As nearly 300 qualified high school seniors came to Miami Gardens on Saturday, it was evident that playing football and getting an education was very important.
For area high school coaches, making their way to St. Thomas University for the now annual Orange Bowl Football Showcase was very important.
While many showed for the Friday night coaching social, others also came to the event on Saturday to talk with coaches and support their players.
Tom Caporale (Miami Dr. Krop), Gene Chew (Miami Ferguson), Gerald Cox (North Miami), Richard Dunbar (Fort Lauderdale), Brian McCartney (Pembroke Pines West Broward), Charles McCrae (Hollywood South Broward), Rex Nottage (Coconut Creek North Broward Prep), Rodney Rumph (Miramar Everglades), Quenten Short (Sunrise Piper), Pierre Senatus (Miami Southridge) and Alex Terry (Miami Beach) as well as assistant coaches from several other schools came to support and sell their prospects.
“I wouldn’t miss something like,” Dr. Krop head coach Tom Caporale explained. “The theme of this Saturday as college coaches actually watching these young men live and not just from a video that is five months old. This event should be held everywhere in the country.”
Caporale was not alone. Fellow coaches, players and parents felt the same way as they came from all over the state.
“My son really wants to play football in college and get some of it paid for,” April Tanner said. “We came from Palm Beach County to get him in front of the college coaches and anyone else who could help.”
Broward County prospects came – such as Iva Hayes (DB, Miramar Everglades), Patrick Darelus (DB, Deerfield Beach), Elijah Plaisir (DB, Hollywood South Broward), Jashun Lindsay (DL, Pembroke Pines Flanagan), John Alcime (Fort Lauderdale), Eric Campbell (S, Pompano Beach), Reginald Haugabook (WR, Davie Nova) and Aidan Baldwin (DB/WR, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson).
Other Broward County prospects trying to turn heads included Shawn Williams (RB, Plantation), Jude Roman (OL, Pembroke Pines West Broward), Zachary Tanelus (DB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna), Bradley Merard (DL, Cooper City), Tucker Jean (DL, Parkland Douglas), Jalyn Jackson (DE, Fort Lauderdale), Joshua Pontigo (LB, Cooper City), Gabriel Lenamon (LB, Parkland Douglas), Matthew Mejia (OL, Davie Western), Michael Kinghorn (OL, South Plantation), Danny Maitlen Jr. (OL, Hollywood South Broward), Amer Ellis (QB, Plantation), Malachi Clarke (QB, Pembroke Pines Charter), Michael Settles (RB, Coral Springs Taravella), Kaid Muhammad (S, South Plantation), Devan Lamar (S, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan), Jason Bourciquot (WR, Pembroke Pines Charter) and Antwon Clark Jr. (WR, Coral Springs Coral Glades) to mention just a few that are looking.
Miami-Dade also was well represented with Elijah Smith (DB, Miami Carol City), Elijah Douyon (DB, South Miami), Jaheim Haughton (DB, Miami Dr. Krop), Jefferson LaFontant (North Miami Beach), Kareem Maycock (LB, Miami Northwestern), Darryl Doctor (OL, Miami Palmetto), Tony Taylor (QB, South Miami), Isaiah King-Chery (RB, Miami High), Lemmie Faulk (RB, Miami Norland) and Mark Wilder (Doral Academy).
Also, Miami-Dade had others such as Stefan St. Jean (North Miami Alonzo Mourning), Jaylan Nelson (WR, Hialeah American), Michael Duran (WR, Miami Christopher Columbus), Cory Wilkerson (RB, Miami-Dade Christian), Jonathan Dayes (DL, Miami Ferguson), Christopher Ramirez (LB, Somerset Academy Silver Palms), Nicholas Rodriguez (LB, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman) and linebacker Angel Gonzalez (Westland Hialeah).
Miami-Dade also boasted Cornelius Colzie (Athlete, Miami Westminster Christian), Cesario Beruvides (RB/LB, Miami Braddock), Diego Diaz (S, Miami Sunset), Kameron Lee (WR, Somerset South Homestead), Jabari Lewis (WR, Homestead South Dade), Cameron Owens (WR, Miami Southridge) and Tyreese Clerveau (WR, Hialeah Mater Academy) to name a just a few of the many gifted seniors in the county.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ORANGE BOWL SENIOR FOOTBALL SHOWCASE
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: February 28, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For the past 53 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..