MIAMI GARDENS – Weeks before the start of Varsity Sports Media Football Days, one date was circled on the calendar. Friday, August 5th was to be that day when some of the best high school football prospects and teams would flock to St. Thomas University.
Welcome to Miami-Dade County, where the athletes and coaches define this area as the true hotbed for football prospects in the country.
When VSN planned out three days in south Florida, it was all about Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade County, and the three stops certainly did not disappoint.
Three-time defending state champion Miami Central with first year head coach Jube Joseph came out. So did Miami Northwestern and veteran head coach Max Edwards. Legendary head coach Tim “Ice” Harris and his Miami Booker T. Washington Tornadoes made their way to the media event.
It was a day to showcase every team in the #305, but it was also an opportunity for the media and the many fans watching the live stream to see Miami Palmetto and head coach Mike Manasco, Miami Christopher Columbus and head coach Dave Dunn.
This was about the star players as well. Prospects such as recent University of Florida commitment Andy Jean as well as quarterback Taron Dickens and running back Jamari Ford (Northwestern), Miami Hurricane commits Frankie Tinilau and Dairo Melendez Jr. (Miami Immaculate and LaSalle) and Robby Washington (Palmetto), standout defensive lineman Ruben Bain, FIU commitment Keyone Jenkins and Lamar Seymour (Miami Central) and Miami Belen Jesuit juniors Gavench Marcelin and Khamani Alexander, and sophomore defensive lineman Davion Dixon.
Other prospects on hand were Christopher Columbus defensive back Ahmere Foster, Miami Booker T. Washington receiver Xavier Irvin, South Dade receiver Jabari Lewis, Miami Beach brothers Ricky & Mitch Joseph, South Miami’s Levy Miller, Monsignor Pace junior linebacker Vincent Shavers, Westland Hialeah senior receiver Keon Adderly and junior defensive back Jamari Howard.
THEY CAME OUT TO SHINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
While those marquee schools certainly grabbed much of the attention, the day also belonged to programs such as Miami St. Brendan (Coach Steve Smith), South Miami (Coach Arties Knight), Miami True North Classical Academy (Coach Greg Laffere), Miami Ferguson with longtime (20 years) head coach Gene Chew.
The event also saw Miami Monsignor Pace with first year head coach Anthony Walker Sr., veteran head coach Frank Rojas and his Doral Reagan Bison, Westland Hialeah (Joe Gross), Somerset Silver Palms (Javi Valdes), Doral Academy (Eddie Delgado), Miami Varela (Coach Patrick Ledan), Miami Beach (Coach Alex Terry), Mourning (first year Coach John Downs), South Dade (Coach Nate Hudson), Miami Norland (Coach Daryle Heidelburg), Hialeah (first year Coach Tony Smith) and Southwest Miami first year head coach Taj Marshall.
Somerset South Homestead (first year Coach Terron Colson), Miami Sunset (Coach Mandrell Nickle), Miami Belen Jesuit (Coach Don Chaney Sr.), Coral Gables (Coach Frank Welsh), Hialeah Barbara Goleman (Coach Ariel Cribero) and Miami Archbishop Carroll and veteran head coach Jorge Zagales also took part.
The day saw schools like Hialeah American (Coach Tim Neal), Miami Coral Park with first year head coach Vernon Wilder III, North Miami with first year head coach Gerald Cox, Miami Carol City (Coach Dorrean James), Miami Westminster Christian and first year head coach James Callier, and Miami Dr. Krop (Coach Tommy Caporale) made the most of the event. So did Coach Helder Valle and Miami Immaculata LaSalle and first year Miami Southridge head coach Pierre Senatus.
LOOKING FOR FULL ATTENDANCE NEXT YEAR
While there were several programs that attended, some did not attend.
Programs such as Florida Christian, Hialeah Gardens, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, Hialeah Miami-Lakes, Homestead, Miami Braddock, Miami Coral Reef, Miami Dade Christian, Miami Edison, Miami Gulliver Prep, Miami High, Miami Ransom Everglades and North Miami Beach need to really think of their kids and the experience that they could have had.It is all about the student/athletes, and that is the bottom line!
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2023-2026. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects
MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD TRANSFERS. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-continues-in-miami-dade-broward
TRACKING SOUTH FLORIDA FOOTBALL TEAMS. https://larryblustein.com/news/tracking-south-florida-2022
For the past 52 years, we have spent plenty of 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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..