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Deerfield Beach, FL — What has become an annual tradition for the Deerfield Beach Bucks football team has now become a major event. As a prelude to the regular season, some of the more sought after prospects on the team announce where they intend to play college football the following year. Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) and Ge’mon Eaford (Oregon) are just a couple players in previous years to announce their commitment just before the football season begins.
“This is something that is penciled into our calendar year in year out,” said Head Coach Jevon Glenn. “We hope it gets bigger and bigger. It’s just a proud day for our program.”
This year the event was held at a nearby Duffy’s Bar and Grill with nearly half of the venue full of Buck Pride with hundreds of friends and family in attendance. The big crowd was there to see seniors Kervins Choute, Bryce Gowdy, Deajuan McDougle and Jaylan Knighton all announce where they will play college football. Coach Glenn explains that encouraging the players to commit before the season starts is strategic.
“With guys of this caliber with so many universities pulling and tugging for their attention, we want to get it out of the way so they can get back to a sense of normalcy. All four of those guys will be early graduates and we want to just get back to football. We have a big challenge ahead of us and we want to make history.”
Deerfield Beach will be seeking their first state championship in school history and opens with a preseason game against 5A defending state champions Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).
Four-star all-purpose back Jaylan Knighton committed to Florida State to conclude the evening’s announcements. The former Oklahoma commit Knighton chose the Seminoles over Miami, Clemson, LSU and Ohio State. All announcements were aired live on The Tony Sands Radio Show on iHeart Radio.
Senior @DB_BucksFB running back @jaylan_knighton described his visit last week to @FSUFootball as “unexplainable.”
Coach Taggert and Coach Pimpleton closed the deal on the explosive all-purpose back. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/DLGm7WZTs4— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 31, 2019
“Florida State is the best school for me,” said Knighton. “It’s a rebuilding program and I want to be apart of a rebuilding program. I’m 100% committed to Florida State so now we are chasing a championship for Deerfield Beach High School.”
This was a two-team race between Ohio State and FSU and his visit to Tallahassee last week at their annual June skill camp sealed the deal for Knighton and the Noles.
Also staying close to home was three-star defensive end Kervins Choute. The 6’3” 251 pound senior elected to stay in the sunshine state despite offers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Washington State, Missouri, Maryland and many others.
Deerfield Beach DE of the 2020 class @bigchoute0 commits to @UCF_Football. @DB_BucksFB @FootballHotbed @tonysands24 pic.twitter.com/UMwyTxTU2n
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 30, 2019
“The moment I stepped onto the campus I felt the energy over there,” said Choute. “I’m one of the few that gets to go to college so that’s a big thing.”
Four-star wide receiver Bryce Gowdy decided to go live on instagram just before his announcement to announce that he is taking his talents to Georgia Tech. This was a two team race between Syracuse and and the Yellow Jackets. Former Temple Head Coach Geoff Collins is taking over for Tech so the run-heavy triple option will no longer be focal point of the offense. Location and a change in offensive philosophy were the critical factors for the senior’s commitment.
“If they didn’t have a new offense I was definitely going to Syracuse,” said Gowdy. “It was toe to toe with Syracuse and Georgia Tech but what really took it away was really Atlanta. Syracuse was cool but it wasn’t Atlanta.”
Senior @DB_BucksFB wide receiver @SkayeBryce said the change in offense and location were the most important factors influencing his decision to commit to @GeorgiaTechFB. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/44BPXW32Gq
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 31, 2019
Three-star wide receiver Deajaun McDougle chose the Maryland Terrapins over South Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon and Purdue. McDougle joins fellow South Floridian four-star Ruben Hyppolite (McArthur, Hollywood) for the 2020 class and is hoping to continue a pipeline from South Florida to Maryland.
The sure-handed receiver from @DB_BucksFB @Goatboidea is committed to @TerpsFootball. Big get for the Maryland 2020 class as he hesitated with grabbing the Ohio State hat before making his decision. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/SrxH7U0lCA
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) July 31, 2019
“It seems like we both have a chance to come in and have an immediate impact on the team,” said McDougle referring to himself and Hyppolite. “I’m hoping me and Ruben and everybody can start a pipeline and [get] other guys from South Florida [to Maryland].”
Coach Glenn brought the entire team up to Maryland among other colleges this spring.
“They trust me with their lives and I try to give them everything I got every day,” said Coach Glenn. “That’s the type of give and give relationship we’ll have for the rest of our lives.”
The Bucks suffered a deflating defeat to Miami Columbus in the 8A state semifinals last season. and first regular season game at Miami Carol City.
