We haven’t yet started the regular season and already freshmen are turning heads across Central Florida. A bunch of 14- and 15-year-olds are showing they can compete with the big boys.
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None have stood out more than the group at Orlando’s The First Academy. Led by standout quarterback Deuce Woods, the Royals have a load of freshmen who will have a huge impact. That was evident Friday night during TFA’s 38-0 Kickoff Classic victory at Kathleen High in Lakeland.
“We’re going to play more (freshman) than we want,” TFA coach Jeff Conaway laughed. “My coach used to say, ‘For every sophomore you start, that’s one L on the season,’ and now we’re starting three or four, maybe even five freshmen. So times have changed.”
The guy who has really stood out is Woods (6-foot-1, 165 pounds), who flashed on the scene at the end of last season and has taken over the team in his second year. He engineered an upset victory over Lakeland in his first start last October, and on Friday he had a touchdown pass.
“We’re excited about him. Even from his eighth-grade season to now we have seen development, and we have seen him improve. We talk a lot about leadership, decision-making and accuracy from that position and he does it all extremely well,” Conaway said. “Perhaps his biggest honor so far was being selected a captain for the team as a 14-year-old freshman.
“That’s voted on by his peers, so to me, that shows that they want him to be our leader and he’s very deserving of it.”
Running back Hyquez Russell (5-10, 180) scored two touchdowns Friday night, and he will get plenty of playing time.
“He is a strong runner for a freshman, and he’s got some very savvy football intelligence. A lot of what you ask a running back to do, it comes somewhat naturally to him,” Conaway said. “As far as being patient, as far as letting the dust settle, if you will, letting the linemen engage and then accelerating through the gap. He’s strong in his upper body and lower body and he’s a hard running back to tackle.”
Two others, who are bound to be mixed up due to their names, are receivers Jaylen Jackson (5-10, 187) and Jaylen Johnson (5-10, 165).
“Yes, both of those guys are physically prepared to play at the high school level. Both of them are good with their hands and both very difficult to tackle. Both of them have shown they can make big plays, contested plays, downfield,” Conaway said.
A pair of small but talented defensive backs are Prince Stephens (5-5, 118), who had an interception vs. Kathleen, and Jamai Brown (5-7, 134), who will vie for playing time.
There are ninth graders shining for other area teams.
Another young quarterback lighting things up is Gavin Pritzkau (6-2, 180) of Central Florida Christian Academy. He too got an early start in showcasing skills last year as an eighth grader, leading CFCA to an 11-0 mark before he got hurt in the Sunshine State Athletic Association playoffs and the Eagles lost without him. He threw for just over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns.
CFCA is back in the FHSAA as an independent and Pritzkau has picked up right where he left off, opening with six touchdown passes Friday in an exhibition rout of Discovery.
Hagerty running back Roberto “AD” Santiago had 76 yards and 2 touchdowns in a victory vs. Lyman.
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Defensive end Daryl “DJ” Bennett Jr. had a big debut for West Orange, making three tackles and registering a sack in a win over Apopka. Bennett came to West Orange from Titusville.
Running back Cade Wright scored two touchdowns and rushed for 77 yards for Orangewood Christian in a win over All Saints.
Coach Bailey Granier has a trio of standout freshmen at The Master’s Academy, led by WR/DB Gavin Saichareune, who had four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown Friday against a tough Mount Dora Christian team. He also has center/edge rusher Luke Laxton, who started every game on offense as an eighth grader, and DB Liam Rogers, who had an interception Friday.
Other future stars
Bishop Moore: Tyler Brown, DE, 6-2. 195.
Cornerstone: Mason McKibben, LB, 6-0, 185.
Foundation: CJ Geiger, ATH, 6-2, 160; Gio Thomas, ATH, 5-9, 150.
Gateway (Kissimmee): Delante Thigpen, QB/LB, 5-7, 180; Cedric Delions, RB, 5-5, 140.
Lake Minneola: Chanze Hardy, WR-DB, 6-3, 190.
Nova Lakes: Aiden Herard, DB, 5-9, 155.
Ocoee: Kevin Bridges Jr, RB; Dezmon Diggs, LB; Jordan Lewis, OL; Javion Robinson, DB, 5-9, 155; Matthew Wells, K.
Pine Ridge: Elijah Dupont, ATH, 5-6, 125.
South Lake: Walker Motley, QB, 6-1, 195.
Wekiva: Ty’Rance Cook, QB, 5-7, 130; Nehemiah Middleton, DB, 5-9, 140.
Woodson Jr. blazes own trail
Charles Woodson Jr., just like his Heisman Trophy-winning father, committed to play for Michigan last summer. But the senior cornerback said last month at the Central Florida Media Day at 407 Sports, he’s not trying to be like his father.
“I’m not really trying to follow in his footsteps. That wasn’t really the plan. But obviously it’s family ties,” Woodson said. “It was between Michigan and Kentucky. I took a visit to Kentucky like the week before (Michigan), but it got down to the point where Michigan was pushing me the most. It just felt like the right choice.”
Growing up, he heard plenty of stories about the Maize and Blue from his dad, who played 18 seasons in the NFL, and is now a Sunday NFL studio analyst for Fox Sports.
“Oh yeah, 100%. And I’ve already been there probably five times before I committed, so it was easy,” Woodson said.
Woodson said he can shake off the pressure of being the son of a football legend.
“It’s normal. It’s my dad, but obviously he helps me with some stuff because he’s been there, done that,” Woodson said. “People put pressure on me, but I don’t think it bothers me. I focus on myself. I don’t really care what anybody says.
“After practice, when I go home, he talks about certain stuff and he helps me a lot. He’s impacted me for sure, but to me, he’s just a normal dad.”
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Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.