Last-minute decisions likely to benefit Florida powerhouses

Not long after T.J. Slaton first took his place as Plantation American Heritage’s right tackle as a freshman, the scholarship offers started coming in.

On Wednesday morning, Slaton plans to tell everyone who was the lucky suitor for his services.

Many expect Slaton, a 6-4½, 360-pound tackle, who beefed up the Patriots’ offensive lines on three state championship teams during his high school career, is headed to Gainesville.

Slaton, who may convert to the defense at the next level, recently visited Georgia, but has named the University of Florida as a favorite for some time.

The U.S. Army All-American will spearhead another stellar class for American Heritage, which will have around 13 or 14 football players signing on Wednesday according to athletic director Karen Stearns.

Two of Slaton’s teammates – cornerback Marco Wilson and linebacker James Houston (an early enrollee) - have already chosen the Gators, and two of his fellow offensive linemen, Kai-Leon Herbert (University of Miami commit) and Robert Hawkins (FAU), are staying close to home.

They and the rest of the Patriots’ group will begin announcing at 8 a.m. at a ceremony at the school.

BIG DECISIONS

The suspense among reigning state champions from South Florida isn’t limited to Plantation.

Aquinas’ wide receiver Mike Harley created quite a stir among University of Miami fans of late after dropping his verbal commitment to West Virginia.

Harley (5-9, 155), another U.S. Army All-American and accomplished speedster who caught 30 passes for 437 yards and eight touchdowns for the Raiders this season, will announce if he’s indeed going to join the Hurricanes or any other school during CBS Sports Network’s live Signing Day show at approximately 10:15 a.m.

Harley will then join another huge signing class for 10-time state champion Aquinas, which will hold its ceremony at 3 p.m. The Raiders have roughly 20 players signing letters of intent with schools from the ACC, SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten, Conference USA and Notre Dame. Among them is running back Kyshaun Bryan recently switched out of his longtime commitment to South Carolina and now appears ready to sign with Iowa.

UM is hoping Columbus’ athlete C.J. Henderson will choose it over the Gators. Henderson would join teammate Trajan Bandy, a longtime Miami commitment, who will also sign Wednesday at the Explorers’ ceremony at noon.

Miami Carol City and Southridge each won their first state titles in over a decade this past December and have stellar signing classes.

Carol City’s De’Andre Wilder headlines the Chiefs’ class, which has three notable undecided players including former Canes commit Kevaughn Dingle, who might choose FIU.

Safeties Donelle Thomas and Naytron Culpepper are both considering USF among their top choices and will reveal them at the Chiefs’ ceremony at 10 a.m.

Most of Southridge’s elite have already enrolled at their respective colleges, but Spartans coach Billy Rolle said his squad will have about 15 more players signing at their ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. Among them are safety Billy Gibson, a former UM commitment who visited Oregon recently, as well as wide receiver Rodney Scott and running back Bentavious Thompson.

Other big decisions around South Florida include Mater Academy where cornerback Latavious Brini, a former Georgia commitment, could be a huge get for Butch Davis at FIU if he picks the Panthers at 1:30 p.m.

Miramar cornerback Brian Edwards might choose UM at 1 p.m. giving the Canes another key addition.

Class 3A state runner-up Chaminade-Madonna will have at least six players sign including their top two – Josh Ali and Chris Whittaker - with Kentucky at 11:30 a.m.

Deerfield Beach already sent wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to Alabama, but has at least 10 signing at 10:30 a.m.

And South Broward, a program that was 0-10 in 2015, will have six players sign.

This story was originally published January 31, 2017 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Last-minute decisions likely to benefit Florida powerhouses."