Heritage QB Rizk signs as walk-on with Hurricanes
Years before starring at quarterback for American Heritage, Ryan Rizk knew where he wanted to play college football.
“Grew up a Canes fan, (and wanted to play) for Miami,” Rizk said on Wednesday morning, minutes after signing with the Hurricanes as a preferred walk-on. “I’ve become part of the family — and I’m honored to be part of the Canes.”
Rizk was one of five Stallions football players to sign letters of intent Wednesday morning, joining OT/ DE Matt Cedeno (College of the Holy Cross), WR/CB Marcell Quince (Mississippi College) and defensive backs Micangelo Joseph and Ja’mari Laster, both headed to Mount Union. Knowing they’ll play alongside one another in college made the decision to sign with Mount Union easier for Joseph and Laster.
“Mount Union is a prestigious school, so it was only the right move in our best interests,” Joseph said. “And they just came off a (Division III) championship win.”
Rizk’s top choices were Miami and FAU. Rizk said Miami coach Mark Richt’s pre-Orange Bowl promise of a quarterback battle in 2018 played into his decision. Rising senior Malik Rosier will compete with sophomore N’Kosi Perry and recent signee Jarren Williams.
“With every school I was considering, being a starter was always a big part,” Rizk said. “All the coaches know that wherever I’m going, I’m going to compete for the starting job.”
Glades Central signings: Raiders three-star offensive lineman Willie Canty III signed with Nebraska, choosing the Cornhuskers over Louisville. Canty was a first-team All-Area pick.
Raiders defensive back Jamarian “Trey” Green signed with Central Florida. Green, a Post first-team All-Area pick, had nine interceptions for the Raiders.
Green, a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com, had been committed since visiting the school but kept it silent, according to Rivals. He chose the Knights over USF, Oregon State, Memphis and Pittsburgh.
Wellington star overcomes injury to sign: There was a decent chance Connor Rogers would never play football again. There was an even greater chance that he’d never play quarterback.
The Wellington signal-caller sustained a dislocated right shoulder in the Wolverines’ loss to Vero Beach on Sept. 1. But on national signing day, Rogers signed with Tennessee Valley Prep.
“It was really a gruesome injury,” Rogers said Wednesday. “Physically, obviously, it hurt. Mentally, it really crushed me. But everything happens for a reason.”
The senior needed to have surgery to repair the injury, forcing him to miss the rest of the year. Rogers started throwing three weeks ago. Now he’s throwing 25 yards 30 times a day and will soon move on to throwing 35 or more yards 30 times a day.
The senior said he plans to play quarterback at Tennessee Valley Prep, but if his throwing arm doesn’t recover well enough, Rogers said the team is open to having him play tight end, where he played before moving to quarterback.
— ADAM LICHTENSTEIN