Spring Blitz: Identifying The Top Safety Duos in South Florida (Miami Palmetto)

Rising Stars will travel throughout So. Florida and spotlight the top position groups as spring football approaches. The first stop of the tour is my Alma Mater Miami Palmetto Sr., where head football coach Mike Manasco, has changed the culture, securing the first playoff victory since 2008. The Panthers 4-2-5 defense features arguably top class of 2019 safety tandem in Miami-Dade County with Eddie Williams (6-0, 180). and Miami Southwest transfer, Cornelius Nunn Jr. (5-11, 175). The tandem reunites after two years, as youth football teammates, capturing the Pop Warner Div.2 National Championship. Last fall, the Panthers attacking style defense featured little-known, but gifted safety Eddie Williams who played the rover (LB/SS) position within the secondary. Williams would earn second team all-county, racking up 96 tackles, 4 ints, 2 blocked punts and 1 special teams touchdown. Division one programs Penn State, LSU and Oregon are all looking at him. Williams, who carries a 2.85 weighted GPA, sports early verbal offers from the likes of Mississippi St, Syracuse and FAU. The bandit position could perfectly suit, Miami Southwest transfer Cornelius Nunn Jr, who can play both safety and cornerback equally as well including wide receiver. Nunn Jr, holds an offer from UAB and earned the prestigious Rising Stars All-South Florida Freshman Team. Nunn Jr, adds sure tackling to the defensive secondary, after recording 17 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 hurries and 1 force fumble in a single game vs. Belen Jesuit Preparatory. Nunn Jr, missed the early portion of the season but ended the remaining five games with 35 tackles, 3 force fumbles and 3 pass break ups. Fellow classmate, Cuevas Russ (5-10, 170) who lined up at both free and strong safety returns as a starter. The unheralded defensive back experienced nagging injuries, but still earned all-county honorable mention. Keep an eye on incoming freshman defensive back Cornelius Collier Jr. (6-0, 160), he's recognized as a premiere 8th grader in South Florida for the Class of 2021 with nationally recognized talent. He's the son of Miami Palmetto graduate and FSU linebacker Corey Collier Sr. and earned Florida Fire 7v7 Tryouts defensive MVP. In the mix for the safety position: Keyshawn Washington (6-3, 165) and Travis Lathan (6-2, 175)