2019 Rising Stars All-South Florida Freshman Team

By Jerry Williamson

After spending approximately 28 days and 66.5 hours of film study, ranging from Key West to Palm Beach County, I have chosen the most proven 32 freshmen in South Florida base on varsity production and their strength of schedule. Gulliver Prep, St. Brendan, Florida Christian and McArthur all tied with the most players selected with four. 

Below are the counties players of the year and the 2019 Rising Stars All-South Florida Freshman Team. Congratulations to everyone selected. Remember the real accomplishment is scoring a 900 SAT (total score) or 18 ACT and having a 2.5 core GPA before your senior season. Those are the minimum scores required to play college football. 

Rising Stars Freshman Player of the Year — Taron Dickens, Miami Northwestern  

Miami-Dade Offensive Player of the Year — Keywone Jenkins, Miami Carol City  

Broward County Offensive Player of the Year — Brandon Innis, University School  

Palm Beach County Offensive Player of the Year — Jacorey Brown, Jr., Cardinal Newman 

Miami-Dade Defensive Player of the Year — Lamont Green, Jr., Southwest Miami  

Broward County Defensive Player of the Year — David Vadala, American Heritage Plantation  

Palm Beach County Defensive Player of the Year — Sebastian Smith, Cardinal Newman

First Team Offense QB — Taron Dickens, Miami Northwestern Note: The Freshman of the Year winner threw for 3,048 yards and 42 total touchdowns (38 pass/4 rush) in 2019. Dickens helped the Bulls become 3-peat state champions. QB — Collin Hurst, Western Note: Hurst the Wildcats to the Class 8A regional finals. He ended his freshman year throwing for 2,082 yards and 26 touchdowns just in 9 starts. He already taking honor classes Algebra 2 and Chemistry. QB — Kewone Jenkins, Miami Carol City Note: The two-year varsity starter played a brutal schedule, challenging five FHSAA State Champions. Jenkins still managed to throw 20 touchdowns and over 2,500 all-purpose yards; two rushing scores. RB — Levy Miller, Florida Christian Note: In 8 games, he lead all freshman running backs in South Florida with 1,311 yards. He was selected to play in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. Holds a verbal offer from FAU. RB — Mark Fletcher, American Heritage Plantation Note: He recorded 507 all-purpose yards and 5 touchdowns according to Maxpreps. He already holds notable offers from Alabama, UGA, FSU among his eighth total offers per 247sports. RB — Sedrick Irvin, Jr., Gulliver Prep Note: Irvin, Jr. made the best of his 43 touches on offense as a freshman. He was responsible for 483 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. He holds over 10 D-1 FBS offers. WR — Brandon Inniss, University School 

Note: The FBU Freshman All-American Bowl MVP and High School All-American selection has already 2,000 all-purpose yards. As a freshman he scored 12 touchdowns and has six career interceotions. He averaged 27.4 per touch this past season.  WR — Nathaniel Joseph, Miami Christian

Note: Another two-year varsity starter. He caught over 500 yards receiving and nearly double-digit touchdowns. He was recognized as the No. 1 eighth-grader entering high school within the Southwest Miami-Dade County region per Rising Stars. 

WR — Jalen Brown, Gulliver 

Note: He score the game-winning touchdown catch in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. Brown also returned several kick return for touchdowns and found the end zone on offense multiple times. 

WR — Richard Dandridge, St. Brendan Note: The go-to wide receiver as a freshman. He caught 10 touchdowns and over 700 receiving touchdowns and recorded 3 interceptions. 

OL — Darryl Doctor, Miami Palmetto

Note: FBU Freshman All-American Bowl that started on a team with over ten players with D1-FBS scholarships. He's next in-line. 

OL — Deandre Duffus, MacArthur

Note: FBU Freshman All-American Bowl selection. Great academic student that started every game as a freshman. 

OL — Sam Lopez, Florida Christian

Note: He paved the way for South Florida's leading freshman ball carrier Levy Miller. He plays bigger than his measurables. 

OL — Shelton Green, St. Brendan

Note: One of the best kept secrets in South Florida in the trenches. He led South Florida freshmen in pancakes blocks. 

OL — Knijeah Harris, Saint Lucie West Centennial

Note: Selected to play in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. ATH — Ryan Bullard, St. Brendan

Note: He finished Top 5 in Player of the Year voting. He total 20 touchdowns, 1,310 rushing yards and 40 tackles. 

ATH — Jamari Ford, Miami Christian

Note: The two-year varsity starter shined on offense and special teams. He's a threat in space and as a return specialist. 

ATH — David Jester, Doral Academy

Note: University of Miami offer Jester as an eighth grader. He thrived this past season on both offense, defense and special teams.   First Team Defense ATH — Jacorey Brown, Cardinal Newman 

Note: The best Palm Beach offensive freshman I watched on film. He can play several positions and has top-end speed. 

ATH — D'Angelo Ponds, McArthur

Note: After a spectacular JV football season on offense. Ponds moved up to varsity and caught 4 interceptions. His play on special teams caught my attention as well. 

PK — Christian Silverstein, Deerfield Beach

Note: He started as a freshman at a program that just signed eleven seniors to the next level during the early signing period. Silvers twin is the best kicker in South Florida.  CB — Antonio Robinson Jr., Florida Christian Note: The two-year varsity starter (CB/ATH) wrapped up fantastic freshman year with 1,560 all-purpose yards, 8 total touchdowns, 4 ints, 1 punt blocked, and didn't allow a touchdown at cornerback. CB — Antonio Smith, Gulliver Prep Note: This upcoming spring he'll have over five D-1 offers. As a freshman the 6'2", 155 pound boundary cornerback caught 4 interceptions. CB — Zaiver Williams, Coral Reef Note: The Barracudas rising freshman lead all freshmen in South Florida in interceptions with 6 on the season. He was named a Rising Star as a 7th grader at Kendall Hammocks. CB — Ahmere Foster, Christopher Columbus Note: At safety, Foster caught three interceptions and returned a punt for a touchdown. His performance contributed to the school first state title. DL— Lamont Green, Jr., Southwest Miami Note: Showed he can ball in the largest classification in Florida. Green, Jr. recorded 85 tackles, 7 sacks, 15 TFL, 22 Hurries, 1 block punt, 1 block field goal and was selected to play the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. DL — Rueben Bain, Miami Central Note: Bain best game of the season was vs. Dunbar recording 8 tackles and 2 sacks. He started at defensive end and is listed at 6'3", 235 pounds. DL — Sebastian Scott, Cardinal Newman Note: I'll like to introduce my next Rising Star. He's listed at 6'3", 300 pounds and was responsible for 1 forced fumble, 30 tackles, 9 TFL, 6 sacks. DL — Lashaun Stephen, McArthur Note: He was selected to play the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl and recorded the only sack of the game. He'll be a double-digit D-1 guy. LB — David Vadala, American Heritage Plantation Note: He earned his starting position right out the gate and never looked back. Vadala racked up 114 tackles and nearly double-digit sacks. He was selected to play the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl LB — Jayvant Brown, University School Note: He ran for over five touchdowns and was a sideline-to-sideline tackler on defense. He was selected to play the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. LB — Rodolfo Hernandez, South Miami Note: Before his injury, he was on track to battle with David Vadala for the No. 1 tackling spot in South Florida. He still managed to rank No. 1 in Miami-Dade County at his position.