There Is Plenty To Be Excited About For Plant City Durant In '26

Following their first-round state playoff loss to Kissimmee Osceola last November, Plant City Durant head football coach Clayton Varnum, his staff and team reflected on the 5-6 season.   After a slow start in 2025, this is a program that started to put things together down the stretch, winning the district and qualifying for a state playoff appearance.   The slow 1-4 start did pave the way for a finish that watched the Cougars put together wins against Riverview (22-21), Lithia Newsome (50-21), Valrico Bloomingdale (28-6) and Bartow (46-40, OT).   As the 2026 spring is now in full swing, it's prospects such as [player_tooltip player_id='2160778' first='King' last='Rivera'], [player_tooltip player_id='2161687' first='Noah' last='Patell'], Maurice Kenne, Sam Themar, Gabriel Gibson, [player_tooltip player_id='2059006' first='Machi' last='Mack'] and Mason Newton who all return and will give this team a huge boost.   Here is a look at some of the impressive talent to keep an eye on:   CLASS OF 2027   Sean Arias, OL, 5'11, 245 - 3.4 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19528492/Sean-Arias/highlights ">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19528492/Sean-Arias/highlights </a>   Kairee Barnum, DB/WR, 6'1.5, 175 - 3.4 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19724197/691a94ee762a2df8434fefdc">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19724197/691a94ee762a2df8434fefdc</a>    Seth Bobos, OL, 6'0, 260 - 3.3 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20633814/68e707b71a44f076bf019d5e">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20633814/68e707b71a44f076bf019d5e</a>    Ben Hodnett, RB, 5'9, 142 - 2.48 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19528485/6947db371741b399cf9a5051">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19528485/6947db371741b399cf9a5051</a>   Colin Keen, OL, 5'10, 214 - 2.93 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19565211/Colin-Keen/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19565211/Colin-Keen/highlights</a>   Machi Mack, LB, 5'8, 175 - 2.54 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20154153/691b2b7d750b306810863931 ">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/20154153/691b2b7d750b306810863931 </a>   Derrye Randall, DB, 6'2, 160.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/20537849/Derrye-Randall/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/20537849/Derrye-Randall/highlights</a>   Dexter Snyder, WR/OLB, 6'1, 170 - 3.16 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19554627/6911f36974301bea69fb98a9">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19554627/6911f36974301bea69fb98a9</a>   Sam Themar, QB, 6'0, 180 - 3.78 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/25234326/691d2e4ca936698122789606">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/25234326/691d2e4ca936698122789606</a>   Jontrel Washington, OL/DL, 6'3, 215 - 2.71 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19552669/Jontrell-Washington/">https://www.hudl.com/profile/19552669/Jontrell-Washington/</a>       CLASS OF 2028   King Rivera, WR, 6'0, 170 - 3.7 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22879902/691d042b5676cd9403bcc49e">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22879902/691d042b5676cd9403bcc49e</a>   Gabriel Gibson, LB, 5'8, 187 – 3.0 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22879966/Gabriel-Gibson/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/22879966/Gabriel-Gibson/highlights</a>   Maurice Kenne, RB, 5'9, 180 - 3.57 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22164214/69239439535a35ca251ea340">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22164214/69239439535a35ca251ea340</a>    Mason Newton, TE/DE, 6'1, 185 - 2.5 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22895665/6923ca42776090401cce8bed">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/22895665/6923ca42776090401cce8bed</a>   Noah Patell, WR, 5'7, 140 - 2.8 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/26521462/Noah-Patell/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/26521462/Noah-Patell/highlights</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Josh Rabel, OL, 6'3, 280 - 3.4 GPA     CLASS OF 2029       Tyler Arias, OL, 5'10, 285 – 4.0 GPA.   TAPE: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/26864233/6901453c206aefcac2289f66">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/26864233/6901453c206aefcac2289f66</a>   AWAITING SPRING VIDEO   Mikey Anderson, RB, 5'7, 170   Mason Barringer, WR/DB, 5'10, 160   Jeremiah Stanley, LB, 6'0, 180       2025 Plant City Durant Cougars Lakeland Lake Gibson, W 23-17   Plant City, L 31-10   Tampa Gaither, L 43-7   Seffner Armwood, L 45-2   Tampa Wharton, L 33-13   Riverview, W 22-21   Lithia Newsome, W 50-21   Valrico Bloomingdale, W 28-6   Tampa Bay Tech, L 47-30   Bartow, W 46-40 (OT)   STATE PLAYOFFS   Kissimmee Osceola, L 20-15     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 href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">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 href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.

Following their first-round state playoff loss to Kissimmee Osceola last November, Plant City Durant head football coach Clayton Varnum, his staff and team reflected on the 5-6 season.