Merritt Island Mustangs Bring Talent To The Table

From the opening game of the 2025 season when Merritt Island lost in double overtime to three-time defending state champion Cocoa - to a heart-breaking 57-51 setback to 7A power DeLand, and having to play 3A power Eau Gallie twice in three weeks, there was no getting around the fact that the Mustangs belonged.   Even though head coach Tyler Murray and his team would finish 7-5, they made the state playoffs and never stopped battling.   This is a program that has long been one that has defied the odds and proved many wrong because of coaching and talent that has battled year-round.   As the off-season began, there was no doubt that the objective for the 2026 season is the same – and if they are going to take things a step further when play begins for real in late August, it will be the rising senior (2027) class that will be vital to the success.   Experience, leadership and talent is evident on both sides of the ball – with gifted prospects:   Alain Adams, RB, 6'2, 215 – 3.2 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22335995/Alain-Adams">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22335995/Alain-Adams</a>   Diego Alford, OC, 5'11, 250 – 3.05 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19853376/Diego-Alford">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19853376/Diego-Alford</a>   William Bouloute, DB, 6'2, 172 – 3.3 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22345737/William-Bouloute">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22345737/William-Bouloute</a>   Kamar Fielder, WR, 5'10, 160 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22277234/6931c949e762a8a401ac406f">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22277234/6931c949e762a8a401ac406f</a>   Keith Hamilton III, WR, 5'9, 150.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/24279611/69725ba382317f1e1497a10c">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/24279611/69725ba382317f1e1497a10c</a>   Andrew Metcalf, OT, 6'5, 250 – 4.59 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20244900/Andrew-Metcalf">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20244900/Andrew-Metcalf</a>   Liam Miller, PK, 5'10, 180 – 3.69 GPA. Baseball.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22332009/69480db31741b399cf9a529e">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22332009/69480db31741b399cf9a529e</a>   Drew Sarver, Athlete, 5'10, 165 – 3.34 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19861017/6934838134463cb1f9fdd775">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19861017/6934838134463cb1f9fdd775</a>   Nathan Schafer, OLB, 6'1, 220 – 4.43 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19400169/Nathan-Schafer">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19400169/Nathan-Schafer</a>   Joey Sonnenberg, OL, 6'4, 310 – 2.54 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19897038/69695845e26c3652c25509ff">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19897038/69695845e26c3652c25509ff</a>   DeShaun Thomas, TE, 6'3, 230 – 3.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19707874/DeShaun-Thomas">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19707874/DeShaun-Thomas</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2137672' first='Kevin' last='Verpaele'], QB, 6'2, 200 – 3.66 GPA. Three-Sport Athlete.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20138189/68bdefb02172dda1ab41e47d">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20138189/68bdefb02172dda1ab41e47d</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1895261' first='Jonas' last='Walters'], LB, 6'1, 200 – 3.88 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19895001/69349df15041c9a57411e366">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19895001/69349df15041c9a57411e366</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Jaxon Johnson, DE, 6'0, 175 – 3.01 GPA   D'Marion Thomas, DT, 6'0, 225 – 3.3 GPA   Ethan Underwood, LS, 5'9, 160 – 3.42 GPA   Kyle Wallace, DB, 5'9, 145     KEEP AN EYE ON THIS UNDERCLASS   As the 2027 group will be the center of attention, keep in mind that the Mustangs have plenty of elite talent that will be ready from the Class of 2028 (rising juniors) and 2029 (rising sophomores), who are spending this off season getting ready for their chance to make a statement.   Many of the players will use this spring to get film for colleges to see what they have for the next few years:   CLASS OF 2028   Joshua Baker, DB, 6'1, 155.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26167057/Joshua-Baker">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26167057/Joshua-Baker</a>   Jay Craft, QB, 6'2, 195 – 3.52 GPA. Three-Sport Athlete.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22908742/Jay-Craft">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22908742/Jay-Craft</a>   Amarri Hamilton, OLB, 6'2, 220 – 2.92 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/24819214/Amarri-Hamilton">https://www.hudl.com/profile/24819214/Amarri-Hamilton</a>   Brandon Pouncey, S, 5'8, 160 – 3.05 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22427068/brandon-pouncey">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22427068/brandon-pouncey</a>   Antwan Smiley, OC, 6'1, 250 – 2.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22897079/Antwann-Smiley">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22897079/Antwann-Smiley</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Eric Cersosimo, OL, 5'10, 195 – 3.34 GPA   Carter Kolasa, DB, 5'6, 128 – 3.23 GPA   Jonathan Cummings, WR, 5'6, 135 – 3.26 GPA   [player_tooltip player_id='1550685' first='Skyler' last='Freeman'], OL, 6'0, 195 – 3.69 GPA   Connor Hansford, RB, 5'8, 158 – 2.92 GPA   Khalil Hobbs, DT, 5'11, 220 – 3.48 GPA   Christian Labarbera, DT, 5'7, 214 – 3.36 GPA   Isaac Moss, DE, 6'1, 200 – 3.61 GPA   Bryce Phillips, OL, 5'11, 240 – 2.5 GPA   Logan Scott, WR, 5'5, 115 – 2.79 GPA   Junior Simons Jr., WR, 5'7, 150 – 3.0 GPA   Paul Wright, S, 5'10, 123 – 3.78 GPA     CLASS OF 2029   Noah Smith, TE, 6'2, 185 – 3.7 GPA,   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26875527/Noah-Smith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26875527/Noah-Smith</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Chase Akridge, DE, 5'10, 166 – 3.70 GPA   Jason Benetiz, OL, 5'11, 180 – 3.5 GPA   Federico Calderon, DB, 5'9, 145 – 3.6 GPA   Owen Carew, LB, 5'5, 130 – 2.63 GPA   Zion Christian, WR, 6'0, 155 – 2.79 GPA   Devin Daniel, DB, 5'7, 120 – 3.0 GPA   Zaven Daniels, DB, 6'0, 158 – 2.5 GPA   Angelo Delboccio, DB, 5'6, 110 – 3.8 GPA   Kevin Martinez-Fontanez, OC, 5'10, 250 – 4.13 GPA   Leonardo Garcia, OL, 6'2, 220 – 4.07 GPA   Ben Green, OT, 6'3, 185 – 2.89 GPA   Landon Hinesly, DE, 6'0, 220   Justin Pridgen, RB, 5'6, 140   Connor Riordan, LB, 5'9, 180 – 4.09 GPA   Riley Rizzo, DB, 5'3, 105 – 3.3 GPA   Colin Ruppert, DB, 5'8, 155   Jesse Schoolfield, WR, 5'10, 150 – 4.0 GPA   Reagan Silvio, Athlete, 6'0, 160 – 4.15 GPA   Alexander Smith, DE, 5'11, 165 – 2.5 GPA   Jayden Thomas, DT, 5'9, 240 – 3.0 GPA   Benson Turner, DB, 5'7, 130 – 3.81 GPA     2025 Merritt Island Mustangs   Cocoa, L 30-24 (2 OT)   Melbourne, W 42-21   DeLand, L 57-51   Palm Bay, W 39-8   St. Cloud, W 24-21   Jacksonville Ed White, W 52-49   Titusville, W 31-28   Tampa Carrollwood Day, L 24-14   Viera, W 35-14   Eau Gallie, L 48-22   Titusville, W 41-13   Eau Gallie, L 35-14     FLORIDA EXPOSURE EVENT COMING MAY 23RD. Right after spring and a week before summer. This is a cannot miss exposure camp/combine. Sign Up Early!!! <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2242/register/exposure-series-florida">https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2242/register/exposure-series-florida</a>   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.   COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! Floridakids1@aol.com.

From the opening game of the 2025 season when Merritt Island lost in double overtime to three-time defending state champion Cocoa - to a heart-breaking 57-51 setback to 7A power DeLand, and having to play 3A power Eau Gallie twice in three weeks, there was no getting around the fact that the Mustangs belonged.