Florida-Georgia All-Star football game presents valuable chance for recruits amid pandemic
Long before Emmitt Smith, Derrick Brooks and Deion Sanders were immortalized in Canton, Ohio, they showcased their talents as high school football stars in the annual Florida-Georgia All-Star Game.
This year even amid the difficulties presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event pitting some of the best talent from two of the nation’s most football-rich states is back.
On Sunday at 4 p.m. at Traz Powell Stadium, teams from Florida and Georgia will collide in an event that hopes to restore the tradition of years past when an annual All-Star game between the states included future NFL talent such as Hines Ward, Champ Bailey, Fred Taylor, Sammie Smith and many more.
“People try almost every year to have some sort of Florida-Georgia game, but it’s been 10 to 15 years since there’s been one like this where they are tapping into the past and really having guys who are prospects play in the game,” said longtime football recruiting analyst Larry Blustein. “Nowadays you have the Under Armour or the U.S. Army All-American game. Back in the day, you didn’t have those and guys like Smith and Taylor played in this game. This is what this event is trying to get back to being.”
The game features several FBS-level early signees and commitments on both sides.
But in a year where all-star games have barely been held as well as other events such as camps and 7-on-7 tournaments and others offering much-needed exposure to college recruits have been limited, the game offers such a chance.
Davie University School linebacker Emile Aime, an FSU target, Miami Killian defensive tackle Khavon Harris, Miami Columbus defensive tackle Kesean Norris-Hayes and linebacker Dustin Vinas, Miami Southwest linebacker Edgerrin Gavins, Homestead defensive back Joseph Stevens and Miami Gulliver Prep defensive lineman Matt Antezana are among several unsigned players on Team Florida heading into the late signing period in early February.
“It’s everything because it gets these kids an opportunity and the chance to do it in a safe environment against good kids,” Blustein said.
Team Florida will be coached by former Miami Southridge and Florida State star Lamont Green while Team Georgia will be coached by former Miami Dolphins running back Robert Edwards, a University of Georgia alum.
The Florida squad added a couple of key additions recently with a pair of Miami Central standouts in linebacker Terrence Lewis, a Maryland commitment, and athlete Yulkeith Brown, a Texas A&M signee.
Miami Northwestern tight end Kahlil Brantley, a University of Miami commitment and offensive lineman Elkino King, an FAU signee, are among the offensive standouts as well as Fort Lauderdale Stranahan tackle Kareem Harden, an FIU signee, and Killian wide receiver TJ Huggins, a Tulane commitment.
Miami Gardens Tru Prep quarterback Nick Vattiato, a Middle Tennessee commit, will be one of Florida’s top quarterbacks, and teammate John Cannon, a USF commit, is the kicker.
And there’s more talent from around the state including Boca Raton St. John Paul II safety Terrion Arnold (a recruiting target for multiple SEC schools including national champion Alabama), Treasure Coast tight end Keegan Davis (FIU commit), Winter Park Trinity Prep guard Cole Best (USF commit) and Tallahassee Godby safety De’Shawn Rucker (Tennessee signee).
Team Georgia standouts include cornerback Omar Daniels (Kansas State), defensive end Tre’Von Marshall (Mississippi State), safety Brandon Adams (UCF), offensive lineman Andrew Cornelius (USF), defensive back Jordan Grier (Indiana), cornerback Khalil Anderson (Pittsburgh) and wide receiver Jaquez Smith (Indiana).
Tickets are $10, are available at flvsgagame.com, and must be purchased in advance. Masks will be required and children 3 and under are free.
Girls’ soccer
▪ GMAC Championship — TERRA 1, MAST 0: Megan Garriga scored the lone goal on an Olympico (off a corner). Ayla Ramos with the shutout. Terra extends their win streak to 5.
▪ Florida Christian (3-4-1) 8, Southwest 0: Carmen Rangel 2 goas, Esther Jones 2 goals, Abby Nunez 3 goals.
▪ LaSalle 1, Doral 1: Deanna Prieto (LaS) goal; Hanah Gonzalez (LaS) assist; Mia Ramos (Dor) goal.
▪ Douglas 3, West Broward 1: Kayla Master 1 goal.
▪ West Broward (3-1-2) 1, Cooper City 1: Lauren Anderson 1 goal.
▪ West Broward 8, Monarch 0: Melannie Sanchez 2 goals, 1 assist; Halli Scharinger 2 goals, 1 assist; Isabella Gonzalez 1 goal, 1 assist; Isabella Rychel 1 goal, 1 assist; Jenna Lowery 1 goal, 2 assists; Sydney Millwood 1 goal; Lynsie Sanchez 1 assist; Goalkeepers Halli Scharinger and Sydney Bellamy combined for the shutout in goal.
▪ Florida Christian 2, Westwood Christian 1: Esther Jones 1 assist; Sophia Cueto 1 goal; Ashlyn Nunez 1 goal; Annabelle Aquila 1 assist.
▪ Palmer Trinity 3, Somerset Silver Palms 0: Scarlett Baur 1 goal, Jessica Leathe 2 goals. Lila Algarin 1 assist; Mackenzie Metka 1 assist.
Boys’ soccer
▪ GMAC Championship — Krop 2, Miami Beach 1: Moi Jena 1 goal, Isaac Minelis 1 goal. Miami Beach’s goal was scored on a penalty.
Boys’ basketball
▪ Pine Crest 74, St. Andrew’s 46: PCS: Amen Thompson 27 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk; Ausar Thompson 19 pts, 22 reb, 3 ast, 4 blk. SAS: Joshua Minott 31 pts, 12 reb; Devin Hines 9 pts, 8 reb.
▪ Palmer Trinity 55, Miami Christian 38: PT(6-5): Waldman 20, D. Fumagalli 13, McCray 9, Friedland 6. MC: Garza 19, Vilchez 5, Davis 6. HT: PT 36-19. Three-pointers: Garza 5, Waldman 2, Friedland 2, Robertson III, McCray, Abdullani, Vilchez. Rebounds: D. Fumagalli 9, Waldman 7. Steals: Rodz 4, Waldman 2. Assists: Friedland 5, McCray 5.
▪ Southwest (12-1) 80, Ransom Everglades (12-5) 54: SW: Adrian Cruz 19; Gabriel Gonzalez 17; Jose Vargas 17; Joel Aloma 9; John Mayora 6; Carlos Taveras 5; Matthew Gossin 3; Glen Noel 2; Sean Perez 2. Ransom: Daniel Ribeiro 12; Lucas Ortiz 11; Asher Zhuk 7; Cameron Franklin 6; Pablo Joseph 6; Aidan Rothstein 5; Zach Marcus 5; Alex Tacher 2.
▪ Braddock (8-4) 80, Sunset 38: Braddock: Paz 20, Perez 14, Torres 13, O. Sanchez 9, J. Gonzalez 6, Williams 6, Santos 4, M. Gonzalez 3, Morell 3, A. Sanchez 2 Sunset- Gomez 21, Vicent 8, La Rota 3, Mesa 2, Reyes 2, Rodriguez 2. Braddock 3’s- Paz 4, Williams 2, Torres 2, Morrel 1, Gonzalez 1. Braddock Rebounds: Perez 8, Sanchez 6. Braddock Asst- Paz 6, Morrel 5, Torres 5, Sanchez 3. Braddock Steals: Santos 3.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons (11-2) 64, Oxbridge Academy (0-7) 32:
Girls’ basketball
▪ Pine Crest 37, Highlands Christian 31: PCS: Alex Gladding 14 pts, 5 ast, 6 stl; Ava Nudelberg 9 pts, 8 reb. HCA: Nina Szklany 11 pts; Bianca Francis 11 pts, 16 reb.
▪ Miami Country Day (13-3) 71, Cardinal Gibbons (9-3) 50: Sharale McCormick 21 points; Chloe Celler 12 points; Taylor Williams 6 points; Ashleigh Battle 7 assists; Brooke Buckman 5 rebounds.
▪ Krop 69, SLAM 56: Krop was led by Lindsey Weingard 19 pts, 11 assists, 6 steals; Emmy Mills 18 pts, 15 rebounds; Lauryn Hornstein 16 pts; Mai Lisa Attis 8 pts; Neyida Michel 8 pts, 10 RBs.
▪ Palmer Trinity School (10-5) 57, Westminster Christian 41: PTS: Leon 22, Montes 13, Kaplan 11, Lindsay 8, Ruiz 2, Veloso 1. 3’s: Kaplan 3, Lindsay 1. RB’s: Leon 10.
This story was originally published January 15, 2021 at 2:38 PM.