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Brett Goetz has always been good at putting things together.   He once put together picnics for underprivileged kids.  He brought back an optimist football program in South Beach, Florida.  He even arranged for trophies to be handed out to kids with perfect attendance in elementary schools in Miami Beach.    However,  nothing he has put together has brought him more attention than the amassing of high school football talent he has harnessed over the last four years.

Once a small gathering of local football talent to go compete in a 7-on-7 tournament,  the South Florida Express tryout has turned into a grand thoroughfare.

“When we started four years ago we invited 30 kids to tryout and 35 kids showed up,”  said Goetz.  “Now we get 200 kids to tryout.”

Kind of reminds you of the progression of Rocky Balboa drinking raw eggs in a tiny apartment in Rocky I to Rocky Balboa the sports car driving mansion owner in Rocky IV.   This year’s South Florida Express tryouts drew as Goetz said, roughly 200 of the most talented football players in South Florida and probably the country.   It also attracted approximately 40 reporters from a wide range of recruiting publications looking to get the jump on next year’s hot recruiting prospects

“I started this to get the kids some attention,  never thought it would get this much,”  Goetz explained.

Last year’s version of the South Florida Express brought home the Badger Sports  national 7-on-7 tournament championship.   This only meant that more eyes would be on the gathering of talent this year and boy has it ever.   Talent has never been an issue for Goetz’s teams,  in fact,  after falling short the two previous tournaments,  the Express was starting to feel some heat for failing to win it all.   Goetz’s teams theoretically were the most talent rich in all of the tournaments but could never seem to win it all.

Taking a look at the list of players who have come through the roster,  you can see where people were coming from: Jamal Berry (Ohio St.),  Etien Sabino (Ohio St.).  Geno Smith (West Virginia),  Ivan McCartney (West Virginia),  Steadman Bailey (West Virginia),  Jeremy Cash (Ohio St.),  Ethan Grant (TCU),  Jakhari Gore (LSU), Eduardo Clements (Miami),  Tony Grimes (Ole Miss) just to name a few.

Last year,  Goetz’s South Florida Express team was the runner up in the regional tournament in Tampa and gained a berth to the national tournament in Alabama.  As a treat for the players,  Goetz,  once again put something good together and took his players on a college tour.  On their way to Alabama,  Goetz and South Florida Express made stops at Florida St., LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama and Florida.  It was an opportunity for players,  most of which could not afford to take unofficial visits,  to see several of the schools that were recruiting them.   This year,  Goetz has preliminary plans to take the Express to Georgia Tech, Georgia, South Carolina, Clemson and Alabama.

The attention that has been received as a result of all this talent coming together has not all been positive.  Goetz has been called a “street agent” and a shill for certain colleges among other things.

“I guess it’s hard to believe that someone can do this for the kids as opposed to everyone else that’s trying to make money on these kids,”  said Goetz.  “I’ve been working with kids and giving back for a long time.”

One of the biggest attacks on Goetz has been that he is on Ohio St.’s payroll and is somehow getting compensated by the Buckeyes to steer his athletes their way.  Goetz believes that was likely started by a fan of a school that missed on one of his players.  It was spearheaded by three of his early participants,  Etiien Sabino, Travis Howard and Jaamal Berry attending Ohio St.

“What people don’t know is that their (Sabino and Howard) assistant coach at Krop was Sonny Spielman (father of Chris Spielman) and a huge Buckeye fan,”  explained Goetz.  “He was the one who told Sabino to go to their summer camp after his sophomore year and he fell in love with it.”   Goetz would further explain that Howard wanted to play with Sabino so he checked out Ohio St. and loved it too.  A year later,  Berry became a Ohio St. signee and Goetz got painted as a shill for the Buckeyes.

“I grew up a Cane fan and went to every game as a kid,”  said Goetz.  “Then I became a Gator fan when I went to school there.”   Goetz points out that five of last year’s South Florida Express players signed with  Louisville earlier this month so he’s expecting the Cardinal payroll rumors to get cranked up any minute now.

Goetz never played the game of football but if you’ve seen him at the tryouts or any of the South Florida Express practices,  he’s got everything under control.  Goetz’s mastery of bringing things together has included garnering help from some of the best local football minds at the high school level.  While they are cooking up the X’s and O’s,  Goetz is making sure that everyone has what they need; from the kids, to the coaches to the reporters that are trying to get the info they require on the prospects.

When you get 200 plus players to show up for your tryout,  it’s almost impossible not to put together one helluva talented team and that is certainly the case with this year’s edition of the Express.

“I still need more time around these guys to see if there’s chemistry like last year but we are deeper this year as far as talent,”  said Goetz.   Few would argue.  Anyone familiar with the South Florida high school football scene realizes that the roster is a who’s who of playmakers in the southern tip of perhaps the most talent rich region of the country.   One of the roster members,  Deon Bush, has pulled down 20 offers since the tryouts two weeks ago.  Another,  Tracey Howard,  has been invited to the Army All-American game.

It will be another crazy ride for Goetz and his South Florida Express team but it’s all in an offseason’s work for the mastermind Goetz and his crew.

High School Football, Hurricane Sports Nation aj leggett, akeem jones, amari cooper, avery johnson, brandon snell, daniel braverman, dashad tucker, david reed, deandre jasper, deon bush, devonte mathis, dinero moss, duke johnson, ej hillard, eric kinsey, freddie davey, gunnar holcombe, hugs tieene, isaac mcdonald, jeremiah mckinnon, joseph mcclary, keith brown, macgarrett kings, malcolm lewis, nequan phillips, ricardo lewis, sojurn shelton, sony michel, stacey coley, tracey howard, tyler cameron, willie bailey

The annual Miami Nike High School football camp can comfortably make the case for being the most talent laden event in the Nike showcase each offseason.  The 2010 event did not disappoint as what seemed to be about 300 or so prospects participated.

Often times the focus in these events are on well known prospects.  With that being the case,  it’s a joy to find the undiscovered and the diamonds in the rough.

Miami LaSalle High School’s Courtney Moshood would fall into that category.  I was warned about Moshood’s skills by South Florida recruiting guru Larry Blustein and he really hit the nail on the head.  Moshood displayed great explosion, speed and balance in the drills.  He then took those tools to the competitive drills (7-on-7 and 1-on-1) where he built a bit of a name for himself.   Moshood can get it done on both sides of the ball with great cornerback skills and wide receiver talents to boot. The 5’9″  155lb. Moshood is one to watch during the summer and this upcoming football season.

Moshood’s LaSalle teammate QB Rafi Montalvo also stood out in what was an unimpressive QB group performance at the camp.  For a 6’0″” 186 lb. QB,  Montalvo could really spin the ball out of his hand and make all the necessary throws.  He was also as accurate as any other QB in attendance.  Size will be an issue for Montalvo as he attempts to get recruited as a QB but skill will not be a knock against this prospect.

Northwestern’s Teddy Bridgewater did well to show up and solidify himself as one of if not the top QB prospect in the Country of South Florida.  Bridgewater had no problem locating open receivers in half field 3-on-3 drills and at this point,  Bridgewater can do those type drills in his sleep.  Countless reps in 7-on-7′s now means Bridgewater can now spot an ant sitting down wide open between two blades of grass.  Though slight of build,  Calvary Christian QB Javan Shashaty consistently found the open man in 3-on-3 drills displaying the skills that led to 3,200 passing yards and 38 TDs in 2009.

Florida 6-A champs Miramar H.S. had a full presence at the event as over a dozen players participated.   This included a quintet of receivers (Malcolm Lewis, Jeremiah London, Donnell Harris, Khambrel Jenkins and Devonte Mathis).  There’s no doubt that Miramar opponents will have to keep their nickel and dime coverages handy this season.

American Heritage Plantation H.S. wide receiver Marken Michel continues to impress in the camp circuit.  Michel left several DB’s in space covering air as he was by himself catching a football.  His explosiveness off of the line and ability to befuddle DB’s during his routes has left him consistently open against most trying to cover him.  Tacoi Sumler was as smooth as ever.  With word on his speed hitting the airwaves,  Sumler has used that to find himself open routinely on short to medium routes.

St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Rashad Greene was arguably the most impressive WR in attendance.  Green is fluid and wastes no motion going in and out of his breaks.  This makes him a tough assignment for all defensive backs.  Glades Central defensive back Jamie Wilson was also a tough draw for defensive backs trying to look good on Sunday.  Wilson had one of the best catches of the day going up high to “Moss” a defensive back in 3-on-3 drills.  Although teammate Andre Davis  is getting most of the attention,   Tampa Jefferson High School wide receiver Chris Moore may have stolen some of the spotlight with his speed, precision and fluidity running routes.  Wide receivers were in deep supply and to think that you could point out all the top performers in this group,  you would be nuts. Northwestern’s Eli Rogers could not be covered in 1-on-1′s.    North Broward Prep’s A.J. Sebastiano had more trouble than usual getting separation but it didn’t matter because he took the ball away from defenders that were glued to him on some routes.

The defensive backs were also impressive at the event.  Former McArthur high school turned Miramar Patriot Steve Montgomery showed great change of direction and explosion.  Montgomery is holding offers from Maryland, Western Kentucky and UCF.  He is looking for a Florida St. offer and the Seminoles would be a front runner if and when they do come forward with one.  Treasure Coast High School continues to show that Jeff Luc is not the only star.  Coach Aaron Shepard brought down defensive backs Keelin Smith and Lamarcus Brutus.  Both players more than held their own in all the drills.  Smith,  an oddly tall cornerback at 6’3″ neutralized many a wide receiver at the line of scrimmage with his ridiculous reach and strength.  Brutus used great instincts and awareness to find himself in throwing lanes.  Brutus had one of the best interceptions of the day going up high to take a ball out of a receiver’s hands.

Johnathan Aiken was another defensive back that stood out showing great quickness and technique to foil several plays in the 3-on-3 sessions.   Miramar’s Tracey Howard continues to build on the momentum he built up during Miramar’s state championship run.  Howard has an eye for the ball and a nose for the big play.  Howard will team up with Montgomery this season to give Miramar a defensive backfield that people will notice.

8th Grader Sony Michel continues to hang with the big boys turning in a solid performance against some of the top talent on hand.  Mikail McCall traveled all the way from Illinois to participate in the event and he made the most of it.  The 2011 running back has an impressive build to go along with great athletic ability.  The individual who traveled the furthest for the camp,  Harvey Langi was also the camp’s running back MVP.  Langi came from Binghamton, Utah to take part in the camp.

There was also an impressive group of offensive and defensive linemen on hand.  University School’s Abraham Garcia, a mountain of a prospect, standing at 6’4″ 339 lbs.  The 2012 offensive lineman showed great technique,  feet and balance in 1-on-1 drills.   Zach Debell from Tarpon Springs stands 6’7″ 260 lbs. and showed why schools from coast to coast are interested.  DeBell moves his frame well and looks like he can add quite a bit more weight.  No discussion of prep offensive linemen is complete without mentioning Giorgio Newberry of Ft. Pierce Central.  Newberry was in attendance and did his thing.

The defensive linemen were talented as well.   Avery Young (Palm Beach Gardens) was as athletic and strong as any defensive lineman out there and the offensive line had their hands full dealing with him in 1-on-1′s.   Giovani Francois from Bradenton Southeast looks like a star in the making.  He showed a lot of heart, grit and determination in competitive drills, not to mention quickness and strength.  Homestead’s Ricardo Williams is a specimen that will continue to rise this recruiting season.  The 6’5″ 210 lb. product was a load in competitive drills.  Willie Paisley,  who played with Carol City in 2009 and is headed to Miramar next season is a prospect to keep your eyes on. Paisley was a MVP at the Schuman’s Underclassman combine last month.  At 6’1″ 328,  he’s a bad matchup for most offensive linemen in front of him.   St. Thomas Aquinas’ Jelani Hamilton (2012) showed his worth.  Hamilton is a strong prospect with good size speed and determination.  Hamilton likes to compete and once he irons out some technical flaws he will spend a lot of time in opponent’s backfields.  There were just too many impressive offensive and defensive linemen to name them all.

Overall,  the talent at the camp was deep and many sure fire Division-I prospects displayed their talent.

High School Football abraham garcia, andre davis, avery young, courtney moshood, devonte mathis, donnell harris, giovanni francois, harvey lane, jamie wilson, jeremiah london, johnathan aiken, khambrel jenkins, lamarcus brutus, malcolm lewis, marken michel, mika'il mccall, rafi montalvo, rashad greene, ricardo williams, sony michel, steve montgomery, willie paisley, zach debell