When it comes to high school football in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, it is not uncommon for freshmen to make an impact.
For as long as anyone can remember, ninth graders have found a place on the varsity roster and have come through against top competition.
With youth football in south Florida always among the most competitive and talented anywhere in the country, prospects have an opportunity to play a key role as soon as they arrive in high school. It has been like that for a number of years.
With prospects like Malachi Toney and Neimann Lawrence being so dominant at the youth level, it was only a matter of time that both made a difference as soon as they put their high school uniform on.
This year, once again, there are so many elite ninth graders in the Class of 2029 who have had their opportunity to shine during the season – grabbing the spotlight almost immediately.
The opportunity to get a chance to help teams win districts or qualify for the post season, there were several who had the opportunity, in their first season, to get to the state playoffs.
While several had the opportunity to taste that post season football, there are several who are still playing.
Here are a few of those talented freshmen that jumped into the spotlight in 2025:
Evans Branch, DE, 6’5, 195, Miami Ransom Everglades.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/23318095/Evans-Branch
Geloni Brown, WR/DB, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/26787768/Geloni-Brown
Richard Guilbaud, RB, 5’10, 210, Hialeah – 3.5 GPA.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/26913286/Richard-Guilbaud
Aydin Hall, LB, 5’11, 205, Miami Gulliver Prep – 3.7 GPA.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/23634551/aydin-hall
Trayvon Johnson, Athlete/RB, 5’6, 145, Miami Booker T. Washington.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/27177417/Trayvon-Johnson?
Victor Latimore, LB, 6’0, 185, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/26644678/Victor-Latimore
Malik Leonard, QB, 6’0, 170, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – 4.0 GPA.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/25428037/Malik-Jeremiah-Leonard
Darius Little, OL, 6’3, 270, Davie Western – 4.0 GPA.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/23405273/Darius-Little
Javian “Champ” Norwood, WR/Athlete, 5’10, 160, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons – 4.1 GPA.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/22058225/Javian-Norwood
Jeffrey O’Neal Jr., Athlete, 6’2, 175, Plantation.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/28191957/Jeffrey-ONeal-jr
Deangelo Plese, QB, 5’7, 150, Davie Nova – 4.0 GPA.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/26649810/deangelo-plese
Kedarius Rhaney, WR/CB, Pembroke Pines West Broward.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/26388150/Rhaney-Kedarius
Khalil Thomas, DB, 5’11, 170, Miami True North.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/22386462/Khalil-Thomas
Emerson Walker, TE/DE, 6’6, 210, Coconut Creek North Broward Prep.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/25535746/Emerson-Walker
2025 Road To Miami & The Villages Charter. https://larryblustein.com/news/2025-road-to-miami-the-villages-charter
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