TEN thoughts from the state championships - Part 8
Al Golden and Miami have put together a stellar recruiting class. Much of the fanfare has gone to running back Joseph Yearby (Miami Central) and defensive end Chad Thomas (Miami Booker T. Washington). And there’s nothing wrong with that, as these two players are five-star recruits and true potential difference makers.
But one guy that just keeps getting better and better is Trevor Darling (Miami Central) and yet no one seems to talk about him. Like the two mentioned above he’s headed to Coral Gables to play for the Hurricanes.
There’s so much to like about this massive 6-foot-5, 314-pound Darling. I first saw him at a Florida State summer camp two springs ago. It was his sophomore season and just after he made his early pledge to Miami. I remember thinking then that I was surprised the ‘Canes took him that early.
Looking back, I couldn’t be further wrong. Darling made huge strides as a junior and didn’t let off the gas pedal this season. Heck, you can make a strong case that he’s the best senior offensive tackle in Florida right now amongst his peers.
Case in point was his dominating performance in the state title game versus Seffner Armwood. He was matched up for a good portion of this game against highly rated junior Byron Cowart. Cowart is not your averaged defensive end. He’s already a four-star recruit and has offers galore from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and a host of others.
I saw Cowart earlier this year against Tampa Hillsborough and he was as impressive as any prospect, regardless of position, that I saw all fall.
Then he faced Darling. Simply, Cowart didn’t even get on the stat sheet. He was credited with zero tackles. This is not an indictment on the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Cowart. On this day though, Darling and his Central offensive front were just that good.
Darling just stoned him for four quarters. This kid is that good and it shouldn’t go unnoticed. It didn’t with me and I firmly believe that Miami is getting a beast at tackle in this kid.
Darling is big, athletic and physical. He can move and bend and do all the things you want your tackle to do. Sure he has work to do. They all do.
Darling has really turned himself into quite the offensive lineman. He has a bright future for the Hurricanes and can be a cornerstone of their future offensive front. He joins the state’s top tackle prospect, K.C. McDermott (Wellington Palm Beach Central), on the Miami commit list as well as Reilly Gibbons (St. Petersburg Catholic) and guard/center Brandon Linder (Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas).
Source:
http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1358590.html