While south Florida is known as one of the most talented regions in the nation for producing high school football talent, it can also work against the area as well.
Because there are so many prospects, finding a home for all of them is never easy – and that is sometimes a problem.
To compound the situation, the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) have also cut into players getting that exposure needed to at least get some kind of financial assistance to get a college education an play at the next level.
While playing a full a season used to be enough to get the exposure needed, something extra is always something that truly aids in the process. Enter the annual post season Private vs. Public All-Star Game.
For over a decade, Mario Smith and his TRU Foundation have stepped up to give south Florida student/athletes that one additional exposure.
On Saturday night, nearly 100 prospects gathered at Betty T. Ferguson Park for another edition of the game, and by the end, the Private team stood tall with a 22-8 win.
With the teams playing in front of media, colleges and scouting services, this well played event showcased some impressive talent – with Miami Gardens TRU Prep running back Clay Thevenin stepping up with a huge game and taking home the Offensive MVP and Belle Glade Glades Central linebacker Casey Felton Jr., coming up big all game and taking home the Defensive MVP award.
Several south Florida football players enjoyed the week of practice and made their final high school game very special.
“This is an annual game that really helps many of these players get that one final chance to have some more film to send to players,” Smith explained. “In the past, this game was a forum for many prospects to live their dream and play at the next level while getting a college education.”
A game like this is a perfect opportunity for smaller colleges to fill their rosters for the upcoming years. Because of their limited budget it is never easy to get to every game and see every player, but this all-star game opens some new avenues.
In addition to Thevenin and Felton Jr., here are some of the other players who took part on Saturday:
PRIVATE TEAM
Cole Baird (DE/TE, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian)
Marven Beauliere (DE, Miami Dade Christian)
Ahmir Britt (DE, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Chris Brown (WR, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy)
Kevin Charles (OL, Miami Dade Christian)
Tyreese Clerveau (WR, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Tyreke Clerveau (QB, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Za'Ron Collins (WR, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace)
Jorge Delanuez (RB, Doral Academy)
Rolando Diaz (LB, Doral Academy)
Josiah Fagan (SS, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Jayden Fouquet (OLB, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Avante Gibson (WR/QB, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Khorian Hepburn (LB, Hallandale)
Tyler Hunt IV (DL, Davie Western)
Nicholas Jacoby (SS, Doral Academy)
Jeremiah Jasper (OL, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Brian Jefferson (OLB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas)
Michael Kinsey (WR, Homestead Everglades Prep)
Lentz Lucien (DE/OLB, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy)
Jeremiah Makins (OLB, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons)
Adrian Marquez (S, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace)
Jayden Massey (LB, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons)
British Mitchell (WR, Davie Western)
Khairi Muhammad (CB, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Darien Parris (OL, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Frank Placencio (WR, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Orilda Roberts (WR, Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace)
Keiwan Smith (WR, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Carson Sylvestre (CB, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons)
Kennard Thomas (TE/DE, Miami Norland)
Dalan Thornton (CB, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Lazaro Valle (LB, Miami Gardens TRU Prep)
Richard Varona (RB, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Juan Victoria (OL, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy)
Jabari Vigille (Athlete, Hialeah Barbara Goleman)
Corey Wilkerson Jr. (WR, Miami Dade Christian)
PUBLIC TEAM
Sean Alexander (TE, Hialeah American)
Omari Allen (WR, Miami Dr. Krop)
Joseph Aquino (DL, Sunrise Piper)
Ian Baez (DL/OL, Hollywood Avant Garde)
Isaac Jean-Baptiste (OL, Hialeah Barbara Goleman)
Kevin Bingham Jr. (OL, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan)
Kisean Browne (S, Miami Dr. Krop)
Shemar Charles (OL, Plantation)
Jefferson Chrisme (OL, Miami Edison)
Jamari Cooley (OL, Miami Dr. Krop)
Tavales Curry (DL, Belle Glade Glades Central)
Jeremiah Denis (DL, Coral Springs)
Artravian Driver (LB, South Miami)
Amir Ellis (QB, Plantation)
Brandon Fice (DL, Hialeah American)
Norman Gadsden (DB, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan)
Nicholas Garcia (OL, Miami Dr. Krop)
Treyvion Gilbert (S/WR, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely)
Javon Gloster (DL, Miami Southridge)
Tyrese Gordon (LB, Coral Springs)
Tyrique Gordon (WR, Coral Springs)
Jaheim Haughton (DB, Miami Dr. Krop)
Torian Henley (LB/RB, Pahokee)
Maurice Hill (DL, Miami Springs)
Samuel Johnson (RB, Hialeah)
Donyo Josey (WR, Sunrise Piper)
Devan Lamar (Fort Lauderdale Stranahan)
Kyrell Logan (Athlete, South Miami)
Aiden Martinez (PK, Miami Norland)
Jaden Miller (RB, Miami Southridge)
Tylor Miller (DB, Miami Carol City)
Frederick Owens (DL, Hollywood Avant Garde)
Eldridge Pascal (WR, Hialeah Barbara Goleman)
Kwali Peterson (WR, Hialeah American)
Josh Pontigo (DL, Cooper City)
Lakendrick Riley (OL, Plantation)
Jeano Robinson (DB, Coconut Creek)
Samari Rogers (DB, Miramar)
Jaquan Russell (DL, Cooper City)
Edgar Smoak (OL, Miami Northwestern)
Davon Taylor (LB, Hialeah American)
Xavier Thompson (QB, Cooper City)
Anthony Torres (WR, Miami Sunset)
Andrew Vega (OL, Miami Coral Park)
O’Neal Webb (S/CB, Miami Dr. Krop)
Tyrell Williams (WR, Hollywood McArthur)
Kienaskia Workman (RB, Belle Glade Glades Central)
Jamarri Wright (WR, Coconut Creek)
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..