MIAMI GARDENS, Florida - From a season-opening road loss to power Butler University (Indiana) right through to the five games they won to end the year, this past season was indeed special for head coach Bill Rychel and his St. Thomas University football team.
The Bobcats finished 9-2, narrowly missing the NAIA playoffs, but sent a message that this young program has arrived and will stand toe-to-toe with any team on their competitive schedule.
While they fell short of their goal, what happened in 2022 was prospects across the Sunshine State had the chance to see what this team was all about, and on Wednesday, it all started to pay off.
Finishing with one of the top recruiting classes in school history, National Signing Day 2023 was something that will certainly pave the way for a future that will see this program continue to rise in the conference and across the country.
The Bobcats truly made an impact in south Florida – especially in Miami-Dade and Broward with several new faces coming aboard.
STRIKING GOLD IN BROWARD COUNTY
With a huge emphasis put on recruiting south Florida, this year showed how much work the coaching staff put in to attract some quality talent.
Among the local prospects to sign on Wednesday included some Broward County standouts like Plantation American Heritage offensive lineman Joey Colosi, a 6-0, 285-pounder who was looked at by several schools, but made his decision to stay home and continue to build STU.
Colosi was not alone. This team got stronger in Broward County with the addition of offensive linemen Kodee Soto (Hollywood Hills) and Tyler Hunt (Davie Western), who also plays on the defensive side of the ball.
Other offensive players to sign were standout receivers Walter Parrish (Coconut Creek Monarch), Jason Bourciquot (Pembroke Pines Charter), Symeon Plante (Davie Nova), Tyrique Gordon (Coral Springs), Brandon Armenteros (Pembroke Pines West Broward) and Justin McFarland (Davie Nova). The Bobcats also signed under-the-radar Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson running back Jaelyn Thomas and Coconut Creek kicker Jeffrey Hernandez.
On defense, STU did real well in Broward County with defensive linemen Daryl Pauling (Coral Springs), under-the-radar Joseph Aquino (Sunrise Piper), Nehemiah “Neo” Larry (Hollywood McArthur), and Jeremiah Denis and Jefferson Edmond from Coral Springs.
There were linebackers Tyrese Gordon (Coral Springs) and Eddrick Arnold (Sunrise Piper), and defensive backs Aundra Arterberry (Coconut Creek) and John St. Phard (Hollywood McArthur).
MIAMI-DADE HAD PLENTY OF TALENT
Once again, this year, Miami-Dade was stacked with talent and the Bobcats came with some quality prospects such as Benjamin Betancourt (Miami True North Classical Academy, OL), Aaron Bofill (Hialeah Goleman, RB), Shawn Carrero (Miami Ferguson, WR), Jamari Cooley (Miami Dr. Krop, OL), Dieutriche Exantus (Miami Central, LB), Manny Fraga (Miami Christopher Columbus (LS), David Garcia (Miami Braddock, Athlete/QB) and Miami Christopher Columbus defensive lineman Derrick Hart.
Miami-Dade players also heading to Miami Gardens will be Geno Lubin (Hialeah Goleman, WR), Kwali Peterson (Hialeah American, WR), Mario Pinera (Hialeah Goleman, FB), Victor Pino (Miami Palmetto, OL), Jake Rodriguez (Miami Christopher Columbus, OL), Allain Sorol (Hialeah, OL) and Matthew Stewart (Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, OL).
There were also a number of state of Florida prospects as well as out-of-state standouts that we will profile during the off-season.
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: February 1, 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..