As we get set for another high school football season, we will be revealing our Top 100 players to watch for in their respective classes. We will start with the senior class, followed by juniors, and then sophomores. The following players are ranked by their collegiate potential and the impact they made during the 2023 season.
#60 Ethan Pritchard– Sanford Seminole
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Florida State
During the 2023 season, Pritchard was credited for 75 total tackles (11 tackles for loss), 4 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also helped Seminole reach the Class 4M Regional Final and a 10-3 record. Pritchard was also named All-First Team Defense by the Orlando Sentinel as a junior.
#59 Antonio Branch Jr.– Miami Norhwestern
Position: Safety
Commitment: Penn State
During the 2023 season, Branch was credited with 28 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception at Booker T. Washington.
#58 Rukeem Stroud– Tampa Bay Tech
Position: Defensive Back
Commitment: UCF
During the 2023 season, Stroud was credited with 18 total tackles (2.0 tackles for loss), six interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Stroud is also a standout when it comes to track and field as he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.80 seconds as a sophomore.
He was a part of a Tampa Bay Tech team that reached the Class 3M Region Final in 2023, as well as the Class 3M Regional Semifinal in 2022 as a sophomore.
#57 Rashad Johnson- South Sumter
Position: Safety
Commitment: Georgia
During the 2023 season, Johnson was credited with 59 total tackles, 1.0 sacks, and 1 interception. Johnson was a state qualifier in track in the long jump. He also ran the 100-meter dash in 11.13 seconds as a junior last season.
#56 Jermichael Gillis– Lakeland
Position: Defensive Back
Commitment: South Florida
Gillis is back in the Sunshine State after spending his junior season at National-powerhouse St. Frances Academy (Maryland). Gillis is a two-way player who has a strong vertical leap at the receiver position as well as disrupting passes on the defensive end. He also runs the 200-meter dash in 23.10 seconds and finished 4th in the long jump (21 feet, 2.5 inches) at the 2023 Maryland Track and Field State Championships.
#55 Donovan Johnson– IMG Academy
Position: Running Back
Commitment: Michigan
Johnson missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury, but was credited with 26 carries for 206 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore in 2022.
Johnson is also a standout when it comes to track and field events where he ran the 200-meter dash in 22.47 seconds, as well as the 400-meter in 51.58 seconds in 2022 as well.
#54 Elijah Melendez– Kissimmee Osceola
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Miami
Melendez had his junior season end after just one game with a broken foot. Melendez was a part of the Kowboys run into the Class 4S Regional Final as a sophomore.
Melendez will often get snaps on both sides of the football as either a running back or at linebacker.
#53 Chris McCorkle– Cardinal Mooney
Position: Defensive Back
Commitment: Kansas
During the 2023 season, McCorkle was credited with 14 total tackles, 9 pass breakups, and four interceptions helping lead Cardinal Mooney to the Class 1S State Championship.
McCorkle also got snaps at wide receiver where he caught 8 passes for 186 yards.
#52 Ezekiel Marcelin– Miami Central
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Miami
The 6-0 190-pound linebacker has a ton of quickness in his game from the linebacker position whether it’s covering receivers or getting pressure on the quarterback.
During the 2023 season, Marcelin was credited with 109 tackles (19 tackles for loss), 12.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Marcelin was also named the Class 2M Miami-Dade Defensive Player of the Year by the Miami Herald.
#51 Neshaun Montgomery– Miami Central
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Uncommitted
Montgomery is back at Miami Central after spending his junior season at Cardinal Newman, where he caught 30 passes for 451 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Montgomery caught 16 passes for 251 yards and 8 touchdowns during his sophomore season at Miami Central.
