Recruiting watch: Fletcher's Marcelis Tate, Bolles' Brendan Black announce commitments

With two years to go, Fletcher quarterback Marcelis Tate is already locking in his college football plans.

The rising junior announced his commitment to USF, among the earliest commitments from what looks like a deep and promising pack of Northeast Florida quarterbacks in the 2024 and 2025 classes.

Not yet rated by the major recruiting services, Tate is listed at 6-2 and 187 pounds.

As a sophomore in 2021, Tate completed 52 of 85 passes for 655 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions, and also rushed for 102 yards and four scores as the Senators qualified for the Class 7A regional playoffs.

Bulldogs' Black commits to Cyclones

Add Brendan Black to the list of Bolles players announcing college commitments.

The rising senior offensive lineman committed to Iowa State, the most recent Jacksonville-area player to select the Big 12 school. Former Bartram Trail receiver Xavier Hutchinson earned All-Big 12 honors with the Cyclones last year.

First Coast All-FBS football: Northeast Florida's best in major college football in 2021

Black, listed as a three-star prospect at 6-4 and 300 pounds, can play multiple positions on the offensive front but is most often projected as a guard. He helped clear the lanes for Kade Frew to rush for 1,476 yards and 22 touchdowns on the way to the Class 4A state semifinal.

He's the second Bolles commitment in the 2023 class this month, following tight end Connor Cox's commitment to South Carolina on June 12.

Recruiting update: Bolles, Fleming Island, Mandarin athletes announce college commitments

Mandarin's Kelly wins Adidas track title

Even though the high school track and field season is finished, Da'Moni Kelly isn't slowing down in the summer.

The just-graduated Mandarin thrower launched a winning effort of 44 feet, 5 inches to win the girls shot put at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

Kelly, who won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 4A championship in May, signed with the University of Florida. She won the Times-Union's All-First Coast girls track and field athlete of the year award for 2022.

The meet was an all-around success for Mandarin. Jaylin Lewis also finished first in the boys freshman 200-meter dash in 22.20 at the meet and Stephen DeGregorio took second in the freshman boys 100. Terren Peterson and Aliyah Robertson also had top-three finishes in their events.

Meanwhile, Raines graduate Harrison Robinson ran 13.83 to place second in the 110 hurdles, and even ran 10th (10.96) on the flat 100.

All-First Coast boys track: Meet the 2022 team

All-First Coast girls track: Meet the 2022 team

Patterson called up to U.S. junior team

Avery Patterson may be one month away from a world championship moment.

The U.S. Soccer Federation named the former Bolles midfielder to the Under-20 women's national team for the Sud Ladies Cup, scheduled from June 24-28 in France. The American team will meet France on June 24, Mexico on June 26 and the Netherlands on June 28.

The tournament is a final tune-up before the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which begins Aug. 10 in Costa Rica. National Under-20 coach Tracey Kevins is expected to select the final roster in the days following the Sud Ladies Cup.

Patterson, entering her junior year at the University of North Carolina, previously earned a call-up to the Under-20 squad in February, scoring four goals in her first international start against Puerto Rico.

At Bolles, she helped the Bulldogs to Florida High School Athletic Association championships in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Mackiewitz exit among coaching moves

The coaching carousel continues in the summer.

After more than two decades with the program, Mac Mackiewitz is out as Providence baseball coach.

The school posted an advertisement for the vacancy on the FHSAA website in the last week of May. As first reported by WJXT, the school sent a letter to parents that attributed the decision to violations of school policies relating to financial and billing practices.

The school did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Mackiewitz compiled a record of 452-161 in charge of Providence, including FHSAA championships in 2008 and 2012, runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2013 and 13 consecutive playoff appearances between 2006 and 2018. He had also served as dean of men at the school.

The Stallions went 15-13 this spring, advancing to the Region 1-3A semifinal before losing to The Villages Charter.

His departure ends one of the longest and most successful current coaching tenures in Jacksonville baseball. Mackiewitz has served as the head coach of the Stallions since 2004, starting out in 2001 as an assistant on the coaching staff.

He won All-Sunshine State Conference honors while lining up at first base for the University of North Florida in the 1990s. Drafted in the 33rd round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1998, Mackiewitz spent portions of three years in the minor leagues, including a stint with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats of the Southern League in 2000.

Notable Providence baseball graduates during the tenure of Mackiewitz include Walker Lockett, who has spent portions of three seasons in Major League Baseball, and Tyler Callihan and Nathan Hickey, currently in the minor league systems of the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox, respectively.

Mackiewitz's exit isn't the only coaching move of note since the end of the spring season.

At Fleming Island, Grant Bigilin has moved across the St. Johns River after four years in charge of the Golden Eagles, including a final four visit in 2021. Bartram Trail announced Bigilin as a new addition to the coaching staff under Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Bigilin compiled a 58-30 record in his four years with Fleming Island. The Golden Eagles finished 2022 at 9-14.

Meanwhile, Bartram Trail has listed a vacancy for a head coach in softball. Veteran baseball coach Tony Sowers came out of retirement during the winter to lead the softball program for 2022, after longtime Bears coach Jen Harman accepted the athletic director position at Beachside ahead of the new school's August opening.

The Bears finished the softball season 15-8.

All-First Coast baseball: Meet the full 2022 team

Around the area

Christ's Church Academy junior Chase Healey placed fifth in the United States Tennis Association Florida Bobby Curtis Championships, the statewide youth tennis tournament. ... Union County senior linebacker Trevor Holtzendorf committed to Ave Maria football. ...  St. Johns Country Day senior Bradley Hodges finished second in voting for Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Baseball, which went to Roman Anthony of Stoneman Douglas. Douglas coach Todd Fitz-Gerald won the state's coach of the year award. ... Melbourne pitcher Jazzy Francik won the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Softball award and Deltona's Lindsay Ingram was named softball coach of the year. Middleburg pitcher Mallory Forrester finished fifth in player of the year voting, with Middleburg coach Ashley Houston third in the coach of the year vote. ... Beachside named Grayson Corbett as its first girls lacrosse coach and Lance Day as wrestling coach. ...The FHSAA selected Bishop Kenny as a Class 4A winner of the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Awards. ... The annual Baker's Sports High School Media Day for football is scheduled for Aug. 1.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Northeast Florida football recruiting watch: Brendan Black, Marcelis Tate commitments