Every year, for as long as many can remember, fans and supporters have always questioned why the University of Miami cannot lock down local athletes.

While they have certainly done the job to keep many home through the years, there are several who get away and attend schools throughout the country.

Because Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have more elite prospects than any other area in the country, it’s not a reality to keep every home. Even when the program was the best in the country, not every player stayed home.

While grabbing the attention of local star-rated athletes was never an easy task, things may have changed this summer as the camps the school hosted since June 1 really made an impact.

This past Sunday brought an end to the summer. During the 25 days, this school received more visits from elite players and teams than they have in recent history.

Camps, 7-on-7 events and official visits attracted prospects from across the country, and when the curtain went down on Sunday, it closed with perhaps the most successful and well attended events of the summer.

Hundreds of linemen and 7-on-7 teams flocked to Coral Gables to finish off the summer camp season for the Hurricanes, and head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff left with a positive feeling.

COACHING STAFF MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE

You can always make a point without bringing others down, and when talking with the coaching staff of 2023 to any in the past, it is simply night and day.

There is nothing like wanting to be someplace – and if you look at how this coaching staff has approached things since spring – there is no getting around the fact that Coach Cristobal has the group that reflects what he is all about.

On offense, Shannon Dawson develops, teaches and coaches quarterbacks which is a huge advantage for any coordinator. He is innovative and proven.

Alex Mirabal has always been someone that develops and teaches and is tireless as a recruiter. Players, parents and high school coaches really admire and respect what he does.

Tim Harris Jr. has been around this game all of his life. Whether as a head high school football coach (Miami Booker T. Washington) or as a running backs coach, it will be tough to out-coach or out-recruit him.

Kevin Beard is one of those people, who is local (Plantation High and UM) and really has a passion for the position and coaching. He will always tell you what he’s thinking!

Cody Woodiel took over as tight end coach back in March and has done a tremendous job with a position that is loaded. He will have his work cut out.

On defense, Lance Guidry is that guy. Someone with fire and passion. He understands the game and is willing to work his assistant coaches and players hard to get results. Maybe the most knowledgeable coach on a talented staff.

Jason Taylor is as special as you get. If you watched him play during his Hall of Fame career, and coach at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, you will understand exactly why he is so good. He is a pure teacher who can turn careers around – in minutes.

If you watched Derek Nicholson in the past, you already have a great idea what he is all about. Pure teacher who will make sure that you play to your level – and he’s done that all of his career.

Jahmile Addae’s experience speaks for itself. His secondary was a bright spot this spring. With the addition of a few transfers and incoming players things are starting to look promising.

Joe Salave’a arrived in Miami after spending the previous four seasons working in a similar capacity at the University of Oregon under head coach Cristobal. This is an intense defensive line coach who continues to make a different with a quality group of players.

SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: June 27, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward

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 teams this summer, you will notice how a number of them scheduled tours of colleges throughout the country.

While not everyone can afford to rent a bus, have food and lodging for over a week, it has become something that high school coaches are working toward all year.

Raising money to bring these young men to colleges and universities is now a reality. It seems like just about every high school is giving their student/athletes an opportunity to travel.

These visits to many college campuses is indeed and experience of a lifetime, but what makes the entire event extra special is the opportunity for these young men to not only see schools, meet coaches and take part in camps and 7-on-7, but the history lesson that they are experiencing is really something that many are not comprehending.

Many of these summer college travel experiences take the players and coaches to historical places that many read and learn about in U.S. History classes.

This summer South Dade head coach Chris Reid, in his first off-season, took 12 of his players on a trip to introduce them to schools and give the young men an opportunity to see some of Florida’s program.

Reid said that over the next few years the trips will be longer and include more schools, but wanted to give his team an experience of at least season some programs that they have a chance to play football and get a college education.

Along the schools that the Bucs visited were Keiser University, University of South Florida, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Florida, Bethune Cookman University and Stetson University.

“It’s only the beginning,” Reid explained. “Next summer we will take our players to more schools. But I believe that the schools we attended were beneficial to the growth of our student/athletes and to our program.”

Among the prospects who received scholarship offers directly resulted to the trip included Class of 2026 standouts Tedarius Hughes (FS. Offered by FAMU) and Tedrick Lee (SS/LB. Offered by Bethune Cookman).

SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: June 26, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward

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..

WEST PALM BEACH – When Keiser University played for a national NAIA football title last year, the Seahawks captured the attention of football fans all over the country.

The program, under the direction of Doug Socha, has been nothing short of amazing since the first season – coming up on six years ago.

Since the first year, all this program has done is win. Year 1 in 2018 (6-4), 2019 (9-1), 2020 (9-1), 2021 (10-3) and this past season a 10-3 year that was indeed the best in the short history of the program.

With several players from Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, the Seahawk have also tapped into Broward and Miami-Dade as the coaching staff has worked hard to bridge the gap between the high school coaches and the high schools.

The Keiser coaching staff shows up for everything and will go anywhere to show that they are willing to do what it takes to get you on campus.

Among the players from the 954 and 305 on the current roster:

Natrone Baptiste, DB, Fr., Hallandale

Denarold Beaucejour, WR, Fr., Miami Dr. Krop

Jertavis Black, DL, So., Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

Da’Shawn Bostic, DB, So., Miami Southridge

Alessandro Cantillo, DL, Sr., Miami Ferguson

Brian Edwards, DB, Jr., Miramar

Tyler Foster, WR, So., Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy

Austin Gray, LB, Sr., Coconut Creek Monarch

Riley Ingram, OL, Fr., Coconut Creek Monarch

Damon Jackson, DL, Fr., Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

Marcus Martin, DB, Jr., North Miami

Wendol Philord, DB, So., Miami Jackson

Seth Rolle, WR, So., Miami Monsignor Pace

Aris Skarecki, OL, Fr., Parkland Douglas

Bryson Williams, TE, So., Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEISER UNIVERSITY

SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: June 22, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward

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..

GAINESVILLE – It is certainly no secret that when it comes to recruiting football talent, the Miami-Dade and Broward County areas must be in the equation. Just look at the successful programs across the country.

Throughout the years the 305 and 954 have been at the center of sending elite talent – difference makers – to schools across the nation.

With Billy Napier still feeling his way back into the state of Florida, he is slowly trying to get back into south Florida with coaches who know the area and have the respect from high school coaches who are warming up to what the Gators are doing in the competitive Southeastern Conference.

While the team is doing well nationally and throughout the rest of the country, getting marquee prospects and teams on campus is essential. The name of the game is to have top-flight student/athletes and their families on campus.

On Wednesday, the Gators started to wind down the summer camp schedule with a pair of 7-on-7 tournaments that included national powerhouse Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and talented Miramar. Two programs that continue to produce quality athletes that can help to infuse Florida with the type of talent that will bring them back to the top of SEC.

GATORS TRY TO SPARK A PIPELINE

While the schools has had its share of talented south Florida talent in the past, things are going slow in this recruiting cycle, but Napier and his staff are banking that the exposure this past spring and summer will pay off - as several prospects and teams came to campus and saw the amazing new facility that was finished last summer and is considered to be one of the of the best in the nation – with state-of-art services everywhere you look.

One step into the beautiful new facility reveals that there are just a handful of players on the current roster that actually come from a loaded south Florida area, and everyone knows that there needs to be a push to continue to add to the number. Relationships with the coaching staff is the most important part. The days of schools selling themselves are over. Now, the job lies with the coaching staff to keep recruiting flames alive.

Here is a look at the Miami-Dade and Broward players on the summer roster:

Jackson Crozier, Fr. OL, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. A walk on player who made a huge impact at the high school level. Was a three-time Florida State Champion and served as a team captain. Earned All-State and All-County three times.

Andy Jean, WR, Fr., Miami Northwestern. Has a chance to be one of the nation’s best after a solid spring. Caught 19 passes for a team-leading 409 yards with three scores during his high school senior year.

Carlson Joseph, RB, Plantation American Heritage. Played in one game, making his collegiate debut, and rushing two times for five yards in the victory vs. Eastern Washington (Oct. 2). SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Jr., Miami Palmetto. Started at cornerback in thirteen games… Finished the season with 29 tackles, 8 pass breakups, 1 TFL, 1 interception, and a quarterback hurry.

Cahron Rackley, S, So., Miami Palmetto. Another walk on player who was a quality high school player.

Tyreak Sapp, DL, So., Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. Saw action on the defensive line in all 13 games of the season, totaling 20 tackles (eight solo), 0.5 TFL and two quarterback hurries. SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2022).

Derek Wingo, ILB, Jr., Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. Saw action in 12 games with back-to-back starts to end the season… Totaled 24 tackles with 2.0 TFLs, sacks and quarterback hurries.

SOUTH FLORIDA (MIAMI-DADE & BROWARD) PROSPECTS – CLASSES 2024-2027. LAST UPDATED: June 22, 2023. https://larryblustein.com/prospects/tracking-south-florida-prospects COLLEGE COACHES ARE WATCHING ALL THE TIME, SO LET’S KEEP UPDATING – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Transfer Season Heats Up In Miami-Dade & Broward. https://larryblustein.com/news/transfer-season-heats-up-in-miami-dade-broward

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..