Dunnellon Using Their 'Championship' Season As Fuel For 2026

While they would finish 5-5 during the regular season and come up short for a state playoff appearance, Dunnellon and head coach J.B. Bynum and his football team made good use of their own post-season.   Thanks to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and adding the inaugural 1A-3A FIT Championship post-season tournament for programs still interested in playing into late November and early December, the Tigers ended the year as champions.   In beating Pensacola (34-20), Jacksonville Andrew Jackson (40-24), Palatka (14-12) and North Miami Beach (13-7) in the title game, this team walked out of 2025 with a title.   While many football people across the state mocked the added post-season tournament, the true meaning was to help players get additional film for college coaches and generate more interest in programs that needed the momentum.   As the off-season started and spring is now under way, many are understanding the objective of high school sports. It's all about teaching, developing and keeping the interest alive.   For Dunnellon, this coming season could see the fruits of that title pay off – with some quality rising seniors (2027) gaining plenty of valuable experience.   Here is a look at some of those 2027 prospects to keep an eye on:   [player_tooltip player_id='2131972' first='Deonte' last='Abate'], DB/OLB, 5'10, 178 - 2.5588 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20188905/Deonte-Abate">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20188905/Deonte-Abate</a>   Javion Blunt, WR, 6'4, 166.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20065833/javion-blunt">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20065833/javion-blunt</a>   Ayden Cox, OL/DL, 6'3, 264 - 3.6000 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23670171/Ayden-cox">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23670171/Ayden-cox</a>   Brian Hill, DB, 5'9, 151 - 2.7 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20555272/Brian-Hill">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20555272/Brian-Hill</a>   Courtlyn Mack, OLB/SS, 6'3, 191 - 2.6667 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20267286/Courtlyn-Mack">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20267286/Courtlyn-Mack</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2122862' first='Frederick' last='Mathis'], TE/DL, 6'2, 184 - 3.3667 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20065217/Frederick-Mathis">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20065217/Frederick-Mathis</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2112107' first='Chase' last='Oldham'], OL/DL, 6'2, 245 - 4.2051 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20057966/Chase-Oldham">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20057966/Chase-Oldham</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2128023' first='Kaiden' last='Robinson-Vickers'], TE/DL, 6'4, 268 - 3.2 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17009828/Kaiden-RobinsonVickers">https://www.hudl.com/profile/17009828/Kaiden-RobinsonVickers</a>   Abraham Rodriguez, RB/LB, 5'10, 164 - 3.3824 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20508215/Abraham-Rodriguez">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20508215/Abraham-Rodriguez</a>   Tony Tanner, RB/LB, 5'10, 186 - 3.1.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18527007/693900585d5f7ce840e7bfcc">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18527007/693900585d5f7ce840e7bfcc</a>   Elijah Townsend, DB, 5'11, 159 - 3.7429 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22385324/Elijah-Townsend">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22385324/Elijah-Townsend</a>   Desmond Walker, OL/DL, 6'1, 248 - 3.2353 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22980366/Desmond-Walker">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22980366/Desmond-Walker</a>   Kameron Wheeler, RB/OLB, 5'10, 181 - 2.9 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20065233/Kameron-Wheeler">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20065233/Kameron-Wheeler</a>   Gavin Whitehead, ILB, 6'0, 197 - 4.0 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20263070/Gavin-Whitehead">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20263070/Gavin-Whitehead</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1308330' first='Damien' last='Williams'], RB/DL, 5'11, 178 - 3.7895 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19827773/Damien-Williams">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19827773/Damien-Williams</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2131974' first='Elias' last='Williams'], WR, 5'9, 154 - 2.6765 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27432829/Elias-Williams">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27432829/Elias-Williams</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Geremy Crouch Jr., TE/LB, 6'0, 171 - 4.7234 GPA   Otis McCurdy Jr., LB, 5'11, 168 - 2.6452 GPA   Giovanni Reed, WR/DB, 6'0, 157 - 2.9697 GPA     UNDERCLASSMEN WILL CERTAINLY ADD TO THIS PROGRAM   As we know that the rising seniors will be huge for their experience and potential leadership, the younger players are talented enough to make 2026 special.   CLASS OF 2028   Carson Curry, OL/DL, 5'11, 207 - 4.3750 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18356942/Carson-Curry?kaDA.">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18356942/Carson-Curry?kaDA.</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2044620' first='Ezra' last='Gama'], RB/LB, 5'9, 147 - 3.1538 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23285447/ezra-gama">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23285447/ezra-gama</a>   William Ortiz-Nunez, WR/DB, 5'9, 138 - 3.2222 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/23447991/William-Ortiz?DA.">https://www.hudl.com/profile/23447991/William-Ortiz?DA.</a>   Devyn Parchment, WR/DB, 5'9, 152.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26385901/Devyn-Parchment?DAkaDA.">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26385901/Devyn-Parchment?DAkaDA.</a>   Joseph Reyes, RB/LB, 6'0, 214 - 4.3667 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/27228944/Joseph-Reyes?sMCRoMA..">https://www.hudl.com/profile/27228944/Joseph-Reyes?sMCRoMA..</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='2133911' first='Brysen' last='Swoll'], WR/DB, 5'9, 149 - 2.9444 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26695982/Brysen-Swoll?A..">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26695982/Brysen-Swoll?A..</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Bradley Galiano, LB, 5'10, 158 - 3.0455 GPA   Camdyn Madison, WR/DB, 6'0, 156 - 3.8571 GPA   Edwuan Pinkney, OL/DL, 6'0, 191   Darius Ross, WR/LB, 6'1, 161 - 2.8333 GPA     CLASS OF 2029   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   [player_tooltip player_id='2098090' first='Zion' last='Benn'], QB, 6'1, 154 - 3.1000 GPA   Keith Chesteen, OL/DL, 6'0, 231 - 3.1667 GPA   Cameron Gunter, WR/LB, 6'0, 167 - 4.1250 GPA       2025 Dunnellon Tigers   Tallahassee Florida High, L 17-14   Starke Bradford County, L 35-0   Ocala West Port, W 28-14   Lakeland Lake Gibson, W 9-7   Ocala Vanguard, L 20-7   Gainesville Eastside, L 16-14   Dover Specialty Fit Academy, W 33-22   Citra North Marion, W 28-6   Hawthorne, L 26-0   Bushnell South Sumter, L 16-6   POST SEASON INVITATIONAL TORUNAMENT   Pensacola, W 34-20   Jacksonville Andrew Jackson, W 40-24   Palatka, W 14-12   North Miami Beach, W 13-7 (CHAMPIONSHIP GAME)     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: <a>Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.   COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <a>Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.

While they would finish 5-5 during the regular season and come up short for a state playoff appearance, Dunnellon and head coach J.B. Bynum and his football team made good use of their own post-season.