It’s that time once again for high school football seniors (2024) who still have nowhere to head to college in the summer and fall, and junior (2025) who want to get a jump on next year.

With years of practice, games, camps, combines and many sacrifices, it never seems fair that all the work put in has hit a dead end -for so many current seniors and juniors.

With the landscape of college recruiting changing dramatically with the “transfer portal” and “Name, Image, and Likeness” deals, attaining a college scholarship or getting financial assistance has taken a hit. But thank goodness there are people who understand what’s going on. 

With rich past and solid reputation of making dreams come true, the Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Baptist Health is still in place and will once again host an impressive day of showcasing talent and grades to college coaches who flock to the area to fill their rosters with Sunshine State talent in the next two classes.

On Saturday, February 24, St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens will once again host an event like no other.

As small college recruiting fairs are held throughout Florida and the nation, there are none like this – which begins at 8 a.m. and runs through the early afternoon.

The Friday night before the showcase, the Orange Bowl hosts a Meet & Greet at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood and is free to high school coaches and college coaches to attend, meet, and discuss student-athletes that will be competing in the showcase on Saturday. The Meet & Greet allows high school coaches to present information on their participating student-athletes to enhance their recruitment and build relationships with attending college coaches.

With college coaches surrounding AutoNation Field on Saturday in tents, they have the chance to showcase their programs and promote their schools while watching the players go through combine drills live.

“There is nothing like this anywhere,” said Coral Glades head coach Rocco Casullo. “I think that the small college fairs they hold around this state have become obsolete, and showing film and talking with athletes can be done from their offices on Zoom and other forms of communication. But this event continues to add a whole different dimension by having the prospects performing right in front of the coaches.”

Indeed. In 2023, nearly 30 colleges/universities attended with over 200 student-athletes, representing 82 high schools taking part (with a 3.0 GPA and above), 60 participants were recruited and are on rosters of colleges who came out.

In addition to our local NAIA schools and smaller colleges, programs from as far away as Texas and throughout the New England states and midwest took part.

Since 2017, when this began at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, over $8 million in financial aid has been provided to participants in the showcase. In that time, over 400 student-athletes were recruited by colleges & universities in the first seven years.

“When you look at what the Orange Bowl continues to do for the student/athlete who still have that dream, it’s amazing what this showcase represents,” Miami Southridge head coach Pierre Senatus pointed out. “I have been a part of several high school programs in Miami-Dade and Broward as well using this event when I was a coach at Florida Memorial University. This is something that these young men need to take full advantage of, and the addition of juniors who are looking to get on the map early enough is a tremendous idea."

The Orange Bowl’s mission and vision is to promote and serve south Florida in order to inspire youth, engage the community and enhance the economy. The Showcase meets that mission and vision by providing an opportunity for young student-athletes to use their football and academic skills to attend college and ultimately earn a degree. This effectively has the profound effect of changing young people’s lives.

The Showcase is a FREE one-day event, in association with the National Football Foundation (NFF) and its local chapters, that will bring together high school seniors and educational institutions in Division II, III, and NAIA programs from across the country.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE

All student-athletes must pre-register. The participant must be a graduating high school senior or a junior who has not accepted a scholarship offer from a Division I football program. In addition, Orange Bowl recommends the following qualifications:

Have a 2.5 GPA or higher in 16 Core Courses (please visit http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/core-courses for a description of NCAA Eligible Core Courses).

* Have an SAT score of 920 (math and verbal only) or higher.

* Or have a composite ACT Score of 18 or higher or a sum score of 68 or higher.

* Students must provide their own transportation to and from the venue.

* Students are encouraged to bring two pairs of shoes (football shoes and running shoes).

* Students are encouraged to bring extra copies of transcripts and test scores.

Event t-shirts and water will be provided.

PARENTS – BE PROACTIVE

An information session will take place during the showcase to educate parents on financial aid, NCAA and NAIA eligibility requirements and much more. We encourage you to attend this session to learn more about putting your student-athlete in the best position to be successful and college-ready. Further information regarding the parent information session will be sent out close to event day.

Interested in taking part? Contact - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoxLcKPP1jf26pAz82QH33fGDRfD--xZgWwQj8i0UI2hOHkg/viewform

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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When Chris Reid took over South Dade’s football program last year, many who knew him felt pretty good about the Bucs turning things back around.

For someone who knew the community and landscape of the area, this was the perfect fit to return this program where it had been for so many years.

Going two rounds deep in the state playoffs and finishing 8-4 may not be earth-shattering to some, but for this team and its returning players, it meant that turning the corner came a lot faster than most expected.

There is no denying that the athletes this program has long attracted are a cut above – combining versatility to a toughness that is hard to find.

The Bucs beat Pembroke Pines West Broward in the opening round of the state playoffs before dropping a tough contest to eventual 4M state champion Miami Christopher Columbus.

Reid and South Dade headed into this off-season feeling pretty good – with rising seniors (Class of 2025) ready to make an impact with athletic ability and leadership.

Among those prospects include Haman Andrews (LB, 6-0, 215 – 2.5 GPA), Jakari Blackman (RB, 5-11, 180 – 2.6 GPA), X’zayvion Clayton (DB/WR, 5-10, 170 – 2.5 GPA), highly-regarded transfer Dylan Gil (LB, 6-3, 215 – 2.5 GPA), John Jones (OL. 6-4, 260 – 3.5 GPA), versatile Sedric Melvin (WR/DB, 5-8, 180 – 2.8 GPA), Ta’darius Williams (OL/DL, 6-2, 265 – 2.7 GPA) and emerging linebacker Nicholas Wilton (6-1, 175 – 3.2 GPA).

A TOP 2026 CLASS EMERGES

While the rising seniors will give this program experience and talent, the Class of 2026 (rising juniors) may have as many playmakers as anyone in south Florida – with under-the-radar Jean Calixte (QB/Athlete, 6-1, 170 – 2.7 GPA), dominating Tedarius Hughes (DB, 6-2, 170 – 2.5 GPA), Brandon Jeudi (OL/DL, 5-10, 265 – 2.5 GPA), highly recruited Tedrick Lee (DB, 6-1, 185 – 3.0 GPA) and running back Varian Terry (RB, 5-6, 155 – 2.7 GPA).

The future is also bright with 2027 prospects Brandon Howard (DL, 5-11, 220)

And secondary standout Armond Weston (5-10, 170).

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MIAMI HERALD

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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The numbers are staggering. People across the country shake their collective heads at how easy it seems to be when it comes to transferring schools in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

There has been a running joke about how the Miami Herald and Fort Lauderdale’s South Florida Sun-Sentinel should run a Daily Transaction column so fans across the region and state can see who is going where.

While it’s long way until late August when the 2024 season kicks off – with spring and summer still ahead – but the numbers every day seem to grow when student/athletes pick up and move from one school to another without ever changing addresses.

While it has been commonplace over the past decade, this is something that NEVER took place 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago. You would have to move into a district or attend a private school to change schools. Today in our “School of Choice” society, all public schools need to do is make sure that there are desks available for those you are bringing in – and not just football.

We tend to gravitate toward football because it is a sport that gets attention and publicity.

There are two sides of transfers. You lose a student/athlete and you are bitter and offer up why the program the athlete left is far better than where they are going, citing that much of what has made that athlete attractive was accomplished at the school they left.

The other side of that coin are those schools who receive the athlete. They believe that if their program wasn’t winning or developing talent, colleges and universities would never flock and see these prospects.

When we did a story last week on Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna and the success the Lions have had and how they rebuild a program that has been to a state record eight consecutive state championship games, winning six, it was met with silence locally, but picked up plenty of momentum nationally.

This past weekend the “Transactions” picked up once again – as more and more students are leaving one school for another. The crazy thing, as we mention last time, June 1 is the target date where most of the transfers take place – at the end of spring and right before the busy summer gets started.

In case you missed the moves from last week, here they are:

CLASS OF 2025

R.J. “Reynaldo” Aguillar, OL, Miami Norland. Transfer from Hialeah American. 

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16993588/Reynaldo-Rj-Aguilar

Isaiah Anderson, WR, 5-10, 165, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Pembroke Pines Flanagan. 3.5 GPA. 

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16351371/Isaiah-Anderson

King Davis, RB, 5-10, 175, Miami Northwestern. Transferred from Miami Central back to his original school.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16147654/King-Davis

Elijah D’oleo, WR, 6-2, 180, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. Transferred from Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. 3.6 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17365547/Elijah-Doleo

Janaris Foster, DB, 5-11, 175, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Fort Lauderdale Stranahan.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16261966/janaris-foster

Devin Gonzalez, QB, 6-0, 180, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Weston Cypress Bay.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16423482/Devin-Gonzalez  

Dylan McCarthy, DB/WR, 5-9, 160, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Weston Cypress Bay.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16883636/Dylan-McCarthy

Samuel Mitchell IV, Edge, 6-5, 215, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. Transferred from Pembroke Pines Charter. 3.7 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18496462/Samuel-Mitchell-IV

Calysis Parks, DL, 5-10, 260, Miami Northwestern. Transferred from Miami High.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16380914/Calysis-Parks

Zion Paret, DB, 6-0, 180, Miami Central. Transferred from Miami Northwestern. 3.0 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/14897225/Zion-Paret

Ricardo Paul, DE, 6-2, 230, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Coral Springs. 

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18044906/Ricardo-Paul

Dylan Robinson, LB, 5-10, 190, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. Transferred from Hialeah American.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16636553/Dylan-Robinson

Mike Varga, LB, 5-11, 190, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy. 

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16177020/Michael-Varga

Jaylin Woods, WR, 5-11, 170, Coconut Creek Monarch. Transferring from Wellington.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16411592/Jaylin-Woods

CLASS OF 2026

Kaj “Nitro” Baker, Athlete, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy. Transferred from Miami Central. Elite track performer. 3.5 GPA.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15144891/Kaj-Nitro-Baker

Trayvon Mitchell, SS, 5-10, 165, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Pompano Beach Blanche Ely.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/19396147/Trayvon-Mitchell

Jaden Page, WR, 5-11, 150, Miami Norland. Transferred from Miami Dr. Krop.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17741911/Jaden-Page

Elias Sturman, OL, 6-1, 300, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. Transferred from Bradenton IMG Academy.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16191625/650cf7d15cb35d038caf3125

CLASS OF 2027

Tyler Chance, QB, 5-11, 175, Plantation. Transferred from Fort Lauderdale Dillard.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16934524/Tyler-Chance

Sean Thompson, OLB/WR, 6-2, 180, Miami Central. Makes a move down south from Hollywood South Broward.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/19530845/Sean-Thompson

2028

Jaquan Washington, Athlete, Coconut Creek. Transferred from Fort Lauderdale Dillard. Youth football standout who is certainly in the next wave of talent.

TAPE: https://twitter.com/i/status/1740039510229147799

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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

While so many football fans try to find negatives with the off-season “all-star” 7-on-7 teams, the fact remains that having the opportunity to see some of the elite prospects perform is worth the price of admission.

This past weekend, some of the best high school skilled prospects in the nation flocked to Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale for the South Florida Battle event.

From California, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Alabama, North Carolina and just about every corner of the nation headed south to not only enjoy the great weather but see some of the prospects that fan websites and recruiting services have been talking about over the past year.

While it is NOT football, it is skill and it does showcase athletes who can run, throw, catch and defend.

The 7-on-7 off-season events have morphed into a billion-dollar business with advertisers and sponsors making these mega events possible with destinations all over the country providing a forum for some impressive prospects.

While Battle has long been at the head of the class in making these events possible, so has Pylon and several other groups who bring all this talent – high school and middle school – together to showcase the present and the future.

These events have become so popular and important that even on a huge weekend for college junior days nationwide, coaches kept their eye on players and teams – knowing that these young men will be recruits that will be a part of turning their programs around soon.

RAW MIAMI STACKED WITH ELITE PROSPECTS

While Jose Duasso and his Raw Miami team didn’t bring home the title this past weekend, you can guarantee that this is a team that you will hear plenty about this spring.

Loaded with gifted players from Florida and in many areas of the country. These athletes are being pursued by major colleges from coast-to-coast and they did not disappoint.

Among the offensive prospects this team has in the 2025 (rising senior) class includes Anjuan “Ace” Coleman (WR, Miami Central), Deion Deblanc (WR, Houston North Shore), Santonyo Isaac (WR, Tampa Bay Tech), under-the-radar Jared Lockhart (QB, Charlotte, Porter Ridge, North Carolina), Teriq Mallory (WR, Cheshire Academy, Connecticut), Cortez Mills (WR, Homestead), Nae’shaun Montgomery (WR, Miami Central), Khaleal Sterling (WR, Miami Central), King Walker (WR, Miami Central), Kenny Williams (WR, Miami Gulliver Prep) and Tampa Bay Tech’s nationally rated receiver Dallas Wilson.

Class of 2026 athlete Aaron Gregory (Douglasville, Georgia) and rising 2027 quarterback standout quarterback Zac Katz (Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna).

THE DEFENSE IS ALSO STACKED WITH QUALITY

As potent as the offense will be this off-season, Raw Miami’s defense is also impressive.

Leading the way in the Class of 2025 on defense are Anquon Fegans (S, Alabaster Thompson, Alabama), Chris McCorkle (CB, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney), Herlin Perry Jr. (CB, Providence LaSalle Academy, Rhode Island), Major Preston Jr. (CB, Bradenton IMG Academy), and Kelly Sejour Jr. (CB, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna).

There are also Sekou Smith (S, Miami Central), Rakeem Stroud (CB, Tampa Bay Tech), Hylton “Drake” Stubbs (S, Jacksonville Mandarin), Amari Wallace (S, Miami Central), and Lakeland safety Keon Young.

Class of 2026 players who are already making an impact feature FSU commit Darryl “Tre” Bell (Athlete, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman), Jireh Edwards (S, Baltimore St. Frances Academy, Maryland), Jvari Flowers (CB, Miami Northwestern), and Jaelen Waters (CB, Seffner Armwood).

CAM NEWTON (C1N), LUKE NICKEL WIN IT ALL

Among the prospects everyone came to see included University of Miami 2025 quarterback commit Luke Nickel from Milton, Georgia, who was one of the best at the event as he played for Cam Newton’s (C1N) team, taking home the title in this prestigious weekend event.

Nickel, who was impressive during the two days, even received some valuable pointers from the one-time collegiate and NFL star.

FUTURE STARS SHINE

While south Florida is spoiled with all the talent that we see throughout the course of a year, there were some elite prospects that had even the most partial Miami-Dade and Broward football player, coach and fan shaking their collective heads with all the talent on display.

One of the top receivers in the country and LSU commit Dakorien Moore (Duncanville, Texas), Florida’s No. 1 player for the 2024 season D.J. Pickett (Zephyrhills), receivers Kaliq Lockett, Georgia linebacker commit Jadon Perlotte, fellow linebacker Noah Mikhail (LaVerne Bonita, California), receiver Jaime Ffrench (Jacksonville Mandarin), safety Trey McNutt (Shaker Height, Ohio) and tight ends Nate Roberts (Washington, Oklahoma), Linkon Cure (Goodland, Kansas), Kiotti Armstrong (Jasper, Texas) and Da'Saahn Brame (Derby, Kansas).

Quarterbacks Husan Longstreet (Corona Centennial, California), Antwann Hill Jr. (Warner Robbins, Houston County, Georgia), Texas commit K.J. Lacey (Saraland, Alabama), Jackson Kollock (Laguna, California) and Florida State commit Tramell Jones Jr. (Jacksonville Mandarin) were on hand.

So was Florida’s No. 1 Class of 2026 receiver Jabari Brady (Chaminade-Madonna) amongst so many others who were on hand.

Joining Newton’s team were 4th Quarter Mentality, 24K, Bootleggers, California Power, Certified Dawgs, Crab5, Young Kings, Defcon, Fast Houston, Ground Zero, Hard Knocks, KT Preps, Miami Immortals, NPA, Premium, Sound Mind Sound Body, South Florida Express, Team Flex, Team Tampa, Texas Threat, Trillion Boys and Tucson Turf and Literally Battle.

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 (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..