Class of 2021 Prospects Made A Major Impact
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With the recent release of the final Class of 2021 Florida High School Football ranking, several prospects used this season to change the perception on the recruiting front. Because of the pandemic, the NCAA kept its member schools in a…
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Continue ReadingWith the recent release of the final Class of 2021 Florida High School Football ranking, several prospects used this season to change the perception on the recruiting front.
Because of the pandemic, the NCAA kept its member schools in a “not contact” period, which made the season tougher on those prospects looking to make an impression.
In the over a year since college coaches could see these football players live, there has been growth, maturity and plenty of positives that have transpired without the college coaches getting an opportunity to see this all unfold.
THE TOP TIER IS STILL ELITE
While there was movement by some prospects from the first ranking we did last summer, athletes such as Alabama bound J.C. Latham J.C. Latham 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL Bradenton IMG Academy | 2021 State FL (OL, 6-6, 310, Bradenton IMG Academy), University of Oklahoma signee Mario Williams Mario Williams 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Plant City | 2021 State FL (WR, 5-11, 170, Plant City), Miami Palmetto defensive lineman Leonard Taylor Leonard Taylor 6'4" | 285 lbs | DL Miami Palmetto | 2021 State FL (6-4, 285, Miami Palmetto) and safety James Williams James Williams 6'4" | 205 lbs | DB Plantation American Heritage | 2021 State FL (6-4, 205, Plantation American Heritage) – both headed to the University of Miami – remained at the top – with impressive play. Palmetto fell one game short of a first event 8A state title appearance – while Williams and his Patriots captured the 5A state title.
When he de-committed from the University of Tennessee, Terrence Lewis Terrence Lewis 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Miami Central | 2021 State FL (LB, 6-1, 200, Miami Central) was at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. He changed schools at won a 6A state title with the Rockets and signed with the University of Maryland.
Alabama-bound receiver Jacorey Brooks Jacorey Brooks 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Bradenton IMG Academy | 2021 State FL (WR, 6-3, 185, Bradenton IMG Academy), and Florida signees Jason Marshall Jason Marshall 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Miami Palmetto | 2021 State FL (DB, 6-2, 190) and Corey Collier Corey Collier 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Miami Palmetto | 2021 State FL (S, 6-2, 180) from Miami Palmetto had impressive years as the Panthers advanced further than any other program in school history – losing in the state semifinal.
WATCHING THEIR STOCK RISE
As many of the elite prospects performed at a level where college coaches and recruiting analysts felt they would be – there were several who watched their stock rise during this crazy season – where practicing a full week never happened.
Prospects such as Alabama signee Dallas Turner Dallas Turner 6'4" | 245 lbs | LB Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State FL (OLB, 6-4, 245, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, who traded a promising basketball career for football and life with Nick Saban.
Other prospects who watched their stock soar this season – included University of Miami signee Laurence Seymore Laurence Seymore 6'1" | 270 lbs | OL Miami Central | 2021 State FL (OG, 6-1, 270, Miami Central), who led the Rockets as a three-year starter and as a two-time 6A state champion. Florida signee Marcus Burke Marcus Burke 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Jacksonville Trinity Christian | 2021 State FL (WR, 6-3, 180, Jacksonville Trinity Christian), Alabama receiver Agiye Hall Agiye Hall 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Valrico Bloomingdale | 2021 State FL (6-2, 185, Valrico Bloomingdale) and current Clemson offensive lineman Marcus Tate Marcus Tate 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Miami Gardens TRU Prep Academy | 2021 State FL (6-5, 300, Miami Gardens TRU Prep Academy), who enrolled in January.
For every prospect like Michigan signee J.J. McCarthy J.J. McCarthy 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Bradenton IMG Academy | 2021 State FL (QB, 6-2, 195, Bradenton IMG Academy), University of Southern California-bound tight end Michael Trigg Michael Trigg 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Tampa Carrollwood Day | 2021 State FL (6-4, 220, Tampa Carrollwood Day) and Auburn signee Terrion Arnold Terrion Arnold 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Tallahassee St. John Paul | 2021 State FL (S, 6-2, 190, Tallahassee St. John Paul), there are prospects such as Arizona State signee Tommi Hill Tommi Hill 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Orlando Edgewater | 2021 State FL (S, 6-2, 190, Orlando Edgewater), University of Miami signee Brashard Smith Brashard Smith 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Miami Palmetto | 2021 State FL (WR, 5-10, 180, Miami Palmetto), and Texas A&M signees Amari Daniels Amari Daniels 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Miami Central | 2021 State FL (RB, 5-9, 190) and Yulkeith Brown Yulkeith Brown 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Miami Central | 2021 State FL (Athlete, 5-11, 180), who both led Miami Central to another state title.
FLORIDA SCHOOLS STRIKE GOLD
Because of Covid, and many athletes opting to stay closer to home, several Top 100 prospects decided to stay home and attend Miami, Florida or FSU.
Orlando Boone DE Shambre Jackson Shambre Jackson 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Orlando Boone | 2021 State FL (6-5, 265) chose FSU. So did Lehigh DB Omarion Cooper Omarion Cooper 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Lehigh | 2021 State FL (6-1, 175), Patrick Payton Patrick Payton 6'5" | 210 lbs | LB Miami Northwestern | 2021 State FL (OLB, 6-5, 210, Miami Northwestern), Shyheim Brown Shyheim Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Lake City Columbia | 2021 FL (OLB, 6-1, 190, Lake City Columbia) and Hollywood McArthur’s Kevin Knowles Kevin Knowles 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Hollywood McArthur | 2021 State FL (FS, 5-10, 175).
Chaminade-Madonna running back Thad Franklin (6-2, 220) stayed at home to play for the Hurricanes. So did Miami Northwestern receivers Romello Brinson Romello Brinson 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Miami Northwestern | 2021 State FL (6-2, 180) and Jacolby George Jacolby George 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Plantation | 2021 State FL (6-0, 170, Plantation), safety Kamren Kinchens Kamren Kinchens 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Miami Northwestern | 2021 State FL (6-0, 190), offensive linemen Michael McLaughlin Michael McLaughlin 6'8" | 260 lbs | OL Parkland Douglas | 2021 State FL (6-7, 290) and Ryan Rodriguez Ryan Rodriguez 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Miami Christopher Columbus | 2021 State FL (6-3, 285, Miami Christopher Columbus), tight end Kahlil Brantley Kahlil Brantley 6'2" | 200 lbs | TE Miami Northwestern | 2021 State FL (6-2, 200, Miami Northwestern) and Columbus DE Jabari Ishmael Jabari Ishmael 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Miami Christopher Columbus | 2021 State FL , a 6-5, 225-pounder.
Besides the Palmetto defensive backs, the Gators struck with St. Thomas Aquinas DE Tyreak Sapp Tyreak Sapp 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State FL (6-2, 255), defensive tackle Desmond Watson Desmond Watson 6'6" | 330 lbs | DL Seffner Armwood | 2021 State FL (6-6, 330, Seffner Armwood), safety Dakota Mitchell Dakota Mitchell 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Winter Park | 2021 State FL (6-0, 185, Winter Park), cornerback Jordan Young Jordan Young 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Tampa Gaither | 2021 State FL (6-0, 185, Tampa Gaither), tight ends Gage Wilcox Gage Wilcox 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Tampa Jefferson | 2021 State FL (6-4, 228, Tampa Jefferson), Rocco Underwood Rocco Underwood 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE Lake Mary | 2021 FL (6-4, 220, Lake Mary), Nick Elksnis Nick Elksnis 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Jacksonville Episcopal | 2021 FL (6-5, 220, Jacksonville Episcopal), Christopher Thomas Christopher Thomas 6'6" | 275 lbs | DL Fort Myers Dunbar | 2021 State FL (DL, 6-6, 275, Fort Myers Dunbar, Offensive linemen Austin Barbar (6-7, 300, Jacksonville Trinity Christian) and Jake Slaughter Jake Slaughter 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Ocala Trinity Catholic | 2021 FL (6-4, 300, Ocala Trinity Catholic) and several other Top 100 prospects.
To check out the entire Final Top 100 Plus listing, click here:
https://prepredzone.com/2021/02/updated-2021-florida-rankings/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.