Football recruiting: Mainland, Flagler juniors take center stage in Week 2 matchups

Jon Santucci, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·5 min read

Some of the state’s top players in the class of 2024 will take center stage in Volusia County on Thursday when Mainland hosts Flagler Palm Coast.

Mainland has a trio of junior standouts in wide receiver James Randle, defensive lineman/tight end LJ McCray and defensive back Zavier Mincey. Flagler Palm Coast is home to junior linebacker Rodney Hill as well as promising players such as senior linebacker Ashton Bracewell and quarterback/athlete Dennis Murray.

Mainland's LJ McCray scores the a touchdown during the spring football jamboree at Mainland High School, Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Mainland's LJ McCray scores the a touchdown during the spring football jamboree at Mainland High School, Thursday, May 19, 2022.

Both teams are coming off strong season openers, including a highlight-reel one-handed touchdown grab by Randle and a 17-tackle performance by Hill.

Hill’s potential matchup against McCray is one of the top individual matchups involving top recruits to watch in Week 2.

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Flagler Palm Coast football players Ashton Bracewell & Rodney Hill, L/R, sprint across the field, one of many drills, Monday August 1, 2022 during practice.
Flagler Palm Coast football players Ashton Bracewell & Rodney Hill, L/R, sprint across the field, one of many drills, Monday August 1, 2022 during practice.

Hill, a four-star recruit, has more than a dozen offers including Iowa State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee. The 6-foot, 200-pounder has outstanding speed for a linebacker – he was tracked by Catapult Sports as one of the fastest players during the FHS7v7A state tournament in June – and is strong against the run and in coverage.

McCray’s college future most likely will be on the defensive line and has offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State and many others. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound McCray plays offense and defense for the Buccaneers and presents a definite matchup problem because of his size.

Whether as a blocker or pass catcher, it’s likely that McCray and Hill will see a lot of each other on Thursday.

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Here are some of the other top individual matchups to watch in Week 2.

Chaminade WR Jeremiah Smith vs. Dillard CB Antoine Jackson

Two of the top juniors in the state square off in this one. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Smith, who caught a touchdown pass in Week 1, has offers from Alabama, Miami, Ohio State, USC and dozens more. Jackson, a Miami commit, is a 6-foot, 170-pounder who had four interceptions in 2021.

More: Broward County vs. The USA: Chaminade-Madonna's offense shines against St. John's

Milton WR Raymond Cottrell vs. Pensacola Catholic DB Ja’Bril Rawls

Raymond Cottrell (1) makes a catch during football practice at Milton High School on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Raymond Cottrell (1) makes a catch during football practice at Milton High School on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.

Cottrell, a Georgia commit, is No. 28 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. He had a strong performance in the season opener with six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for a score. Rawls, a Florida State commit, broke up two passes in the season opener and also returned a punt for a score.

Eustis WR Tyree Patterson vs. Lake Minneola S Ethon Cole

Eustis’ Tyree Patterson (11) catches a pass during a 2021 game against South Sumter in Bushnell. [PAUL RYAN / CORRESPONDENT]
Eustis’ Tyree Patterson (11) catches a pass during a 2021 game against South Sumter in Bushnell. [PAUL RYAN / CORRESPONDENT]

Patterson and Cole both are committed to Power 5 programs but they’ve both gone a bit under the radar. Patterson, a Florida commit, has good size at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds and scored 13 receiving touchdowns last fall. Cole, a Purdue commit, is the first ever four-year varsity player at Lake Minneola. He’s strong in pass coverage and is a physical tackler.

More: Exclusive: Lake Minneola 3-star safety Ethon Cole announces college decision

IMG WR Carnell Tate vs. De Smet Jesuit (MO) CB Christian Gray

IMG Academy's Carnell Tate (17) eyes a touchdown catch for the Ascenders at Lancers Stadium, Sept. 3, 2021.
IMG Academy's Carnell Tate (17) eyes a touchdown catch for the Ascenders at Lancers Stadium, Sept. 3, 2021.

Call this an early preview of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame. Tate, an Ohio State commit, is No. 10 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. The senior will be looking for a bounce-back game after a couple costly drops against Miami Central last week. Gray, a Notre Dame commit, is a four-star recruit. The 6-foot, 174-pound senior also scored two offensive touchdowns last week.

Edgewater RB Cedric Baxter Jr. vs. Don Bosco DL Jordan Thomas

Edgewater's Cedric Baxter rushed for 1,651 yards and 22 touchdowns during his junior year.
Edgewater's Cedric Baxter rushed for 1,651 yards and 22 touchdowns during his junior year.

Baxter, a Texas commit, is No. 6 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior Baxter rushed for 232 yards and a touchdown in the season opener. Thomas, a junior, is one of the top players in the class of 2024. His offers include Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and several others.

Clearwater Academy International OT Lucas Simmons vs. Miami Palmetto EDGE Willis McGahee IV

Simmons, a Florida State commit, is No. 19 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. The 6-foot-8, 295-pound senior with an 82-inch wingspan hasn’t played the position long but he’s made tremendous strides. McGahee, the son of former NFL running back Willis McGahee, often is used a standup pass rusher. His offers include Auburn, Louisville and Michigan.

Osceola cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson is committed to Florida.
Osceola cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson is committed to Florida.

Seminole 2023 WR Darren Lawrence vs. Osceola 2023 CB Ja’Keem Jackson

Lawrence is committed to Florida State; Jackson is committed to Florida

Booker T. Washington 2024 RB Gerald Modest Jr. vs. Miami Edison 2024 DL Dinellson Exume

Benjamin 2024 RB Chauncey Bowens vs. Pahokee 2023 EDGE Dee Jay Holmes

Carrollwood Day 2024 RB Anthony Carrie vs. Christ School (N.C.) 2024 LB Cayden Jones

Evans 2024 S Brandon Jacob vs. Boone 2023 WR Aidan Mizell

Mizell is committed to Florida

Steinbrenner 2024 WR Andrew Brinson vs. Tampa Bay Tech 2023 S Norris Davis

Davis is committed to Iowa State

Lakewood 2023 QB Anthony Colandrea vs. Palm Beach Central 2023 DB Justin Bostic

Colandrea is committed to Virginia

Buchholz 2023 WR Jaren Hamilton vs. Sarasota Riverview 2024 CB Charles Lester III

Jesuit 2023 RB Joquez Smith vs. Treasure Coast 2023 DL Corey McIntyre Jr. 

Smith is committed to Temple; McIntyre is committed to West Virginia

Isaiah Augustave of Naples runs the ball against Lehigh in Naples on Friday, August 26, 2022. Naples won 45-9.
Isaiah Augustave of Naples runs the ball against Lehigh in Naples on Friday, August 26, 2022. Naples won 45-9.

Naples 2023 RBs Kendrick Raphael and Isaiah Augustave vs. Venice 2023 EDGE Damon Wilson

Raphael is committed to Iowa; Augustave is committed to Arkansas

Duncanville (TX) 2024 RB Lontrell Turner vs. Jones 2023 LB Malik Bryant

Bryant is committed to Miami

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Football recruiting: Individual matchups to watch in Week 2