South Florida Football Combine features plenty of talent

MIAMI, FLORIDA – Early morning rain showers didn’t dampen the afternoon festivities Sunday at the Larry Blustein South Florida Combine Series presented by Bleechr at Ives Estates Park.

More than 100 high school football players from South Florida tested their skills at the four-hour event on the playing field of Dr. Krop High School.

The combine has been an annual showcase for high school players, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had not been conducted the past few years. It returned on Sunday, without interruptions, even though morning showers threatened the day. But the rain subsided by the time the players were registering and getting ready to go through their series of drills. The artificial turf field was a little soggy, which affected some sprint times.

Still, overall, the combine achieved its purpose of gaining exposure for prep football players who are going through the recruiting process.

SBLive Sports Florida attended the combine and below are several players who caught our attention.

QB Kael Alexander, Miramar, Class of 2024: At 6-foot-4, 185-pounds, Alexander is an imposing figure at quarterback. The junior also stood out on Sunday. Based on his raw talent, it’s surprising that he’s not being more heavily recruited. That’s likely to change by the fall, based upon his size and the fact he’s still developing. Alexander thus far has drawn interest from Florida Memorial. Miramar had a balanced offensive attack, and Alexander threw for 2,272 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Patriots won Class 3M-District 14, and had their season end in the playoffs against Homestead, which eventually lost in the state championship game to St. Thomas Aquinas.

WR Brandon Bennett, American Heritage, Class of 2026: Yet another Brandon is set to make a big impact at American Heritage. As 5-star receiver Brandon Inniss is graduating and moving on to Ohio State, freshman Brandon Bennett awaits in the wings. Bennett was one of the top performers on Sunday. Listed at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, the speedy receiver ran a 4.5 second, 40-yard dash. Next year, Heritage should have little drop off at the receiver position as Bennett and standout Malachi Toney, who is receiving offers from schools like Ohio State, both will be sophomores. Bennett already is receiving attention from Penn State and West Virginia. More colleges clearly will be in the picture by the fall.

WR Joaquin Edie, Cypress Bay, Class of 2024: The player Sunday’s showcase may have helped the most is Edie, the speedy junior, who was one of the most praised players at the combine. Edie had 21 catches for 352 yards and three touchdowns at Cypress Bay this past season. On Sunday, he ran a 4.6 second, 40-yard dash. Florida State came and saw him last week, and a couple of smaller schools made offers based on Sunday’s performance. Edie promises to be highly coveted during his senior season.

QB Kymani Corbert, Homestead, Class of 2026: Homestead, which lost 38-21 to St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 3M state finals, is led by junior Joshua Townsend, one of the top quarterbacks in South Florida. Corbert is Townsend’s backup. At 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, he has plenty of potential. As a freshman, Corbert threw for 451 yards and five touchdowns. He has size and arm strength.

DB Ryan Gonzalez, Archbishop Carroll, Class of 2024: A versatile athlete, Gonzalez plays cornerback, safety, as well as wide receiver. As a junior, he picked off three passes. On offense, he had four catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. On Sunday, he ran a 4.62 40-yard dash, and had a broad jump of 12-feet, 7-inches. Gonzalez has run the 40 as fast as 4.55 seconds. The combine should open doors for college opportunities. He’s listed at 5-foot-11, 157-pounds.

QB Jamaal Haggins, Dr. Krop, Class of 2024: A dual-threat quarterback, Haggins passed for 1,715 yards and eight touchdowns. Running the ball, he accumulated 157 yards and scored six touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Haggins is attracting college attention from Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University and Central Michigan. He’s working on his mechanics and footwork, as well as becoming a better team leader.

QB Devin Gonzalez, Cypress Bay, Class of 2025: Gonzalez threw for 1,177 yards and 18 touchdowns during his sophomore season. Still developing, he ran the 40-yard dash on Sunday in five seconds. He’s previously run it 4.9 seconds. The 6-foot, 175-pounder also ran for 113 yards on 16 carries. Florida State, Rutgers and Appalachian State have shown interest.

DB Mykel Marshall, Cypress Bay, Class of 2024: The 6-foot, 180-pounder had two interceptions and 31 tackles in the Fall, and he saw some time on offense, collecting a few carries and catching a couple of passes. Marshall ran a 4.9-second 40 on Sunday. FIU, FAU, Syracuse, Rutgers and the University of Central Florida has shown interest.

DB Caleb Solomon, Miramar, Class of 2024: As a junior, Solomon was a first-year starter who had an interception and two forced fumbles, along with 50 tackles. He ran a 4.7 second 40 on Sunday.