Tour of Talent: So. Florida's Pre-Season Top 10 WRs and Rising Talent (Class of 2019)
By Jerry Williamson
The Tour of Talent continues to pick up steam, as the next stop is at a familiar position in South Florida. A position that's a pipeline to the NFL. A position that has seen three freshmen, over the past four seasons named to the college football's prestigious freshman All-America Team.
And a position, where they are always considered open. If you guessed (or knowingly) answered the wide receiver position, then you're absolutely correct.
South Florida natives: Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, and Antonio Callaway, has set the bar extremely high. For three consecutive seasons, Miami Northwestern, Monarch, and Miami Booker T. Washington graduates, were named freshman All-Americans. Alabama's early enrollee freshman wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and Miami Southridge dynamic upcoming senior wide receiver Mark Pope, (high school All-American selection) appears to be next in-line as college football stars from the rich-talented areas throughout South Florida.
South Florida's Top 10 WRs (Class of 2019) - In no particular
The premier wide receiver of the Class of 2019 in South Florida is currently a verbal commit to the University of Florida. He resigns in Palm Beach County, and is rated a four-star prospect per 247sports.
Junior wide receiver John Dunmore (UF verbal commit) of American Heritage Boca Delray HS, is one of those freakish football prospects who combines speed, size, athletic ability and skill.
Dunmore listed at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds and holds seven FBS verbal offers. Last fall, at Cardinal Gibbons HS, he was responsible for 2 touchdowns and over 200 receiving yards. He has out-right dominated the off-season circuit.
Doral Academy wide receiver and University of Miami (FL) commit, Breion Fuller is a two-year varsity starter (started at Champagnat Catholic as a freshman). He's what college football programs love to recruit at wide out this day-and-age. He's 6-foot-1, 175-pounds with deceptive speed, and has incredible leaping ability and strong hands.
Fuller is viewed as a four-star prospect by many recruiting services, and was responsible for 442 receiving yards and 7 TDs (10 career) as a sophomore. Fuller holds several FBS verbal offers, and excels on jump balls and boxing defenders out using his long wing span. He can also go deep, and make a highlight reel out of you.
There's a great debate among well-respected football heads, who believe Christopher Columbus wide receiver Kalani Norris, should be the top wide receiver in Miami-Dade County, since the reclassification of Mark Pope (Miami Southridge). The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder who sports a 3.1 core GPA, accumulated over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 16 total games, including 7 overall TD's.
Against 2A state runner up, Champagnat Catholic, Kalani caught five passes for 97 yards and 1 TD. As a freshman, he was unanimously named the "Rookie of the Year" at Westminster Christian. It doesn't matter the name of the 7v7 tournament, combine or college football camp, he "always" shines. Kalani is not nationally ranked, nor hold stars next to his name, but his two SEC offers from UGA and Kentucky, followed by FAU, Rutgers and Temple, outlines he's someone that can make plays. He's also receiving interest from LSU and Clemson.
University School wide receiver Jordan Irizarry (6-0, 173), statically speaking -- tops amongst all the wide receivers in South Florida, when it comes to production. The first-team All-Broward selection, finished the season ranked No. 4 overall in receiving yards and No.1 overall in South Florida for the 4A classification.
I'm shocked, he only holds a FCS offer at the moment. He's a FBS talent with ivy league smarts. He possesses a nice blend of size, speed and route running skillls. Irizarry started for South Florida Express 7v7 football team, which is a FBS division one feeder.
Irizarry's film consisted of touchdowns against notable competition, such as Miami Booker T. Washington, Glades Central and Westminster Christian. In my opinion, he's the most proven, but yet the most overlooked prospect of his class thus far. He carries a 3.9 weighed GPA. Holds one FCS verbal offer from Columbia.
The University of Florida is doing an excellent job invading South Florida for the class of 2019. The gators added their second four-star prospect at wide receiver following John Dunmore with South Dade HS Frank Ladson. Ladson moves exceptionally well for someone his length. Ladson isn't hard to identify once he steps off the bus on game day, standing 6-foo-4, 175-pounds.
This off-season (invitational only) football camp, Ladson finished top 10 overall competing in the illspeed challenge held at Gulliver Prep in South Florida. His best game is a head. Little history, Ladson is a kid I brought to light, as an eighth-grader at South Miami Grey Ghost youth development club (MXYFL), and named him to the Generation Nexxt All-South Florida team.
Wellington HS, which is located in West Palm Beach, FL -- adds to the four-star list, making Mark Richards, the area's No. 4 overall four star prospect. Richards, the younger brother of UM's wide receiver and former Wellington standout Ahmmon Richards (Freshman All-American selection), touched the pigskin 54 times for over 500 all-purpose yards and 6 TD's. He plays in all three phases of the game, but projects as a wide receiver. Richards most notable offers are from Ohio St, UF and UM, amongst the long list of others. He's on pace to become a four year varsity starter and surface as the next superstar from the area. The hurricanes are hoping that bloodline continues in Coral Gables at the next level, with the same success as older brother Ahmmon Richards.
University School Xavier Flowers will become a three year starter, this upcoming fall. He's very dynamic and explosive. He reminds me of a younger University School graduate, MacGarrett Kings (Michigan State).
Flowers, a converted running back, excels at the slot position and on jet sweeps. He's the Percy Harvin version of his team.
In addition, at running back, he rushed for 267 yards and scored 4 TD's. In the air, he caught 468 yards and pulled in 5 TD's. He currently has two verbal offers by FBS schools: App State and Bowling Green State university.
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School rising junior Marlin Mayo has played varsity since his freshman season, where he hauled in 10 receptions for 115 yards and 1 touchdown.
As a sophomore, Mayo, aided to the Lions 3A state title run, increasing his production on the stat sheet. Despite surrounded by major FBS upperclassmen talent and high school All-Americans, when Mayo number is called, he delivers. Mayo holds a SEC offer by the Kentucky Wildcats.
Deerfield Beach HS (pictured above) is a program you must visit, when it comes to recruiting. A total of 16 players was sent to the next level for the 2017 recruiting class.
Don't expect a drop-off anytime soon, with six prospects (class of 2019) sporting early and multiple FBS verbal offers. Big and talented wide receiver Donte Benton (6-1, 180) is one of the early six, as he sports offers from PITT, Iowa, FAU, Southern Miss, Toledo, Bowling Green.
Benton has made his mark this off-season. He's the next major D1 athlete in-line from one-stop-shop Deerfield Beach high school.
After a challenging season this past fall with a (1-8) record, there's a bright spot on Homestead varsity football roster -- with sure handed wide receiver Kevin Butler (5-10, 160). Butler, is the older brother of South Dade's quarterback Torey "Scooter" Morrison, and he's someone that caught my eye as I watched prospects film.
Butler's hand-eye coordination and route running skills, are far better than most people realize. He edged out three other prospects that were in the running. His film displays him make several acrobatic catches.
His routes are smooth and he never allows the ball to touch his chest. He caught balls thrown extremely low and displayed body control and leaping ability on several clips. The more he matures physically, he has a chance to develop into a notable prospect.
On The Rise:
Gulliver Preparatory football roster has a familiar name in Miami-Dade County, and his son is on the rise. By any chance, do you remember the name Connie Moore? He played during the mid 90's for Miami Palmetto Sr.
Sean Moore of Gulliver Prep is the son of Connie Moore. He's the next rising talent that has size, great hands, and route running skills. Moore is not exactly a burner like his father, who effortlessly clocked a 4.3. But, he's a productive possession wide receiver with 13 overall touchdowns the past two seasons. Moore (the son) dominated several college football padded camps this past off-season.
Keys Gate Charter rising junior Felix Nembhard (5-10, 175) is the possession wide receiver of the group. He possess a nice built, and has that Anquan Boldin type of game. He will not wow you testing, but he does all the little things well and is an excellent blocker. Nembhard holds two verbal offers from the likes of Mcnesse State and Bethune Cookman.
Miami Northwestern wide receiver Ricky McKnight -- is someone to keep an eye on moving forward. He's not exactly someone on the rise -- due to over 300 yards receiving and several touchdowns at Miami Edison the past season.
Watch List Material:
Winston Quinn - Miami Booker T. Washington Tyler March - American Heritage Plantation Kelvin Taylor Jr. - McArthur
Jamal Cooney - St. Thomas Aquinas
Antwan Anderson - Southridge Antoine Daniel - Miami Monsignor Pace Jaylin Young - Hallandalle Najeh Baker - South Dade
Roger Barton - Southwest Miami
