From the moment Pat Burrows took over the South Dade football program early last year, he was up against some stiff odds.
Known as a football coach who is built to turn programs around with his no-nonsense approach and knowledge of the game, inherited a team that had lost numerous players to transfer before he arrived in Homestead.
Burrows, who won at Southwest Miami and Miami Southridge as well as impact numerous athletes with the highly-successful South Florida Express (SFE) 7-on-7 team through the years, this is someone who knows the game, the athletes who play it and is someone who is geared to take programs and completely turn things around – and that is starting to happen with the Buccaneers.
While they finished 5-6 this past season, it wasn’t the first half of the year that he and his coaches worried about. It was the way they closed – with a state playoff game to finish his first year.
THIS IS A TEAM TO KEEP AN EYE ON
With several prestigious coaching hires and several young prospects learning the ropes, there is no doubt that this is a team that you may want to keep an eye on this coming off-season as they prepare for 2026.
With more student/athletes expected to join in the coming months, here is a look at some of the players that colleges will need to keep an eye on:
CLASS OF 2027
Tylin Brown, LB, 6’0, 215.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJD_N1noypU
Malachi Cruz, DB, 5’11, 180.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3nsfSfuK8
Damian Fisher, LB, 6’0, 225.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8fpcztrRF0
Elijah Francois, DB, 5’11, 190.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IUF3bczYVg
George Laster Jr., DL/H-Back, 5’10, 220.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeGRe51tBTI
Jerome Pendergrass, CB/WR, 5’11, 180.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nilYxW6lP8
Mykel Sam, K, 5’10, 190.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq5w6_LfUqc
Jayden Shropshire, RB/WR, 5’8, 180.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGxnYgBn6Mc
Laki Smith, WR, 5’9, 170.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PyPf_C6fWg
CLASS OF 2028
Ashton Adair, QB, 5’11, 180.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAcGYUNtBrY
Sheven Marshall, DE, 6’3, 225.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hv9YHzPSOo
Darryl Ward, DB, 5’11, 190.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHA5xdaeApY
CLASS OF 2029
Xavier Baker, DB, 6’2, 190.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt8FpPZxg4E
Uriah Gomez, DE, 6’1, 220.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9fcRVmInOQ
Weston Moehling, DB, 6’1, 190.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhEs3nlfCYs
Justin Shropshire, DB, 5’8, 170.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz3p_eAnNwA
SENIORS STILL HAVE NOWHERE TO GO
While the Classes of 2027, 2028 and 2029 are starting to jump onto the radar screen, several Class of 2026 seniors are still looking to play football at the next level.’
If you are college coach and are in need of some quality talent, check these young men out:
Walter Esters, DL, 6’0, 260.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWMHSV6GH-U
Michael “Tree” Harris, DE, 6’6, 220.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYOu9t3gClI
James Hope, WR/KR, 5’9, 170.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYA6x8JywwU
Martavious Jean-Baptiste, DB, 5’11, 180.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3k-r45usXI
Andrae Sierra, QB, 5’11, 180.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0-31qhRZQ4&t=8s
Ronnie Thornton III, S, 6’0, 190.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uxgKuYVuXE
SOUTH DADE BUCCANEERS
Miami Booker T. Washington, W 43-20
Homestead, W 31-0
Miami Norland, L 49-3
Miami Killian, L 43-10
Miami Christopher Columbus, L 42-34
Miami Palmetto, L 45-7
Miami High, W 45-0
North Miami Beach, W 25-22
Coral Gables, W 23-0
Miami Southridge, L 48-3
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, L 30-28
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 55 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..