Ocoee’s Ware tops list of underrated and overlooked defensive players
When Ahlston Ware stands on the football field for Ocoee High, he looks like a specimen. He stands out and makes a person watch him.
At least he should be watched. I noticed and I watched, and college recruiters should be watching the 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback/wide receiver/everything else. He never comes off the field for the Knights. He’s easy to spot, but apparently college recruiters are not seeing or looking or something.
He has just two scholarship offers from lower-level Football Bowl Subdivision programs Appalachian State and Middle Tennessee State. Not to knock those programs. Heck, most bigger schools don’t want to play App State.
Regardless, Ware is worth far more of a look than what he has gotten so far, as are several other seniors across this Central Florida region. We analyzed the offensive players last week and this week we take a look at the defensive players who are lacking attention.
“It’s not really that frustrating. I have a few offers and all I can do is keep playing and hope for the best and hope schools come see me,” Ware said.
Ahlston Ware, DB-WR, 6-0, 190, Ocoee:
Ware does everything for Ocoee. Even teammate and Central Florida’s leading receiver Asaad Waseem said he’s the best player on the team. The amazing thing about Ware is that he doesn’t even have a 247Sports profile, which is basically the “Who’s Who” of recruiting prospects across the nation.
Ware remains humble and hopeful and he figures his day will come.
“I’m just here to help my team and if there’s a position they need me to play, then I’ll play it,” Ware said. “I wouldn’t say I’m the best player on the team. We have a lot of good players. I just try to play the best I can and that’s it.”
Well, this kid needs attention, because he, like Waseem, is a dawg. He’s a big hitter with cover skills to match and he’s one of the most skilled corners in Central Florida. Ware also has the speed that colleges find intriguing. Middle Tennessee or App State certainly would benefit from signing Ware, but he’s deserving of a Power Five offer.
Chris Ficka, DT, 6-1, 255, West Orange:
Ficka is built a lot like Clemson and former Wekiva High defensive tackle Tyler Davis when he was in high school. The Clemson All-America candidate had about 10 more pounds on Ficka back then, yet Davis’ size was still not seen as big enough by many recruiters. But they watched him, saw his technique, saw the double-teams and realized Davis was the real deal. Finally getting notice helped scholarships roll in. Clemson liked what
they saw and signed Davis, now 6-2 and 300, who did not commit until signing day his senior year. Ficka, the brother of West Orange offensive line coach Will Ficka, who played at FAMU, will likely be the same as Davis, committing late based on his senior film.
Donnell McCray Jr., LB, 6-1, 215, Jones:
McCray is one of the biggest surprises of the 2022 football season. McCray, who transferred to Jones from Olympia just before the school year began, leads Jones in tackles and no one is close to his 42 stops. He has fit in from the beginning with the Jones defense and even has become a key defensive leader. McCray has shown an incredible knack for getting to the ballcarrier and he is always in on most plays. He has good speed and is very cerebral in his pursuit of the tackle. McCray averages 8.4 tackles per game and has 2 tackles for loss.