If you've ever attended a Hialeah football game and scanned the crowd, it would be easy to spot Henry and Francoise Lemonier. They are the ones asking all the questions and following their son's every move.

While both had grown up watching soccer in Haiti, these days American football has taken center stage. Their son, Corey, just happens to be one of the best defensive end prospects in the country -- less than two years after he started playing the game.

At 6-4, 230-pounds, Lemonier has risen to heights that many longtime football players never get to, and this spring, while college coaches have made their annual stop in South Florida, Hialeah is certainly one of the places they seems to flock to daily.

A basketball player much of his young life, Lemonier was often persuaded to come out and give football a try. At the end of his ninth-grader year, when Marc Berman arrived at the school as head coach, he gave in and came out for a sport that he had watched and loved, but never played before.

''Basketball was pretty much everything to me,'' Lemonier said. ``I had always watched football on TV, but I just never got the urge to go and play for a team.''

His first official game came two years ago in a spring contest against Homestead. It was in that game that college coaches, on hand to see prospects Corey Luiget of Hialeah and Marcus Robinson (Homestead), saw a tall, thin kid who was raw, but showed tremendous quickness.

During the coming months, Lemonier worked hard, went to camps and put himself in a position where he was looked at as a future prospect.

''We saw him at that Homestead game, wrote down his name, took a few photos and sent the information to colleges across the country,'' recalled Charles Fishbein of Elitescoutingservices.com. ``You could just tell from the first time he lined up that he had plenty of athletic ability and quickness.''

HIS FIRST GAME

While Lemonier never considered himself a future prospect, that all changed in the opening game of his sophomore season against Dr. Krop at Curtis Park. After the first play when quarterback Victor Marc went 80 yards for a touchdown, Lemonier and his teammates shut the Lightning down, drawing praise from Berman and the coaching staff.

''Having watched him play during the spring and into the summer, I knew there was something special about Corey,'' Berman said. ``By the start of his junior year, there was no doubt that he was the next great player this school was going to produce.''

While Lemonier worked in the weight room and spent extra time on the football field, college coaches were watching his every move. So were the opponents who were totally impressed at how dominant he was and how tough he was to block.

As impressive as he was on he football field, where colleges from Alabama to Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Georgia and Miami, were making a pitch to lure this gifted athlete, Lemonier was actually making more of an impression in the classroom as a student. From administrators to teachers, this was a young man who could simply do no wrong.

''The thing about Corey is he's a class individual,'' Berman said. ``Ask any teacher, student or teammate and they will all tell you that he is the total package. I don't know too many people I've been around who have had it all like he does. When I was at North Miami, Earl Little was a lot like him.''

MANY SCHOOLS IN THE MIX

As the T-Breds gear up for next Thursday's spring game at Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium against Stranahan, Lemonier remains one of the most talked about players in the nation. While the University of Miami might lead the way in the recruiting race, with assistant coach Wesley McGriff making a lasting impression on Lemonier, there is a long way to go before next February. Tennessee, Alabama and FSU have also jumped into the mix as well.

''Right now, we have the rest of spring, the summer and a tough, tough district to think about,'' Lemonier said. ``When time comes to make that final decision, I will take everything into consideration.''

In addition to Lemonier, the T-Breds also boast a number of quality football rising senior players who will attempt to give the program a lift, competing in one of the toughest 6A district (Central and Northwestern) in the state.

On offense, linemen Chris Acosta (6-4, 275) and Ray Hernandez (6-1, 230) are impressive. Calvin Smith (6-4, 275) plays on both sides of the ball and is regarded as one of the best in the state. Quarterbacks Juan Soto (5-11, 170) and Raheem Jackson (5-9, 180) give Berman several options. So are speedy fullback Bert Garcia (5-11, 212) and impressive receiver Juwan McGlover, a 5-9, 170-pounder.

Defensively, cornerbacks Chris Auerline (5-10, 170), Ravonne Carter (6-0, 182), Steven Davis (5-9, 175) and Junior Delva (5-10, 175) are solid. So is linebacker Juan Correa (6-0, 218) and end Joel Ramos (6-2, 216).

Kicker Michael Delaney and punter Lazaro Lopez give Hialeah potent special teams.

The Class of 2011 is equally as impressive with one of the state's top prospects in running back Jeron Seymour (5-8, 185), receiver Craig Wilkins (6-0, 170), linebackers Faroh Jean-Pierre (5-11, 202) and Gary Wooten (6-3, 185), and defensive back Dontae West (5-9, 165).

In linebacker Andy Garcia (5-11, 175) and defensive back Marcus Arroyo, the T-Breds have a pair of promising 2012 performers.

FINDING A NEW HOME

While they run combines and expose players to college programs all over the country, Elite Scouting Services is also keeping careers going for athletes looking to switch schools.

A number of talented players have found new homes thanks to the hard work of Tim Norling and Fishbein, who have made so many contacts throughout the years and have helped hundreds of athletes receive collegiate scholarships.

''We understand how tough it is to attain college scholarships in this economy,'' Fishbein said. ``That's why Tim and I along with the other people who work with us are always making positive contacts to open doors for kids across the country.

Former Northeast High and University of Miami linebacker Demetri Stewart can be found these days at Northern Michigan. One time Central and Pearl River Community College quarterback Travaris Cadet is now playing at Appalachian St. Jordan Delegal, a standout safety at Chaminade-Madonna, originally signed with North Carolina St., moved to Joliet Community College and is now at Northern Illinois.

Terry Bowden, who took over as head coach at the University of North Alabama, hit pay dirt with three local players. Former Booker T. Washington and Yuba Community College (Ca.) running back Anthony White and teammate, cornerback, Devion Tate, are playing for Bowden along with Deerfield Beach receiver Steve Tirogene, who also played community college football in California last year in Compton.

OH, BROTHER

There's a familiar name roaming the sidelines at Coral Springs Charter this season. Talented quarterback/defensive back Mike Butler (5-11, 160) is a Class of 2013 prospect and the younger brother of New England Patriots No. 1 selection, Darius Butler, who starred at Coral Springs Charter before moving on to the University of Connecticut.

Don't forget that we are always looking to help our area recruits for the current Class of 2010, 2011 and 2012. All you have to do is send a DVD and information about the athlete to: Larry Blustein, P.O. Box 3181, Hallandale Beach, Fl. 33009.

Larry Blustein is co-host of the Miami Dolphins Gridiron Show every Thursday evening from 8-9 on WQAM (560 AM). Have a comment? E-mail lblustein@MiamiHerald.com.