Gridironstuds.com Blog

It’s that time of year as the track seasons start to wind down to take a look at the football players (particularly the Gridironstuds.com members) that are getting it done on the track.  These athletes have traded in their helmets for the tank top and track spikes and have shown their versatility by heating up the synthetic rubber.

You have to start with the fastest man in the country and that’s Ryan Lankford of Paxon Advanced Studies School in Jacksonville.  Lankford has committed to Illinois to play football this Fall and will take his 10.41 speed to Champagne to try and help the Fighting Illini climb back up the Big Ten standings.  Lankford’s 10.41 time is tops in the nation.

2010 Miami Hurricanes signee Latwan Anderson (pictured right) from Glenville H.S. in Ohio  has heated up the track in a big way.  Anderson has moved from a very successful season on the football field to an equally as impressive season on the track.  Anderson currently holds the fastest time in the country in the 200 with a 20.92 clocking last Saturday at the Maralyn H. West Invitational.  However,  that’s not all,  Anderson also holds the fourth fastest time in the country in the 400 meters with a time of 48.42 also run last week at the Maralyn West Invitational.   The football standout signed a track scholarship with the Hurricanes in March,  one month after the February 4th National Letter of Intent Signing Date.  It was a move met with some skepticism but Anderson is proving that move to be fruitful signing for both the track and football teams at the University of Miami.

Yet another top performer from the Gridironstuds.com members is St. Thomas Aquinas’ Cody Riggs.  The 2010 Florida signee and defending Florida state champ in the 300 meter hurdles currently holds the top time in the event this year with a time of 36.51.  He also ranks 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles nationwide with a time of 14.03 and he ranks 6th in the long jump with a mark of 23′-2.5″.

Other Gridironstuds.com football players turned track athletes performing well in the sprints are:   Shane Wynn,  Anderson’s teammate at Glenville.  Wynn has posted a 10.60 in the 1o0 meters making him tied for 14th overall in the country.  Wynn also has a 21.45 in the 200 meters under his belt this season.  Crenshaw (California) High School’s De’Anthony Thomas laid down a 10.67 in the 100 meters and a 21.48 in the 200 meters.    Miami Northwestern’s Corvin Lamb who will play for Louisville in 2010  has a 2010 best of 10.78 in the 100 meters.

Class of 2011 wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) has bests of 10.79 in the 100 meters, 21.97 in the 200 meters, 15.05 in the 110 meter hurdles, 39.14 in the 300 meter hurdles and has a nationally ranked mark of 47′ 9.50 in the Triple Jump.  Oh and by the way,  Dorsett is also a member of Aquinas’ 400 meter and 1600 meter relay teams.  He is the most versatile track athlete in this report.    Douglas High School (Florida)  junior Orville Reynolds has a 10.80 clocking in the 100 meters to his credit this 2010 outdoor season.  2010 Florida St. signee Lamarcus Joyner of St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) has a 100 meter best of 10.83.   8th Grade sensation Sony Michel from American Heritage Plantation (Florida) clocked a 10.82 yesterday in his district meet.   Yes,  I did say 8th grade.

LSU 2010 signee Kadron Boone,  wide receiver from Trinity Catholic in Florida has a 100 meter best of 10.87.   2010 Ohio St. signee Corey Brown from Cardinal O’Hara (Pennsylvania) is ranked 28th in the country in the 200 with a time of 21.80.   Louisville 2010 signee Michaelee Harris from Miami Northwestern is 9th in the country in the 400 with a time of 48.65.

High School Football cody riggs, corvin lamb, de'anthony thomas, kadron boone, lamarcus joyner, latwan anderson, Michaelee Harris, orville reynolds, phillip dorsett, ryan lankford, shane wynn

December 20th

Miami Hurricanes have landed 3 star offensive line recruit Jermaine Barton from St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. (Florida). Barton will join Aquinas teammate Brandon Linder who also committed to the University of Miami on Sunday…more here.

December 17th

Miami Northwestern H.S. (Florida) running back Corvin Lamb has committed to Louisville. Lamb was also considering offers from Nebraska, Rutgers, North Carolina, Ole Miss and UCF.

Pahokee H.S. defensive tackle Richard Ash has decommitted from West Virginia and has now pledged to Michigan.

Rumors are swirling that Glenville H.S. defensive back Latwan Anderson has committed to the University of Miami. Still working on confirming this.

December 16th

Syracuse continues to land Florida talent. Tampa Catholic H.S. defensive back Jeremi Wilkes has committed to the Orangemen despite interest from Florida St., Rutgers, Louisville and Iowa.

DeLand High School running back Shontrelle Johnson has decommitted from Northwestern and has reopened his recruiting. Johnson has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards this season and is now courting offers from Florida St., USF, UCF, Mississippi, Kentucky and Georgia Tech. Check out Shontrelle’s video.

December 15th

The University of South Florida scores a trio of Miami area recruits. QB Jeff Godfrey (Central H.S.), OL Jose Jose (Booker T. Washington) and Todd Chandler (Northwestern) formerly committed to Miami all pledge to the Bulls.

Birmingham H.S. (California) Trajuan Briggs has switched from USC to California. Briggs was previously committed to the Trojans but switched his commitment. Briggs is also still being pursued by Washington, Washington St., Oregon and Pittsburgh.

December 14th

Grandview H.S. (Colorado) DE Chris Martin has committed to Cal. Martin was previously committed to Notre Dame but decommitted when the coaching situation became muddy. Martin had been entertain offers from Florida, Miami, USC and Oklahoma. Charlie Strong leaving Florida hurt the Gators’ chances of landing Martin.

Rumors and Wires chris martin, corvin lamb, jeffrey godfrey, jose jose, latwan anderson, richard ash, shontrelle johnson, todd chandler

November 20th

Central (Miami, Fla.) quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey has passed for a Dade County career-record 6,543 yards. The previous record was 6,365 by Miami Northwestern star Jacory Harris.

Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer and defensive coordinator Charlie Strong were in attendance to see Jeff Luc play for Treasure Coast vs. Seminole Ridge in a playoff game last night. USC was also in attendance. Luc is reluctant to name a leader but I will proclaim the Gators to be the current leader for Luc’s services.

November 18th

University School (Davie, FL) Dwellie Striggles became the third player from the school to commit to a Division I program when he chose Turner Gil and Buffalo. Striggles was also being recruited by Colorado St. and Rutgers. View his highlight video – click here.

Palmdale H.S. (California) defensive back and Gridironstuds.com member Joshua Shaw has committed to Florida. Shaw is also being recruited by LSU, Miami, USC, Ohio St. and Notre Dame.

Elder H.S. (Ohio) Tight End Alex Smith has rescinded his commitment to Cincinnati. Smith is still being recruited by Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

November 17th

Tennessee has dismissed two of the three players involved in the armed robbery attempt at a convenience store last week. Head coach Lane Kiffin issued walking papers to Nu’keese Richardson from Pahokee H.S. in Florida and Mike Edwards of Glenville H.S. in Cleveland, Ohio.

- On a side note, one of the attempted robbery victims says the players should be allowed to play. Hilarious must read, click here. Things are rough out in Knoxville, son. LOL!

Woodberry Forest linebacker Aramide Olaniyan has committed to UCLA. Olaniyan first committed to Duke but backed off that commitment and reopened the recruiting process. After his recent visit to Westwood, Olaniyan felt like UCLA was the place and committed.

Recent quote from Northwestern High School (Miami, Fla) top rated wide receiver recruit Michaelee Harris “I really like all the playmakers that Miami has,” said Michaelee Harris about the Canes. “They have a good offense and they always produce good athletes. I think they’ll be getting back on top soon.” Harris says he grew up following the Hurricanes. “I like coach Randy Shannon and (wide receivers) coach Aubrey Hill. We talk a lot and have a real good relationship off the field.”

Recent quote from Miami Northwestern High School (Florida) highly recruited running back Corvin Lamb: “I was supposed to visit North Carolina this week,” Corvin Lamb said. “But I don’t think it’ll happen. I’ll probably take it after the season. UNC and Mississippi State stay in touch the most. They show a lot of interest in me. They both said that I could play receiver and running back and that they’d use me on special teams too.”

Kaiser H.S. (California) outside linebacker Josh Shirley enjoyed his second visit to Arizona recently. His first visit was to Washington back in September. Shirley has a lot of schools on his list but I am guessing he lands in Westwood playing for the Bruins.

November 16th

Culver City H.S. (California) linebacker and Gridironstuds.com member Victor Burnett has committed to Washington. Burnett is also being recruited by Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon St. and West Virginia.

Rumor has it that St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. (Florida) Offensive lineman Brandon Linder will commit to the Hurricanes today (Monday).

Pahokee H.S. (Florida) wide receiver Chris Dunkley was injured in his squad’s big “Muck Bowl” contest this past Saturday.

Rumors and Wires alex smith, Aramide Olaniyan, brandon linder, chris dunkley, corvin lamb, jeff luc, jeffrey godfrey, josh shirley, joshua shaw, Michaelee Harris, top 2010 recruits, victor burnett