Northeast Florida- National Early Signing Day has been an exciting week of high school football athletes getting prepared to transition to the next level of their playing careers. Several “Big Time” PREP athletes signed to big time programs from around the area. For the first time in history, at least eight 4-Star or higher nationally ranked athletes signed from one class in Northeast Florida. Recruiting history made in Duval. Check out some of the early signing day athletes and where they’ll play next year.
Georgia: Jordan Hall – Westside, DT/OT
4-Star defensive tackle Jordan Hall made a big decision on Thursday, and that was to take his talents to Athens to play for the Georgia Bulldogs. The 6’5, 300 pound Hall terrorized offenses for Westside this year with106 tackles, and 9 sacks. He’s also get in on offense to pave the way for running backs on the offensive line.
Florida : Treyaun Webb- Trinity Christian, RB
Colgate: Trooper Price- LB, Ponte Vedra
Trooper Price was one of the best linebackers in Northeast Florida leading hsi team with 114 tackles, 2 interceptions, as a duel sport athlete excellign in basketball as well as football.
Florida State: Samuel Singleton Jr-RB, Fleming Island
The Seminoles got a speedster for Coach Norvell’s offense in 4-star runningback Sam Singleton Jr. Singleton rushed for 3,635 yards and 43 total touchdowns at Fleming Island.
Albany St: Ethan Tookes- DB, Riverside
Riverside defensive back Ethan Tookes is SWAC after signing with Coach Eddie Robinson Jr and Alabama St. Tookes tallied 29 tackles, a sackand 11 pass deflections.
South Carolina– Grayson Howard-LB, Jackson
The area’s largest linebacker and leading tackler (188 tackles) Grayson Howard signed with the Gamecocks on Early Signing Day. Howard added 5 sacks leading the Tigers to the playoffs two years in a row. Another 4-star nationally ranked athlete.
UCONN: Zack Drawdy- WR, Yulee
Yulee’s top wide receiver made it official on early signing day, as the 6’3 athlete is headed North. Drawdy finished his career at Yulee with 2,297 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns: Cooper Fordham- OL, Bolles
Big Cooper Fordham of Bolles heads to the Bayou to play at the next level for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. Fordham is the brother of Caden Fordham of NC State and helped Bolles rush for over 2,000 yards this season.
South Carolina: Connor Cox- TE, Bolles
The areas top tight end is headed to Columbia as Connor Coz signed with the SEC and South Carolina. Cox finished his Senior campaign with 322 yards and 3 TDs.
Drake: Shaku Sangarie- DE, Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast’s Shaku Sangarie will be playing at the next level as Drake signed the 6’3, 220 pound athlete. He completed his Stingray career with 76 tackles, and 4 sacks.
Indiana: Amare Ferrell- DB, Columbia
One of the most versitile defensive backs in Northeast Florida is headed to Indiana, a place that already has had some of the most versitile athletes to come from the area. He registered 99 tackles, and 5 interceptions his senior year.
Florida: Jaden Robinson- LB, Columbia
4-Star Linebacker Jaden Robinson doesn’t have to go far from home as he makes the drive down I-75 to Gainesville to play for the Florida Gators. With 2 interceptions, 7 sacks, and 144 tackles, the big time backer was a big time playmaker this year.
Davidson: Michael Leonard- TE, Bishop Kenny
6 foot 3 inch , 225 pound Tight End Michael Leonard will be taking is talents to North Carolina to play for the Davidson Wildcats
Florida: Roderick Kearney- OL, Orange Park
The big man out in Orange Park decided to keep wearing Orange at the next level as the All-American is headed to the University of Florida to be a Gator. The 4-Star offensive tackle opened holes for the Raiders. “A potential NFL Draft pick one day if he keeps progressing” – Andrew Ivins, 247 Sports.
Rutgers: Abram Wright- LB, Fleming Island
Abram Wright of Fleming Island is headed to New Jersey to play for the Scarlet Knights. Wright led his team in tackles (54) this year.
Florida: Sharif Denson- DB, Bartram Trail
One of the nation’s highest recruited defensive backs resides right here in Northeast Florida, and Bartram Trail’s Sharif Denson made his decision early to sign with the hometown Gators. Denson had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and others. However, the 4-star special talent will stay in Gator Country.
Florida State: Kenton Kirkland-DB, Raines
Florida State is getting more active in Northeast Florida and it’s showing on the field. They nabbed Raines 4-Star, 2-way athlete Kenton Kirkland to travel down I-10 to Tallahassee. The lengthy Kirkland had 49 tackles and 2 interceptions on the year.
Central Michigan: Tyler Jefferson- QB, Columbia
The dynamic athletic quarterback will take his talents North to Central Michigan. The quarterback passed for 1,241 yards, rushed for 619yards and totalled 15 touchdowns.
Florida International University: Landon Hale-S, Yulee
Yulee’s 3-star safety Landon Hale signed with the Panther’s of FIU. Hale led the team in interceptions (3) and finished his 2022 campaign with 69 tackles.
Georgia Southern: Jamari Whitehead- LB, Raines
Raines big play linebacker surprised many at signing day when he decided to commit to Georgia Southern. The Eagles are getting a good one in Whitehead, who led his team in tackles (81) and sacks (13.5).
Western Kentucky: Koron Hayward-LB, Sandalwood
Hayward switched from wide receiver to linebacker and excelled for defensive coordinator Brad Jennings. The former Florida State linebacker knows how to spot good linebacking talent and knows how to get them to the next level. Hayward joins a long list of recent Saints to head to play for the Hilltoppers.
Utah : Mike Mitchell-RB, Middleburg
The areas leading rusher in 2021 Mike Mitchell will be headed west to the Mountains of Utah to rush for the Utes. Mitchell is a down hill powerful running back that is a perfect for Utah’s offense.
Stetson: Jhoel Robinson-LB, Fleming Island
One of Clay County’s top linebackers will lay his hat on opponents for the Hatters of Stetson. He registered 44 tackles, and 2 sacks for Fleming Island.
Southeast Misssouri State: Kingston Kamal-DE, Ponte Vedra
A 6’4, 230 pound monster is headed to Missouri. Kingston Kamal has the size to showcase in the show me state.
Wake Forest: Kyland Armstrong- OL, Oakleaf
The Deamon Deacons swooped into Jacksonville and grabbed two big time playmakers. The first powered the Oakleaf running game with a 1,00 yard rusher in offensive lineman Kyland Armstrong.
Wake Forest: Davaughn Patterson- S, Ed White
The Deamon Deacs came to get one of the best players in the class of 2023 in Northeast Florida in Davaughn Patterson. The hard hitting versitile safety was one of the leaders for the Commanders at Ed White in several categories. Rated a 5-star athlete by Duval Sports, Patterson is a nationally ranked 3-star athlete that will make a big impact at the next level.
