I will undoubtedly catch the most heat from this part of the list, and this is obviously subject to change throughout the season. As of right now though, these are the top 10 players in South Florida in my opinion.
1. 2014 WR Ermon Lane (Homestead)
Lane has it all. The size, speed, hands, quickness, and football IQ is all there. He seemingly toys with defenders. He can go deep, across the middle, fades at the goal-line, everything. He has breakaway speed that you can see in his highlights, where he runs away from multiple defenders with angles. He is college-ready right now, 2 years away from his graduation. He would start at Miami right now and I truly believe that. He would be a stud safety or a lockdown corner. I think he is the best player to come out of Dade in years. Miami is the early leader, but Alabama and FSU are high on his list as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N9D4VIH02k
2. 2013 LB Matthew Thomas (Booker T)
The top player on Miami’s board, Thomas is a special talent. He can dominate the game in so many different ways. His pass-rushing is elite off the edge. His 6’4 205 lb wiry frame and 4.5 speed gives tackles fits. When he drops back into coverage, he disrupts the middle of the field. Thomas is big and fast enough to cover elite tight ends. Landing him would solidify these last two defensive classes with elite talent all over. He is a complete player. FSU, Alabama, and Miami are his top three and the Canes have some work to do, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t wind up at Miami by NSD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrYJvv7G3fY
3. 2013 WR Stacy Coley (Northeast)
Coley has been compared to a young Randy Moss, just to give you an idea of the type of talent he is. A very smooth player, he has elite speed and runs by safeties with ease. He is a long-strider and is very fun to watch with his highlight-reel catches. Extremely quick in-and-out of his breaks, almost un-coverable. Coley has been a weird case as far as his recruitment and I don’t see him winding up in Coral Gables.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUqiknNl7CM
4. 2014 OL Trevor Darling (Central)
A Miami commitment, Darling looks like an NFL lineman right now (6’5, 300). He doesn’t have much bad weight, and the little that he does have, he carries well. He is a mauler and very technically sound for somebody his age. Has the potential to start from day 1 at Miami. Quick on his feet and has good strength. Has played a lot on the right side in his first two years of high school, it will be interesting to see how he performs at left tackle eventually.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkBtqw6vzEw
5. 2014 RB Joseph Yearby (Central)
Yearby is the best pure runner in South Florida. He has great vision and he sees the whole field. He also has great patience. He cuts as well as any running back I’ve seen at this level. Does not have breakaway speed, but I feel like he will have the most productive college career out of anybody on this list. Ran for 2,160 yards and 24 TDs last season. This may be the one selection that I will get the most criticism for, but I stand by my belief that Yearby is better than Sony Michel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oJ3CY2gqZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ9ZF6tS68Q
6. 2013 ATH Will Likely (Glades Central)
Likely is arguably the best “football player” on this list. He isn’t big (5’7, 170) or extremely fast, but he is a PLAYMAKER. He is all over the field on defense, is great in the return game, and is a huge threat offensively. He reminds me of Tyrann Mathieu and I think a lot of schools are making a mistake by overlooking him because of his size. Would be the ideal nickel corner at the next level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOfo37oSAAs
7. 2013 DL Joey Bosa (St. Thomas Aquinas)
The Ohio State commit is a monster. At 6’6 270, he has the speed to rush from the edge and the power to play inside. He has a relentless motor and great pursuit. Miami strangely never offered, but he never showed genuine interest either. Will be a stud in college.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0QoyHehe_4
8. 2014 RB Sony Michel (American Heritage Plantation)
I’m bracing myself for the backlash I will receive for putting Michel here. Maybe the most hyped recruit in South Florida in recent memory, Sony will be entering his junior year coming off of a knee injury, which he sustained early in his sophomore year. Reports are that he has recovered nicely and is ready to go for the season. On the field, he is a special talent. His speed is what separates him as well as his prototypical size (5’11, 190) and great power. He doesn’t dance around in the backfield and hits the hole hard. Miami leads, but he is not a lock to the Canes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x50oY6Car2w
9. 2013 DT Keith Bryant (Atlantic Delray)
This Cane commit plays with an attitude that is unmatched. His pursuit of the QB showed last year, as he recorded 13.5 sacks, 17 TFL, and led his team in tackles, which is absolutely crazy for his position. He isn’t the biggest (6’1.5, 290), but is incredibly quick off the ball and has a very powerful lower body. He will be an impact player from day 1 on campus. Bryant is a solid Cane commit, but has continues to take visits. Canes fans shouldn’t worry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irW-szX4qBI
10. 2014 DT Khairi Clark (Chamminade-Madonna)
Clark has great size (6’3, 285) and is very athletic. He moves well for his size and gets into the backfield with ease. He powers through opposing linemen and is only getting stronger. His long arms cause problems for centers and guards as well. Has a very high ceiling. Clark is an early Miami lean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojwoRSHTdSo
1. 2014 WR Ermon Lane (Homestead)
Lane has it all. The size, speed, hands, quickness, and football IQ is all there. He seemingly toys with defenders. He can go deep, across the middle, fades at the goal-line, everything. He has breakaway speed that you can see in his highlights, where he runs away from multiple defenders with angles. He is college-ready right now, 2 years away from his graduation. He would start at Miami right now and I truly believe that. He would be a stud safety or a lockdown corner. I think he is the best player to come out of Dade in years. Miami is the early leader, but Alabama and FSU are high on his list as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N9D4VIH02k
2. 2013 LB Matthew Thomas (Booker T)
The top player on Miami’s board, Thomas is a special talent. He can dominate the game in so many different ways. His pass-rushing is elite off the edge. His 6’4 205 lb wiry frame and 4.5 speed gives tackles fits. When he drops back into coverage, he disrupts the middle of the field. Thomas is big and fast enough to cover elite tight ends. Landing him would solidify these last two defensive classes with elite talent all over. He is a complete player. FSU, Alabama, and Miami are his top three and the Canes have some work to do, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t wind up at Miami by NSD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrYJvv7G3fY
3. 2013 WR Stacy Coley (Northeast)
Coley has been compared to a young Randy Moss, just to give you an idea of the type of talent he is. A very smooth player, he has elite speed and runs by safeties with ease. He is a long-strider and is very fun to watch with his highlight-reel catches. Extremely quick in-and-out of his breaks, almost un-coverable. Coley has been a weird case as far as his recruitment and I don’t see him winding up in Coral Gables.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUqiknNl7CM
4. 2014 OL Trevor Darling (Central)
A Miami commitment, Darling looks like an NFL lineman right now (6’5, 300). He doesn’t have much bad weight, and the little that he does have, he carries well. He is a mauler and very technically sound for somebody his age. Has the potential to start from day 1 at Miami. Quick on his feet and has good strength. Has played a lot on the right side in his first two years of high school, it will be interesting to see how he performs at left tackle eventually.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkBtqw6vzEw
5. 2014 RB Joseph Yearby (Central)
Yearby is the best pure runner in South Florida. He has great vision and he sees the whole field. He also has great patience. He cuts as well as any running back I’ve seen at this level. Does not have breakaway speed, but I feel like he will have the most productive college career out of anybody on this list. Ran for 2,160 yards and 24 TDs last season. This may be the one selection that I will get the most criticism for, but I stand by my belief that Yearby is better than Sony Michel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oJ3CY2gqZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ9ZF6tS68Q
6. 2013 ATH Will Likely (Glades Central)
Likely is arguably the best “football player” on this list. He isn’t big (5’7, 170) or extremely fast, but he is a PLAYMAKER. He is all over the field on defense, is great in the return game, and is a huge threat offensively. He reminds me of Tyrann Mathieu and I think a lot of schools are making a mistake by overlooking him because of his size. Would be the ideal nickel corner at the next level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOfo37oSAAs
7. 2013 DL Joey Bosa (St. Thomas Aquinas)
The Ohio State commit is a monster. At 6’6 270, he has the speed to rush from the edge and the power to play inside. He has a relentless motor and great pursuit. Miami strangely never offered, but he never showed genuine interest either. Will be a stud in college.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0QoyHehe_4
8. 2014 RB Sony Michel (American Heritage Plantation)
I’m bracing myself for the backlash I will receive for putting Michel here. Maybe the most hyped recruit in South Florida in recent memory, Sony will be entering his junior year coming off of a knee injury, which he sustained early in his sophomore year. Reports are that he has recovered nicely and is ready to go for the season. On the field, he is a special talent. His speed is what separates him as well as his prototypical size (5’11, 190) and great power. He doesn’t dance around in the backfield and hits the hole hard. Miami leads, but he is not a lock to the Canes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x50oY6Car2w
9. 2013 DT Keith Bryant (Atlantic Delray)
This Cane commit plays with an attitude that is unmatched. His pursuit of the QB showed last year, as he recorded 13.5 sacks, 17 TFL, and led his team in tackles, which is absolutely crazy for his position. He isn’t the biggest (6’1.5, 290), but is incredibly quick off the ball and has a very powerful lower body. He will be an impact player from day 1 on campus. Bryant is a solid Cane commit, but has continues to take visits. Canes fans shouldn’t worry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irW-szX4qBI
10. 2014 DT Khairi Clark (Chamminade-Madonna)
Clark has great size (6’3, 285) and is very athletic. He moves well for his size and gets into the backfield with ease. He powers through opposing linemen and is only getting stronger. His long arms cause problems for centers and guards as well. Has a very high ceiling. Clark is an early Miami lean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojwoRSHTdSo
