It’s that time of the year again when the Friday Night Lights are bright and prospects across the country are starting the high school football season.
Like the past years, Gator Country is going to do a preview every Thursday for all of the Florida Gators commits and on Monday we will do a full recap including stats and notes from the past weeks’ games.
This year we are going to also highlight the key players to watch in the game that aren’t Florida Gators commits but rather targets or just big names in the game.
Week 8 preview
2023 commits
Safety Jordan Castell (6-2, 195, Winter Garden, FL. West Orange)
Matchup: West Orange (2-3) travels to take on Windermere on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Castell has one receiving touchdown on the year and 19 tackles, three tackles for a loss and he’s also added an interception on defense.
Notes:
Defensive lineman Kelby Collins (6-5, 280, Gardendale, AL. High)
Matchup: Gardendale (5-2) plays host to Woodlawn on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Collins has 36 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and six sacks on the year
Notes:
Defensive back Sharif Denson (5-11, 170, Jacksonville, FL. Bartram Trail)
Matchup: Bartram Trail (6-0) travels to take on Creekside on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Denson has 16 tackles and two tackles for a loss on the year. Denson also returned an interception for a touchdown and caused a fumble.
Notes:
Athlete Aaron Gates (6-0, 180, Sharspsburg, GA. Trinity Christian)
Matchup: Trinity Christian (5-2) has a bye week.
Yearly Stats: Gates has 191 yards receiving and a touchdown on offense and on defense he has accounted for five tackles.
Notes: Gates is battling an injury and has missed the last few weeks.
Offensive lineman Knijeah Harris (6-3, 335, Bradenton, FL. IMG)
Matchup: IMG (4-1) travels to take on American Collegiate Academy on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: N/A
Notes: N/A
Defensive lineman Gavin Hill (6-3, 255, Gainesville, FL. Buchholz)
Matchup: Buchholz (5-0) plays host to Oakleaf on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Hill has five tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble on the year.
Notes:
Defensive back Ja’Keem Jackson (6-1, 180, Kissimmee, FL. Osceola)
Matchup: Osceola (2-3) plays host to Celebration on Thursday.
Yearly Stats: Jackson has 23 tackles, one caused fumble, and three pass break-ups on the year. Jackson has added 7 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns on offense this year.
Notes:
Defensive lineman Kamran James (6-6, 265, Orlando, FL. Olympia)
Matchup: Olympia (2-3) plays host to Dr. Phillips on Friday.
Yearly Stats: James has a touchdown catch on the year. James also has 13 tackles and 3 tackles for a loss on the year. James also has a sack on the year.
Notes:
Receiver Andy Jean (6-1, 180, Miami, FL. Northwestern)
Matchup: Northwestern (3-3) travels to take on Booker T. Washington on Saturday.
Yearly Stats: Jean has 15 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
Notes:
Offensive lineman Bryce Lovett (6-5, 330, Rockledge, FL. High)
Matchup: Rockledge (5-1) plays host to Satellite on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: N/A
Notes: N/A
Receiver Aidan Mizell (6-2, 180, Orlando, FL. Boone)
Matchup: Boone (3-2) plays host to Jones on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: N/A
Notes: Mizell missed last week’s game as he recovers from a minor injury.
Defensive lineman Isaiah Nixon (6-4, 215, St. Petersburg, FL. Lakewood)
Matchup: Lakewood (4-3) plays host to Gibbs on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Nixon has 28 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and six sacks this year. Nixon also has thre pass break-ups, one blocked punt, thre caused fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Notes: N/A
Defensive lineman Will Norman (6-5, 290, Camden, NJ. Woodrow Wilson)
Matchup: Woodrow Wilson (2-3) travels to take on St. Augustine Prep on Saturday.
Yearly Stats: Norman has four tackles and a sack on the season.
Notes: Norman transferred to Woodrow Wilson from IMG this year.
Receiver Tyree Patterson (6-2, 175, Eustis, FL. High)
Matchup: Eustis (1-4) travels to take on Umatilla on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Patterson has 19 catches for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns on the year.
Notes:
Linebacker Jaden Robinson (6-1, 222, Lake City, FL. Columbia)
Matchup: Columbia (3-3) plays host to MIddleburg on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Robinson has returned an interception for a touchdown on the year.
Notes:
Defensive lineman TJ Searcy (6-5, 250, Thomaston, GA. Upson-Lee)
Matchup: Upson-Lee (3-4) plays host to Jackson on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Searcy has thrown a touchdown and ran for two touchdowns on 11 carries for 65 yards on offense. On defense Searcy has 18 tackles, a sack and a blocked punt.
Notes:
Quarterback Marcus Stokes (6–2, 190, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Nease)
Matchup: Nease (1-6) travels to take on Flagler Palm Coast on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Stokes is 86-172 passing for 1,127 yards and seven touchdowns on the year. Stokes has added 406 yards rushing and nine more touchdowns on the ground this year.
Notes:
Running back Treyaun Webb (6-1, 205, Jacksonville, FL. Trinity Christian)
Matchup: Trinity Christian (6-0) plays host to University Christian on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Webb has 89 carries for 538 yards and nine touchdowns on the year.
Notes:
Receiver Creed Whittemore (5-11, 175, Gainesville, FL. Buchholz)
Matchup: Buchholz (5-0) plays host to Oakleaf on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Whittemore has 17 touchdowns on the year.
Notes:
Receiver Eugene Wilson III (5-11, 165, Tampa, FL. Gaither)
Matchup: Gaither (3-3) plays host to Jesuit on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Wilson has six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
Notes: Wilson is out with a minor injury.
2024 commits
Linebacker Myles Graham (6-1, 212, Atlanta, GA. Woodward Academy)
Matchup: Woodward Academy (5-1) plays host to Rockdale County on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Graham had 59 carries for 300 yards and four touchdowns on the year and has added 7 catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. Graham also has 28 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss this year. The linebacker also has two sacks and a caused fumble.
Notes:
Running back Chauncey Bowens (5-11,209, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Benjamin School)
Matchup: Benjamin (2-3) travels to take on Gulliver Prep on Thursday.
Yearly Stats: Bowens has 37 carries for 228 yards and a touchdown on the year.
Notes: