Bartram Trail Set For Another Playoff Run

There's no getting around the act that St. John's Bartram Trail may have exceed the expectations the “experts” set for them before the start of the season, but that doesn't mean the Bears were satisfied with the way things ended.   Yes, head coach Cory Johns and this football team finished 8-5, but all five of those setbacks came to either state-rated or national teams.   While it came as a surprise to some to some that they advanced three rounds deep in the playoffs, think about the losses that they suffered. Two to 3S state finalists Daytona Beach Mainland and St. Augustine, national power Bradenton IMG Academy, and to Gainesville Buchholz – twice, the second in the state 4S playoffs.   As they left the 2023 season, this is a team that believed with a few breaks, things could have gone differently, but instead of dwelling, the focus quickly turned to 2024.   With spring right around the corner, this program feels that they are ready to contend once again.   With a quality rising senior (2025) class, the Bears have impressive football talent on both sides of the ball.   Here is a look at some of those 2025 prospects:   Tristan Allen, DB, 5-9, 170 – 2.79 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16628081/Tristan-Allen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16628081/Tristan-Allen</a>   De'andre Caldwell, WR, 6-0, 175 – 2.76 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18607075/DeAndre-Caldwell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18607075/DeAndre-Caldwell</a>   Neko Dawkins, RB, 5-9, 190 – 2.45 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16264070/632fadaff55fc10df4193282" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16264070/632fadaff55fc10df4193282</a>   James Deleo, WR, 5-10, 150 – 2.4 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16269014/James-Deleo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16269014/James-Deleo</a>   Jacob Ducker, LB, 5-11, 190 – 3.91 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16310009/Jacob-Ducker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16310009/Jacob-Ducker</a>   Tyler Flack, OL, 6-5, 270 – 3.37 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17604493/Tyler-Flack" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17604493/Tyler-Flack</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1224097' first='Jimmy' last='Huck'], OL, 6-3, 280 – 3.6 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16039765/Jimmy-Huck" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16039765/Jimmy-Huck</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1212132' first='Nick' last='Spicer'], OL, 6-5, 270 – 3.31 GPA.   TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16334708/Nick-Spicer   AWAITING VIDEO LINK   Bryson Bakas, PK, 5-10, 180 – 4.37 GPA   Zachary Marshall, OL, 6-3, 275 – 3.8 GPA   STRONG UNDERCLASS NEEDS A CHANCE   With a gifted rising senior class, there is also a belief that the rising juniors (2026) and rising sophomore class (2027) are more than ready for the challenge.   Here are some of those 2026 and 2027 players to keep an eye on:   Colby Dean, TE, 6-0, 205 – 3.33 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17759910/Colby-Dean" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17759910/Colby-Dean</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1793567' first='Arthur' last='Lewis'], IV, RB, 5-10, 160 – 2.98 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17859465/Arthur-Lewis-IV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17859465/Arthur-Lewis-IV</a>   Tamajh Mitchell, DB, 5-10, 145 – 3.57 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17804420/652406abda517e063c96d9a5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17804420/652406abda517e063c96d9a5</a>   Joel Raggins, DB, 5-11, 180.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17925997/65688a3e5cb38204b075eb20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17925997/65688a3e5cb38204b075eb20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='212269' first='Jaden' last='Weatherly'], WR, 5-10, 150.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17732697/Jaden-Weatherly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17732697/Jaden-Weatherly</a>   AWAITING VIDEO   [player_tooltip player_id='1626908' first='Damion' last='Bridges'], DB, 5-11, 160 – 2.57 GPA   Mario Middleton, WR, 5-10, 150 – 2.40 GPA   2027   [player_tooltip player_id='734319' first='Connor' last='Winn'], TE, 6-3, 220 – 3.66 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19573066/Connor-Winn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19573066/Connor-Winn</a>   HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR OUR April 27th ORLANDO EVENT? <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/1090/register/combine-series-florida" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepredzone.com/e/1090/register/combine-series-florida</a>   PHOTO COURTESY OF BARTRAM TRAIL FOOTBALL   Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.

There's no getting around the act that St. John's Bartram Trail may have exceed the expectations the “experts” set for them before the start of the season, but that doesn't mean the Bears were satisfied with the way things ended.