Standouts: Manny Diaz Football Camp

I headed down to <strong>Coral Gables </strong>to take in the Manny Diaz Football Camp at the <strong>University of Miami. </strong>The individual camp showcased nearly 250 prospects across various positions. Here are some of my observations over the three hour session. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50165" first="Fernando" last="Mendoza"]</strong> - <em>Miami Columbus</em> I thought 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="50165" first="Fernando" last="Mendoza"] was one of the better quarterbacks I witnessed during morning drills. The 6-foot-4 1/2, 208-pound signal caller looked fluid with his drop back footwork while squaring his body in motion for a quick release of the football. Mendoza looked very methodical through his reads and throws a tight spiral. He has big hands and was able to hit his receivers with precision. Moreover, Mendoza has a nice touch on intermediate and deep ball routes. His arm strength allows him to hit these targets with confidence. Along with his 4.95 GPA; Mendoza translates as a smart decision maker on the gridiron. This is concurrent with his mobility outside of the pocket and overall high release point. I think this is one of his advantages as a pro style quarterback. Mendoza threw for 13 touchdowns and 1086 yards while recording a 71 percent completion rate last season. All of those numbers resulted in a quarterback record of 6-0 as a junior. The 3-star recruit has been offered by <strong>Bryant,</strong> <strong>Lehigh</strong>, <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> and <strong>Yale</strong>. You can view his highlights by clicking <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12914804/Fernando-Mendoza">here</a>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128600" first="Ryan" last="Mickow"] -</strong> <em>St. Thomas Aquinas</em> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128600" first="Ryan" last="Mickow"] looked stout during agility drills in the early part of the session. The 6-foot-5 3/4, 299-pound offensive guard showed off his athleticism by running in-between ground equipment with ease. Mickow glided in and out of breaks while staying vertically sound to the resting point. He showed great technique and has a strong lower body in his movement. Mickow has a 78.5 inch wingspan and 8.5 inch hands. He holds offers from <strong>Maryland</strong>, <strong>Miami,</strong> <strong>Mississippi</strong> and <strong>Syracuse</strong>. Mickow holds a 3.71 GPA in the classroom. Check out his highlights by clicking <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8722129/Ryan-Mickow">here</a>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50190" first="Donovan" last="Giles"]</strong> - <em>Viera High School</em> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="50190" first="Donovan" last="Giles"] was a noticeable prospect in the wide receiver group. He looked aggressive getting off the line of scrimmage and out of his initial break. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound Giles is a solid target that can pinpoint the football out of the air. Moreover, Giles can use his frame to create separation and catch the football at its apex. I think he can be a deadly threat near the sideline for 50/50 balls. The 3-star recruit runs a 4.58 40 and holds a 3.75 GPA at the <strong>Melbourne</strong> area school. Click <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11432254/5fc8f705ff03540140936918">here</a> to view his junior highlight tape. He has been offered by <strong>FIU</strong>, <strong>FAU, Navy </strong>and <strong>Army</strong>. <strong>Tavin Ward</strong> - <em>North Fort Myers/Palmetto Prep</em> 2022 Tavin Ward looked superb on the outdoor practice facility during camp. The 6-foot-1 defensive back deflected passes and positioned himself well on coverage assignments. Moreover, his size is ideal to play as a cover corner. Ward also has great speed (4.5 50) to coast alongside his matchup or use it to recover when necessary. He has all the qualities of a lock down defender from what I witnessed. You can check out his highlights by clicking <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11432254/5fc8f705ff03540140936918">here</a>. He was just offered a scholarship to <strong>Youngstown State University</strong>. <strong>Sebastian Grafmyre</strong> - <em>Ida Baker</em> 2022 Sebastian Grafmyre looked very crisp running routes and getting out of his breaks. He is a 6-foot-2 target that also plays safety for the Bulldogs. I like his vertical and ability to track down balls through the air. Grafmyre runs a 4.59 40 and seemed to really accelerate when the ball was in his direction. Grafymyre also plays baseball and basketball. I think he can use a lot of different qualities on the field as a three-sport athlete. In particular, his vertical and ability to locate the football. You can check out his highlights by clicking here. <em><strong>For any South Florida Prep Redzone news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23</strong></em>