When you win several state championships and set a record for consecutive appearances in the state title game, your program sells itself.

For head coach Dameon Jones and his Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna Lions, the proof is certainly in what has happened on the football field – where this team has been to a state-record eight straight state championship games and continues to make an impact.

After sending a number of football players on to the next level – with more to come – the Lions have hit the off-season in a major way and the program, much like others in south Florida continues to show that if you win, the benefits will more than pay off.

While this region of the country has been recognized for the amount of transfers that take place, many schools have hit the ground running even before the start of spring. While the Lions are getting much of the spotlight before we even reach February, they are no alone.

Let’s face it – everyone gravitates to a winner. It’s human nature, and not just in athletics. It goes on every day in every walk of life, so it’s only natural that it has found its way to high school athletics. Over the past five years, over 1,000 student/athletes in football only have changed schools in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties alone! Those numbers could be on the low side.

With NIL college deals and transfer portals at an all time high, the process continues to find a home on high school campuses.

The success that the Lions have enjoyed at the national level is something that everyone has noticed. You just do not go unbeaten in the regular season two straight years, especially with a more than challenging schedule,  have an 80-13 record since 2015and fly beneath the radar. Parents notice. Fellow coaches notice. Student/Athlete also notice.

NEW FACES ARE STARTING TO ARRIVE

With a second-place national finish, Chaminade has enjoyed some early benefits with transfers already coming over.

Among the student/athletes making a move include 2025 (rising seniors) Camari Hall (Athlete, Hollywood McArthur), nationally recognized receiver Koby Howard (Davie Western), and defensive lineman Matthew Pointer (Fort Lauderdale)

Class of 2026 standouts such as R.J. Alphonse (DE, Miami Lakes Barabara Goleman), No. 1 national receiver Jabari Brady (Coconut Creek Monarch), versatile prospect Derrick Cooper (Athlete, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons), fast-rising offensive lineman Ben Gula (Weston Cypress Bay), Leonzay Merzius (DB, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons), Miami Norland kicker Noah Sidan, who was one of the best in Florida this past season, leading the Vikings to the 2M state final, and recent addition Elias Sturman – (OL, 6-1, 300) from Bradenton IMG Academy.

There is also the addition of Class of 2027 nationally-rated quarterback Zach Katz, already a two-year varsity starter from Miami True North Classical Academy/

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 54 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Every winter, while the snow is falling in many northern states, the sun is shining in south Florida.

With that in mind, several kickers, punters, and long snappers find their way south to take part in the prestigious Kornblue Kicking Showcase.

With some of the nation’s best coming from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and throughout Florida having the opportunity to compete against several nationally rated specialists, this is a must event to attend.

Last weekend, Fort Lauderdale’s Calvary Christian Academy opened its doors for two days of competition that attracted college and high school kickers, punters, and long snappers.

From established special teams players such as Brent Fardette III (K/P, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons), and long snapper Chase Ortiz (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) to Indiana All-State soccer player and kicker Paige Dill (Carmel Park Tudor), it was time to compete and thrust their names into the national spotlight.

THE COMPETITION WAS FIERCE

When the two days came to an end, there were several impressive performers who finished among the top. Here is a look at those prospects:

JUCO/2024 Kicking Champion – Zakaria Essaouab, Valencia Community College

JUCO/2024 Kicking 2nd Place – Beckham Sunderland, FC Cincinnati, Ohio

JUCO/2024 Punting Champion – Beckham Sunderland, FC Cincinnati, Ohio

JUCO/2024 Punting 2nd Place – Zakaria Essaouab, Zakaria Essaouab, Valencia Community College

JUCO/2024 Punting 3rd Place – Jake Aller, Miami Northwestern

JUCO/2024 Long Snapping Champion – David McDermott, Stuart South Fork

JUCO/2024 Long Snapping 2nd Place – Jacob Katz, Miami Ransom Everglades

JUCO/2024 Long Snapping 3rd Place – Albert Rodriguez, Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast

2025 Kicking Champion – Brogan Woeber, Jupiter

2025 Kicking 2nd Place – Marc Cappuccitti, Choate Rosemary, Connecticut

2025 Kicking 3rd Place – Cristian Murciano, Miami Gulliver Prep

2025 Punting Champion– Brent Fardette, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

2025 Punting 2nd Place – Marc Cappuccitti, Choate Rosemary, Connecticut

2025 Punting 3rd Place – Cristian Murciano, Miami Gulliver Prep

2025 Long Snapping Champion – Chase Ortiz, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

2025 Long Snapping 2nd Place – Deacon Jansen, Naples First Baptist

2025 Long Snapping 3rd Place – Chase White, Miami Ransom Everglades

2026 Kicking Champion – Francisco Moscoso, Miami Belen Jesuit

2026 Kicking 2nd Place – William Orlando, Avon Brownsburg, Indiana

2026 Kicking 3rd Place – Anthony Berrios. Lehigh Acres Lehigh

2026 Punting Champion – William Orlando, Avon Brownsburg, Indiana

2026 Punting 2nd Place – Karsyn Barghausen, Port Charlotte

2026 Punting 3rd Place – Justin Cassini, Plantation American Heritage

2026 Long Snapping Champion – Josh Silverstein, Plantation American Heritage

2026 Long Snapping 2nd Place – Holden Harkins, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

2026 Long Snapping 3rd Place (tie) – Jordan Mordis, Boca Raton St. Andrew’s Academy

2026 Long Snapping 3rd Place (tie) – James Nedley, Arcadia DeSoto

2027 Kicking Champion – Lucas Parker, Winter Park Lake Howell

2027 Kicking 2nd Place – Alec Martinez, Miami Ransom Everglades

2027 Kicking 3rd Place – Brayden Russell, Fort Myers

2027 Punting Champion – Brayden Russell, Fort Myers

2027 Punting 2nd Place – Andrew Leonard, Ocala Trinity Catholic

2027 Kicking 3rd Place – Cole Rodriguez, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

Youth Kicking/Punting Champion – Hunter Bray, Cypress Palm Middle School, Florida

THERE WERE OTHERS WHO ATTENDED

While not everyone who attended placed, there were others who benefitted from the showcase. Here is a look at all who also impressed:

COLLEGE

Sam Babbush, K, Charleston Southern, South Carolina

CLASS OF 2024

Tanner Block, K, Pompano Beach

Alex Ghelman, K/P, Naples Gulf Coast

Cooper Holman, K/P, Naples Gulf Coast

Enrique Olmos, K, South Fort Myers

CLASS OF 2025

Tom Breeze, K/P, Pine Crest Milton Academy, Florida

Jacob Corredera, K/P, Miami True North Classical Academy

Paige Dill, K, Carmel Park Tudor, Indiana

Sean Egloff, K, Englewood Lemon Bay

Carson Goulet, K/P, Pickerington Central, Ohio

Luke Lindsey, K, Vincennes Lincoln, Indiana

Adrian Muelle, K/P, Miami Belen Jesuit

Antonio Pasquatti, K, Plantation American Heritage

Gustavo Rafael-Cua, P, South Fort Myers

Jake Rosoff, P, Pompano Beach

Kevin Sheppard, K/P, Callahan West Nassau

Andre Shevchenko, K/P, Riviera Beach Inlet Grove

Cameron Stoltz, K/P, Troy, Ohio

Maximilian Wilson, P, Tampa Sickles

CLASS OF 2026

Dominic Celli, K, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

Johnny DiSalvatore, K/P, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

Max Kennedy, K, Stuart Martin County

Mason Sargis, K/P, North Fort Myers

Hudson Switken, K, Naples Lely

Conrad Tolerico, K, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

CLASS OF 2027
Kadin Koza, K/P, Sylvan Lakes Brother Rice, Michigan

LONG SNAPPERS 2024

Jackson Harper, Deerfield Beach

Albert Zapata, Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast

LONG SNAPPERS 2025

Daniel Gonzalez, Miami Christopher Columbus

Luke Hansen, Dearborn Devine Child, Michigan

Deacon Jansen, Naples First Baptist

Ty Kornblue, Naples Community School

Chase White, Miami Ransom Everglades

LONG SNAPPERS 2026

Evan Mickow, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

Blake Thomas, Viera

LONG SNAPPERS 2027

Brody Fardette, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 54 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When colleges and universities across the country head to Florida during the spring or any other time of a year, their focus is on the speed positions. It’s always been that way.

Receivers, running backs and defensive secondary performers are always a priority when it comes to the Sunshine State – and Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in particular.

When it comes to the quarterback position, it’s always been about putting the best athlete behind center, and not so much someone who has trained to play the position all of their young lives. But that has been changing.

Thanks to coaches and instructors such has Broward County product Oliver Bozeman and his Bozemanacademy.com, who continues to develop south Florida quarterbacks from a young age.

While many “quarterback gurus” want all the attention, Bozeman just wants to help upgrade the position, and he has certainly done that for well over a decade.

The former high school and collegiate standout saw what many recruiters who come to Florida to get their players watched. Athletes who are gifted but very few who learned to play the position.

Bozeman continues to develop the next generation of quarterback every week around the year.

Here is a look at some of the gifted prospects he continues to help:

2025

Dylan Pelliccio, 6-2, 207 Pembroke Pines West Broward

Josh Pulling, 6-2, 185, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy

Ennio Yapoor, 6-1, 215, Miami Norland

2026

Dia Bell, 6-2, 190, Plantation American Heritage

Bryant Carson, 6-0, 170, Plantation 

Kymani Corbett, 6-2, 180, Miami Killian

Florentino Lopez, 6-2, 240, Hollywood McArthur

Jayden Torres, 6-2, 185, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons

2027

Derrick Baker, 6-1, 200, Fort Lauderdale St Thomas Aquinas

Trenton Beesing, 5-8, 145, Pembroke Pines Charter

Jayden Bernard, Miami Central

Tyler Chance, 5-11, 160, Fort Lauderdale Dillard

Santiago “Santi” Gurwitz, 5-7, 160, Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy

Caleb Kronen, Hollywood McArthur

Zac Katz, 6-1, 195, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna

Daughtry Nojaim, 5-7, 145, Pembroke Pines Charter

Logan Pelliccio, 5-9, 170, Pembroke Pines Flanagan

Jaeden Phillips, 5-11, 171, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy

Aiden Prywitowski, 5-10, 155, Coconut Creek North Broward Prep

Nate Silvestre, Pembroke Pines West Broward

Jack Spaeder, 6-2, 180, Coconut Creek Monarch

2028

Eumarion Beal, Coconut Creek North Broward prep

Logan Escobedo, 5-10, 145, Fort Lauderdale NSU University School

Cassius Enriquez, Hollywood Hills

Nehemiah Howard, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy

Neimann Lawrence, 6-1, 175, Miami Ransom Everglades

2029

Lamech Rucker Jr., 6-1, 160, Miami True North Classical Academy

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 54 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Whether you buy into rankings or not, everyone loves to see their name.

Let’s face it. If you are ranked in any list, you are over the moon and believe it’s as valid as they come. But if you are not listed, the validity of the author(s) of these subjective measuring sticks just plain do not know the game and they should get another profession.

Having compiled lists for nearly six decades, there are no formulas to compare athletes unless they play against one another, or you see them live.

What lists have turned into are popularity contests. There are frankly too many people who listen to the advice of others who do not watch these prospects either. So what you get are evaluations based mostly on what happens and camps and combines – without pads and helmets, often based of physicality and NOT skill and leadership.

In addition, if you take any starting list of 150 players, by the time you publish the final list, it is a proven fact that 75 percent of the original list will not look anywhere like it did originally.

We must understand that because there are so many prospects in the state of Florida, each game, practice, camp or combine will have the authors of these rankings making numerous changes.

With that said, the recent early national Class of 2026 player rankings have been released and a number of Miami-Dade and Broward prospects are included – like every year.

Darryl Bell III, Athlete, 6-1, 180, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman. Only in south Florida – with some of the best and most productive youth programs anywhere in the country, this amazing talent was more than ready to step in and make a difference in his very first season at the high school level. His dominance on either side of the ball and on special teams had programs like FSU making an offer from the start of his young career. With a solid 3.2 GPA in the classroom, this is a student/athlete who has lived up to all the hype.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17750834/darryl-bell-iii

Jabari Brady, WR, 6-3, 195, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. As we have stated in the past – before this elite playmaker made his move from Coconut Creek Monarch to the 1A powerhouse Lions, what else about this quality talent that has not been echoed dozens and dozens of times? This is an impact player that is extremely hard to cover with one player, and he showed it throughout the year, leading the Knights to the state semifinals. As elite as you will find, and he has only scratched the surface!

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14832320/637c2260ab92460b50dfb1ab

Justice Fitzpatrick, Athlete, 6-0, 170, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. There is no getting around how gifted and versatile this impressive talent is. From his key interceptions as a freshman to what he put together in the off-season and during this past year, there is little doubt that this is a major prospect that continues to get better and tested by some quality receivers. The younger brother of standout NFL secondary performer, Minkah Fitzpatrick, his growth, and maturity has been noticed by every college and university and has been an asset to the five-time defending state champion Raiders.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17955822/Justice-Fitzpatrick

Calvin Russell, WR/Athlete, 6-4, 185, Miami Northwestern. You could tell from the time he stepped on the field as a freshman last year, this may be the most athletic talent in this class anywhere in the nation and it may not even be close. Not only is he a premier receiver, but also plays quarterback and is an elite basketball player. He will be part of the resurgence of this program in 2024. No matter if you’ve watched him play or not, the results speak for themselves.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17878157/Calvin-Russell

Malchi Toney, WR, 5-10, 180, Plantation American Heritage. Another elite football player was someone who made an impact from the very first game he took part in as a ninth grader on national television against Las Alamitos of California. All he has done since then is dominate and play way above his year. He has been so impressive that the University of Miami landed him after just one varsity season! A huge impact player that has two full years remaining.

TAPE: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17846385/65a1fa13c1199d03eca72dd7

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 54 years, we have spent plenty of time on football fields throughout the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein) Instagram (@OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.