When it comes to recruiting prospects, colleges and universities across the country never stop evaluating and watching football talent in every class.
Many years ago, when the football season came to an end, recruiting was put on hold until spring. No longer.
Recruiting all classes 365 days a year is the landscape we are living in these days.
As the current senior class is certainly in the spotlight, juniors (2026), sophomores (2027) and freshmen are getting plenty of attention as college coaches build their database in this competitive world of trying to bring athletes onto their campus.
As we get the opportunity to see so many football players live, it gives us a huge advantage of seeing some of the best current and future talents, playing in some key games against quality talent that Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have long produced.
Today, we look at five local prospects who are turning heads and grabbing attention from fans, high school coaches, recruiting services and colleges from all over the nation.
2025 – Roderick “R.J.” Boynton, OLB/SS, 5-10, 185, Miami Gulliver Prep. When watching this talented prospect play, the first thing you notice is his ability to make plays. Among the state’s leaders in tackles, here is a gifted student/athlete that continues to keep the Raiders in games with his ability to contain the running games as well as the passing attack – from either the secondary or as an outside linebacker. In addition to his play on the football field, his 3.4 grade point average in the classroom is also quite impressive for college coaches who continue to watch his progress.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15203846/RJ-BOYNTON
2025 – Adrian Farrow, DL, 6-4, 250, Miami Norland. While so many prospects continue to receive attention for the play on the defensive line, this may be the true heart and soul for a Vikings’ defense that is one of the best in Florida. He is quick off the ball and creates mismatches up front against any offensive line like he has for the past two years. An FAU commitment, this is a difference maker that also gets it done in the classroom (3.0 GPA), adding to what he brings to the table. Continue to keep an eye on this big-time player!
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17641726/Adrian-Farrow
2027 – Anthony Jennings III, WR/Athlete, 6-0, 165, Fort Lauderdale Dillard. From the time he stepped on the field a year ago during his freshman season there was no doubt that this was a special prospect. He is skilled and instinctive as a football player who combines his many talents with 10.8 (100 meters) speed. Whether as a receiver or a kick returner, he is someone you need to continue to watch as one of the top prospects in his class.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18231676/Anthony-Jennings-III
2027 – Nicholas Lennear, WR/Athlete, 5-10, 165, Miami Northwestern. Fron youth football straight to the varsity level, here is one of the top prospects in the nation. His ability to make big time catches against elite defensive backs has some of the top programs watching his progress every game. He is not only a game-breaking receiver, but as a kick returner Lennear has shown that he can turn a game around in an instant. One of the major talents in this country.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/19539314/Nicholas-Lennear
2026 – Omari McNeal, QB, 6-0, 155, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. Make no mistake here is a major talent in the junior class. Someone who is already considered as one of Florida’s fast rising talents who just doesn’t get it done at camps and combines in a T-shirt and shorts, but his play in important game conditions has drawn praise from opponents and college coaches who continue to watch him raise the bar. He is indeed a catalyst who has helped the Tigers remain in the mix for post-season play. His work in the classroom is also an enhancement during the recruiting process.
TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16403448/66f86367b90df450f5f74e01
MONDAY FLORIDA FOOTBALL, October 21
Coral Springs Charter 35, Coral Springs Taravella 0
Hollywood Hills 36, Hallandale 29
Miami Central 54, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 0
North Miami 29, Miramar Everglades 20
Pembroke Pines Charter 26, Cooper City 14
Pembroke Pines West Broward 37, Miami Beach 6
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 54 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..
By Dave Brousseau
BCAA Writer
CORAL SPRINGS – Bianca Gibbs of Goral Glades and John Buono of Western now have something in common.
After Monday each can call themselves champions of the annual BCAA Damian Huttenhoff Golf Tournament played Monday at the Country Club of Coral Springs.
Gibbs, the Jaguars junior, shot the lowest round of the one-day tournament, boy or girl, with a 4-under 66. She finished five strokes better than second place finisher Elisa Hernandez of Douglas, who shot a 1-over 71.
In a more dramatic finish for the boys, it took an extra playoff hole to determine the winner.
Buono, a senior and four-year player for the Wildcats needed an extra hole with against Jason Andre of St. Thomas Aquinas to determine the boy’s individual champ.
Buono, who averages 37.9 for nine holes this season, drove the 271-yard, par 4, 10th hole. He would birdie the hole to win the title.
“He just has a complete game,” said Western coach Jeff Ramsden. “He’s great off the tee. He plays each shot individually and keeps his composure for his swings to work.”
Douglas won the boys team title with a final score of 297, two strokes better than Deerfield Beach. Douglas also won the girls team title, outdistancing second place St. Thomas Aquinas by 28 strokes.
Boys
Team scores
1. Douglas 297; Deerfield Beach 299.
Individual results
1. John Buono (WEST) 70; 2. Jason Andre (STA) 70; 3. Ignacio Hurtado (CB) 71; 4. Brooks Carter (CGL) 71; 5. Jesse Rohal (FLAN) 71; 6. Julien Paruas (CM) 72, Logan Wilson (WEST) 72; 8. Josh Lieberman (MSD) 73, Easton Viveros (DB) 73, Carson Meredith (MSD) 73; 11. Joe Hendren (DB) 74, Evan Mazanec (MSD) 74, Michael Salvanto (WEST) 74; 14. Joey Gilden (STA) 75, Aarron Ghosh (CB) 75; 16. Kolton Viveros (DB) 76, Jack Nelson (DB) 76, Emilio Katsilometes (CB) 76, Justin Laing (CGL) 76, Jacob Thomspon (COOP) 76.
Girls
Team scores
1. Douglas 329; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 357.
Individual results
1. Bianca Gibbs (CGL) 66; 2. Elisa Hernandez (MSD) 71; 3. Yool Her (FLAN) 72; 4. Shannon Glenn (CGL) 78; 5. Valentina Hurtado (CB) 79, Sutton Oosterhuis 79, Maya Khiyani (PPC) 79; 8. Giuliana Walker (CM) 82, Abigail Jones (STA) 82; 10. Taylor Berry (EVER) 85; 11. Natalia Conte (CSC) 87, Kate Mackie (CG) 87; 13. Caitlyn Josey (PB) 88, Sophie Alcala-Marks (MSD) 88; 15. Alyssandra Esteves (STA) 89.
By Dave Brousseau * BCAA Writer
CORAL SPRINGS – Bianca Gibbs of Goral Glades and John Buono of Western now have something in common.
After Monday each can call themselves champions of the annual BCAA Damian Huttenhoff Golf Tournament played Monday at the Country Club of Coral Springs.
Gibbs, the Jaguars junior, shot the lowest round of the one-day tournament, boy or girl, with a 4-under 66. She finished five strokes better than second place finisher Elisa Hernandez of Douglas, who shot a 1-over 71.
In a more dramatic finish for the boys, it took an extra playoff hole to determine the winner.
Buono, a senior and four-year player for the Wildcats needed an extra hole with against Jason Andre of St. Thomas Aquinas to determine the boy’s individual champ.
Buono, who averages 37.9 for nine holes this season, drove the 271-yard, par 4, 10th hole. He would birdie the hole to win the title.
“He just has a complete game,” said Western coach Jeff Ramsden. “He’s great off the tee. He plays each shot individually and keeps his composure for his swings to work.”
Douglas won the boys team title with a final score of 297, two strokes better than Deerfield Beach. Douglas also won the girls team title, outdistancing second place St. Thomas Aquinas by 28 strokes.
Boys
Team scores
1. Douglas 297; Deerfield Beach 299.
Individual results
1. John Buono (WEST) 70; 2. Jason Andre (STA) 70; 3. Ignacio Hurtado (CB) 71; 4. Brooks Carter (CGL) 71; 5. Jesse Rohal (FLAN) 71; 6. Julien Paruas (CM) 72, Logan Wilson (WEST) 72; 8. Josh Lieberman (MSD) 73, Easton Viveros (DB) 73, Carson Meredith (MSD) 73; 11. Joe Hendren (DB) 74, Evan Mazanec (MSD) 74, Michael Salvanto (WEST) 74; 14. Joey Gilden (STA) 75, Aarron Ghosh (CB) 75; 16. Kolton Viveros (DB) 76, Jack Nelson (DB) 76, Emilio Katsilometes (CB) 76, Justin Laing (CGL) 76, Jacob Thomspon (COOP) 76.
Girls
Team scores
1. Douglas 329; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 357.
Individual results
1. Bianca Gibbs (CGL) 66; 2. Elisa Hernandez (MSD) 71; 3. Yool Her (FLAN) 72; 4. Shannon Glenn (CGL) 78; 5. Valentina Hurtado (CB) 79, Sutton Oosterhuis 79, Maya Khiyani (PPC) 79; 8. Giuliana Walker (CM) 82, Abigail Jones (STA) 82; 10. Taylor Berry (EVER) 85; 11. Natalia Conte (CSC) 87, Kate Mackie (CG) 87; 13. Caitlyn Josey (PB) 88, Sophie Alcala-Marks (MSD) 88; 15. Alyssandra Esteves (STA) 89.
By Dave Brousseau * BCAA Writer
SUNRISE – There’s always a first time for everything.
Thursday at the annual BCAA Cross Country Championships at Markham Park a pair of runners proved that.
Shynah Collins, an eighth grader from Dillard and Alejandro de Bastos, a senior from Pembroke Pines Charter each claimed the girls and boys individual titles.
De Bastos also led Pines Charter to the school’s first team title with 70 points outdistancing second place Taravella with 127 points. De Bastos’ time of 15:54.97 was also a personal best at Markham Park.
He finished second last year with a time of 16:30.24. His championship run was a first for a boys cross country runner.
Collins, a second-year runner at Dillard, is really a sprinter running cross country. She finished third in the Class 3A state track and field championships last season.
Her winning time of 18:54.18 outdistanced Gracie Finneran of St. Thomas Aquinas to help the Panther to a fourth straight cross-country title. The Panthers finished with 29 points, while Aquinas was second with 54 points.
“All the girls on the team are basically all sprinters,” said Dillard coach Davisson Gill. “Despite being young, we have experience and have a good shot to defend our state title.
The girls have bought into it. The biggest thing is getting to level they learn from the older kids. The learning curve is short to compete at a high level.”
Four other Dillard girls finished among the top 11 spots.
“This was an amazing experience for our runners,” said Pembroke Pines Charter coach Angeles de Bastos. “We always been close. Our guys deserved it this year with three seniors finishing in the top 10.
As for Alejandro de Bastos, he feels his time is precursor for things to come.
“I never ran this fast on this course,” said de Bastos. “I’m excited for what I could do on faster course. Today was a good work out.”
De Bastos also runs the 800 and 1600 distances races during the track season, finishing in second place in the 800 at last year’s state track championships in Class 3A.
2024 BCAA Cross Country Championships
(At Markham Park, Sunrise)
Boys’ team scores
1. Pembroke Pines Charter 70; 2. Taravella 127; 3. Dillard 133; 4. St. Thomas Aquinas 136; 5. Western 159; 6. Coral Springs 189; 7. Cypress Bay 204; 8. Cardinal Gibbons 236; 9. Flanagan 241; 10. West Broward 313.
Individual results
1. Alejandro de Bastos (PPC) 15:54.97; 2. Joushua Gammage (DILL) 16:07.47; 3. Jeffrey Belizaire (CS) 16:33.93; 4. Adam Stewart (PPC) 16:53.12; 5. Matthew Wykpisz (CS) 17:00.58; 6. Aiden Johnson (PPC) 17:14.26; 7. Nolan Alba (MSD) 17:19.72; 8. Malcolm Spence IV (FLAN) 17:22.21; 9. Prince Valbrun (NE) 17:22.71; 10. Deshawn Hamilton (DILL) 17:25.82; 11. Jeremiah Hollassie (STA) 17:28.59; 12. Guinn Sweet (CB) 17:27.81; 13. Bradford Jeoboham (BA) 17:31.77; 14. Brian Breaban (WEST) 17:38.97; 15. Lara Santiago (WEST) 17:39.60; 16. Dante Delagdo (DILL) 17:40.38; 17. Gustavo Perez (STA) 17:43.69; 18. Akeem Beckford (TARA) 17:47.40; 19. Gian Carlo De Bastos (PPC) 17:56.01; 20. Hector Rosa Malave (FLAN) 17:58.43; 21. David Lazo (SP) 18:00.30; 22. Elijah Vessella (TARA) 18:02.60; 23. Maxwell Helmie (CM) 18:03.81; 24. Mackenley Bonamy (BA) 18:05.44; 25. Craig Dennis (TARA) 18:06.26.
Girls’ teams scores
1. Dillard 29; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 54; 3. Cardinal Gibbons 106; 4. Coral Springs Charter 111; 5. Cypress Bay 145; 6. Douglas 175; 7. Pembroke Pines Charter 193; 8. Flanagan 245; 9. Taravella 281; 10. West Broward 285.
Individual results
1. Shynah Collins (DILL) 18:54.18; 2. Gracie Finneran (STA) 19:02.13; 3. Claire Chanon (CG) 19:23.76; 4. Miley Gill (DILL) 19:32.40; 5. Abigal Richards (DILL) 19:47.65; 6. Madeleine De Lacoste (COOP) 20:12.59; 7. Taylor Gold (STA) 20:18.82; 8. Peyton Williams (DILL) 20:29.49; 9. Carleigh Tripp (FTL) 20: 30.34; 10. Kendall Parrott (CSC) 20:33.63; 11. Kelly Greene (DILL) 20:47.03; 12. Rebecca Cardenas (STA) 20:48.30; 13. Charlotte Lee (STA) 20:51.55; 14. Allison Albrect (CG) 21:06.36; 15. Tory Gardiner (WEST) 21:24.77; 16. Latiah Gore (DILL) 21:4.69; 17. Lily Richardson (CSC) 21:51.29; 18. Alyson Thomas (CSC) 21:52.03; 19. Callie McKinney (CB) 22:03.08; 20. Olivia Higgins (CS) 22:07.03; 21. Angelica Cardenas (STA) 22:20.66; 22. Molly Murphy CG) 22:28.80; 23. Shamara Fenelon (BA) 22:33.18; 24. Madison West (CB) 22:35.21; 25. Isabella Tejeiro (CB) 22:35.87.
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Whether you like the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) Week or not, it did give us some matchups that would never have taken place.
Last week, every program that is a member of the GMAC had the chance to faceoff against another team from the same conference, and many results were indeed something that winners were excited to come away with.
Since its inception some four years ago, Miami Norland or Miami Central came away with the championship in 1 vs. 2.
Last Friday at Traz Powell Stadium, it was only fitting that the Rockets and Vikings took center stage as a game-long windy rain somewhat took a toll on both teams.
When the game was over, it was the 6-1 Rockets and head coach Jube Joseph that held the trophy up as the winners, 22-14.
While the games had no bearing on the state playoffs and district seeding, it turned out it helped shine a spotlight on how impressive football in south Florida truly is.
The Rockets pressured the Vikings and head coach Daryle Heidelberg all night – with University of Miami linebacker commit Ezekiel Marcelin coming up with four sacks and numerous key tackles.
In addition to the GMAC Week games, here is a look at how Week 9 unfolded – with more games on tap for today.
Coconut Creek 7, Miramar 0
Coconut Creek North Broward Prep 48, Coral Springs Charter 8
Coral Springs Coral Glades 35, Coral Springs Taravella 0
Davie Western 46, Weston Cypress Bay 0
Deerfield Beach Somerset Academy Key 34, Miami Country Day 28
Delray Atlantic 41, Deerfield Beach 8
Doral Academy 47, Boca Raton Spanish River 27
Doral Ronald Reagan 28, Miami Sunset 6
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 49, Boca Raton 0
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School 52, Hialeah ABF 6
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan 28, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson 7
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 44, Coconut Creek Monarch 6
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 19, Fort Myers Evangelical Christian 7
Greenacres Palm Beach Prep 28, Hialeah TRU Prep 10
Hialeah 31, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 0
Hialeah American 19, Miami Ferguson 8
Hialeah Gardens 5, Miami Dr. Krop 2
Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy Charter 23, Miami Archbishop Carroll 13
Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 56, Hollywood Avant Garde 0
Hollywood Hills 27, Pompano Beach 8
Miami Beach 57, North Miami Mourning 15
Miami Booker T. Washington 27, Miami Southridge 14
Miami Braddock 20, Miami Coral Park 0
Miami Carol City 20, Homestead 9
Miami Coral Reef 21, Southwest Miami 20
Miami Gulliver Prep 23, Miami Belen Jesuit 6
Miami Northwestern 23, Miami Christopher Columbus 12
Miami Palmer Trinity 7, Homestead Everglades Prep 0
Miami Palmetto 41, Miami Edison 24
Miami Ransom Everglades 40, Somerset South Homestead 6
Miami True North 27, West Palm Beach The King’s Academy 20
Miami Varela 13, South Miami 7
North Miami 2, Miami Killian 0
North Miami Beach 42, Miami Springs 6
Pembroke Pines Charter 22, Miramar Everglades 21
Pembroke Pines West Broward 56, Naples 19
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely 31, Fort Lauderdale Dillard 7
South Plantation 22, Cooper City 6
Sunrise Piper 14, Plantation 7
MONDAY, October 21
Cooper City at Pembroke Pines Charter, 6
Fort Lauderdale Stranahan at No. 2 Miami Central (Traz), 7
Hollywood Hills at Hallandale, 7
Miami Dr. Krop at Pembroke Pines Flanagan, 6
Miramar Everglades at North Miami (St. Thomas U), 7
No. 12 Pembroke Pines West Broward at Miami Beach, 3
Pompano Beach at Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy, 3
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 54 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..