With recruiting having become a year-round spectacle, it is now never too early to start looking ahead to the 2009 recruiting class in Miami-Dade and Broward. So, last week, a day after the 2008 class was complete, I sat down with recruiting guru Larry Blustein to compile Pre-Spring football rankings for next year's classes in Dade and Broward. This is what we came up with.
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD PRESPRING RANKINGS
1. Eugene Smith, QB, 6-3, 195, Miramar
2. Lamar Miller, RB, 5-11, 215, Killian
3. Oliver Vernon, DE, 6-3, 220, American
4. Dwayne Difton, WR, 6-1, 175, St. Thomas Aquinas
5. Frankie Telfort, LB, 5-11, 205, Gulliver Prep
6. Shane Gordon, LB, 6-1, 210, Cypress Bay
7. Ed Stinson, DE, 6-5, 235, South Dade
8. Antwan Lowery, DL, 6-3, 300, Columbus
9. Ricardo Dixon, DB, 6-0, 190, Hallandale
10. Brandon McGee, QB, 6-1, 180, Plantation
11. Xavier Rhodes, WR, 6-2, 180, Norland
12. Trabis Ward, RB, 5-10, 200, Ft. Lauderdale Dillard
13. Brandon Taylor, DL, 6-1, 295, Dr. Krop
14. Rodney Smith, WR, 6-5, 201, Archbishop Carroll
15. Tevin McCaskill, S, 6-1, 190, Northwestern
16. Duron Carter, WR, 6-1, 180, St. Thomas Aquinas
17. Jamaal Berry, RB, 5-11, 190, Miami Palmetto
18. Sterling Griffin, S, 6-1, 175, Monsignor Pace
19. Quan Anthony Fletcher, LB , 6-2, 240, Dr. Krop
20. Natturner Harris, DB, 6-1, 180, Booker T. Washington
21. Jared Wheeler, OL, 6-6, 295, American Heritage
22. A'kevis Anderson, S, 5-10, 200, Hallandale
23. Victor Marc, QB, 6-1, 200, Hallandale
24. Michael Carter, CB , 6-0, 170, Ely
25. Nico Flores, QB, 6-3, 210, North Miami Beach
Others to watch
Miami-Dade: WR Kenny Whittaker, 5-11, 165, Columbus; WR Dontravious Floyd, 6-3, 205, South Dade; WR Gary Bush, 6-1, 180, Columbus; WR Darryl Williams, 5-9, 180, Palmetto; OL Danny Palacio, 6-3, 300, Archbishop Carroll; LB Daniel Mack, 6-0, 195, Dade Christian; DB Frank Crawford, 6-1, 180, Gulliver; DB David Ribero, 5-11, 170, Archbishop Carroll; DB Derrick Hopkins, 5-6, 160, Monsignor Pace.
Broward: QB Denard Robinson, 6-0, 190, Deerfield Beach; QB Ryan Becker, 6-0, 185, St. Thomas Aquinas; RB DeShaun Sands, 5-8, 175, Coconut Creek Monarch; WR Steadman Bailey, 6-1, 180, Miramar; OL Steven Jacques, 6-5, 280, South Broward; LB Connor O'Neill, 6-1, 180, Thomas Aquinas; LB Austin Gamble, 6-0, 205, Cypress Bay; LB Roderic Blount, 6-0, 200, Everglades; S Adrian Whitty, 5-11, 185, Deerfield Beach.
Feel free to give us your thoughts as time progresses. Obviously this is a very early list. We'll tinker with it after the spring games in May.
Also, be sure to checkout the latest edition of The Countdown, our high school podcast. It's the conversation Blustein and I had wrapping up the 2008 class and looking ahead to 2009.
-- MANNY NAVARRO
how about josh hill the runnign back who transferred from cooper city to american heritage? And jared wheeler is the top offensive lineman in the class of 09 in the state of florida why is he 21?
Posted by: big tuna | February 11, 2008 at 04:29 PM
I feel Jaamal Berry should have been in the top 10.
Posted by: Kennth Hall | February 11, 2008 at 11:51 PM
you guys should check out Coconut Creek's DE-Jonas Celian , Tackle- Steevens Simeon LB- Jordan Fowler
Posted by: larry | February 12, 2008 at 07:12 AM
you guys need to look into Coconut Creek high they have some talent representing the class of 09 LB-Jordan Fowler
DE-Jonas Celian Tackle-Steevens Simeon
Posted by: larry | February 12, 2008 at 08:55 AM
I watch STA and personally think that Gabrison Holmes should be on the list. He is a 6'6 TE who also plays basketball and is very athletic. He got some playing time this year, and judging how past STA basketball players (Marcus Gilbert, Leonard Hankerson, Jermaine Johnson) have done in football recruiting, I have a good feeling that he will be recruited by many of the top D-1 programs.
Posted by: John | February 12, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I think you left off Keith Reaser Miami Killian Cornerback. He covered Darryl Williams and the kid form south dade and held them them to three catches total.He is being recruited by major D1 schools.
Posted by: todt | February 12, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Tourek Williams from Norland will be a force!
Posted by: Football Guy | February 13, 2008 at 07:26 AM
even if it is a belen kid i think itd do a bit of justice to at least do a small piece on max martinez after his sparq showing. he is a homegrown dade kid..
Posted by: heresmyname | February 13, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Wheeler? Didn't we spank his big a** in the playoffs?? Dat big boi cant do nothin but jump offsides.
Posted by: achs | February 13, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Jaamal Berry should have been top 5 in my opinion that kid is a BEAST
Posted by: scout | February 13, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Pay attn SEC recruiting...Although Palmetto doesn't have an ideal line or a coach who likes the option, keep an eye on Berry.
Posted by: footballwatcher | February 14, 2008 at 07:47 PM
I can tell Manny N. made this list. He hates Belen. How about Max Martinez who had the highest national SPARQ rating in the country at a 116. How about a little bit of credit to Junior All-Dade running back Javi Sosa.
Posted by: Wolverine Fan | February 15, 2008 at 02:53 PM
how about givin a lil love 2 DARRYL WARD down @ HOMESTEAD HIGH SCHOOL he's da next big thing coming out of the school next year ask those guys @ COLUMBUS and SOUTHDADE about that #4 from HOMESTEAD!!!!
Posted by: miamibaking | February 15, 2008 at 05:44 PM
thats whats up! hallandale got three players in the top 25 ricardo dixon,a'kevis anderson, and victor marc. watch out i guarantee we winning state next year
Posted by: charger fan | February 15, 2008 at 06:42 PM
max martinez from belen jesuit. wasnt even put on all dade anywhere. 500 yards rushing and 150 receiving? snub at its finest. plus 116 sparq rating has colleges calling like crazy. redo this list bigtime
Posted by: wolverine fan | February 17, 2008 at 12:09 AM
antawn lowery shud be higher on this list. so shud jamaal berry. martinez had a very impressive combine and siad hed beat it in charlotte. well see because that was a rly good one. gary bush is a straight up athlete and if he has a good spring shud jump into the 25
Posted by: the scout | February 17, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Berry should be right there by Miller, I expect to see a big game out of both come Palmetto v. Killian. Any guy who can run without the sake of a good line, you need to give him credit, and Berry is that guy.
Posted by: Joe | February 18, 2008 at 06:33 PM
the combine hadnt taken place when this list was made. martinez is good though. berry vs miller shud be intense
Posted by: larry blustein | February 18, 2008 at 07:51 PM
either way wolverine fans martinez had 419 rushing and 70 recieving which doesn't even add up to 500 and you're talking about all dade?
Posted by: random | February 19, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Kevin Augustin (strong safety) philip Thomas (free safety) larry Mccoy (WR) Radshad Brynt (LB) Miami Edison Top Propects Class of 2009
Posted by: Edsion | February 20, 2008 at 11:06 AM
where is number 77 from BTW JOSE JOSE
Posted by: 2007 #99 BTW | February 21, 2008 at 10:35 PM
where is number 77 from BTW JOSE JOSE
Posted by: 2007 #99 BTW | February 21, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Corey Ammons #1 Terrance Taylor #2 from Archbishop Carroll should be on there as well.
Posted by: random | February 22, 2008 at 08:20 AM
How could you not put Desaun Sands(who led Broward County in rushing 6a,5a,4a) in your top 25 but you have Trabis Ward and Cris Carter's son who probably had 20 catches the whole season. Miami Heralds high school coverage is terrible right now. Why dont you guys just do Miami and let sun-sentinel do Broward. THANKS
Posted by: Ron Williams | February 27, 2008 at 09:40 AM
I'm looking at this list, some players played half of a season some played aganist no compitition. But Branden oliver RB of Southridge played aganist,Northwestern #1 in the nation, Booker T #9 in the nation and went head to head with lamar miller and out rushed him also beat them (killian) twice in one year,head to head with jamal berry and be them (palmetto) also.he ended year with 998 rushing, 143 receiving was in the top 5 backs in dade at the in of the regular season. fax not blow up give the kid a break ,give him his due.
Posted by: #1 fan | February 28, 2008 at 11:00 AM
best back at the ridge wasnt even oliver it was jeff scott. i bet he'll outrush oliver this year
Posted by: #1fan ???? | February 29, 2008 at 12:35 AM
um the herald is missing stats. martinez had a 100 more yards receiving and sosa had more yards rushing. just stop crying that belen owns you
Posted by: ye | February 29, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Frankie Teleford is WAY overrated. WAY...did I say he's overrated? Honestly he is a bust waiting to happen.
Posted by: Island Canes | March 01, 2008 at 01:08 PM
HOW BOUT THOSE 2 TWINS FROM NORTHEAST ISSAC AND JACOB GEFFARD AND CORNER WHO JUST TRANSSFERED THERE FROM S PLANT ERNEST FOX THOSE 3 ARE GETTING LOOKS FROM THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY
Posted by: WALTON ROBINSON | March 02, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Um this is to scout who posted something on Feb 13.....just because palmetto doesn't have an Offensive line that is a bunch of big brutes doesn't mean s***.. I think Karpiak and his fellas will get the job done.
Posted by: Underestimate? | March 02, 2008 at 08:36 PM
you guys should get a look at WR conner vernon from gulliver prep.
Posted by: anonymous | March 03, 2008 at 03:43 PM
GOOD AFTERNOON FOOOTBALL FANS JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY STEDMAN BAILEY OF MIRAMAR HIGH IS NOT IN THE TOP 10 OF BROWARD OR DADE COUNTY OF 2009 CLASS PRESEASON.BUT WE ALL KNOW IS NOT HOW U START IS HOW U END THE SEASON.THIS KID LEAD BROWARD AND DADE COUNTY IN TD, RECEIVING YARDS AND PLUS HE MISS 3 GAMES FROM LAST YEAR SEASON.FRIST ROUND GAME AT NMB THIS KID HAD 195 YARDS AND 2 TD.HE HAVE GREAT HANDS RUN GREAT ROUTES.(BEAT ALL BULLS,BOOKER T WIDEOUT'S)UMMM
Posted by: A FAN OG HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL | March 04, 2008 at 02:13 PM
TRABIS WARD IS THE BEST THING SMOKE RIGHT NOW AND HE IS NUMBER 12 ON THE LIST.
Posted by: BRIAN SMITH | March 14, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Woah ok so you are missing Ronnie Kennedy Form Plantation who should have been all everything at STA by playing db rb and returning kicks, josh robinson from plant who is ridiculously fast and is an effective receiver and db, steadman bailey he only lead both counties in yards and TDs, and Jason douglas frm Cypress who outrushed and scored everyone in broward except for sands yards and has elite speed.
Posted by: L Town | March 25, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Jeff Scott! please he didn't take one hand off. I guest thats why hes tranfering because he's so good. He's a quiter he quits every thing he starts. He may get a chance to play in 1a or 2a little lead football
Posted by: #1 fan | March 31, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Everyone stop talking about Max Martinez like he is good just because he can throw a medicine ball far. He hasn't done anything to show he can perform on the field and his 40 time isn't out of the ordinary. So until he shows that he is one of the top FOOTBALL PLAYERS in dade country everyone stop saying he should be on this list. He is good in the weight room, not on the football field, YET.
Posted by: belen | April 07, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Jonas Celian (Coconut Creek High School) should be ranked at least #10. This student-Athlete will be a very high prospect going into his senior year. Look out for JONAS CELIAN.
Posted by: Morris James | May 19, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Gabrison Holmes is heading to Purdue. Hope he has good hands because they will throw the ball to him a lot.
Our TE last year was drafted in the 1st round by the Jets.
Posted by: bonefish | November 06, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Wow, Im surprised that Jonas Celian (Coconut Creek) is not mentioned at all in your rankings. This kid is being recruited by USC, Penn State, UM, Oklahoma, and FSU. Makes me question the validity of these rankings.
Posted by: Jonathan Nye | January 01, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Watch Out For Miami Edison Up Coming class of 2010 Strong Saftey Jn-eddy Charles (5'10 190)
Posted by: Edison Football | January 02, 2009 at 01:58 PM