Some area players chose to wait to sign with a college
The Early Signing Period came and went in December, with many South Florida high school football players opting to sign their National Letters of Intent as soon as they could.
But several talented players chose to wait until Wednesday.
Waiting until the traditional February National Signing Day has its benefits and its drawbacks. Players have the opportunity to see how teams finish out the bowl and playoff season, and they get to evaluate coaching changes. Players signing early and the proliferation of transfers in college football lead to rapidly changing rosters that can look much different in February than they did in December.
Here are some of the local players who remain unsigned:
Emile Aime, TRU Prep Academy/ University School
Aime, who spent his senior year at TRU Prep Academy after University School canceled its football season, is taking a different route to college football. The first-team All-County pick is headed to Florida State as a preferred walk-on, where he will have an opportunity to get playing time and earn a scholarship in the future. Aime had 75 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery as a senior. He is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 45 inside linebacker and No. 993 player in the class by 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Fredrick Cage, TRU Prep Academy/ University School
Cage was a dangerous receiver for TRU Prep as a senior, racking up at least 26 catches for 570 yards and four touchdowns. He was a second-team All-County selection. Cage is unrated by 247Sports, but he announced his commitment to Arkansas State on Jan. 30.
Fred Eaford, Deerfield Beach
Eaford was a top receiving threat for Deerfield Beach, earning second-team All-County honors. Eaford, who transferred to the Bucks before the season, has been committed to Florida Atlantic since June 19. He is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 131 wide receiver and No. 900 player in the class. Marco Fugar, St. Thomas Aquinas Fugar helped anchor the Raiders’ line as they rolled to a second straight Class 7A state title. Fugar has been committed to Pittsburgh since April 30, and he is rated a three-star prospect. He is listed as the No. 81 offensive guard and No. 1,649 player in the class.
Tyler Gaskin, Deerfield Beach Gaskin, who transferred from American Heritage-Delray to Deerfield, was a major factor in the Bucks’ secondary. He’s been committed to Navy since June 27. He is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 121 cornerback and No. 1,389 player in the class. He was a second-team All-County selection. Jeremiah McClendon, Atlantic McClendon, a Broward Super 11 selection, ended his high school career on a high note. He racked up 42 tackles and seven picks for the Eagles. He is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 158 safety and No. 1,832 player in the class. McClendon was previously committed to Western Kentucky but decommitted in the fall and committed to FAU on Jan. 22. McClendon was a first-team All-County pick.
Brandon Schabert, American Heritage-Delray
Schabert, a Palm Beach Super 11 pick and first-team All-County selection, opened his recruitment up in January, decommitting from FAU. Schabert racked up 28 catches for 540 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 26 yards and two touchdowns on four carries. He is rated a threestar prospect, the No. 195 wide receiver and No. 1,418 player in the class. He holds offers from Kent State, Kentucky and Syracuse. Boogsie Silvera, American Heritage Silvera, the younger brother of Miami defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera, has been a key player in the Patriots’ secondary. He helped lead Heritage to the Class 5A state title last year. A second-team All-County pick, Silvera racked up 69 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and an interception. He is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, and he holds offers from Charleston Southern, FAU, Toledo and more.
Omar Simpson Jr., Western
Simpson, a first-team All-County pick, had 22 tackles, two interceptions and a pair of pass deflections along with two touchdowns on offense in just four games for Western this year. Simpson, a three-star prospect, is rated the No. 160 cornerback and No. 1,833 player in the class. He was previously committed to UAB but backed off that choice on Dec. 14. He holds offers from Coastal Carolina, Kentucky, Marshall and more.
Zyin Thomas, Atlantic
Thomas had a dominant senior year on the Eagles’ line, notching 36 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles. Thomas has been committed to UCF since Nov. 26. He is listed as a threestar prospect, No. 90 defensive tackle and No. 1,628 player in the class. He was a firstteam All-County pick.