Winter Haven Battle By The Lakes: Spring Jamboree Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winter Haven's spring jamboree brought together five programs — Winter Haven, Lake Gibson, Kathleen, St. Pete Catholic, and McLaughlin — for a strong night of competition, evaluation, and offseason exposure as teams continue preparing for the fall season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chase Burrill | QB | 2027 | SPC | @Chase_Burrill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burrill looked composed and efficient throughout the jamboree while operating a talented St. Pete Catholic offense. The production already speaks loudly — 3,700 passing yards, 53 touchdowns, and just three interceptions last season — but what stands out most is how under control he plays. He delivers accurately to all levels of the field, processes quickly, and carries himself like a leader. Quarterback recruiting conversations should continue heating up heading into the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavion Mitchell | RB | 2027 | Kathleen | @xavionmitchell_</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell turned plenty of heads Friday night with his all-around skill set. He runs with patience and urgency, shows natural vision between the tackles, and accelerates quickly once he gets daylight. His value as a receiver separates him even more, as he comfortably runs routes and catches naturally out of the backfield. One of the more complete running backs in Polk County entering the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2197998' first='Quinston' last='Howard'] | OL | 2028 | SPC | @HowardQuin97015</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard continues proving why national programs are prioritizing him early. At 6-6, 320 pounds with a reported 7-foot-2 wingspan, the sophomore already looks like a major Power Four prospect. Moved well throughout the night, flashed strong footwork for his size, and showed the type of physical upside coaches covet long term. One of the premier young trench prospects in Florida.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vario McBride | ATH | Winter Haven | @hbk_dmarrr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McBride continues trending upward physically and athletically. He looked more developed in his frame this spring while still moving fluidly in space. A versatile piece who impacts multiple phases of the game, he plays aggressively downhill and consistently finds himself around the football. Winter Haven can deploy him in several ways, and his versatility remains a major strength moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Shorter | ATH | 2029 | SPC | @5star_shorter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shorter looked like one of the top young prospects on the field regardless of class. At 6-1, 185 pounds already, he carries himself with confidence and flashes impressive athletic traits on both sides of the football. The frame, playmaking ability, and overall upside immediately stand out. Expect his name to continue gaining traction statewide in the 2029 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb McFarlane | QB | 2027 | Lake Gibson | @caleb_mc4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McFarlane continues developing into a very intriguing quarterback prospect. His mobility surprised a lot of people in attendance, showing quickness and athleticism outside the pocket while still maintaining composure as a passer. He displayed touch, timing, and accuracy throughout the evening while operating comfortably under pressure. Lake Gibson looks to have a playmaker under center heading into the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex McCullough | ATH | 2028 | SPC | @alexmccollough0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCullough stamped himself as one of the top two-way performers of the jamboree. Physically built with strong after-the-catch ability, he consistently created problems offensively while also flashing ball skills defensively with interceptions and pass breakups. His ability to impact the game in multiple phases makes him one of the more intriguing 2028 athletes to monitor moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2109936' first='Larry' last='Christian III'] | ATH | 2027 | SPC | @LarryChris38028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian brings a physical downhill running style that fits perfectly in tough yardage situations. He runs behind his pads, finishes through contact, and continues expanding his overall offensive game. His toughness, frame, and scoring ability make him a valuable offensive piece with clear upside entering the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jase Diesel | ATH | 2027 | @Jase_Diesel09</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diesel showed toughness, versatility, and competitiveness all night long. He continued battling through every rep, found ways to make plays, and eventually found the end zone. The effort level stood out as much as anything, and it's easy to see why teammates feed off his energy. A tone-setter type player for the Braves moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->