Big Bend football recruiting: Here are top Division I prospects entering FHSAA playoff
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The high school football playoffs are here.
The first round of the Florida High School Athletics Association playoffs begins this Friday. For the next four weeks, eight teams in the Big Bend will be pursuing the state championship in Miami, which will take place on Dec. 4 at Florida International University.
This is also an opportunity for Division I prospects to showcase themselves in the postseason when it counts, and discover some young and upcoming stars who are looking to get recruited by colleges.
Here are the players to watch entering the playoffs;
Watch FHSAA playoff games live on NFHS Network
Jaylan Lurry, Florida High WR, Class of 2026
Considering: Florida A&M, Mississippi Valley State, Savannah State
Analysis: This season was a breakout year for wide receiver Jaylan Lurry. The senior leads Florida High with 1,030 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 58 catches. His production led to getting three offers from HBCU programs.
Jamarin Simmons, Godby WR, Class of 2027
Considering: Boston College, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Troy, UCF, Washington, Wisconsin,
Analysis:Jamarin Simmons is the next big prospect to come out of Tallahassee, and he’s only a junior. He leads the Cougars with 51 catches, for 778 receiving yards and 12 TDs.
On defense, he has three picks, four pass deflections, and 20 tackles. Throughout the year, he has consistently impressed coaches and scouts with his dynamic ball skills, speed, and playmaking ability.
With over a dozen offers under his belt, Simmons’ top schools include Miami, Clemson, UF, and FSU. However, more teams are showing interest in the four-star prospect and will likely get more offers if Godby makes a run in the playoffs.
Kaleb Barnes, Godby OL, Class of 2026
Considering: FIU commit
Analysis: Kaleb Barnes is the anchor on Godby’s offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman paved the way for Godby’s run game, which averages 226.4 rushing yards a game.
He also leads the team with 29 pancakes. Barnes plans to join Willie Simmons’ 2026 class at FIU. He has been committed to the Panthers since June 24. Illinois and Alabama State were schools that were recruiting him.
Landon Dougherty, Godby QB, Class of 2027
Considering: Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, South Alabama, Troy, FIU, Maryland, Duke, FAMU
Analysis: It has been an up-and-down season for junior quarterback Landon Dougherty ever since he joined Godby. In nine games, he has thrown for 1,943 yards and 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Dougherty was a college prospect before entering high school, when he dunked his first basketball, which landed him an offer from FAMU. Since then, Dougherty has been recruited by teams across the FBS. A playoff can elevate his stock if Godby makes a run in the playoffs.
Lazarus Chambers, Godby QB/ATH, Class of 2026
Considering: West Georgia
Analysis: Lazarus Chambers returned to Godby after being granted to transfer from Gadsden County, following the FHSAA violations that banned the team from postseason.
While he saw time as a DB, Chambers made his start at QB when he rejoined the Cougars on Oct. 24, leading with four touchdowns in a win against Lincoln. He has played in seven games, producing 510 total yards of offense and five touchdowns. On defense, he has 19 total tackles and one interception.
Tylan Vickers, Godby ATH, Class of 2026
Considering: Louisville, Maryland, Colorado, FAU, Southern Mississippi, Jacksonville State
Analysis:Tylan Vickers has been effective on both sides of the ball after re-joining the Cougars. In nine games, he has recorded 26 catches for 397 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he colleged 37 tackles, two interceptions and one pass breakup.
Taylor Jacobs Jr., Lincoln QB, Class of 2026
Considering: South Alabama commit
Analysis: Taylor Jacobs will be South Alabama-bound once the season is over, but he still has a job to do. Since transferring to Lincoln from Chiles, Jacobs has led the Trojans with 1,733 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he’s Lincoln’s second-leading rusher with 295 yards and three touchdowns. The three-star QB carried four offers before committing to USA back in June.
Kabran Paul, Lincoln WR, Class of 2026
Considering: Appalachian State commit
Analysis: Kabran Paul is one of Lincoln’s electric players on offense. The speedy receivers lead the Trojans with eight touchdowns to go along with 466 receiving yards on 36 catches. With multiple Division I offers, Paul pledged to play for Appalachian State at the next level.
Maliek Denmark, Lincoln WR, Class of 2026
Considering: Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Valley, Florida A&M.
Analysis:Maliek Denmark has also been one of the breakout stars across Tallahassee. In his first year as a starter at wide receiver, Denmark led the Trojans with 33 catches for 540 and six touchdowns. He is also tied for first with three interceptions. His season would lead to offers from different programs, including Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Valley, and FAMU.
LJ Crumity, Madison County ATH, Class of 2026
Considering: Georgia Tech commit
Analysis: LJ Crumity will be hoping to bring another state title for Madison County before transitioning to Georgia Tech, where he will be playing cornerback at the next level. This season, Crumity has produced 1,175 total yards of offense and 16 total touchdowns. On defense, he collected 43 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
Dre Arnold, Madison County OLB, Class of 2026
Considering: FIU commit
Analysis: Dre Arnold has been one of the best defensive players across Big Bend and before joining Simmons’ 2026 class at FIU, he ended the postseason on a strong note. Arnold reached 111 total tackles, 12 TFLs, six sacks, and one interception.
Za’Marion West, Madison County DB, Class of 2026
Considering: FIU commit
Analysis: West has been a shutdown corner that helped make Madison County a contending team. This season produced 30 total tackles, three pass breakups, three tackles for loss, and two interceptions. While he had about 14 offers, he plans to join Arnold at FIU.
Karlise Price, Rickards RB, Class of 2026
Considering: Mercer commit
Analysis: Karlise Price has been one of the top rushers across Big Bend. He led Rickards to a career-best 1,113 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 155 carries. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry. He also added 188 receiving yards and two scores. Price has been a Mercer commit since June.
Davion Crumitie, Rickards ATH, Class of 2027
Considering: Syracuse commit
Analysis: Davion Crumtitie is one of the top athletes in Tallahassee. At receiver, he leads Rickards with 52 rec. 776 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he has 26 tackles, one pick, and a blocked field goal. In September, he committed to Syracuse. He has 14 FBS offers and could potentially get more by the end of the postseason.
Carlos Rolle, Rickards LB, Class of 2026
Considering: Alabama State Commit
Analysis: Carlos Rolle is the heart and soul of the defense. The senior middle linebacker keeps the engine going for Rickards’ defense. Rolle was Rickards’ second-leading tackler with 49 and a sack.
On Tuesday, he announced that he had committed to Alabama State. He also received offers from Arkansas State and Jax State.
Jakobe Gilbert, Rickards DL, Class of 2026
Considering: Alabama A&M, Jax State, Bethune Cookman
Analysis: In seven games, Gilbert produced 15 tackles and a TFL. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, he brings pressure as a pass rusher and is disruptive in the backfield with his size and length. While the production wasn’t quite there, he has received three Division I offers.
Immuri “Vern” Faulk, Taylor County OL, Class of 2026
Considering: Jacksonville State commit
Analysis: It’s not hard to find Immuri ‘Vern’ Faulk as he is a standout at 6-foot-3, 320-pound lineman who is expected to take his talents to Jacksonville State after this season.
At left guard, he recorded 41 pancake blocks, which is second on the team. On defense, he produced 34 tackles and five tackles for loss.
He also received offers from North Carolina State and Bowling Green. With Taylor County at 9-1, he is hoping for a playoff run that will lead to more offers, as he weighs his options.
William Hathcock, Taylor County OL, Class of 2026
Considering: Jacksonville State commit
Analysis: What played a part in Taylor County’s success offensively was the left side of the offensive line, led by left tackle William Hatchcock.
Hatchcock has 73 pancake blocks and has paved the way for 2,326 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. After the season, he will be joining his teammate, Faulk, at Jacksonville State.
Bryan Sardinas, Taylor County LB, Class of 2026
Considering: Stetson commit
Analysis: For the second year in a row, Bryan Sardinas has 100-plus tackles this season at linebacker. He also has two sacks to go along with 101 tackles and 19 TFLs. Sardinas has been a Stetson commit since June.
Auvion Thomas, Wakulla DB, Class of 2026
Considering: FIU, Savannah State
Analysis: Auvion Thomas is the next Division I prospect to come out of Wakulla with two offers on the table, maybe more coming his way after the postseason.
Thomas is a turnover machine as he collected five interceptions and one fumble recovery. He also had 16 total tackles. On the offensive side, he has 11 catches for 169 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Here are the FHSAA playoff matchups for Big Bend teams
Rural
No. 4 Taylor County (9-1) vs. No. 13 Trenton (7-3)
No. 9 Madison County (5-5) at No. 8 Chipley (9-1)
Class 1A
No. 3 Maclay (7-3) vs. No. 6 North Florida Educational (6-4)
Class 2A
No. 4 Florida High (4-6) vs. Baldwin (7-3)
Class 3A
No. 7 Godby (4-6) at No. 2 Bay (9-1)
No. 6 Wakulla 6-3) at No. 3 Bishop Kenny (8-2)
Class 4A
No. 6 Rickards (3-7) at No. 3 Columbia (8-2)
Class 5A
No. 6 Lincoln (6-4) at No. 3 Mosley (9-1)
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Big Bend’s Division 1 prospects to watch heading into FHSAA playoff
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