The baton has been handed off, but it's still in the family.
Last year when MaxPreps looked at the
10 fastest high school football recruits in the country last year, our No. 1 choice was Marvin Bracy, a senior from Boone (Orlando, Fla.). With Bracy now competing for Florida State University, that honor this year falls to
Levonte Whitfield, a senior at
Jones (Orlando, Fla.). Whitfield just happens to be Bracy's cousin and also is following in his footsteps with a pledge to Florida State.
According to Jack Shepard's High School Track 2013, Whitfield is the fastest returning sprinter from 2012. The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder ran the 100-meter dash in 10.35 seconds, which was No. 6 in the country behind five seniors. He also ran the 200 in 20.96 seconds, making him the third-fastest returnee in that event. The wide receiver/return specialist runs 40 yards in 4.37 seconds.
During the indoor season, Whitfield ran 55 meters in 6.71 seconds, which tied for No. 1 in the nation.
Here's a brief look at some other football recruits who also have outstanding speed:
Devon Allen, Brophy College Prep
Photo by Kevin French
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Jeryl Brazil, a 5-11, 185-pound cornerback from
Loranger (La.), was right behind Whitfield in the 100 meters with a best clocking of 10.36 seconds. Nicknamed The Jet, he also was No. 2 in the 55 meters with an indoor state record of 6.25 seconds.
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Devon Allen, who has committed to the University of Oregon for football and track, ranks No. 1 in 200-meter returnees with a 20.75 clocking and No. 4 in the 100 at 10.49. The 6-1, 190-pound wide receiver\defensive back also set state records in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles for
Brophy College Prep (Phoenix).
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Khalfani Muhammad of
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) is the third-fastest returnee in the 100 (10.44) and fourth-fastest in the 200 (21.00). The 5-9, 175-pound two-way star who has committed to the University of California led his team to the state track title by winning the 100 and 200 and anchoring the 400-meter relay.
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James Quick, a 6-1, 182-pound wide receiver, lived up to his name last spring by running 200 meters in a state-record 20.94 seconds, making him the nation's No. 2 returnee in that event. The standout from
Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) has elected to stay home and attend the University of Louisville.
Thomas Tyner, Aloha
Photo by Jeff Napier
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Thomas Tyner has had a brilliant, but injury-marred career at
Aloha (Beaverton, Ore.). The 6-foot, 207-pound running back, who has committed to the University of Oregon, ran the 100 in a state-record 10.43 seconds as a sophomore. He has run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds. He also has set several state rushing records. One can only speculate what his numbers could have been had he been healthy all three years.
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Artie Burns of
Northwestern (Miami) had the nation's best time in the 110 hurdles (13.35) without being wind-aided. The 6-1, 194-pound defensive back, who runs the 40 in 4.37, has chosen the University of Miami.
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Leandrew Gordon, a 5-7, 170-pound wide receiver from
Pantego Christian (Arlington, Texas), runs 40 yards in 4.3 seconds.
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West Bolivar (Rosedale, Miss.) running back
Kailo Moore (5-10, 190) won the 100-meter Class 2A state title last spring in 10.41 seconds.
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Antonio Conner, a 6-2, 205-pounder with 4.4 speed in the 40, was a standout defensive back for perennial power
South Panola (Batesville, Miss.).
