It’s no secret that the state of Florida is a top destination on the recruiting trail for college coaches. The amount of quality players seems to be never ending as college football programs from all divisions take annual visits to the Sunshine State.
With such a deep pool of elite prospects to choose from in various sections of the state, there’s bound to be sleepers in each class. Here’s a list of defensive backs from the 2020 & 2021 classes that are soon to pop up on the radar of your favorite college team.
2020 CB Ra’Mello Dotson (Mainland) – Ra’Mello Dotson is a pure athlete that has the size, speed, and football IQ to match up well against any receiver in his class. He is a willing tackler and dangerous when the ball touches his hands. Dotson also tracks the ball well in the air like a receiver which will pay dividends for the Mainland secondary in 2018.
2020 CB Dexter Rentz (Ocoee) – Ocoee’s Dexter Rentz has a nose for the football. Last season against West Port, Rentz pulled down five interceptions, tying the state record for most interceptions in a single game. Mr. 2 Piece is a hidden gem in the Class of 2020.
2020 CB Daryl Porter Jr. (American Heritage) – Daryl Porter Jr. is a scrappy up and coming cornerback from Class 5A State Champion, American Heritage. Porter does not give up much in coverage and is next in line to continue the tradition of strong cornerback play for American Heritage. The Patriots will start the 2018 season on a 27-game winning streak in hopes to secure their fifth state title in six seasons. Porter and company will play a big part in the future success of the program.
2020 CB Rony Bourdeau Jr. (Champagnat Catholic) – What Rony Bourdeau Jr. lacks in size, he makes up in heart and his passion for the game. Local coaches have gone as far to compare Bourdeau to current University of Miami CB Trajan Bandy. They display the same gritty playing style and knack to force turnovers on the back end.
2020 CB Tyler Ford (St. Cloud) – Keep an eye out for St. Cloud sleeper, Tyler Ford. He has great route recognition and anticipation, often beating receivers to the spot and snagging interceptions. Ford has been busy this offseason competing against talent in his recruiting class. He should put together a good body of work during his junior campaign.
2020 S Jaheim Mayes (Palm Bay) – Jaheim Mayes plays football at a different speed. The versatile Palm Bay product looks like a natural fit at defensive back and consistently makes plays for the Pirates. Mayes possesses the ability to diagnose offensive plays quickly and gets to the football in a hurry.
2021 CB Charles Brantley (Riverview) – Logging playing time as a freshman and recording multiple interceptions in Class 8A Florida High School Football is no laughing matter making Charles Brantley a serious prospect to watch over the next three seasons. The Riverview product is frequently in position to make plays on defense and special teams.
2021 CB Julius Gardner (Citrus) – Julius Gardner had an eye-opening season as a freshman starter for Citrus HS. He excelled both in coverage and also made big plays in the return game. He’s going to be an impressive prospect to track throughout his high school career.
2021 CB Reggie Kyler (Eastside) – Rising Sophomore Reggie Kyler looked right at home on the Varsity stage last season as a freshman. Kyler is a premiere playmaker in the Class of 2021. The future looks bright for the young Gainesville product.
2021 CB Ernest Ricks (Mandarin) – Ernest Ricks woke up a lot of people this offseason by putting his cover skills on display at big-time college camps. He has all of the intangibles to become an elite prospect in the years to come. Expect a breakout sophomore campaign from Ricks as his recruiting stock begins to heat up.
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