’16 Athlete Ken Hiteman Is an Underrated Gem

Chad Wilson

By: Chad Wilson – Editor – Gridiron Studs Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds

High school football is played all across this great land we call America.  In every corner there are outstanding players that get the job done on game day and likely go unnoticed by college football programs.  No where does that happen more often than in South Florida which is widely regarded as the most fertile recruiting ground in the USA.

The likelihood of being overlooked is high in the sunshine state simply because there is just so much talent.  College football coaches flood the state of Florida at every opportunity in the recruiting calendar to jump in and take a swipe at the score of athletes that are roaming the high school gridirons.  Over in Coral Springs, Florida,  there is an underrated gem at Taravella high school that college coaches would be well served to feast their eyes on.

In the recruiting game,  size is important and Taravella’s Ken Hiteman has it.  The 2016 TE / WR stands at 6’4″ and 220 lbs. and is still growing.  Hiteman has the frame that DI coaches laud over and the athleticism to make him a must see.  The first thing that jumps out at you on his game tape is his blocking ability.  Hiteman is relentless when he gets into defenders and blocks to the whistle.  He is text book in the blocking department and is very skilled at moving the defender off their mark.  He does excellent work with his hands and drives his feet like he pushes a sled to school every morning.  However,  that’s not Hiteman’s only skill.  He plays in a run heavy offensive attack so his other skills can be hidden at times.  However,  Taravella opened up things last season and Hiteman was allowed to put his other talents on display.  His film features quite a few plays with him split out wide and looking like someone who can dominate at the WR position.  Tightends are getting asked to do a whole lot more these days and Hiteman has no problem flexing out,  running a route and beating a defensive back for the football.  He is that matchup up problem that offensive coordinators seek each game day.

This offseason should be a solid one for Hiteman as he gets out and shows off his physical tools and skills. Hiteman was recently added to well regarded South Florida high school writer Larry Blustein’s 2016 Watch List. I am certain that when Spring football comes,  a number of college football programs will be bidding for his services as he will certainly stand out.  The question is,  if you are a college football coach reading this is,  will you be a part of the action?  On your next trip down to the Sunshine State,  put a trip over to J.P. Taravella High School on your to do list.  Hiteman is a D1 prospect that deserves your attention.

Check out Ken Hiteman’s Junior Year Highlights – Click Here

 

South Florida Express 7-on-7 Team 2015 College Football Signees

Chad Wilson

Class of 2015 Signees for South Florida Express 7 on 7 Team

Walter Jackson WR Lindenwood 2015
Kahlil Lewis WR Cincinnati 2015
Richie Cooper WR Akron 2015
Robert Foy WR Florida Tech 2015
Emonee Spence WR Louisville 2015
Jordan Cronkite WR Florida 2015
Tarvarus McFadden CB Florida St. 2015
Tyrek Cole CB West Virginia 2015
Rashard Causey CB UCF 2015
Carlton Davis CB Auburn 2015
Malik Henderson DB Pittsburgh 2015
Rashad Fenton DB South Carolina 2015
Sheldrick Redwine CB Miami 2015
Deonte Fair DB Monmouth 2015
Khalid McGee CB South Florida 2015
Nick Peart DB Dartmouth 2015
Tevon Coney LB Notre Dame 2015
Davante Davis CB Texas 2015
Ryan Stanley QB Florida A&M 2015
Karon Jackson DB Eastern Illinois 2015
Antonio Callaway WR Florida 2015
Maurice Alexander QB Florida International 2015
Ocie Rose DB Florida Atlantic 2015
Torrance Gibson QB Ohio St. 2015
Jaquan Johnson DB Miami 2015
Antonyo Sotolongo DB Bowling Green 2015
Calvin Brewton DB Florida St. 2015
Therrell Gossier WR Kentucky 2015
Damon Arnette DB South Carolina 2015
James Oliphant CB U. Mass 2015
Austin Maloney WR Florida International 2015

 

 

 

 

Recruiting News: Week of February 8, 2015

Chad Wilson

February 13, 2015

USC has offered 2016 American Heritage Plantation TE Nick Eubanks
2.13.15 4:36 PM

2016 LB Emmett Rice from Norland HS, FL has been offered by Florida.
2.13.15 10:23 AM

Florida St. has offered Miami HS, FL 2016 WR Keyshawn “Pie” Young.
2.13.15 9:29 AM

Miami has offered 2016 Coconut Creek LB Alexy Jean-Baptiste.
2.13.15 8:45 AM

Miami has offered 2016 Pahokee HS, FL RB McArthur Burnett.
2.13.15 8:44 AM

University of Nebraska DB coach Charlie Warren will become the new WR coach for North Carolina.
2.13.15 8:43 AM

University of Georgia’s WR coach Tony Ball is making the move to be WR coach for LSU.
2.13.15 8:42 AM

February 12, 2015

2016 Miami Norland Emmett Rice (Florida St. commit) has been offered by Alabama
2.12.15 10:39 PM

University of Miami GA Kareem Brown will remain as a GA but will be given the added responsibility of coaching the outside LBs.  Hurlie Brown will coach the inside linebackers.
2.12.15 10:15 PM

Former Cal Safety Avery Sebastian has transferred to Notre Dame for his final season.
2.12.15 8:43 PM

Hallandale 2016 WR Joshua Hammond has been offered by Florida St.  His 2nd offer of the day.
2.12.15 8:37 PM

Chaminade-Madonna HS, Hollywood, FL head football coach position is currently open as Marcello Rodriguez has stepped aside. Three prominent Broward County private school programs currently are without head coaches (St. Thomas, University School and Chaminade).
2.12.15 12:19 PM

University of Florida adds Marquell Blackwell to their staff as Quality Control Specialist.
2.12.15 11:34 AM

2016 WR Joshua Hammond from Hallandale HS, FL has been offered by the Florida Gators
2.12.15 9:25 AM

From February 11, 2015

2016 WR Freddie Pinder from Southridge HS, FL has been offered by Illinois
2.11.15 11:13 PM

Macon County HS, GA LB Roquan Smith will make his college decision on Friday.
2.11.15 7:57 PM

2016 QB Kato Nelson from Flanagan HS, FL has been offered by Cincinnati
2.11.15 7:56 PM

2016 DB Dontye C. Williams from Booker T Washington HS, FL has been offered by Bowling Green
2.11.15 7:55 PM

Cardinal Gibbons 2016 DB Elijah Daniels has been offered by Bowling Green
2.11.15 1:20 PM

Boise St.’s Mike Sanford expected to become the next offensive coordinator for Notre Dame.
2.11.15 12:43 PM

The UCLA Bruins have fired OLB coach Mike Tuiasosopo.
2.11.15 11:25 AM

The New Orleans Saints have hired UL Lafayette defensive coordinator James Willis.
2.11.15 11:23 AM

2016 S/LB Clifford Chatman from McDonough HS, LA has committed to the LSU Tigers
2.11.15 10:17 AM

From February 10, 2015

Final Rank by Offers Numbers for Class of 2015. Click Here
2.10.15 3:14 PM

From Atlanta Journal-Constitution: More on Roquan Smith by-passing letter of intent signing.
2.10.15 1:44  PM

Former University of Florida RB coach Brian White has been hired by Boston College to coach WR
2.10.15 11:45 AM

FIU WR coach Kerry Dixon has been hired as new WR coach at the University of Florida.
2.10.15 10:30 AM

2016 4 Star RB Tre Turner Holy Cross HS, LA has been offered by Arizona
2.10.15 9:15 AM

2016 4 Star QB Dwayne Haskins Bullis School, MD has been offered by Michigan.
2.10.15 9:13 AM

According to College Football Talk, 2015 LB Roquan Smith, who committed to UCLA during signing day activities at his school will not sign a letter of intent for the school he eventually chooses.

2.10.15  9:07 AM

Booker T Washington HS, FL 2016 CB Dontye Carriere-Williams will be attending Vanderbilt Junior Day on March 21.
2.10.15 8:37 AM

From February 9, 2015

Monarch HS, FL  head coach Calvin Davis has stepped down. Davis coached top 2015 recruits Calvin Ridley (Alabama) and Shawn Burgess-Becker (Alabama).
2.9.15 11:33 PM

Former University of Miami LB coach Mike Barrow has accepted the same position as a member of the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff.
2.9.15  8:58 PM

Former University of Miami commit Terrell Chatman has announced that he will attend Arizona St.
2.9.15 2:24 PM

According to Tim Reynolds, Kevin Beard will be new WR coach for the University of Miami.
2.9.15 1:58 PM

Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams is transferring to Oregon.
2.9.15 1:24 PM

According to CanesInsight.com’s Peter Ariz, Hurricanes WR coach Brennan Carroll may be taking a position with the Seattle Seahawks.
2.9.15 12:32 PM

Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt replaces Oliver Luck on the College Football Selection Committee.
2.9.15 11:41 AM

Per ESPN’s Derek Tyson, CeCe Jefferson’s letter of intent has been signed and faxed in to the University of Florida.
2.9.15 11:32 AM

The University of Florida has offered 2016 WR Binjimen Victor from Coconut Creek HS, FL.
2.9.15 9:06 AM

From February 8, 2015

The University of Florida has offered 2017 American Heritage Plantation, FL offensive lineman TJ Slaton.
2.8.15 7:25 PM

The University of Florida has offered 2017 American Heritage Plantation, FL running back Kyshaun Bryan.
2.8.15 7:25 PM

LSU wide receivers coach Adam Henry has taken a job with the San Francisco 49ers according to coachingsearch.com
2.8.15 6:09 PM

From February 7, 2015

CeCe Jefferson says his LOI will be turned in to Florida soon.  His father and Florida DC Coach Collins had a long talk today.
2.7.15 6:21 PM

HS coach of Ohio St. ’15 signee Mike Weber is not happy with Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.  Story Here
2.7.15 3:48 P.M.

Per coachingsearch.com USF RB coach Autry Denson is a candidate for RB coach vacancy at Notre Dame.
2.7.15 3:36 PM

USC Redshirt CB Devian Shelton is no longer on the team.  According to Scout.com
2.7.15 12:52 PM

Charlie Strong not pleased with Chris Rumph departure to Florida according to CollegeSpun.
2.7.15 11:42 AM

CBS Sports says at least two Texas Longhorns recruits are not happy about the departure of DL coach Chris Rumph to Florida.
2.7.15 11:41 AM

According FootballScoop.com.  Notre Dame’s Tony Alford to join Urban Meyer’s Ohio St. coaching staff as the running back coach
– 2.7.15 11.12 AM

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Dual Sport ’16 Athlete Justin Thomas Jr. Looking to Make a Hit

Chad Wilson

By: Chad Wilson – Editor – Gridiron Studs Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds

There was a time when a high school athlete was just that.  In the Fall he played football, in the Winter he played basketball, in the Spring he would run track and in the Summer he’d play baseball.  Those days are gone.  Now,  coaches want you in their sport year round and only the finest of athletes can convince a coach to play another sport and leave a coach’s eye sight for a couple of months.  Chaminade Madonna High School’s Justin Thomas Jr. is that guy.

Thomas is one of only a few kids in South Florida that excel in both football and baseball.  On the football field,  the 6’1″ 185 lb. specimen throws his weight around like a FedEx worker tosses packages into his truck.  Thomas is that new breed of defensive back that has imposing size and athleticism.  He makes good use of it tracking down ball carriers and ramming into them full speed.  He also uses his speed to go get ball carriers that break free and believe they will find the end zone.  Thomas shows no fear on the gridiron and was one of the top players for the Lions during their 2014 season.  He will most certainly be the anchor of the defense in 2015 as the coaching staff finds a variety of ways to use his athletic talents.

Thomas’ size makes him available to play in the box versus run heavy attacks and his instincts give him an edge when they drop him back to the hash or deep middle of the field.  When the situation calls for it,  Thomas can also line up in the slot and handle anything from a jittery WR to an athletic TE.  His skills make him a utility knife that can equalize the production of an offense’s best player.  His skill set will be part Kam Chancellor and part Aquib Talib.  He’s really what college programs are looking for these days.  In the football offseason,  Thomas takes his toughness to the baseball diamond where he excels at the sport.  His hand eye coordination, balance and quickness are all developed to the max on the diamond and pay off dividends for him when he returns to the gridiron.  Thomas is a throw back that has developed a wide range of skills by being a two sport athlete.  His attributes allow him to deliver the hard hits on the football field and the base hits on the diamond.  He’ll definitely be a recruiting hit for the college program that signs him in 2016.

Check out Justin Thomas Jr.’s
Junior Season Highlight Video – Click Here

 

 

’16 WR Isaiah Collins Plays Big for Flanagan

Chad Wilson

By Chad Wilson – Editor – Gridiron Studs Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds

Before the 2014 season,  Flanagan high school was a relative virgin as it pertained to Florida high school football playoffs.  Only once in the school’s history had it made it into the playoffs (2013) and getting to the state semifinals was stuff that other teams did.  In this season,  one of those other teams became Flanagan.

One of the catalysts for this odyssey into new territory was a high powered offense led by senior quarterback Ryan Stanley.  Stanley racked up record passing yards to a bevy of talented receivers.  One of Stanley’s important targets during the Falcon’s major run in the post season was junior wide receiver Isaiah Collins.  Collins came up big in the 3rd round of the playoffs hauling in a pair of touchdown passes of 49 and 32 yards.  On display was Collins’ cat quickness and ability to find the soft areas of the defense.  To the naked eye route running seems to be something that anyone can do.  However,  those in the know realize that there’s an art to deciphering the workings of a defense designed to stop the offense from having success.  Collins has mastered that art and can find the loophole in any coverage and attack it.

Collins’ has been playing football since he could stand on his own two feet.  Tutored in the game since day one by his uncle,  former University of Miami quarterback Ryan Collins,  the junior wideout has little trouble figuring out the plans of the defense and applying his athletic skill to debunk them.  Collins’ was solid all season long but really saved his best work when it was needed most and that was during Flangan’s playoff run.  As teams became more determined to put the clamps on senior wide receivers Emonee Spence and Robert Foy,  Collins stepped up and pulled more than his own weight.  Ryan Collins is the offensive coordinator for the Falcons and has carefully crafted an offensive attack that shreds the weakness of opposing defenses.  His nephew quickly became a serious problem for teams trying to apply coverage to him after the fact.  Long schooled on the intricacies of effective route running,  Collins has mastered those tools not only through tutelage from his uncle and prolonged film study but through intensive off-season training.  Collins spent a significant part of his off-season working with former University of Miami wide receiver and now coach Kevin Beard.  The off-season work plus the seasoning by the Flanagan coaching staff,  has made Collins a player to watch as the Falcons attempt to defend their district title in 2015.

Standing at 5’7″,  Collins is not the athlete that would catch your eye in the pre-event stretches at an off-season camp but once the action starts,  you can’t help but notice all the important things like releases vs. press at the line of scrimmage,  use of deception in route running and catching the ball away from the body.  Collins is as adept at those factors that are important to a receiver as anyone in his 2016 class.  When the moments get big for Flanagan,   Collins seems to get bigger.

Watch Isaiah Collins Junior Season Highlight Video

 

 

Kam Chancellor Seals Seahawks Win with 90 Yard INT Return

Chad Wilson

They say defense wins championships and even though we are in the “offensive era” the Seattle Seahawks will have none of it.

Having already left his mark on the game with hard hits and insane leaps over the line in field goal block attempts,  Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor decided his team need more.  Late in the 3rd, Chancellor slammed the door on the Carolina Panthers 2014 season with a 90 yard INT return of a Cam Newton for a TD.   Game, set, match.

Watch Chancellor’s 90 yard INT return on Vine (or at least part of it)