If you follow what we do over the course of a year, you already know that we watch talent live.

While many gravitate toward the star-rated athletes, we prefer to cover every prospect – no matter what level they perform at.

During the course of a year, we are fortunate to see many prospects, locally and statewide, that college coaches have an interest in, and for that reason, that is why we do not just concentrate on just one group of football talent.

While we understand that there are some quality Class of 2024 seniors without a place to go, and 2025 juniors who are still trying to grab some of that spotlight, we also try and give the underclassmen, in 2026 (sophomores) and 2027 (freshman) some attention as well.

Today we bring you five freshmen who impacted their programs this past season – even helping to elevate them to the state championships.

Kenton Dopson III, CB/WR, 6-0, 175, Miami Norland. 3.0 GPA. If you were going to be a young player in 2023, the Vikings were probably the program to be a part of. Here is a future standout who has it all – on and off the playing field. Having the skill to lineup on either side of the ball helped him ease into the varsity this past season. Certainly someone you will want to keep an eye on.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/19435027/Kenton-Dopson-III

Ji’Koi Highsmith, DE, 6-1, 190, Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. Talk about making a splash in his first varsity team, this is one of those young men who was huge in the Maverick’s turnaround this past season. An aggressive pass rusher who also had instincts and athletic ability to stop the run and chase down the flow of the play. As he grows, this is a prospect that coaches will be talking about. Having a 4.72 GPA in the classroom will be a huge vehicle to the next level in a few years.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/20357665/JiKoi-Highsmith

Jayden Johnson, RB, 5-6, 150, Hollywood South Broward. If you watched this impressive talent play, it was no surprise why he ran for close to 1,000 yards for a team that won their first district title in nearly three decades and advanced to the state playoffs. Certainly, a back who has speed and toughness and will not go down on the first hit. Has a very bright future.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/19588383/Jayden-Johnson

Phillip Jones Jr., DE, 6-2, 190, Miami Immaculata LaSalle. Here is a very gifted talent that we brought you earlier in the year after watching him play. He is very instinctive and has the quickness and athletic ability to continue raising his stock. It also helps that he has amazing bloodlines. He is related to former Miami Carol City and FSU standout Willie Jones, who is a lineman trainer, and his father who played in the NFL.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18901929/Phillip-Jones-Jr

Amare Nugent, WR, 6-1, 180, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy. There’s a saying that those in recruiting say when evaluating talent and looking at prospects. “If you are good and can play the game, college coaches will find you no matter where you are.” With that said, as soon as you watch this gifted talent play, you are sold right away. His quickness off the ball and ability to make catches up close or extend the field will make this someone to keep an eye on – during the off season and into 2024.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18720223/Amare-Nugent

PHOTO COURTESY OF THECAMERAMANN.SPORTS

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

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..

It’s that time of year where the seniors who are headed to college have the opportunity to play in national all-star games.

While there are several of these all-star contests being held, it’s the Under Armour All-Star Game in Orlando (January 3, 2024) and the All-American (formerly the Army All-American contest) on January 7 in San Antonio, Texas that still receive the main TV exposure and much of the national media and fan website coverage.

Each year, the very best football talent from all over the country have the opportunity to head to these games, and this year, once again, Florida is well represented at both events.

Eleven athletes will be departing in the coming days to compete before many leave early for colleges and universities.

Here is a look at the Miami-Dade and Broward student/athletes selected to the games:

2024 Under Armour Game Roster

Cedrick Bailey, QB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (NORTH CAROLINA STATE). Winner of three straight state titles, this 6-6 standout will play his last game in high school before the home state crowd

Davi Belfort, QB, Davie Western (VIRGINIA TECH). While the future is indeed very bright, a late season injury kept this versatile performer from having the chance to lead the Wildcats to a state title.

Davion Gause, RB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (NORTH CAROLINA). Since his freshman season, here is someone who has helped to elevate the Lions as he was part of four state championship appearances for one of the nation’s best.

Ryan Mack, DB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (MIAMI). Make no mistake here is one of the nation’s best who follows in his father’s (Rod) footsteps and heads to Coral Gables to play for the Hurricanes.

Lawayne McCoy, WR, Miami Central (FSU). There are few better than this impressive two-way standout who came to play for the Rockets two years ago from Hollywood Avant Garde Academy. Will be an instant success for the Seminoles. He is that good!

Joshisa Trader, WR, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (MIAMI). While he was in the rather large shadow of his best friend, Jeremiah Smith, through much of his football career, here is easily one of the top recruits the Hurricanes landed. Big time receiver who can perform on defense and on special teams.

All-American Bowl

Jamari Howard, DB, Miami Norland (FSU). No matter where he has played throughout his high school career, here is one of the elite secondary performers that has it all. Headed to Tallahassee, you can guarantee that the Seminoles will be getting one of the best in the nation.

Michael Kern, P, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (TEXAS). Since he was a freshman, this is a special teams performer that had established himself as one of the best in the country. His ability to not only kick for average and height, but his accuracy helped him win several showcases throughout the years.

Zaquan Patterson, S, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (MIAMI). When asked who may be the closest to getting major playing time in this class for the Hurricanes, this is the name that continued to come up. Big time secondary player who has tremendous ball skills as well having the ability to hit like a linebacker. Extremely athletic and skilled.

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (OHIO STATE). What can you say that hasn’t already been said about the No. 1 player in the country? Fast, skilled, great size, smart and has once in a generation talent that has been on display for all four years, leading the Lions to three consecutive state title games. If he doesn’t hit the field right away for the Buckeyes, they are wasting a valuable year. He's three and done and in the first round of the NFL – if he stays healthy.

Dylan Stephenson, Edge, Miami Christopher Columbus (STANFORD). Since his freshman season at Miami Killian this was a standout who stepped to the front as a playmaker. He continued to make that impact with the Explorers and was a big part of the state title success the past two seasons. He also worked very hard in the classroom.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

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..

 It’s only fitting that the final high school football game of the year in south Florida would showcase the future and present.

Last Friday evening, Miami-Dade and Broward got together for a year-end all-star contest that attracted some of the best 8^th graders and high school seniors in the most fertile area for talent in the country – Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

With the #305 coming out on top in both games, it wasn’t about wins and losses on this evening at Monsignor Pace High School in Miami Gardens, what this was all about came down to celebrating the enormous talent that will head to high school – and of course – move on to the collegiate level.

The second annual Miami-Dade vs. Broward Battle For The Crib was made possible by Frank Tucker and Arvis Lawson. But have devoted their life to exposing and promoting talent in south Florida and fully understand why it’s so important to showcase these young men.

Tucker, a Davie Western graduate, and Lawson, who starred at Miami Central, continue to give back to their communities. Not only with the game that attracted several sponsors who stepped up, but also a year-round commitment to exposing these student/athletes to colleges and universities across the country.

“When you have the best high school football talent in the country, you don’t want to hide it,” Tucker said. “We annually produce talent that not only gets it done in college but check rosters around the NFL and you will see plenty of our own making a huge impact.”

With Miami Central star linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. winning the MVP, the Nebraska-bound standout was not the only player who shined on this evening. Players from FSU, UMass, FAU, Mississippi State, Toledo, South Dakota, Marshall, Georgia State, Oregon State, Florida, USF, Western Michigan, Brown, Vanderbilt and Bethune Cookman were also showcased as these athletes get ready to depart high school and showcase their skills nationally.

While there are still a few national all-star games to keep an eye on, this was an evening where these young men, at the eighth-grade level, and in their final year in high school took center stage.

For Miami Booker T. Washington quarterback Claudell Sherman, his season was cut short due to injury. Many felt that if the three year starter didn’t get hurt, the Tornadoes would have made a serious run in 2M.

Sherman, healthy again, dazzled the crowd with his athletic ability and left many in attendance believing that college coaches are missing out in a huge way by not getting this quality talent on campus – soon.

Sherman’s head coach Tim “Ice” Harris has been in Sherman’s corner from the beginning and made sure that as the co-head coach of the Miami-Dade team put his impressive player in the spotlight.

Like Sherman, Homestead linebacker Eduardo Nunez was also out to prove that he deserves to end up on some college campus this coming year.

A three-year starter, Nunez helped to lead the Broncos to the 3M state title game two consecutive years against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Other Miami-Dade County prospects that have impressed throughout their careers include Miami Norland receivers Isaiah Scott and Ivory Aikens and defensive tackle Germaine Carter Jr., who recently signed with Florida International University.

Carter, who came to Norland this past year after playing at Miami Carol City, is one of those prospects who figure to explode at the next level with his athletic ability, quickness, and strength.

Miami Central also made a huge impact in the game with FSU-bound receiver Lawayne McCoy, a Nat Moore Trophy finalist, and a ground of linemen who made the Rockets special.

For Will Rothmiller, Luke Moise, Albert Moise, and Teko Shoats, it was their final contest playing together up from on the offensive line.

Miami-Dade also featured Bowling Green University defensive back signee Kal El Pascal, Booker T. Washington running back Gerald Modest, Miami Killian DE Damien Gill and Miami Southridge kicker Gabriel Perez.

BROWARD COUNTY ALSO MAKES A STATEMENT

Even though they came out on the losing side, the Broward County team with Plantation American Heritage head coach Mike Smith also had some head turners.

One of the players that was impressive was Coconut Creek Monarch quarterback A.J. Hairston. Injured much of the season, this quality talent signed with UMass last week and what they are getting is someone who has the chance to be very special.

His teammates Gabriel Birnbaum (FAU) and offensive lineman Holden Zeltner (FAMU) are also going to be special – as will Weston Cypress Bay linebacker Ryan Geary, Dillard receiver Marcus Striggles, and Cardinal Gibbons’ linemen Nicholas Rodriguez (FIU) and Zack Boehly, who will be headed to East Carolina.

The game also attracted South Broward running back Chris Wheatley-Humphrey (University of Miami) and big-time kicking prospect Brandon Rabasco, who is headed to the University of Florida.

Broward’s talent also featured Shamar Meilke (DE, Miramar), Gavin Shepard (CB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna), Nate Jean (S, Davie Western), Keon Daceus (OL/DL, Coconut Creek), and Michael Brennan (OL, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna).

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK BETHEL

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

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..

If you have followed high school football recruiting in south Florida for any length of time, what happened on Wednesday should come as no surprise.

Once again Miami-Dade and Broward Counties were directly in the spotlight as National Signing Day, Part 1 took place with several prospects heading off to colleges throughout the country.

Because of the success the student/athletes have enjoyed through the years in college and beyond, so much attention has been paid to this area whenever pen is put to paper and the next chapter of their lives begins.

While the landscape of recruiting has changed greatly, those who are committing and signing with these schools are truly only for a year. With the Name Image & Likeness (NIL) fully taking over collegiate athletics, it’s the highest bidder that will win out each and every year.

College coaches are finding themselves not only recruiting the next class up, but also having to make sure that their current roster doesn’t shift from year to year.

The very fact that these young men do not have to sit out a year when transferring is not in place, this free for all will never stop and things will only get worse. You cannot blame it on the athlete – that wouldn’t be fair. The money that is being thrown around is tough to ignore and principals fly out the window.

With that said, here are 43 Miami-Dade and Broward prospects, rated among the Top 150 in the state, who will be headed to a college or university as soon as the first week of January:

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – OHIO STATE.

Armondo Blount, WR, Miami Central – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Zaquan Patterson, S, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Joshisa Trader, WR, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Jamari Howard, CB, Miami Norland – FSU.

Lawayne McCoy, WR, Miami Central – FSU.

Chance Robinson, WR, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Jordan Lyle, RB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Jacory Barney Jr., Athlete, Miami Palmetto – NEBRASKA.

James Madison II, WR, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.

Ryan Mack, S, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Cedrick Bailey, QB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – NORTH CAROLINA STATE.

Dylan Stephenson, Edge, Miami Christopher Columbus – STANFORD UNIVERSITY.

Stacy Gage, RB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.

Isaac Brown, RB, Homestead – UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

Willis McGahee IV, Edge, Miami Christopher Columbus – UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

Davion Gause, RB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Dimitry Nichols, DL, Miami Norland – AUBURN UNIVERSITY.

Tovani Mizell, RB, Davie Western – UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

Kobe Boykin, Athlete, Miami Edison – JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY.

Romanas Frederique Jr., CB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Jeremiah Marcelin, LB, Miami Norland – UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH.

Earl Kulp, CB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

Dinellson Exume, DL, Miami Edison – USF.

Dylen Russell, DL, Miami Christopher Columbus – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Colton Heinrich, TE, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons – UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

Nicholas Rodriguez, LB, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.

Jamorie Flagg, DL, Miami Booker T. Washington – FSU.

Gavench Marcelin, Edge, Miami Belen Jesuit – FAU.

Tycoolhill Luman, Edge, Miami Norland – RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

Amare Sanders, CB, Miami Gulliver Prep – UNIBVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

Vincent Shavers, LB, Miami Central – UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

Larry Tarver, CB, Miami Norland – UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

Jose Leon, WR, Miami Christopher Columbus – APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, RB, Hollywood South Broward – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.

Michael Merdinger, QB, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons – UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Davi Belfort, QB, Davie Western – VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY.

Chenellson Exume, OL, Miami Edison – USF.

Donovan Philord, Miami Norland – CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY.

Hyajah Miller, CB, Coconut Creek – TOLEDO UNIVERSITY.

Allen Bryant, S, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH.

Germaine Carter Jr., DL, Miami Norland – FIU.

Remington Roberts, LB, Fort Lauderdale – FAU.

Jaylon Edmonds, Athlete, Davie Western - WASHINGTON STATE.

Keyvon Johnson, CB, Davie Western - AKRON.

Jeremy Fishkin, OL, Parkland Stoneman Douglas - FLORIDA A&M.

If there are some we have missed, please send to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will add.

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

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..