When it comes to recruiting in south Florida, it is never easy to shine the spotlight on all the talent the area produces.

With college coaches watching as many prospects as they can – especially during Covid – there are several football prospects that get taken for granted. Sure, they are being watched, but they are not given credit for what they do – away from those handing out the stars.

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By now, if you follow high school football, you already know that there have been changes for the 2021 season.

Because of Covid, the usual cycle for districts, will take a detour this year – as enrollment based on the numbers during the pandemic, has put several teams – statewide – in a district, class or region they have never competed in before – and while many will stay the same when the numbers are counted after the season, there could be a few schools that may still wind up in new surroundings.

WHAT WILL CHANGE

In 8A, a few schools have been moved around, but Deerfield Beach, Western, Miami Palmetto and Miami Christopher Columbus still are the teams to beat.

In 7A, it’s all about nationally rated Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Fort Lauderdale Dillard as the series contenders.

Miami Northwestern and Miami Norland will be the teams to keep an eye on in 6A, where Miami Central has been in place for several years.

Speaking of nationally-rated Miami Central, the two-time defending state champions have moved to 5A and will be joined by much improved Miami Killian and nationally-rated Plantation American Heritage, where the Patriots have reloaded from last year’s state championship.

When it comes to 4A, there are a number of teams ready to throw their hat into the ring, but Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons is the favorite. Winning two of the past three years, the Chiefs will also have Miami Monsignor Pace, Miami Gulliver Prep, Miami Carol City,  Miami Booker T. Washington and Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy, making the move up from 3A.

Speaking of 3A, nationally-rated Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna is searching for a record-setting sixth straight trip to the state finals – with talented Miami Edison once again looking to knock the Lions out of the playoffs.

With Hialeah Champagnat Catholic also looking for an amazing sixth consecutive trip to the 2A state finals, the Lions are indeed loaded up, but there are other programs who have improved as well.

Programs such as Miami Dade Christian and Hollywood Avant Garde Academy.

CLASS 8A

DISTRICT 13
Boca Raton
Coral Springs
Deerfield Beach
Douglas (Parkland)
Monarch (Coconut Creek)
West Boca Raton – up from 7A

DISTRICT 14
Coral Glades (Coral Springs)
Cypress Bay (Weston)
Flanagan (Pembroke Pines)
Taravella (Coral Springs)
Western (Davie)

DISTRICT 15
Coral Gables
Dr. Krop (Miami) – up from Independent
Miami
Miami Beach – up from 7A
West Broward (Pembroke Pines)

DISTRICT 16
Columbus (Miami)
Coral Reef (Miami)
Miami Palmetto
South Dade (Homestead)
Southwest Miami

CLASS 7A

DISTRICT 13
Atlantic (Delray Beach)
Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach)
Fort Lauderdale
Olympic Heights (Boca Raton)
Piper (Sunrise) – down from 8A

DISTRICT 14
Cooper City
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) – up from 6A
Nova (Davie) – up from Independent
South Plantation
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)

DISTRICT 15
Everglades (Miramar)
McArthur (Hollywood)
Miramar
North Miami
South Broward (Hollywood)

DISTRICT 16
Doral Academy (Miami)
Hialeah
Homestead
Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens)
Miami Southridge – up from 6A

CLASS 6A

DISTRICT 15
Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes)
Coconut Creek – up from 5A
Hollywood Hills
Northeast (Oakland Park)
Plantation – down from 7A

DISTRICT 16
American (Hialeah) – down from 7A
Belen Jesuit (Miami)
Miami Norland
Miami Northwestern – up from 5A
South Miami

CLASS 5A

DISTRICT 14
American Heritage (Plantation)
Boynton Beach
Hallandale
Jensen Beach
Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale)

DISTRICT 15
Hialeah-Miami Lakes – up from Independent
Miami Central – down from 6A
Miami Springs
North Miami Beach
Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines) – up from 4A

DISTRICT 16
Key West
Miami Jackson
Miami Killian
St. Brendan (Miami) – up from Independent

CLASS 4A
Booker T. Washington (Miami)
Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale) – up from 4A
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Coral Springs Charter
Gulliver Prep (Pinecrest)
Immaculata-LaSalle (Miami)
Miami Carol City
Monsignor Pace (Miami)
North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek)
NSU University School (Fort Lauderdale)
Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale)

CLASS 3A
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
Everglades Prep (Homestead)
Florida Christian (Miami) – up from Independent
Miami Edison
Palmer Trinity (Palmetto Bay)
Somerset South Homestead – up from Independent
Somerset Silver Palms
Westminster Christian (Miami)

CLASS 2A
Archbishop Carroll (Miami) – up from Independent
Avant Garde (Hollywood) – up from Independent
Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah)
Dade Christian (Miami) – up from Independent
Marathon
Miami Christian
Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale)

INDEPENDENT
Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches) – down from 6A
Braddock (Miami)
Coral Shores (Tavernier)
Ferguson (Miami)
Goleman (Miami)
Hialeah Gardens
Miami Coral Park
Miami Country Day
Miami Sunset
Mourning (North Miami)
Palm Glades Prep (Miami)
Pembroke Pines Charter
Pompano Beach
Ransom Everglades (Miami)
Reagan (Doral)
Somerset Academy Key (Deerfield Beach)
True North (Miami)
Varela (Miami)
Westland Hialeah

For the past 51 years, we have spent plenty of 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..

For the past 51 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields. 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..

MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Dolphins Junior Dolphins program announced its impact on youth football engaging with more than 15,000 high school football student athletes throughout South Florida over the last five years.  

In an effort to transform lives and grow participation of boys and girls football teams, the Dolphins have supported all 142 varsity high school football programs in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County schools through team visits, equipment donations, character building or game day experiences.

“We love the game of football and are committed to our mission to teaching, learning and playing our sport in a fun and safe environment,” Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins said. “Our Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel set the vision to have an intentional impact to impact coaches, players and trainers in South Florida and we are proud to have positively engaged every school in the tri-county area.”

In celebration, the Junior Dolphins program invited athletic directors from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County schools along with the Miami Norland Senior High School football team to attend a Miami Dolphins training camp practice at the Baptist Health Training Complex on Saturday, August 7. Miami Dolphins representatives presented the athletic directors of each county with a jersey to commemorate the initiative.

Miami Dolphins Junior Dolphins 5-Year Total Impact:

• The Junior Dolphins program hosted 65 high school football team visits to Dolphins training camp practices.
• The Junior Dolphins program hosted game day experiences for 20 high school football teams.
• The Junior Dolphins program donated more than $500K in athletic equipment to high school football teams.
• The Junior Dolphins program through the support of Baptist Health provided $260K towards equipment, health and wellness clinics.  
• The Junior Dolphins program supported more than 30 girls flag football programs in South Florida.  

The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to teach, learn and play football in a fun and safe environment. As stewards of the game, Junior Dolphins strive to grow participation in the game, impact the football community and build the next generation of Dolphins fans. Through strong community partnership and strategic resource distribution, all aspects of the Junior Dolphins program work to emphasize character building to increase the overall experience in youth football.

As we continue to find out every year, special teams certainly dictate the outcome of games – at every level.

Kicker, punter or long snapper, football has evolved into games being dictated by a snap, field goal, extra point of kickoff – or a punt that pins the opposing team back in their territory.

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