Six Players Who Many Are Waiting To See Play in 2016

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From the very moment that the 2015 high school football season came to an end, there were hundreds of local prospects who were looking to gain that edge.

In the recruiting times that we are in, you cannot miss a beat when it comes to the maturity and improvement of the area football players. A "non-prospect" yesterday can turn into a big-time athlete without ever putting on pads and a helmet.

What the offseason has evolved into is an attitude that "if it looks athletic and has the size, we have to act on it", and college coaches have, offering more players than ever before, in the offseason.

At a time when college scholarships are certainly as valuable as gold, getting that offer during the 7-on-7 campaign, before spring has arrived, is keeping up with what other schools are doing.

It was never that way in the past.

"The landscape of recruiting continues to change as rules are altered," said Dana Wiley of Plantation-based Prep Films, Inc. "Old school guys like myself tend to scoff at the idea of offering a player without really watching him in full gear. But if you don't, you may be missing out."

Obviously, there are always going to be chances taken when it comes to recruiting, and in South Florida, you can have a player who really did little one season, be the athlete that all eyes are on the very next year.

During the offseason, several key players have emerged and many fans are anxious to see football players who have come out of the shadows and have made a huge impact in the past eight months.

Here are six South Florida athletes that we are looking forward to watching during a full season. Who do you want to see?

Daniel Barker, TE, 6-4, 235, Boyd Anderson: After seeing this quality football talent last year at Chaminade-Madonna, this spring is when he started to really make a huge impression as college coaches started to pay attention to an athlete who can run, has plenty of size and is improve all the time in every phase of the game. Saw him in the spring and then again in several 7-on-7 events. Barker is yet another quality 2018 prospect who still has room to grow and mature.
TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4677651/daniel-barker

Kenny Bastida, LB, 6-2, 230, Deerfield Beach: One of the prospects who truly blew up this past offseason, and as more college coaches had the chance to watch him after moving from Cardinal Gibbons – this is an athlete who grew and started to mature to the point that this 2018 talent has everyone excited to see what he will do in a defense which is stacked with talent. Bastida is truly a quality performer who had everyone talking about his improvement over just the past year.
TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/5169611/kenny-bastida

Johnny Ford, RB, 5-8, 165, Coral Gables: Here is easily one of the most talented running backs that you will find. The Class of 2018 standout has been labeled, by longtime coaches: "one of the best that has come along in quite some time". Make no mistake that this is a prospect that showed in spring that he is going to be a major force this coming season. Ford has the ability to help carry the Cavaliers by adding plenty of balance. He has good hands and is also a prospect that will be looked at as a slot receiver as well. No doubt that this is the year that everyone will have the chance to see this outstanding player.
TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4701674/johnny-ford

Angelo Gonzalez, WR, 6-3, 185, Homestead Keys Gate Charter: After watching him all offseason at several camps, showcases, scrimmages and 7-on-7 events, this is the one prospect that so many are waiting to see what he will do over a course of a year – when he has other weapons on the field with him. Gonzalez is one of the overlooked seniors in South Florida. He has gotten plenty of college attention in the spring, but so many are looking forward to seeing the numbers he has a chance to put up playing with big time 2018 receiver Isaac Lipscomb.
TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3327133/angelo-gonzalez

Nadab Joseph, S, 6-2, 175, Miami Edison: This young man, who came into the program in the offseason and was an immediate success, has the opportunity to be very special. Josep showed this past spring that he has everything it is going to take to be very special. Even with his commitment to LSU, this Class of 2018 standout is also getting plenty of looks from colleges all over the country. The Red Raiders have yet another impressive football talent who is a difference maker.
TAPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rb38L3bp8A

Trenell Troutman, Athlete, 5-11, 170, St. Thomas Aquinas: You can take all the prospects in the class of 2018 nationally, break their game down and very few will be able to measure up with this one-time youth football standout who played a key role last year at Miami Northwestern, before going to Monsignor Pace this spring. While his decision to leave and head north to play for the Raiders caught some by surprise, it was only natural that one of Florida's top junior football players would attend the school. This is the kind of talented young man you want on your sideline. In addition to being able to play six positions, his grades in the classroom are also stellar. Troutman is the total package we are very anxious to see on the football field.
TAPE: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/6631985/trenell-troutman