Booker T. Washington WR Antonio Callaway chooses Florida Gators
Miami-Dade County schools provided most of the National Signing Day thrills in the South Florida area Wednesday.
Several of the county’s top-notch players either waited until the last minute to announce their college choices or switched from schools to which they had been previously committed.
Three-time state champion Booker T. Washington was one of the hotbeds of news on Signing Day morning as wide receiver Antonio Callaway revealed he was headed to the University of Florida.
Callaway caught 31 passes for 818 yards and seven touchdowns and led Miami-Dade County in receiving for the first seven weeks of the season before tearing his meniscus that ended his season prematurely. He will now have the opportunity to catch passes in Gainesville from former Booker T. quarterback Treon Harris, the Gators starter this past season.
"I felt like Florida was the best place for me and they need some playmakers on offense," Callaway said.
Tornadoes’ running back Mark Walton signed with the University of Miami as expected, and he’s bringing a teammate with him. Linebacker James King, originally committed to Florida Atlantic, switched and chose UM.
"UM came in last week and offered me," King said. "I was expecting the U to come in, but things happen and I’m going to Miami. I just have to work hard and try to become the next Denzel Perryman or Ray Lewis."
But FAU didn’t completely lose out.
Defensive back Ocie Rose switched from FIU to FAU.
And for FIU, it wasn’t total bad news out of Booker T. Quarterback Maurice Alexander signed with the Panthers as expected.
MORE ‘FLIPS’
Miami Killian defensive back Sheldrick Redwine pulled a cap switch at the last minute and chose to sign with UM instead of Louisville. Redwine had not received a firm offer from UM until less than a week before Wednesday.
Miami Norland’s Carlton Davis signed with Auburn after having been committed to Ohio State. Davis visited Auburn two weeks ago and said the trip swayed him to the Tigers.
Miami Central, the three-time reigning Class 6A state champions, saluted a senior class of 18 signees so far. Among the surprises was defensive end Keivonnis Davis, who chose to sign with Florida after many thought he would head to Oregon State where former Central coach Telly Lockette is now on staff.
Coral Gables wide receiver Shaquery Wilson chose Georgia over West Virginia, the school he had been committed to for some time.
BIG REVEALS
Westminster Christian running back Jordan Cronkrite weighed his options until National Signing Day and finally chose to sign with Florida. He and Tim Irvin, who enrolled early at Auburn gave Westminster two SEC signees.
Gulliver’s Dominic Sheppard headlined Gulliver Prep’s ceremony with the announcement he signed with the University of Virginia.
Miami Carol City’s Rashad Fenton was out of town participating in the International Bowl series for Team USA in Dallas, but announced he signed with South Carolina.
Miami-Dade Top 25 recruits
NAME, POS | SCHOOL | HT/WT | COLLEGE |
1. Mark Walton, RB | Booker T. | 5-10, 179 | Miami |
2. Da’Vante Phillips, WR | Central | 6-2, 204 | FSU |
3. Devonaire Clarington, TE | Southridge | 6-5, 238 | Texas |
4. Jaquan Johnson, S | Killian | 5-10, 182 | Miami |
5. Jordan Cronkrite, RB | Westminster Chr. | 5-11, 198 | Florida |
6. Tim Irvin, ATH | Westminster Chr. | 5-9, 194 | Auburn |
7. Davante Davis, CB | Booker T. | 6-3, 200 | Texas |
8. Calvin Brewton, S | Central | 6-0, 172 | FSU |
9. Carlton Davis, CB | Norland | 6-2, 184 | Auburn |
10. Antonio Callaway, WR | Booker T. | 5-11, 185 | Florida |
11. Shaquery Wilson, ATH, | Coral Gables | 6-3, 190 | Georgia |
12. Steven Claude, WR | Champagnat | 6-1, 182 | Wake Forest |
13. Khalid McGee, S | Northwestern | 5-10, 185 | USF |
14. Dominic Sheppard, OLB | Gulliver | 6-2, 225 | Virginia |
15. Deandre Baker, CB | Northwestern | 5-10, 173 | Georgia |
16. Sheldrick Redwine, CB | Killian | 6-1, 183 | UM |
17. Trevon Sands, ATH | Southwest | 5-11, 181 | USF |
18. Rashad Fenton, CB | Carol City | 5-11, 175 | South Carolina |
19. Deundre Pickett-White, QB | Southwest | 6-0, 193 | Alcorn St. |
20. Keivonnis Davis, DE | Central | 6-4, 227 | Florida |
21. Christian Strachan, G | Champagnat | 6-3, 315 | Undecided |
22. Fermin Silva, OLB | Central | 6-2, 225 | FIU |
23. Ocie Rose, S | Booker T. | 6-2, 190 | FAU |
24. Gerald Robinson, CB | Champagnat | 5-11, 175 | FAU |
25. Jeremiah Dinson, DB | American | 5-11, 165, | Auburn |
Miami-Dade signings
American: Jeremiah Dinson (Auburn), Karon Jackson (Eastern Illinois), Jason Hervia (Waldorf), Deangelo Nelms (Waldorf), Dikari Williams (Mayville State), Steve Durosier (SE Missouri); Belen Jesuit: Frank Battle (UConn), Daniel Hernandez (Trinity College), Jake Rodriguez (Union College); Booker T. Washington: Antonio Callaway (Florida), Maurice Alexander (FIU), Mark Walton (UM), Terry Jefferson (FAMU), James King (UM), Davante Davis (Texas), Ocie Rose (FAU), Catravis Hudson (Coffeyville Community College), Akeem Jackson (Alcorn State), Vaquan Small (Samford) Deiontae Lynch (Tuskegee), Cesar Jimenez (Stillman College); Carol City: Rashad Fenton (South Carolina), Leon Brown (Mississippi Valley State), Tyree Johnson (FIU); Central: Da'Vante Phillips (FSU), Keivonnis Davis (Florida), Calvin Brewton (FSU), Fermin Silva (FIU), Anthony Jones (FIU), Marquis Couch (Marshall), Cedric Miller (Jacksonville State), Olin Cushion (FIU), Jason Jean (Marshall), Tavaris Burton (Virginia Union), Jauvanie Francis (Bethune Cookman), Jamari Hester (Jacksonville State), Robzel Sylvester (Arkansas Pine Bluff), Malik Adelson (Coffeyville Community College), Shawn Simeon (Coffeyville Community College), Lenwood Joyner (Stillman College), Adam Mattison (Stillman College), Surmondrae Williams (Stillman College); Champagnat Catholic: Steven Claude (Wake Forest), Wayne Clarington (Shasta College), Michael Frederick (South Dakota), Kendrick Labady (Northern Michigan); Columbus: Austin Maloney (FIU), Alejandro Levy (Bryant), Tucker Beirne (Bryant), Peter Delatour (Marist); Coral Gables: Shaquery Wilson (Georgia), Jontavis Testa (Arkansas Pine Bluff), Jarred McGahee (Monmouth), Emilio Gibbs (FAMU); Edison: Robert Knowles (UM); Gulliver: Dominic Sheppard (Virginia), Antonyo Sotolongo (Bowling Green), Jowan Watson (Georgetown), George Grimwade (Samford); Hialeah: Den Midy (Lindenwood), Jean Bazile (Lindenwood), Jaymaree Cochran (Pierce College), Jean Pierre-Louis (Pierce College), Jessie Lemonier (Ventura Col), Clifford Hamilton (Ventura Col); Hialeah-Miami Lakes: Antonio Howard (Marshall); Homestead: Uriel Hernandez (Bethune Cookman), Eric Saintil (South Dakota); Jackson: Earl Leblanc (FAMU), Reginald Turner (West Florida), Tovias Parker (West Florida), Lemott Hodges (West Florida); Keys Gate: Raymond Gage (FIU); Killian: Sheldrick Redwine (UM), James Bowe (UMass), Bruce Davis (Fort Scott CC), Jordan Herrera (West Hills College Coalinga), Jaquan Johnson (UM), Terrell McLain (West Hills College Coalinga), Anthony Olivencia (Marist), Kamal Pestaina (Florida Tech); La Salle: Terrill Hanks (New Mexico State), Allen Edwards (Pittsburgh); Mater Academy: Steven Rodriguez (Cornell), Don Brini (Concord), Dwayne Paddyfoot (Concord), Roderick Golden (Concord); Miami Springs: Johnny Rembert (Georgia Prep), Kalvin Roah (Georgia Prep), Irick McDonald (FIU), Jahwon Grant (West Florida); Monsignor Pace: Sage Lewis (FIU); Norland: Carlton Davis (Auburn), Rayshad Jackson (Florida), D’Andre Smart (Kent State), William Gordon (Alcorn State), Cameron Cooper (Warner), Steven McIntosh (Mississippi Valley State), Elliot Miller (Bethune-Cookman), Lowell Richardson (Tuskegee), Swayne Spencer (Stillman); North Miami: Eric Rico (Miles College), Hilton Joseph (Waldorf), Alex Pierre (Waldorf), James Bell (Waldorf), Tavaris Harrison (FAU); North Miami Beach: Emmanuel Lubin (FIU); Northwestern: DeAndre Baker (Georgia), Khalid McGee (South Florida), Samuel Dervil (South Carolina State), David Vincent (Mississippi Valley State), Algeria Williams (Tuskegee), Xavier Bailey (FAMU), Dwayne Thomas (Tuskegee), Michael Lowe (Arkansas at Pine Bluff), Aaron Kinsey (Massachusetts); Reagan: Shawn Curtis (Ole Miss), Steven Mejia (Princeton), T.J. Callan (West Florida), Juan Saldarriaga (Valley City); South Dade: Doyle Grimes (Marshall), Joe Suarez (William and Mary), Johnnie Hankins (Fort Scott CC), Jhavonta Dean (Cincinnati); Southridge: Devonaire Clarington (Texas); Southwest: Trevon Sands (USF), Deundre Pickett-White (Alcorn State), Sam Flowers (Greensboro College), Quindale Corker (Coffeyville JC); Varela: Robert Armand (Stetson); Westminster Christian: Jordan Cronkrite (Florida), Rashard Broadway (Tuskegee), Tim Irvin (Auburn).
This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Booker T. Washington WR Antonio Callaway chooses Florida Gators."