Rising Stars Names Top 5 Eighth-graders on Varsity in South Florida from 2018
By Jerry Williamson Rising Stars is widely known for introducing you the next highly sought after recruits before their junior and senior seasons. This week I decided to dive deeper into the future and introduce the class of 2023 prospects, that not only started on their varsity football teams, but contributed multiple times on the stat sheet. The group is headlined by Brandon Inniss and Keywon "Lights Out" Jenkins who were named their counties MVP per Rising Stars. Miami Christian athlete Nathaniel "Ray Ray" Joseph is having a monster off-season for Florida Fire 15U and is bound for a breakout season this upcoming fall. The Victors, a 2nd year football program, is establishing a strong foundation with both Nathaniel "Ray Ray" Joseph and Jamari Ford on offense.
Below are the Top 5 eighth-graders with varsity stats in 2018.
University School | Brandon Inniss - WR/ATH The Sharks eighth-grader is on pace to become the school most highly sought after recruit ever, all said and done. Inniss decision to forgo youth football and play high school has earned him in the driving seat of becoming an high school All-American and possibly a 5-star recruit. Innis sports a total of 9 FBS scholarships which includes the in-state big three UF, UM, FSU. It's not surprising when you considering he's 5'11, weighing 165-pounds with 4.68 electronically-timed and 30.90 vertical jump per The Opening Regional. If you need even more supporting information to validate his verbal offers, how about recording over 1,000 all-purpose yards along with 5 interceptions and 10 touchdowns.
Mater Academy | Keywon "Lights Out" Jenkins - QB/ATH
His performance this past season on varsity to some extent went under-the-radar. Lights out threw 16 touchdown passes, which ranked Top 10 in Miami-Dade County. He went 68-for-98 and passed for 1,470 yards as well as throwing four touchdowns in a single game versus Westland Hialeah. After his varsity season was over, Lights Out returned to play youth football with his peers and captured the FBU 8th-grade national championship. The winning doesn't end there. This off-season he's the starting quarteback for Florida Fire 14U All-Star 7-on-7 football team which is the No. 1 ranked team in the country per NPFA, which paints a clear picture of his performances at 7-on-7 tournaments. He also won the The Florida Youth Football Senior Game MVP and was awarded the MVP by Hotbed.
Miami Christian | Nathaniel "Ray Ray" Joseph - WR/ATH The founder cousin of Florida International University signee Lexington Joseph (Miami Central graduate) is making a name for himself earlier than his bloodline. As an eighth-grade, Ray Ray was responsible for six touchdowns and over 500 yards from scrimmage at slot receiver. Three of six touchdowns we're from 50 plus yards. Ray Ray is having the best overall spring among the 8th-grade varsity starters. He earned the Florida Fire 15U tryouts MVP and has dominated in every tournament this off-season. Some of the varsity coaches were strongly considering moving him up to varsity.
Florida Christian | Antonio Robinson - WR/ATH
Florida Christian multi-sport athlete Antonio Robinson, a wide receiver and cornerback, contributed in all three phases of the game as an eighth-grade varsity starter. Robinson averaged 11.5 yards per reception as he snagged twenty for 230 receiving yards on the season. On defense, he tallied 25 solo tackles and one interception (including one dropped int) and seven pass break ups. This off-season the youngster displayed his top end speed, recording an electronically timed 4.90 forty-yard dash. At Florida International University he measured in at 5'7", 140-pounds.
Miami Christian | Jamari Ford - RB/ATH
The younger brother of University of South Florida's explosive sophomore RB Johnny Ford, made a splash his eighth-grade season for the Victors. on varsity by earning 3rd team All-County. The 5'7", 157-pounder was responsible for 667 all-purpose yards and 9 touchdowns. His best individual performance in 2018, took place against Palmer Trinity, returning a kick return for a score as well as two receiving touchdowns and one on the ground.
