Riverdale Football Ready To Run It Back Again In 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though the 2025 high school football season didn't end the way that the Fort Myers Riverdale program wanted, it was a year where this program learned and set the table for the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While losing to seven-time defending state champion Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas is nothing to hold your collective heads down over, that loss in Broward County was something that may have been what head coach <strong>Kendoll Gibson</strong>, his staff and players needed to energize themselves in the off-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finishing 12-2 and coming within a game of playing for a 5A state title, the Raiders indeed showcased talent and watched several younger prospects grow up and become the leaders that will be needed moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the seniors will move and do their thing at the next level, it's those rising seniors (2027), who will now take the leadership role and keep the momentum going from a school best 12-win season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at some of those Class of 2027 prospects that you will want to keep an eye on in 2026:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aiden Boyd, CB, 6'1, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22485943/Aiden-Boyd">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22485943/Aiden-Boyd</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>J'zaya Brown, RB, 5'10, 200.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22878544/JZaya-Brown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22878544/JZaya-Brown</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Miguel Clark Jr., Nickel, 6'0, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19470447/Miguel-Clarke-Jr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19470447/Miguel-Clarke-Jr</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Creal Jr., OL/DL, 6'1, 285.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19599508/Marcus-Creal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19599508/Marcus-Creal</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacorie Darrisaw, CB, 6'2, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19459266/Jacorie-Darrisaw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19459266/Jacorie-Darrisaw</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kymoni Gordon, LB, 5'11, 205.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19890148/Kymoni-Gordon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19890148/Kymoni-Gordon</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaleb McIntyre, DL, 5'10, 255 – 3.3 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19465784/Kaleb-Mcintyre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19465784/Kaleb-Mcintyre</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Levi McKenzie, DB, 6'1, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22971713/Levi-McKenzie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22971713/Levi-McKenzie</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Latroy Pender Jr., DB, 6'1, 180.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19465752/LaTroy-Pender-Jr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19465752/LaTroy-Pender-Jr</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HOW ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR THE RAIDERS?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2027 Class will truly add the experience and leadership, it will be up to the rising juniors (2028) and sophomores (2029) to make a huge contribution. Check out some of these Class of 2028 players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2122900' first='Josiah' last='Bataille'], RB, 5'10, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22584684/Josiah-Bataille" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22584684/Josiah-Bataille</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaden Beard, DB, 6'0, 180.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27059341/Kaden-Beard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27059341/Kaden-Beard</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Phillip Botsford, QB, 6'4, 175 – 3.59 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22697322/Phillip-Botsford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22697322/Phillip-Botsford</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Caldwell, LB, 6'1, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19672213/Gavin-Caldwell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19672213/Gavin-Caldwell</a><br></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Samuel Casseus, DT/DE, 6'3, 250.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22992193/Samuel-Casseus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22992193/Samuel-Casseus</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jason Duncan, CB, 5'9, 165.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22697331/Jason-Duncan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22697331/Jason-Duncan</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alphonso Miller, OL, 6'0, 265.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22611058/Alphonso-Miller-Jr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22611058/Alphonso-Miller-Jr</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AWAITING SPRING VIDEO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rayful “Ray” Guest, QB, 6'0, 180.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This trio of Class of 2029 players is only scratching the surface of younger players who will turn heads this spring – and beyond:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Randolph Bailey, WR, 5'6, 130.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27447188/Randolph-Bailey" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27447188/Randolph-Bailey</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malek Creal, TE/WR/FS, 5'11, 170.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26861078/Malek-Creal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26861078/Malek-Creal</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jrouvans Jourdan, FB/DT, 5'7, 185.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27017512/Jrouvans-Jourdan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27017512/Jrouvans-Jourdan</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>·</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Fort Myers Riverdale Raiders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Estero, W 21-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Fort Myers, W 43-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Myers Gateway Charter, W 55-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cape Coral Mariner, W 42-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Myers Cypress Lake, L 14-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lehigh Acres East Lee County. W 62-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Myers, W 44-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cape Coral, W 25-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Fort Myers, W 28-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lehigh, W 9-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Fort Myers, W 47-22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Immokalee, W 21-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradenton Manatee, W 28-26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 45-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></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><strong>Floridakids1@aol.com</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->