Now with over 40 offers from schools around the country, Wayne Lyons (5-11, 182, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard) has become as recognized for his exploits in the classroom as much as his play on the field. Ranked #1 in his junior class at Dillard High School, Lyons is in line to receive valedictorian honors, and has garnered attention from such noted academic institutions as Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford and Vanderbilt due to his impressive academic profile.
However, it’s easy to forget that Lyons gets it done on the football field as well. An impressive performance at the Gainesville Nike Football Training Camp on Sunday proved that, where Lyons put his physical brand of play on display for everyone in attendance. Now sporting an offer from the Gators, Lyons could follow in the footsteps of his mother Gwen Bush – who also attended school in Gainesville – as yet another member of the family to attend the University of Florida.
Lyons recorded 87 tackles (76 solo) with 21 tackles for loss, two interceptions and eight pass break-ups on the season in 2009 according to his website (http://waynelyons21.blogspot.com/).
Already one of the hot names on the recruiting trail for the Class of 2012, Matt Jones (6-3, 218) is a big, punishing running back out of Armwood High School in Seffner, Fla. Already drawing comparisons to top rising senior prospect James Wilder, Jr. with his impressive frame, as well as his impressive play on the field, Jones is already drawing verbal offers from major programs across the south.
It didn’t take the Gators long to join the mix, as Florida verbally offered Jones earlier this month, following on the heels of promises of written offers (Jones cannot physically receive any offers from colleges until September 1st) from Alabama and South Carolina as well. A top performer at the Gainesville NFTC on Sunday, Jones already has the look of a national top-100 level prospect for next year.
Jones rushed for more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite dealing with a variety of injuries over the course of his sophomore season.
Standing 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Brandon Fulse is one of the more impressive physical specimens you will find in the state of Florida. While Fulse hopes to play tight end at the next level, it’s also very easy to see him line up at a number of additional positions in college. Defensive end, defensive tackle, or even a spot on the offensive line don’t seem out of the realm for Fulse.
Fulse is just the next in a long line of star prospects to come out of tiny Ft. Meade, Fla. (pop. 5,691), a school that has become a regular at the Florida state football finals each December. Along with Lakevin Camp (5-10, 183) and Dwayne McCalebb (5-10, 168) , the Miners’ practices will prove to be a hot spot along the recruiting trail with assistant coaches from all across the nation once again this spring.
Fulse recorded 10 sacks as a junior in 2009.