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Teams and Players That Impressed At South Florida Scrimmages

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After a year hiatus, spring football returned to South Florida.  The COVID-19 pandemic ultimately canceled all spring football activities in 2020 and the Tri-County area was affected more than any other area in the sunshine state. This year has been a gradual return to normalcy and the proceedings of spring football games have signified that 2021 will be more of a conventional year.  

Saturday, scrimmages were held at Ives Estate Park in North Dade County, mainly for referees to train for the upcoming football season.  Getting a chance to see some of the best high school football teams in real game action felt like make-up gifts from the lost Spring of 2020.

 

Teams That Impressed

Homestead Broncos 

The Broncos lost big to Venice in the 7A regional finals 50-13 last season after a shortened season in which they played three regular-season games.  Homestead went (1-2) in the regular season with one of its losses to Miami Edison.  The Red Raiders won convincingly 46-20 over the Broncos which would jumpstart a resurgent season for the team from Little Haiti head coached by Miami hip-hop great, Luther Campbell.  Edison would be shut out in the 3A regional final by Chaminade-Madonna 28-0 to end its 2020 season.

Homestead and Edison was the first matchup of the day and arguably the best.  Both teams went back and forth trading touchdowns as there was no team clearly better than the other as the game had a running clock for the entire second half.  

Incoming sophomore quarterback Joshua Townsend had the most impressive run of the day as he weaved through the Red Raider defense for a long touchdown run.


Townsend would also connect with Richard Dandridge for a nice touchdown throw and catch.  The incoming junior Dandridge holds offers from Texas A&M, West Virginia, and Syracuse.  


Senior running back Tyrone Maxwell also had a big run this game and also made plays in the defensive backfield.  


Homestead has a great chance to win the district despite Miami Southridge moving up from 6A to 7A this season.  

 

Gulliver Raiders

This team has what it takes to make a deep run in the 4A state playoffs.  The Raiders have a legitimate leader in Tulane commit Carson Haggard.  The senior quarterback was in total control of the offense and has versatile weapons at his disposal.  


De’Carlo Donaldson, Jalen Brown, and Travious Lathan may be the best trio of wide receivers in Class 4A in the entire state.  The senior tight end Donaldson, is also committed to Tulane, while junior receiver Brown holds offers from the big four in Florida (Miami, Florida, FSU, UCF) and also Georgia, Tennessee, and Auburn from the SEC.  


Lathan might be the most fascinating prospect on the Raider roster.  The senior linebacker had plenty of looks at wide receiver and used his big frame (6-2, 200) to shield off defenders to catch touchdown passes from Haggard.  Lathan holds offers from Oregon, Florida, Florida State, and Miami and is set to visit Indiana, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia.  

Also Impressing on the day was Florida State commit Lamont Green Jr.  The defensive end broke the offensive line of Somerset Pembroke Pines with relative ease Saturday.  Green has the potential to be a five-star if he has a big junior season.  

It seems to be a two-team race for the 4A state title in the 2021 season with Gulliver and defending state champion Cardinal Gibbons. The Raiders lost to the Chiefs 29-7 last season in the regional semifinals.

 

Dade Christian Crusaders

The new contenders in 2A gave the mighty Northwestern Bulls a run for their money in one half of play Saturday.  Both teams played to a 7-7 tie.

Will Fowles is the player to watch this season with this Crusader offense.  The tall big receiver (6-2, 200) was one of the top performers at the 2020 Football Hotbed Camp preseason camp in Orlando and will continue to move up recruiting boards for the best college football teams in the country.  The junior receiver holds offers from Miami, Florida State, and Texas A&M and got into the end zone against Northwestern on the Crusader’s first drive.   


Also impressing on the day was Crusader senior running back Joshua Webbe.  The senior running back creates balance to the Dade Christian offense and broke several Northwestern tacklers in the half. 

Joshua Webbe, Running Back, Dade Christian

Dade Christian is a legitimate contender in 2A and this could be a two-horse race between The Crusaders and the defending 2A state champions Champagnat Catholic Lions.

 

Co-MVPs

My personal MVPs for the scrimmage go to Nathaniel Joseph, wide receiver, Miami Edison and Sedrick Irvin Jr., running back, Gulliver (Pinecrest), and Jamari Ford, running back, Miami Northwestern.

Nathaniel Joseph is a precise route runner with blazing speed.  Joseph, also known as “Ray Ray,” can make tough catches in space as well.  The junior single-handedly can keep Edison in games this season. Just get him the ball in space and watch him work. 


Joseph holds offers from Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, FSU, and UCF. Joseph will be visiting FSU, UCF, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, and Clemson in June.


Sedrick Irvin Jr. is in my top five for running backs in South Florida.  The junior is a versatile back that is decisive in running the football and is dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield.  Irvin scored twice on the day (one on the ground and one through the air).

Jamari Ford is also in my top five for running backs in South Florida.  Ford is a potential big play waiting to happen when he gets the ball in his hands.  Ford took a 50-yard catch for a touchdown against Dade Christian virtually untouched.  

Jamari Ford, Running Back, Miami Northwestern

Honorable Mentions

Jai Ayviauynn Celestine – The Miami Palmetto receiver had a big catch and run against Miami Norland. The senior also made big plays on defense.

Jai Ayviauynn Celestine, Athlete, Maimi Palmetto

Javin Simpkins – Miami Norland running back got loose for some big gains in an even match against Miami Palmetto.  The junior Georgia Tech commit has a high ceiling and gives you everything you want in a running back. 

Francois Nolton – The Edison defender stood out on defense and his presence was felt. The Florida Gators commit had a few tackles, a sack and had to be accounted for on every play. 

British Mitchell – The former Chaminade-Madonna receiver will be a vital asset for the Red Raider offense.  He took advantage of his opportunities when called. Expect more of that from the junior this season.


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Marcus Benjamin works as the senior writer and editor for FootballHotbed.com. He attended Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University completing a bachelors degree in communications in 2010. He's covered high school football in the South Florida area since 2010 for the Miami Herald, Miami Sports Tribune and ShawSports.net. He is married and lives in Fort, Lauderdale, FL.

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