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The 2020 high school football season in Florida is still under a cloud of uncertainty. The season could be delayed to as far as the Spring depending on the rulings yet to be decided from the Florida High School Athletic Association. In the midst of this uncertainty, Football Hotbed will do its part in showcasing talent from the youth to high school levels. On August 8th, Hotbed is scheduled to hold its next football showcase in Orlando where diamonds in the rough will get to shine. Here is some of the talent that will be on display.
Quarterbacks
The cream of the crop of this showcase is at the quarterback position. Young signal-callers are coming into Orlando from as far as the state of Washington to refine and elevate their skills under the guidance of Future 4 Head Coach Drew Phillips. Here are some of the talented participants looking to get better next Saturday.
Collin Hurst, Western (Davie, FL)
The 2023 QB Hurst has top-level scrambling ability running a 4.6 40 time and is downright dangerous in the open field. Hurst can throw accurately on the run and throws an effective deep ball that allows his receivers make the catch. The sophomore prospect is sharp throwing the inside slant routes delivering the ball with velocity to playmakers enabling his receivers to make big runs after the catch.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Collin Hurst
Fernando Mendoza, Columbus (Miami, FL)
The transfer from Belen Jesuit to Columbus will have an opportunity to take over a team that won its first state championship in school history. Based on his game film, the Exlplorers should be in good hands should they go with the junior under center.
At 6’3″ 212 pound Mendoza has ideal quarterback size and should be an exceptional pocket passer on the next level. The 2022 prospect does have great footwork inside and outside of the pocket. Mendoza rarely makes mistakes and knows how to take care of the football. The strong armed passer arguabley has the best upside on this list.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Fernando Mendoza
Skylar Cassell, West Valley (Yakima, WA)
The sophomore is a polished quarterback out of the state of Washington. The 2023 prospect is flawless with the play-action pass and the ball rifles off of his arm into his receivers’ hands. Cassel throws a nice deep ball and has tremendous accuracy at a young age. Cassell has the ability to keep the play alive when scrambling out of the pocket and can throw for distance on the run. Even off of his back foot, the incoming sophomore can generate velocity with his throws and leads his receivers to open spaces giving his teammates opportunities to make plays. Cassell likely will be four to five-star prospect if he continues to improve.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Skylar Cassell
Alberto Mendoza, Belen Jesuit (Miami, FL)
The 2024 quarterback has a quick release and seems to know where to go with the football pre-snap. Mendoza (brother of Fernando) is exceptionally accurate connecting with his receivers on short and intermediate routes. This is a kid that you can tell works on his footwork and his mechanics because the freshman is seldom out of place before he lets go of the football. His delivery of the football is intentional and it will be interesting to see what his ceiling will be in years to come.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Alberto Mendoza
Devon Prokopiak, North Port, FL
Prokopiak is a high-level athlete playing the position of quarterback. He can play a variety of positions but probably would be most effective as a slot receiver. Prokopiak tends to scramble first before looking downfield and improvises when he gets outside of the pocket. He throws a decent fade pass but he definitely is the most dangerous playing backyard football and creating something out of nothing, which quite frankly is fun to watch.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Devon Prokopiak
Ethan Rice, River Ridge, (New Port Richey, FL)
The young quarterback out of New Port Richey is decisive with the football and gets the ball to his playmakers in a hurry. Short and intermediate routes seem to be his strong suit and Rice is not afraid to tuck it and run if his first and second option is not available. Rice can hit the corner route with accuracy and connects with his receivers with regularity throwing on the run.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Ethan Rice
Gavin Henley, Lennard, (Ruskin, FL)
The 2022 prospect has above-average arm strength and can make a variety of throws. Henley does go through his progressions quickly and is not afraid to check down to a short distance option. Henley drives the ball into tight windows and puts touch on the ball when needed.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Gavin Henley
Aaron Parsons, Piper, (Sunrise, FL)
Parsons is another 2022 gunslinger that fires the ball into the belly of his pass-catchers. Parsons seems to know exactly where he is going with the football and is not afraid to step up in the pocket and make a play. The junior is an accurate pocket passer that can run if the pocket collapses but he does consistently keep his eyes downfield in hopes of bigger gains.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Aaron Parsons
Drew Bunn, Shorecrest Prep, (St. Petersburg, FL)
The 2023 signal-caller Drew Bunn has encouraging upside and can develop into high-level quarterback down the line. Bunn could excel in an RPO type of offense as he has above average athleticism and gains positive yards on the ground when his number is called.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Drew Bunn
Chris Stephenson, Cambridge Christian, (Tampa, FL)
The incoming 10th grader excels with the deep ball throws and has a special ability to throw his receivers open for big gainers. The 2023 prospect can get chunk yards on the ground as well as make defenders miss in the open field. Stephenson is also not afraid of contact so opposing defenders better be prepared not to arm tackle the sophomore.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Chris Stephenson
William Chase Carter, Edgewater, (Orlando, FL)
The sophomore gets the ball out of his hand very quickly and is deliberate with where he wants to put the football. Carter is an accurate passer that excels in ball placement and keeps his head up when moving outside of the pocket. The 2023 quarterback certainly can develop into a D-1 type of quarterback with his given arm strength.
Click Here For Game Highlights For William Chase Carter
Elijah Brown, Seffner Christian, FL
The 2024 prospect is yet another young talented quarterback with immense upside. The strong arm talent throws the football accurately and has the athleticism to scramble for yardage when all else fails.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Elijah Brown
Cedquan Smith, Plantation, FL
The senior excels in ball placement on the deep ball and intermediate routes. The 2021 quarterback can throw on the run and is also efficient with hitting the quick slant routes over the middle. The lefty has a unique skill set that can be effective on the next level.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Cedquan Smith
Blake Birchler, Osceola (Kississmmee, FL)
The 2022 quarterback has the ability to step into the pocket and find the open receiver. He has prototypical size and can develop into a solid pocket passer on the college level.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Blake Birchler
Brandon Royal
The 2024 prospect already has a very strong arm and can develop into highly sought after recruit.
Click Here For Highlights For Brandon Royal
Joseph Tenta
The 2024 quarterback is a versatile athlete with tremendous upside. Tenta was one of the top performers at the Future 4 competition.
Click Here For Highlights For Joseph Tenta
Skills Players (RB, WR, TE, LB, DB)
Wesley Bissainthe, Miami Central
Bissainthe is a monster coming off of the edge. The 6’1” 200 pound outside linebacker has elite speed coming off the edge and will be a contributor on the field in college. Bissainthe also has the ability to drop off in coverage, make interceptions and return the football for big yardage and scoring touchdowns. The 2022 talent can take over a game and the opposing offense will painfully regret to not account for the linebacker on every play.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Wesley Bissainthe
DeMario Tolan, Tahopegalia, (Kississimme, FL)
Tolan can simply do it all on the football field on both offense and defense. The 2022 prospect can accelerate with the football on offense or close quickly on the ball carrier on defense. Tolan has nifty moves in the open field to avoid defenders and is not afraid to lower his shoulder to drive for extra yardage. At 6’3” 205 pounds Tolan can be a contributor at linebacker or wide receiver at the D-1 level.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Demario Tolan
Dominic Shields, Merrit Island, FL
The junior running back can get north and south in a hurry. From the backfield, he can find a crease and get positive yardage very quickly and at wide receiver, he has reliable hands and can make defenders miss in the open field. The 2022 athlete can get you chunk yards given the right opportunity and can be a solid change of pace back on the college level.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Dominic Shields
Luke Harding, The Villages, FL
Harding is a prospect that can eventually contribute on a D-1 level. The senior can play a variety of positions and also can contribute on special teams coverage. The senior has good size at 6’2” 190 pounds and has descent hands catching the football.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Luke Harding
Ricky Harding, The Villages, FL
Ricky Harding like his older relative can also contribute in a variety of ways but I see him as a solid slot receiver on the D-1 level. He has great speed as a 2023 prospect and will only get faster. He shows toughness and tenacity on the defensive side of the ball and has good upside at this point in his career.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Ricky Harding
Sam Cheek, River Ridge, New Port Richey, FL
Cheek has natural football instincts and can develop into a legit slot receiver in the future. The 2023 player can move the football upfield in a hurry and could be a reliable chain mover in the upcoming years.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Sam Cheek
Orison Domingo, Taravella, (Coral Springs, FL)
Domingo has the ability to catch the football in traffic and has some elusiveness in the open field. The young slot receiver needs more opportunites to show what he can do.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Orison Domingo
Lineman (OL, DL)
Cole Best, Trinity Prep, (Winter Park, FL)
The senior defensive end at 6’4″ 265 pounds is a three sport athlete (football, basketball and track and field) that consistently penetrates the offensive line on tape. He also gets reps at offensive tackle where he simply mauls who is lined up across from him. Best has great mobility and footwork and flattens the opposition with a full head of steam.
Click Here For Game Highlights For Cole Best
Other Notable Players
Jadyn Glasser, Tampa, FL
Will Haines, Columbus, GA
Joe Kelly, New Port Richey, FL
Landon Wilkes, Winter Haven, FL
Luke Warnock, Coral Springs, FL
Danny Bitting, Wildwood, FL
Sakae Hall, Tampa, FL
Jack Sutherland, New Port Richey, FL
TJ Kelly, Pompano Beach
Ty Walker, Miami, FL
Jerrell Williams, Weston, FL
Jeremey West-Pirtle
Mitchell Ramsey
Antawon Foulkes
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