Ridgeview’s Work Cut Out This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the 2024 football season came to an end, players and coaches came together and looked at the future of this Orange Park Ridgeview program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no getting around that there is a lot of work ahead in turning the Panthers around, and head coach <strong>Merlin Smith</strong>, his staff and players fully understand that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Building this team into a contender will indeed be a process, but one that the players need to buy into.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This off-season will truly tell a lot about this team and the commitment that everyone is willing to put in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting with the rising senior (2026) class that needs to lead the way with experience and leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those players who will be counted on to step up:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Felder, RB/LB, 5-9, 195 – 3.8 GPA. 1030 PSAT.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17868836/Christian-Felder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17868836/Christian-Felder</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Fowlkes, LB/RB, 5-6, 180 – 3.2 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17917243/Isaiah-Fowlkes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17917243/Isaiah-Fowlkes</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ethan Gordon, TE/OL, 6-3, 215 – 4.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17885002/EthanBama-Gordon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17885002/EthanBama-Gordon</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Hanson, TE/PK, 6-2, 235 – 3.1 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17944746/Christian-Hanson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17944746/Christian-Hanson</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632470' first='Landon' last='Kleiber'], WR/DB, 5-11, 160 – 4.1 GPA. 1150 PSAT.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17874048/Landon-Kleiber" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17874048/Landon-Kleiber</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THERE IS A NEED FOR THE UNDERCLASSMEN TO STEP UP IMMEDIATELY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If this team starts a run at a state playoff in the near future, the younger players will have to make a contribution starting this off-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are prospects that the Panthers will count on in 2025:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Cross, DE/RB, 6-2, 215 – 3.9 GPA,</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19493997/Jayden-Cross" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19493997/Jayden-Cross</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Mesa, QB/DB, 5-10, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19493914/Jordan-Mesa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19493914/Jordan-Mesa</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Moglia, OL, 6-9, 400 – 3.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andre Conyers Jr., LB/DB, 5-8, 155 – 4.01 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22592852/Andre-Conyers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22592852/Andre-Conyers</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Kindle, DB/WR, 5-10, 151 – 3.9 GPA. 3 Sport Athlete.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22616177/Marcus-Kindle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22616177/Marcus-Kindle</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Lehecka, LB/RB, 5-8, 180 – 4.01 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23397169/Elijah-Lehecka" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23397169/Elijah-Lehecka</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Worthy, LB/DE, 5-10, 181 – 3.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22650404/Jayden-Worthy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22650404/Jayden-Worthy</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaylin Wright, OL/DL, 6-2, 202</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAY TODAY - <a href="https://www.claytodayonline.com/sports/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.claytodayonline.com/sports/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></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><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about!</strong> <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->