Tampa, July 17, 2018 – With the offseason winding down and athletes preparing for the regular season, there are an ample amount of young rising stars that will keep you on the edge of your seat when those Friday night lights kickoff this fall. Here are five electrifying stand-outs to keep your eyes peeled for.
Enzo Tedesco, 2020 Jesuit PSQB- Upcoming junior Enzo Tedesco, listed at 6’3” 190 pounds showed great poise in his freshmen showcase, throwing for 728 yards, completing 79 of 148 attempts, had 2 passing touchdowns and a long-ball of 39; as a raw first-year man he has a notable stat-sheet already, still with his three best years ahead of him and definitely a guy to keep on the radar.
Johnny Richardson, 2020 Lake Wales RB- This stocky 5’8” stud in the backfield put up show-stopping numbers in his 2017 sophomore campaign rushing for 1,004 yards on 99 carries, averaging a first down at 10.1, 143.4 RYPG, tallied 13 total scores- 1 receiving TD, racked up 123 yards on 8 receptions with a long catch of 65, accumulated 1,241 All-purpose yards and did I mention he accomplished this feat in just 6 games played and 5 of the 6 in which he rushed for 100+ yards?! Richardson’s top performance came against Lake Region in a 61-0 shut-out win where he ran for 255 yards on just 15 touches with a long-haul of 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. Without a doubt, Johnny is a huge dynamic and versatile contributor for the Highlanders with nothing but elite potential in his veins.
La’darius Henry, 2019 Gibbs SAF, FS- Incoming senior leader La’darius plays Free safety with a next-level frame to match, stands tall at 6’3” 180 pounds but due to being placed on IR after being injured this past season his stats on exceed to the 2016-17 season, so with that being said, defensively two years ago Henry posted 40 tackles, 19 solos, with 5 TPG, posted 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and deflected 3 passes. He disrupts the offense whenever he steps on the field, and if he has a healthy year this upcoming season, you better watch out when #22 is lurking in the secondary.
Dorien Green, 2019 Wiregrass Ranch UTL, SS, WR- 5’11” 200-pound tweener talent and impending senior plays both basketball and football and works his magic all around the field for Wiregrass, utilizing him on both ends of the ball at all times. The Bulls closed out an optimistic 9-3 2017 season and Dorien had the numbers to prove it, amounting the team’s success defensively with 39 total tackles, 22 solo, 4.3 TPG, 4 sacks, 3 QB hurries, contributed to special teams with 37 total punt-return yards to add to his All-purpose and a deflected pass as a second-year man. Needless to say, Green is a well-rounded playmaker and earned his efforts didn’t go unnoticed earning his well-deserved spot on the watch list!
Justin Stubbs, 2020 Seffner Christian RB- Although Seffner may not have had the type of hopeful year they sought after, that didn’t slow down 5’9” 165-pound top 2020 back and two-sport athlete Justin Stubbs from vastly producing both offensively and defensively as a sophomore. At Cornerback he totaled 26 tackles, 12 solos, with a pic and a fumble recovery; adding to his stat-line, he rushed for 752 yards on 161 carries, averaged 4.7, with two 100+ yard games, collecting 5 TD’s and his best game surfaced verse Bishop McLaughlin Catholic in a 42-9 win as he ran for 112 yards on just 12 carries and averaged nearly a first down at 9.3. Undersized maybe, but his build isn’t far from his respected position size range and they can’t measure heart and with 2 of the highest potential years in his high school football career still to be written his eyes are on the prize no matter the circumstances!
Vaughan Sixbury, BCP Contributor