The Florida high school football season is here, and the Herald-Tribune has highlighted the top senior players in Sarasota and Manatee counties for the 2024 season. Included is a handful of seniors with multiple college offers, including one with more than 30.
Arthur Amorim
Palmetto
Playing defensive end for the Tigers, the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder recorded 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks in nine games. He also recovered a fumble.
Makai Barnard
North Port
The Bobcat wide receiver/defensive back played in one game, making three tackles. North Port head coach Garon Belser said Barnard probably will get interest from several Div. II colleges.
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Bryson Bender
Parrish
Last season the 5-foot-9, 175-pound free safety had 43 tackles, three interceptions - two returned for touchdowns - two passes defensed, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. Bender has been given a roster spot at Albion (Mich.) College.
Jake Boydston
Cardinal Mooney
The 6-foot, 245-pound guard/center was a key offensive line contributor on a Mooney offense which last season totaled 2,334 yards passing and 26 touchdowns, and 3,411 yards rushing and 45 touchdowns in winning the Class 1S state title.
Cam Brewer
Saint Stephen’s
The 5-foot-10, 177-pound running back/free safety finished second on the Falcons with 609 yards rushing on 84 carries, an average of 7.3 yards, and four touchdowns. On defense, Brewer recorded 37 tackles, a pass defensed, recovered a fumble, and blocked a field goal.
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Gage Cameron
Parrish
The Bulls’ captain at middle linebacker finished last season with a team-high 128 tackles (48 solo, 80 assists), 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, two passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and one blocked punt. Cameron was selected a 2023 All-FACA Team Linebacker and was a finalist for the Herald-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder has a roster spot at Albion College.
Frankie Clark
Out-of-Door Academy
The older brother of Thunder running back Allen Clark played wide receiver and defensive back last season for OOD. Frankie Clark ran 10 times for 45 yards, caught four passes for 43 yards, and on defense had 27 tackles, two interceptions, 10 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder has an offer from Warner University.
Lucas Crowley
Sarasota
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound wide receiver played in three games last season for the 1-10 Sailors, catching four passes for 56 yards and no touchdowns. Crowley should assume a bigger role this season with the graduations of six receivers, including top two WRs Jackson Mullet and Nathan Wells.
Colton Davis
Cardinal Mooney
Playing defensive back for Palmetto last season, the 5-foot-10, 160-pounder finished with 25 tackles, one interception, and six passes defensed. Davis has offers from nine schools, including South Florida, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
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Nick Delfau
Riverview
The Rams’ punter last season averaged 38 yards a punt. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder also will boot field goals for Riverview this season. Rated a 4-star punter and 4.5-star kicker by Kohl’s Kicking, Delfau has offers from Grinnell College and Wesleyan University.
Richard DePaula
Lakewood Ranch
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound inside and outside middle linebacker registered six tackles in three games. He’s expected to play a bigger role this season on the defense of Mustang head coach Scott Paravicini.
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Lucas Despot
Braden River
In 10 games for the Pirates, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound quarterback completed 126 of 215 passes for 1,619 yards and 18 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, for a QB rating of 100.5. Despot has an offer from Shorter University in Rome, Ga.
Ryan Downes
Booker
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback last season backed up Venice starter Jadyn Glasser. Downes saw action in nine games, completing 13 of 25 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran nine times for 200 yards and seven scores. Downes, who played in five games in 2022 for the IMG Academy national team, has offers from Brown, Indiana, Kansas, Marshall, and Penn.
Hale Durfee
Riverview
Vitals : 6-foot-4, 235 pounds
College commitment : None
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive end didn’t play much early on last season for the Rams. But Durfee’s playing time picked up, and he finished with 26 tackles and a sack in nine games. He hurt his knee playing lacrosse and missed spring football. But when Durfee is healthy, head coach Josh Smithers said he will start.
Yahshua Edwards
Riverview
The 6-foot, 185-pound running back, who transferred from Braden River to Riverview, rushed for 967 yards and 15 touchdowns last season for the Pirates. He also caught 37 passes for 443 yards and four TDs.
Jaron Fields
Braden River
Last season the 5-foot-11, 160-pound cornerback started for Lakewood Ranch before leaving the team before the postseason. Fields transferred to Braden River, and in the Pirates’ spring game against Boca Ciega, intercepted two passes. After the game, on the sideline, he was offered a scholarship by Webber International University.
Carson Fisher
Out-of-Door Academy
Playing last season for Bradenton Christian, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound wide receiver/defensive back had three catches for 61 yards and a TD. On defense Fisher had 18 tackles and three interceptions. He also returned a fumble for a score and a punt return for another TD. He has an offer from Hillsdale (Mich.) College.
Wyatt Gadeken
Lakewood Ranch
The 6-foot-1, 260-pound offensive lineman did his part last season helping the Mustang running attack rush for nearly 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gadeken also heaved the shot put for the Mustang track and field team, finishing seventh in the Class 4A-District 8 meet.
Marcus Galloway
Cardinal Mooney
Playing last season for Braden River, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound running back rushed for 627 yards on 134 carries and three touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 104 yards and one score, and also returned a kickoff for a TD. Has received offers from Pitt, Penn, Cornell, Keiser University, Albion College, Howard University, and Brown.
Torey Gilley
Manatee
The 6-foot, 160-pound wide receiver finished second last season to Bon Bean in receptions with 47 and yards with 536. Gilley had two TD receptions. He also returned one kickoff for the Hurricanes.
James Griffitts
Riverview
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound inside linebacker saw early action last season for the Rams. But he moved into a back-up role when Riverview defenders returned from injury. Finishing with 27 tackles in seven games, Griffitts, who has an offer from Albion (Mich.) College, will be a Rams starter.
Andrew Heidel
Manatee
In leading Manatee to a 9-3 record last season, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound quarterback completed 206 of 318 for 2,618 yards, 20 TDs and six interceptions. Heidel finished with a QB rating of 103.5. Running the ball, scored five touchdowns. Heidel has committed to the United States Military Academy.
Cutter Johnson
Sarasota
Playing in six games last season along the Sailor defensive line, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Johnson finished with 13 tackles and a sack. First-year head coach Amp Campbell will count on Johnson’s senior leadership on a young team.
DJ Johnson
Riverview
The tailback led the Rams in rushing with 1,660 yards on 233 carries, an average of 7.1 yards-per-rush, with a team-high 23 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has offers from Gardner-Webb University, Keiser University, and Mercer University.
Eli Jones
Venice
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end last season recorded 117 tackles, five sacks, eight QB hurries, caused a fumble, and recovered two. Jones has committed to South Florida.
John Keen
Parrish
The Bulls’ captain at safety ended last season with 109 total tackles. The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder had six tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, two passes defensed, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Keen has a roster spot at Albion College.
Ean Johnson-Kelley
Manatee
The Hurricanes’ 6-foot-1, 275-pound defensive lineman recorded a team-high 53 tackles last season - 16 for loss - five quarterback sacks, 18 QB hurries, three recovered fumbles, two caused fumbles, a blocked punt and blocked field goal. Johnson-Kelley has committed to Mercer University.
Alvoid Kennon
Manatee
Playing both defensive tackle and end, the 6-foot, 250-pounder finished last season with 48 tackles, four quarterback sacks, nine quarterback hurries, one caused fumble, and one blocked field goal.
Jaden Key
Riverview
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end had three catches for 61 yards in eight games. At defensive end, Key had 16 tackles and a sack. Selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-America game, Key has offers from Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina A&T, and the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Brian Klingel
Sarasota
At defensive line, the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder finished tied for third on the Sailors with 60 tackles, including a team-high 14 tackles for losses. Has received a roster spot from Div. III Albion (Mich.) College.
Mikkel Lambert
Palmetto
The 5-foot-11, 280-pound offensive lineman has been called by FlaVarsity.Rivals.com one of the top returning offensive players in Class 6A-District 11. Lambert has a roster spot at Albion College.
Landon Marsters
Venice
Playing for Riverview last season, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound middle linebacker finished with a team-high 108 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions. Was the Rams' Defensive MVP. Marsters has 10 Div. I offers, among them UNC Charlotte, the Naval Academy, Air Force, and Dartmouth.
Ryan Matulevich
Venice
Last season the 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver finished with 40 catches for 652 yards and six touchdowns. Matulevich has offers from 14 schools, among them Dartmouth, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCF, and USF.
Chris McCorkle
Cardinal Mooney
At wide receiver, the 6-foot-1, 172-pounder caught 13 passes for 366 yards and seven touchdowns, including the winning TD catch in Mooney’s 31-27 state title win over Trinity Catholic. At defensive back, the four-star recruit had 24 tackles, a team-high nine interceptions, and 18 passes defensed. Receiving 30 offers, McCorkle has committed to Indiana.
CJ McRae
Lakewood Ranch
Last season the 5-foot-9, 140-pound running back finished second on the Mustangs in rushing, totaling 311 yards on 62 carries, scoring twice. McRae has been offered a scholarship by Webber International University.
Jayce Nixon
Venice
Last season, quarterbacking for Tampa Gaither, the 6-foot, 195-pounder completed 246 of 363 passes for 3,172 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Nixon also ran 66 times for 404 yards and five touchdowns. He has committed to Northern Iowa.
Al Oliver
Venice
A physical 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle, last season while playing for Riverview Oliver helped running backs DJ Johnson and Isiah Belt each to 1,000-yards-plus seasons. Has offers from Jackson State, North Carolina A&T, Gardner Webb, Bryant University, and Eastern Kentucky.
Marvin Palominos
Out-of-Door Academy
Playing in 11 games last season, the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder, on the Thunder offensive line, helped ODA rush for 2,238 yards and 28 touchdowns. On the defensive line. Palominos finished with three tackles. The owner of a 4.5 GPA has visited Bucknell and is drawing interest from Ivy League schools and has an offer from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa.
Nathan Pralle
Sarasota
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker totaled 42 tackles last season for the Sailors. Also had four sacks in his nine games. Like Klingel, Pralle has received a roster spot from Albion College.
Brunno Reus
Venice
Last season the 6-foot, 190-pound placekicker/punter, who will kick at South Florida, punted for a 42-yard average for Braden River. Reus was 33 of 34 on PATs and had 32 touchbacks for an 88% touchback rate.
Greg Robinson
Cardinal Mooney
Last season the junior linebacker was moved around on the field by the Southeast Seminoles. Now with the Cougars, he will compete for time at linebacker.
Josey Rubinstein
Out-of-Door Academy
An ace lacrosse player for the Thunder, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder will be playing his first year of football, and at quarterback. Rubinstein scored 43 goals last season for the ODA boys lacrosse team and will be visiting MIT for lacrosse.
Isaac Smith
North Port
The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder played at running back and linebacker for the Bobcats. He missed half of last season due to injury, but in North Port’s spring game versus Island Coast, Smith rushed for 177 yards and two TDs. On defense he had nine tackles.
Kavion Smith
Manatee
Playing middle and outside linebacker, the 5-foott-11, 190-pounder totaled 35 tackles last season on a Hurricane defense which allowed an average of 15.5 points per game.
Carson Spenn
Sarasota Christian
The son of Blazer head coach Jacob Spenn finished third on the team in tackles last season at defensive end with 60. The 6-foot-3, 160-pounder also forced two fumbles and recovered one. Spenn is drawing interest from Hillsdale College.
Ashton Springfield
Parrish
Last season the 6-foot-3, 215-pound defensive end finished with 68 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. A 2023 All-FACA Team Defensive Lineman, Springfield has a roster spot at Albion College.
Jeremy Stroh
Saint Stephen’s
Last season at center, the 6-foot, 225-pounder registered 11 pancake blocks. At nose guard, Stroh had 51 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and recovered a fumble. Once again he will anchor both sides of the line for the Falcons.
Juan Tinoco
Lakewood Ranch
Playing in only one game last season, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound defensive end recorded one tackle and one sack. But with 17 members of the 2023 Mustang defense having graduated, Tinoco should see increased playing time.
Austin Varga
Saint Stephen’s
The Falcons’ 6-foot-4, 202-pound offensive tackle/defensive end finished last season with four pancake blocks on offense, and 30 tackles - 13 for losses - six sacks, seven QB hurries, an interception, and a forced fumble on defense.
Winston Watkins Jr.
Venice
Last season, playing for First Baptist in Naples, the cousin of former NFL wide receiver Sammy Watkins caught 61 passes for 1,170 yards and 13 TDs, returned seven punts for 278 yards, a 39.7-yard average, with two touchdowns, and returned 10 kickoffs for 408 yards, a 40.8-yard average. The five-star recruit has received 31 collegiate offers, with Ohio State and Ole Miss his two top choices.
Jamarice Wilder
Venice
The 5-foot-9, 196-pound running back who has committed to James Madison led Venice last season with 1,271 yards on 149 carries, an 8.5-yard average. Including his four points on conversions, Wilder’s 154 points scored was 56 higher than the next Venice player, wide receiver CJ Lewis with 98.
La’Darien Williams
Palmetto
A two-year varsity starter, the 6-foot, 280-pound offensive lineman will help anchor the Tiger line for first-year head coach Eric Sanders at center and left guard. Can squat 510 pounds.
Gavin Winterhalter
Saint Stephen’s
The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder last season played wide receiver for the Falcons, cornerback, and also kicked. Winterhalter caught eight passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, recorded 27 tackles, two interceptions, and three passes defensed, and had eight touchbacks out of 33 kickoffs.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Listing the top 52 Sarasota, Manatee area high school football seniors for the 2024 season
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