Blu's Blog: Players, Coaches Steal The Show At Dolphins Media Day
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They came from northern Palm Beach County, Homestead and nearby University School to ring in another high school football season.
For the fourth year – and second straight at Nova Southeastern University – the Miami Dolphins and its Dolphins Academy, held its annual high school media day last Saturday, and as over 100 schools poured through the doors all day, it was a huge success.
Media and recruiting websites and services from all over the region came to watch perhaps the best event of its kind anywhere in the country. The best football talent in the nation needs to have a showcase event like this, and the Dolphins have made this possible.
With former Dolphin, UM and St. Thomas Aquinas standout, Twan Russell, running the show with Troy Drayton, Lousaka Polite and a tremendous staff, teams from all over South Florida took part in the event – going through a "car wash" of media outlets.
"This has really turned out to be an event that is one of those showcase days," said Russell. "These coaches and young men have so much fun out here, taking photos, getting interviewed and interacting with one another."
As media dominated the action with just about every program around – taking in the interview sessions and many video opportunities, Miami Sports Radio 560 WQAM took center stage with a live three-hour show that attracted several guests.
The Dolphins and WQAM are back together again, and it really clicked as Russell joined the show and kicked off the 10-hour day.
Several programs started early in the morning with Coach Trevor Mourning who brought athletes Carlens Coutard, Nydji Meristyal and Djuno Jean. First-year Dr. Krop head coach Mike Farley brought standout Randall St. Felix, Javier Zanudio, Jeremy Polidor, Chris Brown and Chris Fuzene.
The North Miami Beach Chargers are going to be outstanding this season – and prospects such as Alvin Floyd, Wendel Morrison, Vinshaun Cobham and Jordan Atkins all showed for media day. Programs such as Southwest Miami looks to be a player with veteran head coach Tim Neal bringing JJ Jaramillo, Te'Cory Tutson, Keanu Sullivan, highly-regarded freshman Andre Stringfield and Mike Martinez.
South Florida teams continued to come in throughout the morning with first-year Cardinal Gibbons head coach Matt DuBuc, who boast such prospects as Carlos Sandy, Lavontae Decius, Tavonte Decius and Haynie D-Moss. Speaking of first-year head coaches, Gerald Cox and Coconut Creek will be a force with prospects such as Stanley Gardner, Marquis Williams, Akai Rainford, Miguel Edwards and Breon Jackson will be solid.
Miami High and head coach Ivan Rosales will look to get back on track with athletes like Travon Shannon, Jobdariel Gomez and Derek Gainous. Speaking about getting back on track, Miramar and second-year head coach Pierre Senatus will look to athletes Brian Witter, Deondre Chambers, Jaylen Floyd, Kaheem Roach and Sebestian Dolcine.
Veteran head coach Art Taylor and Everglades will look to players Jakyus Johnson, Lamont Harrison, Michael Rodriguez and Marquis Benjamin. Coach Matt Dillon and his Miami LaSalle program will boast elite prospects such as Draquann Jones, Charles Mickens, Tavares Brownlee, Alex Torres and Rafael Crotty.
The talent that the rest of the country talks about was on display throughout the day. Head coach Charles McCrea and his International School of Broward (ISB) program has been building with athletes such as La'Darious Laster, Alexander Shelton, Demetrius Warren Jr. and Zion Joseph.
Miami Carol City and head coach Aubrey Hill are in great hands with elite football players Nayquan Wright, Camron Davis, Randy Russell, Kevaughn Dingle, Naytron Culpepper and Donelle Thomas among others.
Coach Vinny Ziccardi and his Coral Springs Colts will continue to make major strides with football players such as Nate Stubbs, Damon Robertson, Drew Fearon, Kyle Kaplan and Brandon Godinez. Miami Ferguson and the school's only head coach ever – Gene Chew - have some game-changers with Alessandro Cantillo, Cris Martinez, Louis Pierre, Louis Sebastian/Garcia and Ivan Ramirez.
For the second year as head coach, Daniel Luque came from next door to the event from NSU University School and with elite prospects such as Kenny McIntosh, Fred Siplin, Josh Sanguenetti, Jaden Mancuso and Brady Latchford.
"This is a great event that we look forward to attending every year," said Luque. "First class and well run by the Dolphins, but that shouldn't be a surprise."
Among the other schools that attended from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties include head coach Roger Pollard and Coral Gables – featuring players Marlin Brooks, Kristopher Moll, Robert McWilliams, Jamar Thompkins and Kevin Romer. Pompano Beach and head coach Rick Nagy had a solid season in 2015, and with personnel like John Padgett Jr., Logan Good, Bradley Pace, Grady Keene and Joao DeMoura, things look promising once again this coming year.
There are few programs who have made the strides that head coach Adam Ratkevich and his Western Wildcats have made this off season – with Kevin Oliver, Hunter Stephens, Matt Hanson, Evan Rojas and Darius Maxwell. Coral Glades and head coach Christian Baldwin are also turning heads with athletes Juan Rivera, Keyone Henry, Donovian Samuels, Alfonzo Dixon and Dion Laporte.
Fort Lauderdale will also be a team that people want to watch as head coach Richard Dunbar and his team has a tough schedule, but the athletes like Torri Young, Kewann Calloway, Alonzo Clark, Eugene Davis and Darryl Weaver can make a difference. Veteran head coach Al Lang and Hollywood Hills will also be in a situation where they can be in the district hunt with Edwin Reed, Edwin Colon, Marvin Estrada-Campbell, Anthony Marques and Oleksandr Melchanov.
Veteran head coach Willie Dodaro continues to build Monarch with quality athletes Austin Gray, JoJotavious Johnson, Brandon Halas, Anthony Strafford and James Micioni. McArthur and head coach LaRon Culpepper knows that he will be stacked with talent. Just look at Dominick Watt, Craig Cooper, Deon Jones, Dantae Banton and Tayshon Sessions.
We know that four-time defending 6A state champions Miami Central will be loaded with veteran head coach Roland Smith, boasting standouts Navaughn Donaldson, James Cook, Jernard Phillips, Mershawn Miller and elite running back Kyron Smith
There are so many talented smaller programs in south Florida that never get the publicity they deserve. Teams such as head coach Frank DeSousa and Somerset Academy Silver Palms – where Guillermo Toro, Hector Matos, Paul McIntyre and Charles Philias will play a key role.
Competing in a tough district like South Plantation will be doing this year will test first year head coach Dominic Anderson, but the talent is certainly on board with Taylen Waller, Dawson Hill, Stephen Greaves, Lonel Lovince and Logan Green. Miami Palmetto and head coach Mike Manasco are in the same position – and prospects such as Kenny Spiller, Christian Pierre-Louis, Ivan Thomas, Trey Flower and Henry Martinez are solid.
"We expect a lot from these young men this year," Manasco said. "Very competitive team we are putting together."
First-year head coach Javi Valdes and his Killian Cougars will be a force with Romelo Brooks, Tahaj Virgin, DJ Scaife, Suresh Buhdram and Cairiq Rackley.
St. Thomas Aquinas and head coach Roger Harriott go into the season rated No. 1 nationally. Athletes like Jake Allen, Trevon Grimes, Zack Sweeney, Drew White and Tyler Dunning will make sure they stay there.
Four-time defending 4A state champion Booker T. Washington and Tim "Ice" Harris are ready for No. 5 with Daniel Richardson, Dedrick Mackey, Richard Dames, Robert Hicks, Craig Nelson and Teaki Fuller among the standouts to watch.
Defending district champion Nova and head coach Kevin Huntley will attempt to pull off a repeat with Shaun Peterson, Tyler Nixon, Devontae Harris, Juwan Marshall and Kamari Fleming. First-year head coach Jesse Norris and Plantation will rely on Jaylen Small, Aliante Haskins, Jamari Sweet, Tyrese Lewis and Rodsky Selon.
Some of the other programs on hand for the event that should make a splash includes Doral Academy and first year head coach Jase Stewart, who will feature Angel Alvarez, Javier Zuniga, Murphy Theodore, Dextan Hodge Jr. and Andres Taquechel. There is also head coach Pat Surtain and Plantation American Heritage, who came loaded up with Jason Brown, TJ Slaton, Kai-Leon Herbert, Laress Nelson, Dontavius Butler, Miles Jones, Andrew Chatfield, George Ellis, Marco Wilson, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Will Allen and Nesta Silvera.
Deerfield Beach and head coach Jevon Glenn believe they can reach Orlando in Class 8A. To do it, they will need prospects such as Jerry Jeudy, Leroy Henley, Daewood Davis, Deslin Alexandre and Brion Byrd. Coach Chris Merritt and his Columbus Explorers are also a Class 8A team that could be a major force – with CJ Henderson, Trajan Bandy, Mike Rodriguez, Robert Perez and Josh Jobe.
Miami Southridge and Dillard are two programs that have some quality prospects. Head coach Billy Rolle has a loaded deck with prospects such as Coemba Jones, Nadarius Fagan, Kemore Gamble, Brandon James and Shawn Davis. Coach Lorenzo Davis and his Panthers are in good shape as well with Tyree McNeil, UM-bound Jonathan Ford, Stephon Zayas, Jordon Wright and Jacari Clayton.
As programs such as Homestead, North Broward Prep, Stranahan, West Boward, Blanche Ely, Taravella, Cooper City, Pine Crest, Belen Jesuit, Miami Country Day, Northeast, Hallandale, Coral Reef, Hialeah Gardens, Mater Academy, South Miami, Cypress Bay, Norland, Miami Springs, Miami Varela, Champagnat Catholic, Barbara Goleman, Ronald Regan, Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy and Gulliver Prep, there were some programs who are expected to be in the spotlight all year.
Teams like Chaminade-Madonna, where Damien Jones steps in from Jason Milgrom who stepped down. Jones has key football players such as Henry Columbi, Josh Ali, AJ Jancosko, Steve Jean-Baptiste and Cody Watson to name a few. There is also a Piper team with head coach David Coleman who finished 9-2 a year ago. The Bengals have key players like Kaory Simmons, Bryand Rincher, Raevon Clarke, Josh Pierre-Louis and Ronnie Joseph.
Like Chaminade-Madonna, Boyd Anderson had to also make that quick transition to a new coach – when Eddie Brown stepped down right before the summer started. Former offensive coordinator Quincy Woods takes over and has a loaded deck with Raheme Fuller, Rennard Bozeman, Michael Nesbitt and Shabazz Telfort to name a few.
Can you name the two programs that went unbeaten in south Florida last year? Veteran head coach Byron Walker and Archbishop McCarthy program is one. The other is Coral Springs Charter. The Mavericks return key players such as Logan Giordano, Kevin Guelce, Matthew Farenhem, Daniel Cerda and Denzel Simmon. Parkland Douglas and head coach Willis May are in the same position with key prospects Corey Gaynor, Daniel Crescitelli, Daquan Bailey/Brown, Nick Weber and Jermal Polycarpe all coming back.
Adam Miller stepped aside to take another position, so Matthew Garris steps in at Coral Springs Charter and will look to prospects such as Michael Carrion, Rafael Rodriguez, Dominic Grassi, Mark Krumenacker and Nick D'Esposito.
Two programs that came out to the event who will really make a major impact. Second year head coach Devon Georgia and South Broward; and first-year head coach Stanford Samuels Jr. and defending 8A state champs, Flanagan.
The Bulldogs are loaded with Dorian Hall, Antavious Tarver, Demetrius Neeley, Dennis Robinson and Jordan Carty. The Falcons will fly high with Stanford Samuels III, Clevan Thomas Jr., Faion Hicks, McCarthar Etienne and Jamar Lambert.
Miami Edison is on the way back with head coach Napoleon Joseph and features very talented Jamauri "Bam" Lagurre, Kareem Gaiter, Eldridge Thomas, Nadab Joseph and Malcolm Vigile.
Another of the programs that you will not want to sleep on are the Miami Northwestern Bulls and head coach Max Edwards, who watched Chatarius "Tutu" Atwell, Billy Joseph, Kevin Washington, Kelvin Flores and Taurus Dotson have a solid spring and summer.
