It’s that time of the year again where 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 9 preview
2023 commits
Safety Jordan Castell (6-2, 195, Winter Garden, FL. West Orange)
Matchup: West Orange (3-3) travels to take on Dr. Phillips on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Castell has one receiving touchdown on the year and 20 tackles, three tackles for a loss and he’s also added two interceptions on defense.
Notes:
Defensive lineman Kelby Collins (6-5, 280, Gardendale, AL. High)
Matchup: Gardendale (6-2) travels to take on Mountain Brook 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 (7-0) plays host to Buchholz 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: Linebackers coach Jay Bateman is scheduled to be at this game.
Athlete Aaron Gates (6-0, 180, Sharspsburg, GA. Trinity Christian)
Matchup: Trinity Christian (5-2) plays host to LaGrange on Friday night.
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 (5-1) has a bye week this week.
Yearly Stats: N/A
Notes: N/A
Defensive lineman Gavin Hill (6-3, 255, Gainesville, FL. Buchholz)
Matchup: Buchholz (6-0) travels to take on Bartram Trail 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 (4-3) plays host to Mainland on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Jackson has 28 tackles, one caused fumble, and three pass break-ups on the year. Jackson has added 10 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns on offense this year.
Notes:
Defensive lineman Kamran James (6-6, 265, Orlando, FL. Olympia)
Matchup: Olympia (3-3) travels to take on Freedom 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 (4-3) plays host to Homestead on Thursday night.
Yearly Stats: Jean has 17 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
Notes:
Defensive back Dijon Johnson (6-1, 190, Tampa, FL. Wharton)
Matchup: Wharton (5-2) plays host to Bloomingdale on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Johnson has 10 tackles, one interception, four pass break-ups on the year.
Notes:
Offensive lineman Bryce Lovett (6-5, 330, Rockledge, FL. High)
Matchup: Rockledge (6-1) travels to take on Merritt Island on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: N/A
Notes: N/A
Receiver Aidan Mizell (6-2, 180, Orlando, FL. Boone)
Matchup: Boone (3-3) travels to take on Cypress Creek 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 (5-3) plays host to Largo 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 (2-4) plays host to Delran 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 (2-4) travels to take on Leesburg on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Patterson has 29 catches for 499 yards and 5 touchdowns on the year.
Notes: Patterson says he’s opting out for the rest of the season.
Linebacker Jaden Robinson (6-1, 222, Lake City, FL. Columbia)
Matchup: Columbia (4-3) plays host to Gadsden County 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 (4-4) travels to take on Peach County on Friday night.
Yearly Stats: Searcy has thrown a touchdown and ran for two touchdowns on 12 carries for 74 yards on offense. On defense Searcy has 28 tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a blocked punt.
Notes:
Quarterback Marcus Stokes (6–2, 190, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Nease)
Matchup: Nease (1-7) has a bye week.
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:
Defensive back Bryce Thornton (5-10, 185, Alpharetta, GA. Milton)
Matchup: Milton (4-3) plays host to West Forsyth on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Thornton has 14 tackles, one interception and two pass break-ups.
Notes:
Running back Treyaun Webb (6-1, 205, Jacksonville, FL. Trinity Christian)
Matchup: Trinity Christian (7-0) travels to take on Christ’s Church Academy on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Webb has 106 carries for 723 yards and eleven touchdowns on the year.
Notes:
Receiver Eugene Wilson III (5-11, 165, Tampa, FL. Gaither)
Matchup: Gaither (4-3) plays host to Durant 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 (6-1) plays host to Jonesboro on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Graham had 60 carries for 334 yards and five touchdowns on the year and has added 8 catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Graham also has 32 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss this year. The linebacker also has three sacks and a caused fumble.
Notes:
Running back Chauncey Bowens (5-11,209, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Benjamin School)
Matchup: Benjamin (2-4) travels to take on Calvary Christian Academy on Friday.
Yearly Stats: Bowens has 37 carries for 228 yards and a touchdown on the year.
Notes: