From Lamar Jackson to Joey and Nick Bosa, South Florida over the years has proven to be a hotbed for high school football talent that turns into top college standouts and, eventually, some of the most productive NFL players.
The 2023 NFL draft is no different in bringing in the next crop of prospects that first made a name for themselves between Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The next wave includes former University School and Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers, a likely first-round pick. Others like Miami Northwestern and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Kalijah Cancey, Miami Southridge and University of Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and St. Thomas Aquinas/Alabama safety Jordan Battle should hear their names called fairly early.
The 2023 draft begins with the first round Thursday night, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night and Rounds 4 through 7 Saturday.
Yasir Abdullah, OLB; University of Louisville; Miami Carol City High School
With a track background, Abdullah is one of the fastest outside linebackers in the draft, running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. Earning All-ACC honors the past two seasons, he could be an early Day 3 selection — maybe in the fourth round — without the ideal size at the position but an ability to make up for it with leverage.
Daniel Barker, TE; Michigan State; Deerfield Beach
At 6-foot-4, he could provide a red-zone target for a team that signs him as an undrafted free agent or takes a chance on him late in the draft. Playing his senior season at Deerfield after transferring from Boyd Anderson, he spent four college seasons at Illinois before going to Michigan State for 2022. He brought down 13 career touchdowns between the two Big Ten schools.
Jordan Battle, S; Alabama; St. Thomas Aquinas
The blue-chip recruit that once flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Alabama is now a possible second-round pick in the draft after four years in Tuscaloosa. With six interceptions and a national title in four seasons for the Crimson Tide, he offers the size and speed to play safety at the next level.
Kivon Bennett, Edge rusher; Arkansas State; St. Thomas Aquinas
The son of former NFL All-Pro Cornelius Bennett was part of some stacked defenses for Aquinas. A four-star recruit, he was a late bloomer in college, he started picking up production in the last two of his four seasons at Tennessee and then had 12 1/2 sacks in two years at Arkansas State in the Sun Belt.
Todd Centeio, QB; James Madison; Dwyer
A household name in Palm Beach County for a decade now, Centeio was a high school standout early on at Royal Palm High before transferring to Dwyer for his junior and senior seasons. Committed to Miami early in his recruitment when Al Golden was coach of the Hurricanes, he started his college career with three seasons at Temple, played the next two at Colorado State and finally threw 25 touchdowns to just five interceptions at James Madison this past fall. He could be an undrafted pickup and training camp arm for an NFL team.
VanDarius Cowan, LB; Maryland; Palm Beach Gardens
Troubled early in his career after getting dismissed from his high school team as a five-star senior and then also after one season under Nick Saban at Alabama. He started to get back on track over three seasons at West Virginia and then last year with the Terrapins. Wasn’t productive in his college career, but an NFL team could take a chance on him undrafted based on the raw ability and physical traits he possessed as a top recruit.
Zay Flowers, WR; Boston College; University School
One of the draft’s most-hyped prospects, Flowers appears likely to hear his name called in the first round Thursday night. Incredibly quick and shifty at 5 foot 9, Flowers tacked on the muscle in workouts leading up to the combine to complement his 4.42 speed. As a three-star recruit out of U-School, Flowers stood out in four years in the northeast. He set career marks with 78 receptions, 1,077 receiving yards last season and had 12 receiving touchdowns in 12 starts. He was also first-team All-ACC as a sophomore in 2020.
Gurvan Hall, S; Utah State; Palm Beach Gardens
The former four-star recruit from Palm Beach Lakes and Palm Beach Gardens, played four years at UM before finishing his college career at Utah State, playing under defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda, who was his safeties coach at Miami. Hall, whose most productive college season was 2019 when he had 66 tackles, will likely be an undrafted prospect.
DJ Ivey, CB; Miami; South Dade
Although he wasn’t invited to the combine, Ivey has a chance to get drafted late after running a 4.43 in the 40 and posting a 39-inch vertical at UM’s pro day. He collected five interceptions in his time with the Hurricanes.
Calijah Kancey, DT; Pittsburgh; Miami Northwestern
Explosive at 6-1, 281 pounds, Kancey could be a huge impact NFL down lineman that brings the pass rush from the inside. He’s expected to go late in the first or come off the board early on Friday after posting 14 1/2 sacks and 27 1/2 tackles for loss in two years as a full-time starter at Pitt.
Johnny King, WR; Southeast Missouri; Boyd Anderson
Saw an uptick in production in his last of three seasons for Southeast Missouri, going for 69 receptions, 797 yards and six touchdowns. Was at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before time at SEMO. Big-bodied 6-4 target who is likely to get a chance as an undrafted free agent.
Kenny McIntosh, RB; Georgia; University School
The two-time national champion with the Bulldogs shouldn’t last long into Day 3. His speed will translate to the next level, as well as his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He led Georgia with 829 rushing yards and tied for the team high with 10 rushing touchdowns, while also catching 43 passes for 504 yards. That after working behind the likes of D’Andre Swift, Zamir White and James Cook years prior in the UGA backfield.
Grant Miller, OG; Baylor; St. Thomas Aquinas
After six college seasons — four at Vanderbilt and the last two at Baylor — could be a valued interior offensive line pickup late in the draft or as an undrafted free agent. Last year, Miller was named first-team All-Big 12 by Pro Football Network and second-team all-conference by the Associated Press.
Mike Morris, Edge; Michigan; American Heritage-Delray
The former four-star recruit rose to prominence in his final season with the Wolverines and could now be a solid mid-to-late-round draft prospect. He was named Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2022, leading Michigan with 11 tackles for loss, including 7 1/2 sacks, among 23 total tackles in 12 games with 11 starts.
A.T. Perry, WR; Wake Forest; Park Vista
A 6-foot-3 1/2 pass catcher with 4.47-second speed in the 40-yard dash, he has the potential to get drafted on Day 2. Perry has produced for the Demon Deacons, with back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard, double-digit-touchdown seasons before entering the draft.
DJ Scaife, OL; Miami; Miami Southridge
Starting 51 games over five seasons with the Hurricanes, Scaife possesses versatility to play guard or tackle, as well as scheme versatility from a number of different offenses. He could make for a nice undrafted pickup for an NFL team looking for training camp competition.
Shaun Shivers, RB; Indiana; Chaminade-Madonna
A two-time Broward County small schools Player of the Year for the Sun Sentinel and state champion as a senior, the 5-foot-7 speedster started his college career at Auburn before finishing with the Hoosiers. He set career highs of 592 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns last year with Indiana, but was always over 4.5 yards per carry running in the SEC with the Tigers. Although 186 pounds, runs a lot stronger than his size.
Nesta Silvera, DT; Arizona State; American Heritage
After four years with the Hurricanes, the former high-end four-star recruit finished his college career with the Sun Devils. He produced in the Pac-12, starting 10 of 12 games and recording a career-high 56 tackles, 4 1/2 for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and three pass deflections. Silvera won two state titles in high school, playing under former Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain as American Heritage’s coach. Packing power with his 304-pound frame, Silvera could get drafted late.
Keidron Smith, CB; Kentucky; Oxbridge Academy
After helping the ThunderWolves get to the Class 3A state championship game as a senior, totaled 269 career tackles, 26 pass breakups, seven interceptions, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in college time split between Ole Miss and Kentucky.
Tyler Steen, OL; Alabama; St. Thomas Aquinas
The 6-foot-6, 321-pound tackle could be a third-round choice on Day 2 of the draft. He finished off his college career with the Crimson Tide after starting off at Vanderbilt. Between the two SEC programs, he has experience at both right and left tackle. Steen started his college career playing defensive tackle for the Commodores, although he was an offensive line recruit at Aquinas.
Tyrique Stevenson, CB; Miami; Miami Southridge
Widely projected as a Day 2 pick that is in the running to get selected in the second round, Stevenson is coveted for his physicality and press-man skills. Splitting his college years between two at Georgia and the last two with the Hurricanes, Stevenson’s three career interceptions came with UM, including two last season.
Kadeem Telfort, OT; UAB; Miami Booker T. Washington
A mammoth 6-foot-8 blocker who earned first-team All-Conference USA honors as left tackle of the Blazers. He started off as a touted recruit for Florida, ran into legal trouble and went the junior college route to get to UAB. A team could take a flier on him late in the draft or as an undrafted signing.
Marquis Waters, DB; Texas Tech; Atlantic
Played four seasons at Duke and the last two at Texas Tech with five career interceptions in the six college seasons. At 209 pounds, he could be best valued by a team as a strong safety that can play in the box and provide run support.
Nick Weber, OL; FAU; Stoneman Douglas
The all-time record holder in starts at FAU (48) could be a valued undrafted pickup for a team with experience at guard and center.
Datrone Young, DB; Duke; Atlantic
Played final college season for Blue Devils and was immediately entered into starting lineup, registering 45 tackles, an interception, one fumble recovery and a team-leading seven pass breakups. Was previously at Iowa State for five seasons, and in 43 career games — 25 starts — registered 87 tackles, four for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception.
