Important Off-Season For West Orange

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the 2023 football, season ended, there was no joy around Winter Garden.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a 3-7 record, which included three straight losses to end the season, head coach <strong>Geno Thompson</strong> and his West Orange football team made a commitment to use the off-season to bring this program back to where it was just two, short years ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a team that had brought itself into the spotlight with a year-round commitment, and while there has been some impressive talent on the field, that chemistry that paved the way for a solid run had disappeared.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With spring right around the corner, several prospects have been busy attending combines and playing on 7-on-7 teams as well as playing other sports and conditioning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the Warriors are to turn the corner this coming season, it will be up to the rising senior (2025) class that will need to take a lead role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With prospects such as <strong>Ryder Bondurant</strong> (PK, 5-11, 150 – 3.19 GPA), <strong>Ryne </strong>Brown (WR, 6-5, 190 – 3.894 GPA), <strong>Josiah Butler</strong> (OL/DL, 6-2, 240 – 3.174 GPA), <strong>Mason Gifford</strong> (DT, 6-3, 390 – 3.878 GPA), <strong>Logan Hartman</strong> (S/LB, 6-4, 194 – 2.632 GPA), <strong>Donovan Lanier</strong> (DB/QB, 6-0, 165 – 3.171 GPA), and versatile lineman <strong>Nico Marti</strong> (OL/DL, 6-1, 291 – 3.556 GPA) have worked hard to help turn things around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prospects like <strong>Jaden McFarlane</strong> (DB, 5-10, 173 – 4.25 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826434' first='Ivan' last='Taylor']</strong> (DB, 6-1, 178 – 4.027 GPA) and <strong>Luke Willis</strong> (WR/TE/OLB, 6-3, 187 – 4.353 GPA) are also more than capable of raising the bar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PROMISING UNDERCLASS GIVES THIS PROGRAM PLENTY TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT</strong><br>As the rising seniors will be counted on for leadership and experience, the 2026 group of underclassmen also have an opportunity to be special – with <strong>Davonte Anderson</strong> (WR/DB, 6-1, 179 – 2.81 GPA), <strong>Nehemiah Burgess</strong> (RB/LB, 5-9, 214), <strong>Alexander Castellanos</strong> (OL, 6-2, 284 – 3.029 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580840' first='Edison' last='Delgado']</strong> (WR, 5-9, 154 – 3.29 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1209061' first='Nolan' last='Herman']</strong> (LB, 5-10, 191 – 4.296 GPA), and athletic <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249113' first='Devin' last='Jackson']</strong> (DB/WR, 6-2, 190 – 3.048 GPA).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior class will also roll out <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1368296' first='Larry' last='Miles']</strong> (WR/QB/DB, 5-11, 168 – 2.667 GPA), <strong>Artavius Riley</strong> (DB, 5-11, 174), <strong>Chakai Scott</strong> (DB, 5-10, 165 – 2.952 GPA), <strong>Zuri Tozin</strong> (WR/DB, 6-3, 192), and linebacker <strong>Nolan Turner</strong> (5-9, 165 – 2.435 GPA).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition, the youngsters in the Class of 2027 will also add to the depth and talent – as <strong>Jaydon Ammons</strong> (RB, 5-7, 160 – 3.615 GPA), <strong>Jordan Barry-Lopez</strong> (OT, 6-3, 263), and multi-talented <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671193' first='Brian' last='Dillard']</strong> (QB/WR/DB, 5-11, 141 – 4.0 GPA) have plenty to add.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at:</strong> Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->