Columbus H.S. (FL) Tacoi Sumler has committed to the Oregon Ducks. Sumler also had offers from Stanford, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Cincinnati among others. Click here to view Tacoi Sumler’s highlight video.
Bishop McDevitt H.S. running back Jameel Poteat has committed to Pittsburgh. Poteat was also juggling offers from Rutgers, Iowa, Cincinnati and USC. Click here to view Jameel Poteat’s highlight video.
In any given year there are thousands of college football recruits itching for a chance at a scholarship. It’s easy to mix up names, schools and forget guys but not Miami Columbus High School’s newest addition.
Tacoi Sumler is no ordinary guy and no ordinary wide receiver. Even the name is out of the ordinary. Have you met any Tacoi’s lately? So when it’s time to perform, Sumler’s stays consistent and does things that no ordinary football player can do. I witnessed this first hand at last month’s Under Armour Combine at the Miami Dolphin’s training facility. With many of the athletes on hand putting up average 40 yard times, in steps Sumler to heat up the field turf in a blistering 4.33 laser time. Sumler didn’t stop there putting up strong numbers in the 3-cone, vertical and standing broad jump.
When you perform like Sumler does at combines and produce the way he produces on the field (over 1,400 yards and 27 TDs last two years), college football programs come calling. Sumler has fielded more scholarship offers than you can shake a stick at with notable programs like Florida St., Oregon, West Virginia, Tennessee and Auburn laying their cards on the table. With that said, Sumler wants more. When asked what offers he’s looking forward to, Sumler quickly responded.
“Florida and Cal,” then adding “Cal is a come up type of program that should definitely be watched. I like the way they used Desean Jackson when he was there.”
The common concern for West Coast programs when recruiting in the Sunshine State is the distance away from family and the possibility of home sickness. Sumler, once again displays his failure to be ordinary.
“Distance is not an issue for me. I’ll go wherever is best for me,” Sumler says. “I have family out there and usually take trips out there and stay with them. I love it out there.”
Despite being on the look out for those two schools, Sumler states that there is no leader in his mind and he will have a top 5 to 10 list after the Spring. Sumler also likes the local college in Coral Gables, the Miami Hurricanes. Once a Gulliver Prep Raider, Sumler was within a stone’s throw from the University of Miami campus every day.
“Growing up a Miami boy, I’ve always admired the program but I am still being recruited by them and have yet to been offered.”
Sumler’s exploits and skills landed him a spot on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team, a high profile 7-on-7 team consisting of the best of the best in South Florida area high school talent. The team, run by local sports enthusiast Brett Goetz, features some of the top players in the class of 2011 of which Sumler is one of them. The team travels to Tampa this weekend to do battle in the annual University of South Florida 7-on-7 tournament. It’s a chance for Sumler to give fans, opposing players and scouts a preview of what he will do in 2010.
Sumler’s transfer from Gulliver Prep to Columbus means no more spread attack which is very friendly for wide outs. However, Sumler see’s this as a great opportunity.
“That’ll just make me a complete receiver,” Sumler said. “I’ll just have to make plays when I do get the ball and I get to show my blocking skills.”
How’s that for an unordinary response from a wide receiver?
View Tacoi Sumler’s highlight video at Gridironstuds.com, click here.
Over 250 of the best talent in South Florida converged on the Dolphins Training Facility this past weekend to take part in the Under Armour Combine.
Athletes’ height and weight were taken and they were tested in drills such as the 3 cone, 300 yard shuttle, pro shuttle, bench press, vertical jump and of course the 40 yard dash.
This year’s crew of competitors were not as fast as last year’s crew. The 2010 class at the Miami UA Combine had a number of skilled position players go under 4.5 in the forty. This year’s group had only a handful but that does not mean that there aren’t some solid players in the 2011 class.
In terms of who laid down the fastest forty time, that one was easy. Former Gulliver Prep wide receiver and soon to be Columbus High School Explorer Tacoi Sumler. Sumler ripped up the 40 yard track in a blazing 4.33 time that made the scout on hand do a double take on his stop watch. Sumler is an explosive athlete that has been on display for a the last three years. His star continues to shine bright and his stock continues to rise. Plantation H.S. defensive end, tight end Ryan Shazier cranked out an impressive 4.44 weighing in at 201 lbs. Between Sumler’s time and Shazier size / speed combo, that supersede anything that took place at last year’s Under Armour Combine in Miami.
Other times of note were: Phillip Dorsett WR (St. Thomas Aquinas) 4.43, Avery Johnson – WR – (Ely H.S.) – 4.40, Marquis Noble WR (Bucholz H.S. – Gainesville) 4.49, Deontae West – DB (Hialeah H.S.) 4.54, Gary Holmes – RB – (Seminole Ridge H.S.) 4.52, Melvin Noel – WR – (Dr. Krop) 4.53, Tim Burton – CB – (Cardinal Gibbons) 4.57, Brandon Rose – CB – (West Broward) 4.57, Jeremy Cash – DB – (Plantation) 4.58, Andrew Johnson – CB – (Southridge H.S.) 4.59.
I was quite impressed with the way Niles Lawerence from Nova High School moved around. The 6’2″ 297 lb. Lawerence was a linebacker, believe it or not, last season for the Titans. Lawerence laid down a 4.90 in the forty which was a time that rivaled quite a few of the wide receivers, running backs and defensive backs in attendance. Lawerence is a prospect that is picking up steam with schools like Florida St., Michigan and Cincinnati taking a look at him.
DT Patrick Williams from University School showed his cat like quickness in 1-on-1 drills with the offensive linemen and impressed many in attendance. St. Thomas Aquinas’ Jelani Hamilton was a big body moving well. The 6’4″ 250 lb. Hamilton carries his frame like a linebacker and has the potential to make some things happen this upcoming season.
I spent a lot of my time eyeballing the 7-on-7 and 1-on-1 sessions. Not surprisingly, Northwestern’s Teddy Bridgewater was the most competent, confident and capable quarterback in the group. Gavin Block of Dr. Krop H.S. in Miami showed some good things but not many QB’s stood out.
The Wide Receiver group had a number of solid players. North Broward Prep’s A.J. Sebastiano is the most polished wide receiver in this class. I continue to be impressed by his route running ability, releases from the line of scrimmage and overall football I.Q. He’s not a blazer on the watch but is as fast as he needs to be to get away from any of the defensive backs covering him. Andrew Johnson, brother of former Ely High School standout Patrick Johnson, shows some great speed on the field. With a little bit of polish he’s going to be a force to reckon with. St. Thomas Aquinas’ Phillip Dorsett and Tevin Allen were impressive in the 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 sessions. Both players looked explosive and comfortable running routes and sitting down in zones. Sumler does not only rely on his speed, he brings an accomplished route running ability to his game which makes him even more of a threat. Jesse York, junior from Boyd Anderson H.S., is a brash, confident receiver who has substantial physical tools. He’s one to keep an eye on. Marken Michel also shows a tremendous amount of skill. Michel has a powerful build, excellent quickness, good speed and an understanding of his wide receiver position. He’s an underrated star that deserves some attention.
The defensive back group has some promising stars. Jeremy Cash (Plantation H.S.), was all over the field in the limited amount of reps you get at events like this. Cash and teammate Ryan Shazier were hard not to notice when they took the field and were flying around. Boyd Anderson’s Harmon Brown was full of talk but could back it up. Reminded me a lot of Class of 2010 standout Tony Grimes with his intimidation and aggressiveness. Brown has the confidence to play the cornerback position and adds to that some solid skills. Cardinal Gibbons’ Tim Burton has the build and the skill to make big things happen in the Chiefs’ secondary in 2010. Southridge High School’s CB Andrew Johnson and Gerod Holliman also stood out in this group. Both players are extremely competitive and when there’s a play to be made, they are eager to make it. Johnson and Holliman show great defensive back skills and good footwork. They have benefited from the resurgence of Southridge High School under coach Pat Burrows.
January 20th
American Heritage-Delray (Florida) athlete Darius Milines has dropped West Virginia and has switched to Marshall following former Mountaineer coach Doc Holiday.
St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. (Florida) linebacker Vinnie Mauro has committed to the Navy. Mauro had offers from Rutgers, Wisconsin, Marshall, FIU and Vanderbilt among other schools.
Glenville H.S. (Ohio) safety Latwan Anderson is saying that he recently received an offer from USC and is considering it. Anderson committed to West Virginia at the Army All-American game and was in Cincinnati on an official recruiting visit this past weekend. Anderson stated recently that he will probably not take an official visit to Miami as had been previously reported. Anderson says he has not spoken to Miami coaches in weeks.
Boyd Anderson H.S. safety Demar Dorsey who is a Florida commit was in Michigan this past weekend and came away impressed. Dorsey will also be taking a visit to USC.
Frostproof H.S. (Florida) cornerback Nickell Robey will be taking official visits to West Virginia and USC in the upcoming weekends. Robey is undecided and is juggling offers from West Virginia, USC, Georgia, Ohio St. and Virginia Tech.
Highly recruited 2011 Florida athlete Tacoi Sumler has transferred from Gulliver Prep to Homestead H.S.. Sumler, who boasts a 4.33 forty yard dash has offers from Clemson, Florida St., Mississippi, Oregon, South Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Tulane and West Virginia.
