With spring ending this past week and summer camps and 7-on-7 events, there are going to be several prospects looking to get some exposure.
As we continue to do this summer – as we did all off-season – we get out and watch prospects to see which athletes are not getting the spotlight they deserve.
Because south Florida is so loaded with football talent, it is never a reality to see and promote every prospect – no matter what level they perform at.
If you are a football player and have taken the time to make the sport a priority in the summer, you are definitely someone who wants to play this game after high school, and yes, there is a place for you to get an education and follow your football dreams.
We see so many football prospects live during the course of a year - because these young men work hard and deserve their share of the spotlight. A spotlight they would never receive from some of the other recruiting outlets, who focus on the stars.
One of the features we will bring you during the summer is a look at the positions – in every class in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties – that deserve a mention to put themselves on the radar.
Today, we bring you some defensive backs to keep an eye on. Some you may have heard about, while others are out there for the first time.
Every season, this region of the country produces more elite defensive secondary performers than any other place, and here are some of those to keep an eye on.
Class of 2022 rising seniors feature Khalil Anthony (Pembroke Pines Flanagan), Jerry Brawley (Miami Southridge), Jaylin Coleman (Fort Lauderdale Dillard), Norris Crawford (Miami Carol City), Jael Cuellar (Miami Northwestern), Jamari Downing (Fort Lauderdale Stranahan), Tonio Evans (Homestead Somerset Academy) and gifted Carol City standout Wayne Favors are a few who will turn heads. So will Cornelius Fuller (Fort Lauderdale Dillard), Mervens Jean-Pierre (Miramar), Owen Noel-Jeune (Coral Springs), Stephen Landers (Fort Lauderdale Dillard).
Also in that group are impressive Amarian Louis (Miami Southridge), Marky Mallary (Homestead South Dade), Dominic Mathis (Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy), Anjulius Minor (Miami Northwestern), Kishaun Mintz (South Miami), Nicolas Palaez (Doral Academy), Justin Rodriguez (South Miami), Rafael Romero (South Miami), Jamari Sharpe (Miami Northwestern), Avonte Smith (Fort Lauderdale Dillard) and Somerset Academy’s Shawn Smith and Julien Valerio.
UNDERCLASSMEN ARE STARTING EARLY
With college coaches now getting a chance to watch many of these athletes here in June, there is an opportunity for the underclassmen to jump on the radar screen.
Among those are emerging star Dwight Bootle (Miami Palmetto), who we have been on since his youth days. Also, Nicholas Dou (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), Willard Ferrell (Miami Florida Christian), fast-rising Mark Gay Jr. (Miami Palmetto), Jeffrey Jones (Hollywood McArthur) and Tyson Lopez (Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna) are also solid.
The 2023 class will also roll out impressive playmakers such as Jaden Outar (Miami St. Brendan), Tre’ Rigby (Miramar), Jamil Tucker (Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons) and talented Nazir Ward (Miami Northwestern).
As solid is the 2023 class, the group of defensive backs in the Class of 2024 are trying to get noticed and are also impressing this off-season. Players such as Dylan Celeide (Hialeah Goleman), Sean-Patrick Dulcio (Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna), Jayden Dunbar (Miami Palmetto), Ben Hanks Jr. (Doral Academy), Ben Joseph (Flanagan), Amale Sanders (Miami Gulliver Prep), Frank Watts (Miami Coral Reef) and Jaheim Williams (Miramar) have already started to turn heads.
Remember, we will continue to promote ALL prospects in south Florida – and not just the athletes everyone already knows about!
For the past 51 years, we have spent time going from games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events. We will remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein- SFHSports) and Twitter (@SFHSSports - @larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..