South Florida rich in top talent
Now that most collegebound players from the Class of 2021 have sent in their National Letters of Intent, college coaches and fans are turning their attention to the incoming senior class.
Like usual, there is no shortage of football talent in South Florida.
Here is a glance at some of the players to keep an eye on in the Class of 2022. All rankings are the 247Sports composite rankings unless otherwise noted. Alfonzo Allen, Hallandale
Allen is part of a deep, talented secondary at Hallandale. Allen is rated a four-star prospect, and he is listed as the No. 12 safety and No. 170 player in the class. He holds offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Miami and more. He was an All-County honorable mention as a junior.
Tray Brown, Cardinal Gibbons
Brown was a key player on the Chiefs’ defense as Cardinal Gibbons rolled to the Class 4A title. Brown, a linebacker, led the Chiefs with 74 tackles, and he had eight tackles for loss. He also had an interception and a pass deflection. He was a secondteam All-County pick. He is a three-star prospect, the No. 25 inside linebacker and No. 598 player in the class. Brown has offers from Florida, Miami, Pittsburgh and more.
Brian Dilworth, Chaminade-Madonna
Dilworth was one of the first local 2022 players to commit, picking Auburn on May 19, 2020. Dilworth had seven interceptions in 10 games and made 29 tackles. Dilworth, who was a firstteam All-County pick, is a three-star prospect. He is listed as the No. 36 cornerback and No. 388 player in the class. Omar Graham Jr., Stranahan
Graham has seen his recruitment explode in recent weeks. The Stranahan linebacker has picked up recent offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, West Virginia and more. In a coronavirus-shortened season, Graham still put up eye-popping numbers, racking up 38 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He was a second-team All-County selection.
Anthony Hankerson, St. Thomas Aquinas
Hankerson has been the Raiders’ starting running back for two title runs, and he was the Sun Sentinel Broward County Class 8A-6A offensive player of the year after rushing for 1,189 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games. Hankerson is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 31 running back and No. 384 player in the class. He has offers from Florida, FSU, Georgia, Miami and more.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Chaminade-Madonna
One of the top-rated prospects in the class, Jackson has more than 30 college offers. The schools recruiting him make up some of college football’s elite. Jackson has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and more. Jackson was a second-team All-County pick after making 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and five sacks in five games. He is rated a four-star prospect, the No. 6 weak-side defensive end and the No. 82 player in the class.
Matthew James, St. Andrew’s
James, a Super 11 pick as a junior, is a versatile athlete for the Scots. He had 424 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 22 catches on offense. He also had 32 tackles and an interception on defense. James was a firstteam All-County pick. He is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, and he is listed as the No. 46 athlete. He holds offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, LSU and more.
Jamaal Johnson, Chaminade-Madonna
Johnson was another player who committed early in the process. Johnson intends to stay close to home and play for the Miami Hurricanes. Johnson was a first-team All-County pick as a junior after making 54 tackles and a team-best 13 sacks. Johnson is a three-star prospect, the No. 37 strong-side defensive end and No. 634 player in the class.
Marvin Jones Jr., American Heritage
Jones, the son of former FSU and NFL linebacker Marvin Jones, is currently the top-ranked local player in the 247Sports composite rankings. He is No. 70 in the nation and the No. 5 weakside defensive end. He had 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading 13 sacks as the Patriots won the Class 5A state title. Jones, who was a first-team All-County pick, has offers from Alabama, Florida, FSU, Miami, Oklahoma and more.
Nyjalik Kelly, Dillard Kelly had a dominant season as the Panthers rolled to the Class 6A-1A Tri-County championship, finishing the year with 21 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Kelly committed to FSU in August. He is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 28 strong-side defensive end and No. 530 player in the class. He was a first-team All-County pick after his junior year.
Earl Little Jr., American Heritage
Little, the son of Miami and NFL defensive back Earl Little, has grown into one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. He is a four-star prospect, the No. 12 cornerback and No. 98 player in the class. As a junior, Little had 35 tackles and a pair of interceptions. He was a second-team All-County selection, and he holds offers from Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami and more.
Marquis Lymon, Atlantic Lymon was a Super 11 pick entering his junior year, and he is the top-rated Palm Beach County player in 247Sports’ rankings. He is a four-star prospect, according to the site, and he is the No. 15 safety and the No. 217 player in the class. Lymon, who was a first-team All-County pick, had 30 tackles, five interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also had 400 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.
Jaylin Marshall, Hallandale
Marshall is another part of the Chargers’ touted secondary. The Hallandale safety is rated a four-star prospect and is listed as the No. 18 safety and No. 323 player in the class. Marshall holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Oklahoma and more.
Devaughn Mortimer, Dillard
Mortimer is one of the most explosive players in Broward County, making an impact on offense and special teams. Last year, Mortimer had 24 catches for 318 yards and five touchdowns. On kickoffs, he had 452 kickoff returns and two touchdowns; on punts, he had 540 yards and three touchdowns. He has 12 touchdown returns on punts and kickoffs, which is a Broward record. He is rated a three-star prospect, the No. 67 wide receiver and No. 496 player in the class. He has offers from Arizona State, Kentucky, Texas A&M and more.
Trevell Mullen, Coconut Creek
Mullen has a football lineage. One older brother, Trayvon, won a national title at Clemson and is playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. Another older brother, Tiawan, is currently starring at Indiana. Trevell Mullen is just as talented. He is rated a four-star prospect, the No. 20 cornerback and No. 169 player in the class. He has offers from Indiana, Miami, Penn State and more.
Jaziun Patterson, Deerfield Beach Patterson took over the starting running back role for the Bucks this year, and he has a promising future. He is rated a four-star prospect, the No. 28 running back and No. 273 player in the class. He has offers from Alabama, Florida, FSU, Miami and more.
Alton Tarber, Deerfield Beach
Tarber had a strong year on the Bucks’ defensive line, racking up 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was a second-team All-County pick. Tarber is rated a three-star prospect and the No. 55 defensive tackle in the class by 247Sports. Tarber has offers from Auburn, Miami, Texas A&M and more.
Richard Thomas, American Heritage
Thomas played a big role in the Patriots’ tough defense, earning second-team All-County honors. He had 64 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a junior. Thomas is rated a four-star prospect. He is listed as the No. 16 strong-side defensive end and No. 274 player in the class. Thomas has offers from FSU, LSU, Miami and more.
Ryan Turner, Chaminade-Madonna
Turner is another local player who has seen college offers pour in recently. Turner, an All-County honorable mention this past season, has offers from Clemson, Florida, Miami, Ohio State and more. He is a three-star prospect and is listed as the No. 55 cornerback and No. 561 player in the class.
Zion Turner, St. Thomas Aquinas
Turner has been the signalcaller for two state-championship Aquinas teams. As a junior, he had 1,066 passing yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions. He also ran for 206 yards and seven scores. He is a three-star prospect. Turner is listed as the No. 14 dualthreat quarterback and No. 438 player in the class. He holds offers from Maryland, LSU, Miami, Texas A&M and more.
Edric Weldon, Hallandale
Weldon has garnered more attention this year, receiving college offers from Alabama, Florida, FSU, Miami, Michigan and more. He was an All-County honorable mention as a junior. Weldon is a three-star prospect who is listed as the No. 26 safety and No. 475 player in the class.