Top south Florida RBs narrow their lists, set for recruiting visits this weekend; Miami trying to sway FSU commit.
Charlie Weis, the new offensive coordinator at the University of Florida, has been spending quite a bit of time this past week in Palm Beach County, as the Gators are making a strong push to land highly touted Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) quarterback
Jacoby Brissett, who remains uncommitted.
Last Friday, the Palm Beach Post reported that Weis was at Dwyer to deliver his recruiting pitch to the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Brissett, whose stock continues to climb as National Signing Day approaches. That night, UF head coach Will Muschamp officially offered Brissett a full scholarship. Brissett had turned down a grayshirt offer from former Gators head coach Urban Meyer.
Brissett was in Gainesville last weekend to watch the Gators' men's basketball team take on South Carolina and former Dwyer standout Ramon Galloway, a friend of Brissett's,
Weis was back at Dwyer on Tuesday night to watch Brissett and the Panthers' basketball team play a home game. Brissett — who has narrowed his choices to UF, Florida State, Miami, South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin — also is an outstanding basketball player and has said he would like to give both football and basketball a shot his freshman year in college.
Weis and UF also are trying to convince Dwyer defensive end/outside linebacker
Curt Maggitt to sign with the Gators. Interestingly, highly coveted Dwyer tight end
Nick O'Leary was seen sitting in the stands next to Weis at Tuesday night's basketball game. O'Leary also has not made a verbal commitment yet, but there has been speculation that he is leaning toward FSU.
In an interview with ESPN-760 and the local NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach following Tuesday night's basketball game, Brissett did not give any indication that he is in a rush to announce his decision before signing day on Feb. 2.
"I put my sports first," said Brissett, indicating he was more concerned about the success of Dwyer's basketball team than his college choice at this time. Miami also has been making a strong push to land Brissett since Al Golden took over the Hurricanes' program.
TRE MASON NARROWS LIST TO THREEPark Vista (Boynton Beach) running back
Tre Mason, a South Florida Sun-Sentinel first-team All-County selection, is scheduled to take an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound speedy Mason already has visited Auburn and West Virginia, and he said that those three schools are the finalists to gain his signature on a national letter of intent.
Mason rushed for 1,601 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last season and was a finalist for the Palm Beach County Player of the Year at the Lou Groza Award banquet in December. As far as being snubbed by UF, FSU and UM, Mason made this comment to the Palm Beach Post: "I guess they didn't see anything in me. But the No. 1 team in the nation (Auburn) does."
KEVIN GROOMS TO VISIT VA. TECH THIS WEEKENDSouth Broward (Hollywood) running back
Kevin Grooms, a Sun-Sentinel first-team All-County selection, visited Miami last weekend and is scheduled to make a recruiting trip to Virginia Tech this weekend. Grooms, who also has visited Kansas, recently said that the Hurricanes and the Hokies are his top two offers.
Grooms, who also played defensive back and returned kicks for South Broward, rushed for 1,350 yards last season. Grooms recently told the Sun-Sentinel that Virginia Tech is recruiting him as a running back and possibly a kickoff/punt returner. Miami, "they are recruiting me as an athlete," he said.
Miami also still is recruiting Class 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver
Rashad Greene even though Greene has made a verbal commitment to FSU. Greene will visit UM this weekend and also is planning a trip to Texas Tech the weekend of Jan. 28.
MIAMI-DADE BEATS BROWARD IN ALL-STAR GAMEThe Miami-Dade County all-stars dominated their northern neighbors in the first Miami Dolphins Miami-Dade/Broward All-Star Football Game last Friday night at Traz Powell Stadium.
Two North Miami Beach players played key roles in Miami-Dade's 24-2 win.
Keeon Virgile returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown and
Trevor Ishmael also had an interception to set up a touchdown as Miami-Dade's defense shut down the Broward offense. Andre O'Neil of Miami Senior returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for the winners' other touchdown. Next year's game will be played at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The Palm Beach County Treasure Coast All-Star game will be played Saturday night at Boca Raton High's stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
WALKER STEPPING DOWN AT HERITAGEAmerican Heritage (Plantation) football coach and athletic director Byron Walker will be leaving the school after 19 years in which his football teams compiled a 261-124 record that included 14 playoff appearances since 1995. Previously, Walker had a successful coaching stint at Glades Day (Belle Glade).
American Heritage Principal Patricia Butts said that Walker has applied for an administrative job outside of Broward County.
Butts also announced that former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jeff Dellenback will succeed Walker as the Patriots' football coach and athletic director. Dellenback was the offensive line coach at Ave Maria University near Naples, Fla., last season and previously coached at North Broward Prep for three years.
RECRUITING FAIR SETThe 14th annual Palm Beach County High School Football Coaches Association Recruiting Fair will be held Feb. 23-25 at John I. Leonard (Greenacres) near West Palm Beach.
The annual event attracts numerous coaches from Division II, D-III and NAIA colleges as well as junior colleges and prep schools nationwide. After viewing recruiting tapes and talking with high school coaches, the college coaches then will meet with players they wish to recruit and their parents. Coaches from 42 college programs and prep schools attended last year's fair, which helps those players who have not signed with D-I programs.
The Broward County Recruiting Fair will be held Feb. 26-27.
SIGNING DAY SHOWSome south Florida recruits will announce their decisions during a live television broadcast on Feb. 2. The show will originate from Dave & Buster's Hollywood and will be hosted by former Miami Dolphins receiver Joe Rose, Adam Kuperstein and recruiting analyst Larry Blustein. The live TV show will air on NBC-6 at 7:30 p.m.
Steve Dorsey, who covers the South Florida region for MaxPreps.com, is a freelance writer based in West Palm Beach. He has covered the South Florida high school sports scene for the past 29 years. He also is a contributing writer for American Football Monthly and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
