DeLand Learned A Lot From The 2024 Season
In this article:
When veteran football coach Rick Darlington and his football team attended the Central Florida Media Day last month at Seminole State College in Heathrow, they spoke about what was learned from a frustrating 2024 season.
What the Bulldogs learned was if they were going to be a force in Class 7A, they would have to be much more consistent after advancing to the state playoffs, only to drop an opening-round game against eventual state runner up Lake Mary.
This is a team that began the season 4-1, but lost five of the final six and finished 0-3 in the district.
With some quality talent coming back, this off-season saw this team work hard and attend several events that gave the players a chance to mature and get better.
Heading into the 2025 season, which starts this week with the pre-season, there is a feeling that some of the things that went wrong a year ago could change for the better this year.
DeLand Bulldogs
HEAD COACH: Rick Darlington
DISTRICT: 2-7A
2024 RECORD: 5-6
2025 SCHEDULE
8/22 – @Madison County
8/29 – New Smyrna Beach
9/5 – Merritt Island
9/12 – @Appling County, Georgia
9/19 – @Deltona
9/26 – @Port Orange Spruce Creek
10/3 – Daytona Beach Mainland
10/10 – Flagler Palm Coast
10/24 – @Orange City University
Here are some of the prospects who joined Coach Darlington at Seminole State College in Heathrow for Central Florida Media Days:
2026 – Ladamion Bletcher, S/RB, 5’11, 180 – 3.0 GPA. 2 Sport athlete. Here is a two-way performer that will be huge for this program as a weapon who can do so many things. As a sunning back, he can not only standout as a line from scrimmage running back but also catch the ball out of the backfield which is huge for this offense.
2026 – Marceles Carey Marceles Carey 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR DeLand | 2026 FL , Slot, 5’11, 165 – 3.5 GPA. 3 Sport Athlete. With offers from schools such as Jacksonville State, Western Carolina and Carson Newman, this quality talent made the most of his versatility last season with 638 yards rushing and 628 receiving yards on the offensive side of the ball.
2028 – Taihj Moore, RB, 5’11, 172. Already one of the top sophomores in Florida – with schools such as UCF, Miami, Florida, Syracuse and West Virginia watch him, he will try and duplicate over 1,300 yards rush and 22 touchdowns. This is a young man that is indeed the real deal and is another of those young prospects that this team will roll out this season.
2027 –
Gardner Nordman
Gardner
Nordman
6'2" | 195 lbs | QB
DeLand | 2027
FL
, QB, 6’3, 202. Coming off a solid sophomore season where he had 1,655 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also added 188 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. Another of the many players who had a very successful off-season, attending a number of events to compete and get better.
2027 – Lane Roberts Lane Roberts 5'8" | 195 lbs | RB Clearwater Calvary Christian Academy | 2026 FL , LB, 6’2, 220 – 3.9 GPA. Track & Field. One of the fast-rising defensive prospects in the central Florida region. Someone who is athletic and will be a vital piece for this program.
Statewide Coverage Daily. https://prepredzone.com/florida/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.
COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! Floridakids1@aol.com.
