Dillard stars highlight first day
A handful of South Florida’s high school football stars made some waves Wednesday, the first day of the Early Signing Period, when they could sign letters of intent with colleges who had offered scholarships.
Prized five-star American Heritage edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. signed with Georgia at a ceremony at his school, which was broadcast on ESPN2.
Jones said he wants to get on the field quickly at Georgia, and the ability to do that was a major reason why he picked the Bulldogs.
“I would say the ability to play early [drew me to Georgia],” Jones said. “The school has so much history and, obviously, they’re on a path to win right now.”
Jones, a Sun Sentinel Super 11 pick, chose the Bulldogs over Alabama and Florida State, even though his father, Marvin Jones Sr., was a star linebacker for the Seminoles.
Jones had a solid season for American Heritage, notching 46 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks this season. Georgia’s defense is currently No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense, and playing in that defense appealed to the Patriots star.
Although Jones made his splash on national TV, many South Florida eyes were focused squarely on Dillard fourstar defensive lineman Nyjalik Kelly.
Earlier Wednesday, Kelly announced that he will sign with the Miami Hurricanes, saying new coach Mario Cristobal was the biggest reason he chose Miami over the other schools courting him, which included Florida, Florida State and Georgia.
“I really fell in love with Oregon and coach Cristobal over there,” Kelly said. “Now that he’s back in my hometown, I had to pick the U.”
Kelly said he knew he would likely pick the Hurricanes after Miami hired Cristobal, but he waited to tell his new head coach until he visited Coral Gables on an official visit Sunday.
“[Cristobal] was happy, excited, kept calling me about it,” Kelly said.
Kelly said he was considering Oregon when Cristobal was still the Ducks’ coach, and that Miami was a “no-brainer” when they hired Cristobal.
Kelly, who was a Sun Sentinel Super 11 pick, is currently the only Broward player in the Hurricanes’ 2022 class. Kelly, who was previously committed to Florida State, is rated a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite ranking. He is listed as the No. 13 defensive lineman and No. 84 player in this year’s recruiting class. He is the highest-rated player in Miami’s class.
Kelly was a dominant force on the Panthers’ defensive line this season, racking up 58 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He is hoping to take that high level of play and turn it into quick college success.
Kelly’s Dillard teammate and star wide receiver Devaughn Mortimer had been committed to Florida State since March, but Wednesday he had a change of heart. Mortimer flipped his commitment from FSU to Louisville.