of physical tools, he should fill up stat sheets for a long time. <strong>Jadrien Carmo</strong> – Southwest Florida, Trafalgar Middle, Cape Coral - Number 11 for Southwest Florida had a pass breakup on Sunday in the Championship Game. Doing his part for the defense, Carmo came up big time after time. The defensive back showed good explosiveness and quickness with his play. Roaming the defensive backfield, Carmo was a joy to watch. This athlete has a bright future ahead of him. Locking down receivers and making big tackles will be his forte. Keep an eye on this Class of 2026 defender. With his speed and agility, he will be a force in the state of Florida. <strong>Grayson Gibson</strong> – Central Florida, Narcoossee Middle School, Saint Cloud - Number 83 for Central Florida had a huge receiving touchdown on Sunday, out running defenders for over fifty yards. His score brought fans out of their seats, cheering loudly for the young receiver. He caught a short hitch, broke a tackle, and ran down the sideline. Showing his speed, Gibson caught the attention of everyone in the stadium. He has natural ball skills, able to pluck the ball out of the air with ease. Once he starts running, he ability to make defenders miss is second to none. With good size to go with his skill set, it is only a matter of time before he starts to pick up college offers. <strong>Acovan Schild</strong> – Central Florida, Indian Trails Middle School, Casselberry - Number 2 for Central Florida had a passing touchdown in the Championship Game on Sunday. The young quarterback showed good arm strength and velocity. His play making ability extended beyond just his arm, escaping pass rushers and keeping plays alive. In leading his team to victory, Schild has many more wins in his future. The signal caller commanded the respect of the most talented team over the weekend. He will only get better and will be a coveted prospect in the 2026 Class. His calm demeanor displayed his poise in a big game setting. <strong>Jake Kreul</strong> – Central Florida, St James Catholic School, Orlando - Number 34 for Central Florida was all over the field on Sunday in the Championship Game. Whether it was disrupting the running game by collecting tackles for loss or breaking up the passing game by collecting a pass breakup and an interception, Kreul was a bonafide playmaker for Central Florida. A complete defender, he made plays against the run and the pass. He kept showing up throughout the day, making a case for the best athlete on the field. His stock will only continue to rise. A tenacious tackler with good strength, he diagnoses offensive plays easily. He is a natural athlete and a scary defender. His all-around play will be coveted by many coaches. <strong>Layden Canals</strong> – Central Florida, Greenwood Lakes, Longwood - Number 7 for Central Florida came up with a big interception on Sunday, making a play in the endzone and wrapping up the victory for his team. The defensive back high pointed the ball and came down with it among several players. It was quite the highlight to cap a day full of them. With this type of ability, Canals has a bright future. With a long frame and very good leaping ability, his stock will rise quickly. This versatile defensive back will be making plays for a long time. His play in the endzone showcased what he can do when the game was on the line.