It’s well known that the college transfer portal has trickled its way down to the high school level. Especially for the hot bed of talent that calls South Florida home.
Like every other year, Palm Beach County teams have said farewell to those seeking greener pastures in Broward and Miami-Dade, only to welcome new weapons from near and far in hopes of hoisting state championship trophies come December.
A number of student-athletes are swapping rosters around the area are bound to make an instant impact this fall, and it’s best to get to know them before the first Friday night lights of the season.
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Take a look at the list of 11 transfer additions and exits that’ll change the game for Palm Beach County teams in 2024:
Transfer additions to know for 2024 Florida high school football season
Damon Allen, West Boca Raton
Former: Palm Beach Central
Having a three-star Florida Atlantic commit in your backfield is always a plus. It’s an even bigger one when it’s a player with the tackling skills and hands of Allen. The 6-foot-1, 185 pound corner will be missed by Palm Beach Central, also depleted of UCF commit Tony Williams. Last season, Allen posted 42 tackles, seven interceptions, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles for the Broncos.
Deandre Desinor, Atlantic
Former: American Heritage-Plantation
No need to fear about Atlantic’s run game without steamrollers like UMass’ Damarion Alberic or Florida State linebacker Jayden Parrish, who hauled in six rushing touchdowns for the Eagles last fall. Desinor, a three-star West Virginia commit, is quite the solid combo of Alberic’s speed and Parrish’s strength. In 2023 at Heritage-Plantation, Desinor averaged 10.1 yards per carry on 674 yards for 10 touchdowns. Atlantic got lucky when the Delray Beach-native opted to come back home for his senior season.
Preston Douglas, Benjamin
Former: Jupiter
Douglas was one of Jupiter’s best kept secrets over the last couple seasons, but now that he’s with the Bucs, count on the country to know this tight-end standout’s name by the end of the year. Yes, South Carolina did their scouting early and managed to lock Douglas in as a recruit over the summer. However, there could certainly still be a rise in the senior’s recruitment considering his junior campaign was cut short by injury. Not to mention that he’s filling the role once held by Amaree Williams, the No. 1 ranked ATH for the 2025 recruiting class before reclassifying to land in Tallahassee this fall.
Dylan Furshman, Benjamin
Former: Jupiter
Sound familiar? It should. Junior stud Phoenix Donghia could certainly fill the cleats of former RB1 and Georgia four-star Chauncey Bowens on his own. Having Furshman back in the Benjamin’s backfield won’t hurt, though. Over the last couple seasons with the Warriors, the Ohio State lacrosse commit was a standout on both sides of the ball in the fall. In 2023, he scored four touchdowns on 53 carries for 247 yards and totaled 38 tackles, 24 solo, on defense, one of the biggest keys to Jupiter’s transformative season.
Teddy Hoffman, Atlantic
Former: Saint Andrew’s
Hoffman just might prove to be the missing piece Atlantic has been needing. There were targets for fourth-year QB1 Lincoln Graf last fall, but none quite like Hoffman, who committed to App State in June. While Graf and the Eagles were making a 9-2 run to playoffs, Hoffman was heading St. Andrew’s on a 9-2 run of its own, delivering 15 touchdowns on 51 catches for 927 yards and one of the Scots’ best seasons in recent years.
Leslie Mosley, Cardinal Newman
Former: Glades Central
Right when you didn’t think it was possible with wheels in guys like NC State commit Jaylin Brown or 4-star Jyron Hughley, the Crusaders just got quicker with this hidden gem. A diamond in the Muck, Mosley posted 366 yards on 21 catches for five touchdowns, averaging over 17 yards per reception. With a consistent coaching staff and battle-tested teammates, rest assured the 5-foot-11, 155 pound senior could have a breakout year in a receiver room free of former stars like Kevin Levy and Josh Philostin, now at Rutgers and Indiana, respectively.
Chance Routson, Palm Beach Central
Former: Boca Raton
The history made at Boca Raton last fall indicates that Routson has already had his “breakout year.” Now that he has options like UCF commit Waden and Arkansas commit Kamare Williams downfield, there’s no telling what more could come for the 6-foot-3, 192 pound slinger. Routson already has offers from Florida Atlantic, Georgia State and UMass. More wouldn’t be a surprise though now that the junior is in the mix of the Broncos’ star-studded roundup.
Jamar Thompson, West Boca Raton
Former: Atlantic
Thompson put Palm Beach County on notice as a freshman at Atlantic. As part of what’s tabbed to be one of the area, if not the state’s most loaded defenses, prepare for the 6-foot-3, 270 pound sophomore to put the nation on notice. He racked up 20 tackles and two sacks with the Eagles last fall. There’s only more to come from that motor in 2024.
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Tony Williams, Miami-Central
Former: Palm Beach Central
No Allen and no Williams is far from ideal for Palm Beach Central. And Williams hurts a little more given he would’ve completed his entire high school career with the Broncos had he not made the switch the other Central over the summer. On 2023’s region championship run, Williams made 22 tackles, 16 PBUs and five picks. A Miami-Central defense stacked with Miami commits Amari Wallace and Ezekiel Marcelin, plus uncommitted 3-star Floyd Boucard and now Williams will be tough to beat this fall.
Naeshaun Montgomery, Miami-Central
Former: Cardinal Newman
Montgomery is anticipating his college decision in the next coming weeks, choosing between Alabama, Florida, FSU, LSU, Oregon or Penn State, but he’s not doing it as a Crusader. Montgomery made the move to Miami-Central in the offseason. Yet, his name and four-star making were made at Newman with Jack Daniels’ staff. Fortunately, the Crusaders reloaded accordingly in the loss of an elite route-runner like Montgomery, who had eight touchdowns on 16 catches for 251 yards.
Brandon Hoch, St. Thomas Aquinas
Former: West Boca Raton
West Boca’s existing and incoming stars are probably going to make it hard for the Bulls to really feel Hoch’s absence. Time will tell how the junior cements himself into the powerhouse program that is reigning state champion St. Thomas Aquinas. Opposite West Boca quarterback Mason Mallory, the 6-foot-3, 185 pound FAU receiver commit caught 22 passes for 485 yards and nine touchdowns.
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 12 transfers that will impact Palm Beach County high school football teams in 2024
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