The Guru Has Spoken

Larry Blustein is widely recognized as the unquestioned expert on high school football recruiting in South Florida. The talented writer can be found at www.sfhighschoolsports.com and also at the Miami Herald commenting about and promoting local high school athletes at every level.

For decades Blustein has been considered as the "go to" guy when it comes to identifying talent in "The Bottom", a three county area in South Florida that includes the highly fertile recruiting grounds of the 305, 954 and 561 area codes of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Recently, "Blu" as he is known locally, released his Top 100 rankings for the 2015 class. He has Miami Killian S Jaquan Johnson as the top HS player in South Florida in 2015, with St. Thomas Aquinas RB Jordan Scarlett, American Heritage QB Torrance Gibson, Coconut Creek Monarch WR Calvin Ridley, and Coconut Creek Monarch S Shawn Burgess-Becker rounding out his top five.

Here are Blustein's pre-spring Top 20:

1. Jaquan Johnson, S, 5-11, 180, Miami Killian
2. Jordan Scarlett, RB, 5-11, 195, St. Thomas Aquinas (FAU)
3. Torrance Gibson, QB, 6-4, 200, Plantation American Heritage
4. Calvin Ridley, WR, 6-2, 170, Coconut Creek Monarch
5. Shawn Burgess-Becker, S, 6-2, 190, Coconut Creek Monarch
6. Da’Vante Phillips, WR, 6-1, 180, Miami Central
7. Tarvarus McFadden, DB, 6-3, 195, Plantation American Heritage
8. Tyrek Cole, DB, 5-10, 165, Miramar (FSU)
9. Tim Irvin, DB, 5-9, 190, Miami Westminster Christian
10. Kendrell McFadden, S, 6-3, 190, Miramar (WEST VIRGINIA)
11. Calvin Brewton, S, 6-0, 170, Miami Central (FSU)
12. Jordan Cronkite, RB, 5-11, 190, Miami Westminster Christian
13. Gerald Robinson, DB, 5-11, 175, Hialeah Champagnat Catholic
14. Rashard Causey, DB, 6-0, 190, St. Thomas Aquinas
15. Dominic Sheppard, LB, 6-1, 217, Miami Gulliver Prep
16. Jason Strowbridge, DE, 6-4, 245, Deerfield Beach
17. Devante Peete, WR, 6-5, 198, St. Thomas Aquinas
18. Sh’mar Kilby-Lane, LB, 6-2, 220, Hallandale
19. Jovon Durante, WR, 6-1, 175, Miami Northwestern (WEST VIRGINIA)
20. Davante Davis, DB/WR, 6-2, 180, Miami Booker T. Washington

For more information, here is Blustein’s full Pre-Spring 2015 Top 100 List:

http://sfhighschoolsports.com/2014/02/larry-blusteins-pre-spring-2015-top-100-list/

Also read more from Larry Blustein at Blu's Blog:

http://sfhighschoolsports.com/category/blogs/blus-blog/

Related articles

By The Numbers: Just A Man And His Computer

Looking Ahead: ESPN's Class of 2015

Where's The Beef?

UM attracts recruits with Al Golden's football camps

Comments

[30CINCO]

I did it!

[Account Deleted]

the two spot

[Canesteeler]

The third spot

[SOUP]

Hester

[Terrance Sullivan]

Philip Dorsett.

[SOUP]

University of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino completed his coaching staff on Monday afternoon with the hiring of of Greg Brown as the program's safeties coach and recruiting coordinator.

Brown arrives at U of L after a year working with the defensive backs at Alabama. The Crimson Tide finished the 2013 season ranked in the top 15 in both scoring defense and passing yards allowed.

An experienced coach who has spent 15 years working in the NFL, Brown has previously served as defensive coordinator at both Arizona and Colorado.

“I’m thrilled to be able to hire Greg Brown to complete our staff,” Petrino said. “Greg has coached some outstanding players at the NFL level and has served as a defensive coordinator in college. He brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to the defensive staff and is also an outstanding recruiter. To be able to complete our staff with the caliber of coach like Greg Brown says a lot about the University of Louisville.”

During his career, Brown has worked with six NFL Draft selections, five all-conference performers and 15 NFL All-Pro choices. Brown has developed some of the nation’s best on the defensive side of the ball, including NFL All-Pro Rodney Harrison, and a pair of Jim Thorpe Award winners, which recognizes the best defensive back in the nation.

[SOUP]

Porter comes to Carolina after one season as the running backs coach at Texas. Prior to his time in Austin, Porter spent one year at Arizona State as the running backs coach after two seasons as the head coach at his alma mater Memphis. The native of Jackson, Miss., also has stops at Tennessee-Martin, Arkansas State, Oklahoma State and LSU, where he was the assistant head coach and running backs coach of the Tiger team that won the 2008 BCS National Championship game.

“Larry is a coach who I’ve admired for a long time,” Fedora said. “He has worked at some of the most successful programs in the country and has won at the highest level in our sport. Larry is not only an outstanding coach but he is a tireless recruiter who will help us continue to build a championship team in Chapel Hill.”

In his 16 years of college coaching, Porter has mentored a number of future NFL players, including Dontari Poe, Jacob Hester, Joseph Addai, Quinn Johnson, Trindon Holliday and Tatum Bell. He has been part of 10 bowl teams since 2002, including a pair of BCS bowls (2007 Sugar, 2008 BCS Championship). Porter lettered four years at Memphis and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. Porter and his wife, Sharmane, have three children – Brandon, Omari and Olivia.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Coach Fedora and his staff here at Carolina,” Porter said. “He is someone in the coaching world who I’ve always respected and I look forward to getting to work in this system and adding to the success that they have had already.”

[SOUP]

ESPN Top 300 for 2015:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/playerrankings/_/view/rn300jr/sort/rank/class/2015

[SOUP]

SCOUT Top 300 for 2015:

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=4&pid=88&yr=2015

[SOUP]

247 sports Top 300 for 2015:

http://247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

[SOUP]

Rival Top 250 for 2015:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-3404/2015

[Terrance Sullivan]

Soup U putting in mad work bruh.

[Ohio_Cane]

We may get 4 out of the top 5 in Blu's list. A very realistic goal. No one more important than Jaquan Johnson. He's this year's Duke, in regards to how he's thought of by other players.

[dj moonbat]

Three different spellings of the name Davante in that Top 20 list. That seems like a lot.

[Mountain Cane]

Does the 305 not produce DTs and LBs anymore , or are the evaluators hung up on the WRs and RBs in their lists? We need to cover all the positions guys?

If So Fla has no front 7 defense players anymore for some weird reason (7 on 7 football prominence?) we need to go elsewhere.

[SOUP]

Soup U putting in mad work bruh.

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | February 11, 2014 at 10:56 PM

Talk to God, he knows.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

O_C,

Then let's lock up Jaquan right now! No waiting 'til NSD on him.

My wish list

1 top notch QB
2 Elite RBs
1 Solid FB
2 Elite WR
1 Elite TE
3 Nasty OL
1 Elite DE
2 Elite DT
2 or 3 Elite LBs
4 Elite DBs mix of Safety/Corner that are big and can run

Looks like all of this is possible next year with the exception of DT, we may have to go looking.

[Hassan]

My vote for fastest Cane DT (and also best) is Jerome Brown. I don't think it is close in either category.

Posted by: Mountain Cane | February 11, 2014 at 04:57 PM
--------------------------------------------

Brown was Amazing but not the Fastest DT. Sapp was a 4.65 guy as a DT. The debate was fastest DT not fastest DL. Sapp was one of the fastest 300 pounder's you will ever see.

Whoever said Wilfork ran a 4.6 coming out of HS has lost their mind, he was quick but no way did he run a 4.6 40 yard dash.

[UMike]

Jaquan Johnson is Miami's to loose. Unless something crazy happens, he will be a Cane. SBB is close to being a lock, but NSD is a long way away. We could end up with upwards of 10 players from that list, especially if we win some games.

[Go Canes]

Unless he was sprinting to a buffet no way Wilfork ran a 4.6.

I'd say Brown and Sapp were our fastest with Cortez Kennedy and Brown being our best athletes ever at that position.

[UMike]

My brother-in-law played youth football with Wilfork in WPB and he always talks about how fast and quick he was for his size... but a 4.6 never happened lol

[4-Real]

Wilfork ALLEGEDLY ran a 4.6 outta high school. Anyone got ACTUAL proof that he didn't?

[UMike]

The same proof that he did.... none lol

[UMike]

Ran a 5.21 at Miami.. and a 5.08 with NE..

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2004draft/Wilfork,Vince-DT-Miami.htm

[LB]

Are you guys still talking about recruiting? Good grief.

[UMike]

LB... but its for 2015 lol

[30CINCO]

Miami #8 in increased attendance : According to NCAA statistics, Miami was 8th in largest average attendance increase from previous year in 2013.

[UMike]

30... I would think that is solely because the UF game, but its still good news.

[SinisterCane]

Good Morning Spacers you guys ROCK!

[30CINCO]

UF game did help.

Seems like more people have been attending these past 3 years on avg (2011-2013) that the 4 years prior (2007-2010)

[dj moonbat]

Are you guys still talking about recruiting? Good grief.

Posted by: LB | February 12, 2014 at 08:10 AM

We have to figure out whether we should recruit Vince Wilfork. Apparently, he lacks elite speed.

[CaneRock]

Barry Jackson:

### UM recruiting coordinator Brennan Carroll said UM's new quarterback additions are "like a rematch
of the Super Bowl. We have Peyton Manning with Brad Kaaya and Russell Wilson with Malik Rosier."....

For those who like to hear Al Golden speak during his annual Hurricanes Club spring tour, he will do three in-state appearances this year: May 1 at UM, May 8 in Orlando and May 9 in Jacksonville. Check hurricanesports.com for prices and details. And Golden, Jonathan Vilma, Clinton Portis, Michael Irvin, Russell Maryland and Brock Berlin will appear at a May 22 dinner in Chicago where Gino Torretta will be honored.

[CaneRock]

CaneRock be callin' it, don't He.
I compared Rosier to Wilson, now they're comparing Rosier to Wilson. And oh yeah, CaneRock put Kaaya on the CaneSpace map, thaaaaat's right, it was me, I did it. HUH!, you know, sometimes CaneRock can out do Himself...CaneRock pats Himself on the back and says to Himself..."I'm proud of you, CaneRock."

LMAO!

[SOUP]

Good Morning Spacers you guys ROCK!

Posted by: SinisterCane | February 12, 2014 at 08:20 AM

This is TRUE.

[SOUP]

1. UM recruiting coordinator Brennan Carroll said UM's new quarterback additions are "like a rematch
of the Super Bowl. We have Peyton Manning with Brad Kaaya and Russell Wilson with Malik Rosier."....

2. For those who like to hear Al Golden speak during his annual Hurricanes Club spring tour, he will do three appearances...

Posted by: CaneRock | February 12, 2014 at 08:52 AM

1. WHOA! That's some BIG time comparisons there. Now the BIG question is can we get some cheerleaders that are "like" Kate Upton?

2. OGV wiill be there for sure!

[SOUP]

We have to figure out whether we should recruit Vince Wilfork. Apparently, he lacks elite speed.

Posted by: dj moonbat | February 12, 2014 at 08:27 AM

I say take a pass on him. He looks too big and slow and will prolly never amount to much.

[SOUP]

Old Skool...this is 4 U:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/sailfish-jumps-boat-fishermen-jump-video/?utm_campaign=wos2&utm_source=wos&utm_term=FL&utm_medium=email

[Ohio_Cane]

O_C,

Then let's lock up Jaquan right now! No waiting 'til NSD on him.

Looks like all of this is possible next year with the exception of DT, we may have to go looking.

Posted by: The Dude | February 12, 2014 at 03:32 AM
--------------------------------------

1. Jaquan will decide when he feels like it, and not when we want him to. I don't think he'll be a NSD decision, but the hype can get to any kid and I think he'll further blow up after 7 on 7's and his Senior season.

I'd actually prefer him not commit to UM until late December or January, tbh. That way there's not as much negative recruiting to focus on us.

2. There are basically NO DT's in SFLA this cycle. We'll be going after OOS kids for that position. Possibly 1 in SFLA, but that's a max

[Da U N Houston]

This is just BULLSH*T!! These people need to get a life!

Rashaan Evans, five-star linebacker from Auburn High School in Ala., believes he made the right decision for his future when he signed with Alabama on Wednesday.

There are plenty of people who support Evans regardless of his decision, but every fan base has a few immature individuals who take the decision of a high school stranger too personal. Those fans vent frustration on message boards and or social media.

"It's getting worse," Evans said on Monday evening. "Someone actually put out an article about my family's business telling all Auburn fans not to go there. We are going to eventually start losing money. People are telling restaurants in the town not to serve us.

"It's hard for me to go out and chill with my friends like I have always done because people keep coming up to me telling me I made a bad decision. It's grown men. They are asking me why I did this to them. I told them I had to do what is best for me.

"You know I knew this would happen. I knew people would be mad and say stuff. I didn't think it would be like this. It wasn't a complete shock to me, but I guess that's just how fans are.

"It's just crazy right now. What's getting crazy is people are going to the board at my school trying to get me in trouble. They are telling my teachers I am a bad kid and all this stuff. It's just bad right now.

"Social media has definitely been the worst. People on Instagram are telling me how they hope I tear my ACL in game one. They will laugh when I do. They are saying my family is horrible and how they didn't raise me right. It's just crazy."

Evans has another fan base eager for the nation's top linebacker to arrive in Tuscaloosa.

"The support from Alabama fans has been by far the greatest," he said. "They have made me feel a lot better about my decision. They are doing nothing but showing me love. They make me see I have people who are always going to have my back.

"Kirby [Smart] always sends me an inspirational texts. He tells me not to worry what people are saying. He said to make sure once I get there just get ready for work.

"Auburn fans are saying I am going to ride the bench, and I am going to be like Reuben Foster. People are adding his family and how they are low-lifes. They talk about his mom. You wouldn't think some of them are human. I knew it was going to be horrible. You know it's out of hand when people come up to you saying stuff. People you don't know. People who are grown men."

[30CINCO]

Posted by: Da U N Houston | February 12, 2014 at 09:52 AM
-----------------------------------------------
Fans Gone Wild. Crazy how people act that way

[Ohio_Cane]

Oh, and on Jaquan, it helps us that LM6 is his cousin and talks to him all the time about it.

"Johnson says he has no time line for narrowing things down, but says of UM's chance of making his final cut that "It's a great chance. Miami has some pipeline with Lamar Miller (who played at Killian). He's my cousin, talks to me all the time about Miami. He says he likes it, says he loved it when he was there."

[LA3]

Sapp was a 4.65 guy as a DT. The debate was fastest DT not fastest DL. Sapp was one of the fastest 300 pounder's you will ever see.

Posted by: Hassan | February 12, 2014 at 04:37 AM

I AGREE! Looked crazy mad when he got going at a QB....almost funny seeing that BIG BODY moving all over. He even had a "slight" change of direction....SLIGHT.

[30CINCO]

From a CIS poster:

Joe Yearby Update!!
Just a little one but I figure yall will be happy to hear it.

He's out of the walking boot and off the little scooter thing. Saw him walking normally over to the dining hall this morning! Looked good!

[SOUP]

Breaking News Storm ‏@breakingstorm 31m

2,818 US flights canceled due to weather; 70% of flights canceled are to and from Atlanta airport - @flightaware http://on.fb.me/NCgwoh

WHICH IS WHY U SHOULD MOVE TO CENTRAL FLORIDA WHERE THE HIGH TODAY IS 80 AND THE CHANCE OF ICE IS ZERO!

[30CINCO]

Never been to a baseball game at The Light. Was planning on taking the fam for a game or two this season. Keep on hearing how great the milkshakes are, any suggestions?

[UpNorthCane27]

Hope all you covered in snow and ice are safe. Were about to get hit hard supposedly tomorrow shyt sucks!!! Soup I might just take up that offer and move the family to South Florida though lol.

[SOUP]

Rosier, a three-star recruit by most services, signed his UM football scholarship papers last Wednesday. And just like Thompson, he took only one official football visit — to UM — while he was being recruited.

“His family was, ‘If you know Miami is where you’re going, we don’t think it’s very respectful to the University of Miami to visit somewhere else,’” Faith Academy football coach Rusty Mason said.

Said Rosier: “Once I committed, I knew I was going there. I couldn’t wait to sign the papers and be a Miami Hurricane.”

Miami was where it began and ended for Rosier, an outgoing, confident, talkative young man who said he knew since he “was a kid, born and raised a Miami fan,” that Coral Gables was his dream destination.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/12/3928755_incoming-university-of-miami-two.html#storylink=cpy

[Ohio_Cane]

Possible logo & uniform leak for David Beckham's Miami MLS team? The @PBPost has details http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/caneswatch/2014/02/12/miami-david-beckham-mls-team-name-logos-kit/ … pic.twitter.com/NE70PWnT2Y

[SOUP]

Never been to a baseball game at The Light. Was planning on taking the fam for a game or two this season. Keep on hearing how great the milkshakes are, any suggestions?

Posted by: 30CINCO | February 12, 2014 at 10:35 AM

Go with me, Terrance and KYCane on 2/19 at 6 PM and 2/21 at 7 PM? The milkshakes are ALL great just depends what flavors U like, and get in line EARLY, they have run out after the fifth inning on a few occasions.

[Ohio_Cane]

ESPN CollegeFootball ‏@ESPNCFB 45s

FSU 2014 nonconference schedule:

Ok St 10-3 (Arl, TX)
Citadel 5-7
Notre Dame 9-4
Florida 4-8
2013 bowl teams: 2

http://es.pn/1fgtOwP