Beyond the big names
Not every player from the Orlando area is staying in-state to play for a power program. Wednesday, plenty more locked themselves in during the early signing period to attend the Ivy League, play in the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 or stay nearby in Tampa. The regular signing period is February:
Donovan Branch, Foundation Academy
(UConn): Defensive lineman finished season with 56 tackles, 10 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
Nick Campbell, Lake Minneola (N.C. State): Led Hawks to Class 6A state championship game last year as a junior defensive end.
Anthony Dunn Jr., Seminole (Marshall):
Emerged as a senior 3-star recruit along defensive line with 37 tackles (5 for loss) for an 11-2 team.
Zane Durant, Lake Nona (Penn State):
Finished four-year career along defensive line with 169 tackles (57 for loss), 24.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles.
Brendan Flakes, West Orange (Northwestern): Defensive end amassed 75 total tackles (26 for loss), a team-high 13.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles in 2021.
Jayden Gibson, West Orange (Oklahoma):
Averaged 18,5 yards per reception at WR while catching 88 passes for 1,631 yards, 22 TDs in 2020 and ‘21.
Victor Jones Jr., Olympia (Nebraska): The 6-foot-2 wideout hauled in 96 catches for 1,565 yards and 17 TDs for Titans over past two seasons.
Eddie Kelly, West Orange (South Florida):
Caught 23 passes for 383 yards and 6 TDs at tight end and finished with 71 tackles (23 for loss) at defensive end.
Chad Mascoe Jr., Osceola (Campbell University): Completed 61% of passes for 5,682 yards, 54 TDs and 16 INTs and rushed for 1,015 yards, 11 TDs in career.
Matthew McDoom, West Orange (Coastal Carolina): Forced 8 turnovers, scored 7 TDs, and was in on 137 tackles at defensive back as a junior and senior.
Solomon Miller, Lake Highland Prep, (Brown University): Helped Highlanders wrap up an undefeated season as Sunshine State Athletic Conference champions as a WR/DB.
Jordan Phillips, Ocoee, (Tennessee):
Registered 56 tackles (29 for loss) and 11.5 sacks at DL to go along with 1 forced fumble
and 1 fumble recovery in senior season.
Charles Pierre Jr., Ocoee, (South Dakota):
Averaged 115 yards rushing per game while carrying the ball 172 times for 1,152 yards and 14 TDs.
Chris Reed, Wekiva (Utah): Wide receiver caught 41 passes for 625 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for one score this fall.
Javan Robinson, West Orange (Washington State): Defensive back finished senior season with 35 tackles, 6 passes defended and 2 INTs.
Josiah Robinson, Apopka (Coastal Carolina): Versatile 3-star defender played key role at linebacker and safety for state finalists.
Alex Saunders, Oviedo (South Dakota):
Led Orlando area in receptions (68) and finished second in receiving yards (1,002) in regular season.
Gunnar Smith, Lake Mary (South Florida):
Four-year starting quarterback set Seminole Athletic Conference career passing records for yards (8,255) and TDs (83).
Venson Sneed, Winter Park (Indiana):
Defensive lineman rounded out senior season with 40 tackles (9 for loss), 3 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries.
Bryan Thomas Jr., Foundation Academy (South Carolina): Racked up 70 tackles, 11 sacks and 3 forced fumbles as senior defensive lineman.
JaCorey Thomas, Boone (Georgia): DB finished senior year with 90 tackles (41 solo), 4 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 2 blocked kicks and 2 TDs.
Noble Thomas Jr., Orange City University (Oregon State): Helped Titans win first district title while recording 58 tackles and 2 INTs at defensive back.
DeMario Tolan, Dr. Phillips (LSU): 4-star linebacker stuck with Tigers despite late push from SEC rivals Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee.
Reggie Virgil, Mount Dora Christian (Miami Ohio): Athletic WR/DB led Bulldogs to Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship game past two seasons.
DontaWhack,Seminole(UMass): Led Seminoles out of backfield while rushing for 915 yards, 8 TDs in 2021 and 529 yards, 6 TDs in 2020.
Jeremiah Wilson, Osceola (Syracuse): DB intercepted 11 passes in three seasons and played big part in helping Kowboys reach 2020 8A state final.