High schools
Several South Florida football players transfer and make college commitments on Thursday.
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Highly touted senior quarterback and FAU commit Gio Richardson has landed at Dwyer.
The ex-Oxbridge Academy signal caller, who had announced a transfer to Palm Beach Central on Twitter nearly three weeks earlier, took part in his first practice with the Panthers on Thursday morning after the move to the Broncos fell through.
“They said they had full capacity, and I understand,” said Richardson, rated a three-star prospect in the 247 Sports composite rankings. “My mom worked very hard to try and get in there, and it didn’t work out, so I came here.”
As a junior for the ThunderWolves, who had a mass exodus of talent after the football program folded, Richardson threw for 1,593 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 495 yards and nine more scores in a campaign that earned him Sun Sentinel All-County first-team honors. Despite the addition, Daniels maintains there will be competition at quarterback. He was already entering the fall season comfortable with either senior Paul Whitley or junior James Dailey.
A couple of other Oxbridge transfers bolster Dwyer’s chances of competing in Class 7A this year. Senior safety Antavious Lane and running back James Meeks, both also FAU commits, boost deep position groups in the offensive backfield and defensive secondary.
Deerfield Beach DL Brandon Dorlus commits to Virginia Tech: Deerfield Beach three-star defensive end Brandon Dorlus got to announce his college commitment ahead of Bucks AllAmerican outside linebacker Ge’mon Eaford on Thursday after taking quite a contrasting path to this moment.
Dorlus gained most of his recruiting attention just a few months ago while Eaford has been a long-time prized blue chip.
Dorlus’ rapid ascension allowed him to commit to Virginia Tech on Thursday night at a team event at Buffalo Wild Wings in Deerfield while on air on Tony Sands’ radio show. He chose the Hokies over other finalists Florida, Clemson and Nebraska.
Dorlus pointed to the Hokies losing a number of defensive linemen who are seniors this year. He’ll join Apopka Wekiva’s Norell Pollard and Kissimmee Osceola’s Mario Kendricks as Florida defenders up front in Tech’s 2019 recruiting class.
All-American Deerfield Beach LB Ge’mon Eaford commits to Oregon: Deerfield Beach four-star outside linebacker Ge’mon Eaford has been a coveted recruit since his underclassman days in high school.
That recruitment, which was stressful at times, culminated on Thursday night as the Under Armour AllAmerica selection announced a commitment to Oregon while on the Tony Sands radio show at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Deerfield.
“A whole bunch of stress going off my shoulders,” Eaford said. “I’m happy now. My family happy for me. My whole community happy for me.”
Eaford chose the Ducks over a final five that also included Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida and FSU. His trip to Eugene over the previous weekend sealed it for him but the Ducks were a team he actually liked for a long time.
“That’s been my favorite school since before [LeGarrette] Blount was even there,” Eaford said. “The players, they were always fast. I always thought it was a flash out there on the field. Then, I would say the uniforms.
“When I finally got a chance to visit, it just felt like home.”
Eaford noted he had a relationship with Oregon coach Mario Cristobal going back to when he was an assistant at Alabama. He also built rapport with outside linebackers coach Cort Dennison, cornerbacks coach Donte Williams and strength and conditioning coordinator Aaron Feld.