Huge Florida Linemen Bound To Have Huge Senior Seasons

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Marcus Benjamin

The big boys on the line often determine the outcomes of games.  Football is a game of inches and offensive and defensive line positions are the most important when it comes to pushing for that inch.  Linemen are not necessarily the glamour positions of the sport, but they are extremely valuable to the football team and often undervalued by non-football enthusiasts.  

Florida would not be considered a haven for elite O and D-lineman, but the state has produced their fair share over the years that can compete with any state in the country.  Of the 8 semifinalists for the Outland Trophy which awards the most outstanding interior lineman in college football, zero came from the sunshine state.

The first rounders selected on the offensive and defensive line in the 2018 NFL draft were from nine different states with one (Isaiah Wynn, Lakewood, St. Petersburg, FL) representing Florida.  

The 2018 Pro Bowl revealed that only Maurkice Pouncey (Lakeland, FL) earned a starting selection from Florida on the line.

The 2020 class is looking to start of a new wave of elite big eaters from the peninsula in the southeast.  The following linemen are making some noise this off-season and surely will continue to do so this fall and beyond.  

 

2020 Class

Chantz Williams DL (Oakleaf, Orange Park) The 6’4” 220-pound edge rusher has ideal size to come off of the edge. He scored a 104.82 composite score at the Regional Opening and was invited to the opening finals as a result. The two-sport four-star athlete from Orange Park also plays basketball and has a legitimate chance to be a five-star edge rusher.  He was also awarded the defensive line MVP at the Rivals camp last month. He has Georgia, Miami, Florida, Florida State and Alabama in his top 5.

Click Here for Chantz Williams Game Film

Clyde Pinder DL (Armwood, Seffner) Pinder dominated in one-on-one drills at The Opening Regionals in Miami and Orlando.  The 6’1 300 pounder received recent offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech and Tulane and made recent visits to USF and visited Clemson last weekend for their Spring game.

Click Here for Clyde Pinder Game Film

Elijah Roberts DL (Columbus, Miami) The “Big 3” of Florida are all looking to land this athletic defensive lineman. West Virginia and Georgia Tech are also vying for Roberts’ talents. Tech offered the former Miami commit during the Football Hotbed college tour back in January.  The 6’3” 270-pound four-star end had a strong showing at the three stripe camp back in March and should have a stellar senior season.

Click Here for Elijah Roberts Game Film

Evan Anderson OL (Jones, Orlando) The underrated prospect is starting to make some noise this off-season.  At 6’3” 325 pounds, Anderson is currently ranked as a two-star guard by 247 and a three-star by Rivals. He was one of the top performers at the Opening Regional in Orlando and should with his rating in the upcoming months.

Click Here for Evan Anderson Game Film

Gerald Mincey OL (Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale) Former Kentucky commit towers at 6’6” 320 and has recently received offers from Florida State, NC State, Boston College and Miami.  Mincey made the trip to the University of Miami and Florida in March, which many presume are the two current favorites for the tackle but now after a recent visit to Florida State, the Noles now seemingly are also in the mix.

Click Here for Gerald Mincey Game Film

Gervon Dexter DL (Lake Wales) The Florida Gators commit earned an invite to the Opening Finals based on a strong showing in Orlando.  At 6’6” 270 the massive prospect is tough to budge and has great quickness at the point of attack. Before heading to the Finals in Texas in June, Dexter made the trip to Florida State last weekend.

Click Here for Gervon Dexter Game Film

Henry Bryant III DL (Atlantic, Delray) HBIII is one of the more underrated prospects in South Florida. The athletic D-tackle has good strength and can flat out move.  Bryant saw many reps at running back last year which gives you an idea on just how athletic the 5’11” 280 pounder can be. Bryant recently received offers from West Virginia and Wake Forest after taking home the DL MVP honor at The Opening in Miami.   

Click Here for Henry Bryant III Game Film

Jalen Rivers OL (Oakleaf, Orange Park) The tackle earned the MVP at the Rivals Three Stripe Camp this off-season and is looking to build his resume.  The Under Armour All-American stands at 6’6” 325 pounds and visited Florida State last weekend. 

Click Here for Jalen Rivers Game Film

Jejuan Sparks DL (Clearwater International) After a dominant performance at the Opening which saw him earn MVP honors, Sparks will be looking to ascend among the ranks in his senior season.  The Canadian prospect was part of a Clearwater International team that produced three power 5 prospects and Sparks was the largest among them at 6’2” 335 pounds. Look for D-1 programs to jump on this prospect who currently does not have a power 5 offer.

Click Here for Jejuan Sparks Game Film

Josh Griffis DL (IMG, Bradenton) The former Florida Gator commit has great technique in one on one situations.  At 6’4” 230 pounds the athletic defensive end has what it takes to be an impact player on the next level.  Alabama, Penn State, and Florida State seem to have the inside track after recent visits.

Click Here for Josh Griffis Game Video

Khristopher Love OL (American Heritage, Plantation) Love had nationally the best rating (95.07) at The Opening Regionals of lineman in the 2020 class and gained some power 5 offers as a result.  Utah, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Boston College, Wake Forest, and Kentucky are all looking to get Love on their campus. He was widely considered the best guard in the state in 5A last year and will have a senior season to continue to prove just how great he is.

Levontae Camiel DL (Columbia, Lake City) Camiel made a commitment to South Alabama about two weeks ago but he is likely to receive more offers after a strong off-season thus far.  He also held offers from FIU, FAU, and Cincinnati. He was the arguably one of the best edge rushers at The Opening Regional in Orlando. The 6’1 200 pounder three-star from Lake City stated his recruitment is still open.

Click here for Levontae Camiel Game Film

Marcus Dumervil OL (St. Thomas Aquinas) Dumervil visited LSU last weekend and he currently holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Oklahoma.  At 6’5” 300 teams are salivating to land the four-star. He has over 40 total scholarship offers and Dumervil is also planning to visit Oklahoma next week.

Richard Leonard OL (Cocoa) The Kentucky Wildcats continue to build a pipeline from the Sunshine to the Bluegrass state and get a great prospect with Leonard.  He secured the offensive line MVP at regional finals and continues to build on the 6’4” 285-pound frame.

Samuel Anaele DL (Carol City) The explosive defensive end is solid with his commitment to the U and the Hurricanes should know they have a player that can be one of the special defenders to ever play at Miami.  The Under Armour All-American most recently visited Auburn and Florida.

Click Here for Samuel Anaele Game Film

Thomas Schrader OL (Venice) Has gained offers from Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and West Virginia. Schrader has great balance and moves well for his size at 6’4″ 272 pounds. Florida State, Tulane, Illinois, and Indiana were also schools that offered previously and Schrader planned to visit Florida and Auburn this off-season. He also made an unofficial to Miami back in February and was at Florida State last weekend.

Westley Neal DL (Gulliver, Miami) The 5’11” 300 pounder is one of the most athletic football players in all of South Florida right now.  Neal lifted 400 pounds on the bench press for his weightlifting team and can also has some hops on the basketball court. West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Ohio and FAU offered the four-star.  Neal recently visited Florida and FAU.

Click Here for Westley Neal Game Film

Zach Perkins OL (Berkeley Prep, Tampa) The massive tackle from Tampa stands at 6’5” 310 and is looking to follow in the footsteps of former number offensive lineman in the country Nicholas Petit-Frere.  Petit-Frere is now at Ohio State and Perkins now has offers from Bowling Green, Tulane, Wofford, Southern, and Tennessee Tech after placing in the final 5 at the Opening Regionals in Orlando. Perkins visited Minnesota, Tulane, Western Kentucky, and Western Michigan thus far this year.

Click Here for Zach Perkins Game Film

Other 2020 Rising Linemen

Johnny Reid, DL, Miami Northwestern

Click Here for Johnny Reid Game Film

Khaya Wright, DL, South Miami

Click Here for Khaya Wright Game Film

Denolus Kabir, OL, Glades Central

Click Here for Delonus Kabir Game Film

 

 

About Marcus Benjamin

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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