Here’s what Florida prospects did on the first weekend in October …
VERBAL COMMITMENTS
Fullback
Hunter Joyer — Tampa Catholic got its first win of the year, beating Deerfield Beach Zion Lutheran 64-6. Joyer’s two touchdowns came on a 4-yard run and a 20-yard pass reception.
Wide Receivers
Ja’Juan Story — Story rushed for 63 yards and passed for 39 in Brooksville Nature Coasts’ 28-8 loss to Leesburg.
Tight End
A.C. Leonard — Leonard caught six receptions for 44 yards in Jacksonville University Christian’s 48-42 loss to Callahan West Nassau.
Linebacker
Ryan Shazier — Because of an ankle injury, Shazier had to sit out Plantation’s 49-7 loss to Lakeland.
Defensive Backs
De’Ante “Pop” Saunders — Saunders carried the ball 17 times for 55 yards and scored a 22-yard touchdown in DeLand’s 10-7 win over Seminole.
Valdez Showers — Showers rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. He also recorded an interception and four tackles in Madison Heights, Mich., Madison’s 49-28 win over East Detroit.
Loucheiz Purifoy — Purifoy did a little of everything, blocking a field goal and intercepting a pass on defense. He registered two touchdowns, including a 75-run and carried the ball 12 times for 136 yards in Pine Forest’ 28-21 win over Tallahassee Lincoln.
RECRUITS OF INTEREST
Running Backs
Mike Bellamy (Clemson) — Bellamy had 11 carries for 230 yards and two touchdowns of 83 and 84 yards in Punta Gorda Charlotte’s 34-0 win over Fort Myers.
Mike Blakely — Blakely rushed for 116 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. He also threw a 30-yard touchdown and caught three passes for 7 yards in Bradenton Manatee’s 34-7 win over Lakewood Ranch.
Savon Huggins — Huggins carried the ball 13 times for 85 and a touchdown in Jersey City, N.J., St. Peter’s Prep’s 35-0 win over Wyoming Seminary College Prep.
Andrew Buie — Buie had 83 rushing yards, with rushing scores of 5 and 33 yards. He also passed for 70 yards in Jacksonville Trinity Chrisitan’s 40-0 win over Ponte Vedra Nease.
Wide Receivers
Sammy Watkins — Watkins recorded six catches for 178 yards and touchdown and returned a kick 85 yards for a score in South Fort Myers’ 49-7 win over Naples Gulf Coast.
George Farmer — Farmer caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown in Gardena, Calif., Serra’s 48-22 win over Narbonne.
Linebackers
Tony Steward — Steward had a 9-yard touchdowns run, returned a kick 85 yards for a score and caught a 52-yard touchdown pass in St. Austine Pedro Menendez 36-15 win over Middleburg.
Curtis Grant — Grant recorded 10 tackles in Richmond, Va., Hermitage’s 19-0 win over Deep Run.
Defensive Line
Todd Barr — Barr recorded 11 tackles and two sacks in Lakewood, Calif.’s 44-0 win over Compton.
Lonnie Gosha — Gosha, who is barely on Florida’s radar at this point, recorded eight tackles in Lake Butler Union County’s 17-6 win over Newberry.
Cornerbacks
Marcus Roberson — Roberson recorded an interception before leaving the game with an injury. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas beat Kingsland, Ga., Camden County 42-24.
The Lincoln H.S. public address announcer works with me and came to work Monday singing the praises of Purifoy. He says Purifoy scored three TD’s. One when he blocked a punt and returned it for a score, one when he intercepted a pass and returned it for a score, and one when he ran out of the backfield for a score. The PA announcer described Purifoy as the difference maker in a game where Pine Forest turned the ball over 6 times and still won the game.