The high school football officially started last weekend and here’s a look at what Florida’s recruits did:
COMMITMENTS
Quarterback
Jeff Driskel (Oviedo Hagerty): Driskel shrugged off a dismal preseason game to complete 17 of 26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 248 yards with scores of 68 and 61 yards in Hagerty’s 24-22 win over Lake Mary.
Fullback
Hunter Joyer (Tampa Cathlic): Joyer carried the ball 22 times for 106 yards in a 24-7 loss to Groveland South Lake.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Juan Story (Brooksville Nature Coast): Playing quarterback for Nature Coast, Story ran the ball nine times for 224 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-8 win over Brooksville Central. Those touchdowns went for 33, 46, 54 and 91 yards.
Javares McRoy (Lakeland): McRoy played some quarterback, but also caught a 39-yard touchdown pass in a 27-14 win over Venice.
Tight End
A.C. Leonard (Jacksonville University Christian): Couldn’t find stats on Leonard, but his team defeated Andrews, N.C., 68-0 Saturday.
Defensive End
Jeoffrey Pagan (Asheville, N.C.): Pagan recorded six tackles, including two sacks and he also recovered a fumble in a 25-0 win over Waynesville, N.C., Tuscola.
Cornerback
De’Ante Saunders (DeLand): Sanders played both ways Friday, throwing for 122 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 84 yards and two scores. He also caught a 35-yard touchdown pass in a 33-15 win over Apopka Wekiva, but had no interceptions.
Loucheiz Purifoy (Pensacola Pine Forest): Playing quarterback and cornerback, Purifoy carried the ball 14 times for just 31 yards in a 24-7 loss to Pensacola. Purifoy didn’t record an interception.
Valdez Showers (Madison Heights, Mich., Madison): Another guy who played both ways, Showers carried the ball 20 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. He recorded zero interceptions in his team’s 42-27 loss to Marine City.
Nick Waisome (Groveland South Lake): No stats were recorded for Waisome in South Lakes’ 24-7 win over Tampa Catholic.
RECRUITS OF INTEREST
Running Back
Mike Blakely (Bradenton Manatee): Blakley wasn’t as spectacular as he was against James Wilder. Jr. and Tampa Plant, but he did gain 83 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in a 39-16 win against Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mike Bellamy (Punta Gorda Charlotte): Bellamy carried the ball 15 times for 94 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-0 win over North Port.
Wide Receiver
George Farmer (Gardena, Calif., Junipero Serra): Arguably the nation’s top receiver collected four catches for 92 yards, including a touchdown that went for 72 yards. He also had an early 62-yard punt returned for a touchdown negated because of a penalty. He later returned one for 51 yards that went for a touchdown in a 34-7 win over Sherman Oaks, Calif., Notre Dame.
Sammy Watkins (Fort Myers South): Watkins recorded three receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown and returned the opening kick 83 yards for a score. Fort Myers South defeated Estero 49-7.
Tight End
Jay Rome (Valdosta, Ga.): The nation’s top tight end caught four passes for 62 yards in a 35-0 win over Brooks, Ga., County.
Defensive Tackle
Tim Jernigan (Lake City Columbia): At fullback, Jernigan rushed for 52 yards on seven carries and had two touchdowns, including one of 37 yards. On the line, he had a sack and recovered a fumble in a 35-13 win over Brooks County, Ga.
Todd Barr (Lakewood, Calif.): Barr had two sacks and caused a fumble in a 49-0 win over Los Angeles Locke.
Lonnie Gosha (Lake Butler Union County): Gosha was a monster grabbing five sacks in a 12-7 win over Ocala Forest.
Linebacker
Tony Steward (St. Augustine Pedro Menendez): At linebacker, Steward forced a fumble. On offense, he caught three passes for 53 yards. And as a kick returner, he ran one bavk for a 99-yard touchdown. His team won 23-20 over Jacksonville Bishop Kenny.
PROSPECTS SEEN AT UF-MIAMI (OHIO) GAME
Nick Waisome
Hunter Joyer
Ja’Juan Story
De’Ante Saunders
LB Ryan Shazier (Plantation)
2012 WR Latroy Pittman (Citra North Marion) — committed to Florida
2012 WR Chris Black (Jacksonville First Coast)
2012 WR Angelo Jean-Louis (Wellington Palm Beach Central)
Great job Ed. This would make a nice weekly contribution. Particularly liked the Prospects at Game info.
Thanks EA.
Ryan Shazier had 5 sacks and 10 tackles and 2 FG blocked via Jason Higdon.
Very good. I hope you keep this up in weeks to come.
Great idea, Edward, to do a rundown. Definitely make this a weekly feature. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with you as a sports reporter. Keep up the good work.
Ed, the Florida Times-Union mentioned that A. C. Leonard caught two TD passes against Andrews. No other stat on him, though.