Top Underclassmen Shine At State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2022 high school football season now finished and the first National Signing Day completed, much of the attention is starting to focus on the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After watching the five state title games last weekend at DRV PNK Stadium, there was so much talent that was on display in all classes – especially the underclassmen who figure to make an impression.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 10 teams in action after the opening weekend in Tallahassee, there were some impressive players who not only made an impact in the senior class, but some very talented 2024, 2025 and 2026 prospects as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among those juniors, who are ready to take that next step include quarterbacks <strong>Joshua Townsend</strong> (Homestead) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404627' first='Alberto' last='Mendoza']<a> </a></strong>(Miami Christopher Columbus), running backs <strong>Markell Johnson </strong>(Lake Wales) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404267' first='Jordan' last='Lyle'] </strong>(Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), tight ends<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='949258' first='Benjamin' last='Blackburn']</strong>, Miami Christopher Columbus and <strong>Lawal McCray</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland) and receivers <strong>Fadrelle Andrus</strong> (Miami Christopher Columbus), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404138' first='James' last='Madison II']</strong> (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404139' first='Lawayne' last='McCoy']</strong> (Miami Central), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404531' first='Carlos' last='Mitchell']</strong> (Lake Wales) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404227' first='Chance' last='Robinson']</strong> (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kicker <strong>Jacob Gettman</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland) was also solid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking about solid, the group of linemen are also prospects to watch this coming year. Standouts<strong> </strong>such as<strong> Jameel Carter</strong> (Homestead<strong>), Ethan Korkas</strong> (Apopka), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743361' first='Jaelin' last='Long']</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941703' first='Matthew' last='Peavley']</strong> (Venice), <strong>Madden Santiago</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland),<strong>Teko Shoats Jr. </strong>(Miami Central), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404201' first='Luke' last='Moise']</strong> (Miami Central), <strong>Charvis Williams</strong> (Apopka) and <strong>Jimmy Williams III </strong>(Plantation American Heritage).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As solid as this year's offensive underclassmen were at the large school state championships, defensive players were also quality and impressive as well. Linemen such as<strong> Timothy Burroughs-Love</strong> (Plantation American Heritage), <strong>Ramon McCollough</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland), <strong>Lorenzo Payne IV</strong> (Apopka), <strong>Jack Proctor</strong> (Lakeland), <strong>Kevin Roberts</strong> (Apopka), <strong>Daylen Russell</strong> Miami Christopher Columbus) and defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404048' first='Dylan' last='Stephenson']</strong> (Miami Christopher Columbus).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The linebackers were also worth checking out. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275851' first='Carter' last='Dalton']</strong> (Venice), <strong>Bowen Drews</strong> (Plantation American Heritage), <strong>Eduardo Nunez</strong> (Homestead), <strong>Johnquae Richardson</strong> (Lake Wales), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='944753' first='Nicholas' last='Rodriguez']</strong> (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) and <strong>Eli Seed </strong>(Venice).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Secondary prospects <strong>Jeff Bandy</strong> (Miami Christopher Columbus), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1130773' first='Malachi' last='Davey']</strong> (Apopka), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404169' first='Zavier' last='Mincey']</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='949271' first='Deylen' last='Platt']</strong> (Venice), <strong>Antwone Robinson</strong> (Apopka), <strong>Dylan Simmons</strong> (Lake Wales) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404480' first='Jancent' last='Wallace']</strong> (Miami Christopher Columbus).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Kern</strong> (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) and <strong>Gavin Greathouse </strong>(Daytona Beach Mainland) are among the best in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOW ABOUT THOSE 2025 AND 2026 STANDOUTS!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the rising seniors will be promising, those rising juniors and sophomores will also turn heads – like they have all season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class of 2025 prospects like offensive lineman <strong>Trenton Turner</strong> (Venice), defensive lineman <strong>Randy Adiricka</strong> (Miami Central), linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826543' first='Hector' last='Chavez']</strong> (Miami Christopher Columbus) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826463' first='Ezekiel' last='Marcelin'] </strong>(Miami Central) and defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827395' first='Jordan' last='Rich'] </strong>(Plantation American Heritage), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826515' first='Amari' last='Wallace']</strong> (Miami Central) and <strong>Drayden Wood</strong> (Daytona Beach Mainland).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2026 also showed up at the state championships with Apopka quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='667383' first='Tyson' last='Davison']</strong>, running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827399' first='Nicholas' last='McCall']</strong> (Miami Central) receivers <strong>Anjuan Coleman Jr. </strong>(Miami Central) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212282' first='Malachi' last='Toney']</strong> (Plantation American Heritage) and offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749044' first='Caleb' last='Harris']</strong> (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas). St. Thomas Aquinas defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401425' first='Justice' last='Fitzpatrick']</strong> is also solid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You Can Contact <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='111610' first='Larry' last='Blustein'] </strong>with prospect or team information at: <strong>Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->