While many parts of the country attempted to recover from the National Signing Day hangover, South Florida found a way to deal with the letdown of the month-long frenzy by rolling out the next wave of talent for colleges and universities to feast their collective eyes on.

Last Sunday, about 75 of the next generation of talent headed to Flamingo Park on Miami Beach to try out for the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team that will head to the University of South Florida on March 14-15 for an event that will showcase some of the best teams from Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

While most tryouts can easily shake down players to get to a comfortable working number, team organizer and coach Brett Goetz and his staff of local coaches will have their work cut out.

''This is South Florida,'' Goetz smiled. ``It's not as easy as saying goodbye to a kid who runs a 4.5 [in the 40-yard dash] or can throw the ball 60 yards in the air. All the kids we invited are [Division I] prospects, but somewhere along the line, a decision will have to be made.''

With athletes from Miami-Dade and Broward counties performing in front of fan websites and recruiting services, the talent level wasn't hard to spot. Look in any direction and there were athletes who could run, catch and make a solid impact.

While there were a number of stars on hand for the first day of practice, none captured the attention more than cornerback Lamarcus Joyner. Currently at Southwest, rumors have this 5-9, 170-pounder making a move to Columbus, which is great for his education, but as far as being recruited, he is already on every list from USC to Miami -- and everywhere in between.

Joyner was my No. 1 prospect in Miami-Dade County heading into spring for good reason. His speed, ability to cover, hit and play on both sides of the ball gives him a huge advantage. He was the show for the Eagles last year, and one of the reasons the team had its best season ever.

''I love competition,'' Joyner said. ``being out here with all these great athletes helps me elevate my game. That's what it's all about.''

Last summer Joyner told me in a video interview he has always been an FSU fan, and as of last Sunday, that feeling about the Seminoles has not changed. He reminds me of a former Seminole, Terrell Buckley, who went on to have a tremendous collegiate and pro career.

While Joyner was pretty much the show for the South Florida Express, he wasn't the only athlete to make an impression. Dade quarterbacks Jeffrey Godfrey (Central) and Michael Strauss (Gulliver Prep) were impressive. So was Northwestern sophomore Teddy Bridgewater, who will try to make this team as a receiver. North Broward Prep standout Brandon Doughty, a member of the 7-on-7 squad last year, also impressed. Strauss received his first offer (Tulane) earlier in the week.

Talk about impressive, you have to look at the receivers. Everyone rated in our pre-Spring top 30 made quite an impact, including Joshua Reese (Central), Michaelee Harris (Northwestern) and Ivan McCartney (Miramar). All three showed why the Class of 2010 could rival the 2008 class.

''We have been on all three kids since last spring,'' said Charles Fishbein of EliteScoutingServices.com. ``I knew that in a setting like this, they would all step up against major competition.''

While Reese, Harris and McCartney made the most impact, standouts Jelani Rouland and Ted Meline (Booker T. Washington), Chris Dunkley (Royal Palm Beach), Lorenzo Shinhoster (Northwestern), Donte Chambers (Miramar) and Stevie Green (Boyd Anderson) also were athletes who turned heads catching the ball. Green sat out last season with an injury but was impressive as a sophomore at a combine held at North Broward Prep.

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