Heating Up: Coconut Creek Cougars
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For the past two years, there have been some elite football programs in South Florida that everyone had kept their collective eyes on.
One of those programs was Coconut Creek, where coach Kareem Reid was out to "restore the roar" of a Cougar program that has had its share of very impressive athletes throughout the years.
With top-flight programs such as American Heritage and Hallandale standing in the way, this team fell short of those goals – while sending numerous elite prospects on to the next level.
After the season ended, some players graduated while others left to head off to other programs. Reed also headed back to Georgia to take a job – and this Coconut Creek program which had worked so hard to build, was left without a direction.
As some prospects who stayed around were searching other options, the Cougars looked toward Miami-Dade County for a replacement – and when Miami Central veteran coach and teacher Gerald Cox was chosen, things started to click again.
The spring went by with many prospects starting to buy into what Cox and his coaching staff had preached. Summer appearances at several different 7-on-7 events and camps showed that the direction that the Cougars were headed in was indeed what Cox was looking to achieve.
"I told these young men and the coaches when we first arrived that if you work hard and put in the time, great things would happen," Cox explained. "We saw this for years at Central – and knew that it would work here."
As the Cougars boast many underclassmen on the roster that does point to a very productive future, there are some seniors who figure to really boost this program with Stranahan quarterback transfer Breon Jackson and three-year varsity starter Akai Rainford (WR/DB) making a difference.
"We are a very young program," Cox explained. "There are a lot of talented young men, but we also will use our senior class to help with leadership and experience – which is always essential in any growth process."
The junior class is indeed off the charts.
Athletic Marquis Williams will be a three-year starter. So will nationally–rated defensive back Miguel Edwards and versatile Dillard transfer (DB/WR) Stanley Garner.
"Those three young men will make this program go," Cox explained. We had such a productive offseason that juniors like Marquis, Miguel and Stanley really made some major strides. You win with playmakers like that."
Class of 2019 defensive back Tiawan Mullen, the brother of Clemson freshman defensive back Trayvon Mullen, is also among those prospects who will make a huge impact.
OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
2018 – Billy Alceus, RB
2018 – Ladarius Burrows, WR
2017 – Desmond Cohen, OC/DT
2017 – Isaiah Friday, DL/OL
2017 – Devon Golding, WR
2018 – Victor Harvey, DB
2020 – Carlson Joseph, WR
2019 – Jamarius Landers, DE
2017 – Corinthian McCray, OLB
2019 – Elvin McCray, OT
2018 – Brandon Moses, LB
2017 – Kerbens Saint Louis, LB
