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Palm Beach Lakes, FL — Spring football provides a platform for players to show what they can do in the upcoming season and on the next level. Saturday Palm Beach Lakes hosted their 4th Annual Spring Football Extravaganza. Eight teams were in attendance from as north as Brevard County to as South as Dade County. Each team played four quarters of football which provided plenty for the many college coaches on hand to evaluate talent. Some of the colleges represented by coaches on the field Saturday were Buffalo, FAU, Florida A&M, Florida State, Georgia State, Keiser, Kent State, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Southern Miss, Syracuse, UCF, USF, Utah, Valdosta State, and Washington State.
Canes Target Dominating On Both Sides
One of the top performers of the day was Miami Hurricanes target, 2020 Rockledge running back Ladarius Tennison. Coaches from Miami were in attendance including co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda. Tennison had two forced fumbles including a strip sack on the afternoon. He also scored rushing and receiving the football. Tennison plans to visit North Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, and Miami this Summer.
“I’m close with the coaches at Miami,” said Tennison. “I’m building relationships with them. I talk with them every day.”
The former Miami commit is still looking to keep his options open but has not set a date yet on committing to a school. He has over 20 offers from ‘Power 5’ schools.
Rockledge Will Have Something To Say In 5A
Rockledge is going to be a team to be reckoned with in the new 5A come fall. They are stocked with talent and will challenge Miami Northwestern, American Heritage (Plantation), Tampa Jesuit, Jones (Orlando) and defending 4A champion Raines (Jacksonville) for the state title. They dismantled Stranahan 33-0 in game one and fell just short of defeating 8A contender Miami Palmetto 21-14.
The running game for the Raiders of Brevard County does not stop with just Tennison. Rockledge has two other capable 2020 backs in Michael Alves and Avery Smith. Both players broke several tackles and seemed as if they could break one loose at any moment. Junior quarterback Elias Allen looked comfortable throwing from the pocket and got the ball to his many playmakers. Sophomore Rahiem Sanders, junior Demetrius Robinson, and sophomore Rian Black were among the pass catchers that made plays all over the field. Black earned an offer from Miami and like many of his teammates plays both sides of the ball and made big gains catching the football.
Defensively for Rockledge, juniors Dasani Robinson and Zachary Lovett were consistently in the backfield causing disruption. The defense recorded three safeties against Stranahan alone. Look for both players to gain major offers in the upcoming months. Look for sophomore cornerback Virgil Marshall to have a break-out season as he displayed his coverage skills and snagged an interception closing in on the football.
The Undefeated
Going 2-0 on the day were 8A teams Miami Palmetto and Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie).
After edging Rockledge, the sole team from Dade County shut out Palm Beach Lakes 6-0. Palmetto is primed to return to the playoffs and make more noise than they did last season. Returning big-play receivers Brashard Smith and Kentron Poitier should have strong junior and senior campaigns.
After a recovery of the football in the end zone for a touchdown for Rockledge, @BrashardS of @PantherPride305 electrifies crowd with a touchdown catch and run where spins out of a tackle. Score 21-14 Panthers #HeLoose @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/gIhL5qSeuN
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 18, 2019
Both scored touchdowns Saturday along with junior receiver Jason Marshall and should score plenty this fall with new sophomore quarterback Kevin Smith at the helm.
Jason Marshall of the 2021 class scores here for @PantherPride305. Palmetto score first on Rockledge. 💨💨💨@FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/BSHNfSOu1t
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 18, 2019
Juniors Leonard Taylor and Trevon Ball seemed to always be in the right place at the right time defensively for the Panthers. Senior David Ealey was also in on plenty of tackles and gives Palmetto run support with the talented junior Corey Collier lurking in the defensive backfield.
Treasure Coast is looking to build on last year’s success. The Titans got by Glades Central (Belle Glade) 12-7 in game one and overwhelmed Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) 26-6 in game two. Senior running back Sean Miller had an 88-yard touchdown run against BA and quarterback Jonius Watkins ran for 50-yard touchdown against GC.
Titans topping my list of play-makers were 2020 RB Joey Fleurjuste, 2020 DE Jerry Jean-Louis and 2020 DL Derek Wright.
Is the Muck Back?
The Raiders of Glades Central is another team looking to build on their playoff run from the previous season. GC went 1-1 on the day defeating Plantation 21-15 in game one, then losing to Treasure Coast in game two. The boys from Belle Glade are never short on play-makers and have two receivers with great size and strength in seniors Desna Washington and Ja’Vontae Williams.
The 6’5” @desnawashingto2 receiver will be a matchup nightmare for smaller defensive backs. This was caught out of bounds but he will prove to be a constant threat for @GCHSRaiders. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/KivmqD2fa9
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 19, 2019
Junior running back Jaheim Humphries provides a trifecta for senior quarterback Marion Moreland that will be tough to stop for opposing defenders.
Ja’Vontae Williams @oneewayTank AKA ‘Tank’ can run every route on the route tree. Watch him come across the middle and get the first down. @FootballHotbed @GCHSRaiders pic.twitter.com/0PdzfgQC38
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) May 19, 2019
“I’ve been putting a lot of work in,” said Williams. “I think if we keep our heads focused we can [win a championship].”
Williams is receiving interest from Oregon, USF, and Florida. Williams earned an offer from Syracuse on the day.
Other Top Performers
Gerad Nesbitt, QB, Plantation
Jacolby George, WR, Plantation
Carl Pierre, WR, Plantation
Shomari Seymour, OT, Plantation
Cameron Palmer, RB Plantation
Kyle Walters, RB, Plantation
Akihrie Chiverton, DB, Plantation
De’Ante Dumelle, DB, Glades Central
Dave Herard, QB, Stranahan
Keyonte Fowler, DB, Glades Central
Ke’Shawn Shannon, LB, Glades Central
Jamall Browning, DT, Glades Central
Carlos Osborne, DT, Glades Central
Terrance Griffin, WR, Rockledge
Jaheim Mayes, DB, Rockledge
Jayden Cooper, DB, Treasure Coast
Alex Valverde, TE, Miami Palmetto
Mike Jackson, WR, Miami Palmetto
