Florida high school football: This year's best spring games, jamborees

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Spring games don’t count in the standings, and most teams tend to keep things pretty simple from a scheme perspective. But it is an opportunity for fans to see some of the top recruits on the field against quality competition.

Here’s a look at 10 of the top games or jamborees in Florida this spring.

More: Florida top 100 football recruits for 2027: Pre-spring ball list

Not every team in the state plays a spring game, which is why national powers such as IMG Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas and Chaminade-Madonna don’t crack the list.

This list also prioritizes games featuring talent on both sidelines:

Honorable mention: Boone at Lake Nona (May 14), Fort Walton Beach Jamboree (with Crestview, Mosley, Niceville and Pine Forest, May 14),  Tallahassee Jamboree (with Lincoln, Rickards and Wakulla, May 14), Bountstown at Pensacola Catholic (May 18), Lake Mary at Jones (May 20), Largo Jamboree (with Lakewood and Sarasota Riverview, May 20), South Fort Myers at Bishop Verot (May 21)

10. Rockledge at West Orange

Date: May 22

A strong West Orange offense with a proven quarterback takes on a Rockledge squad that boasts a talented secondary. West Orange was a regional finalist in 2025 and returns rising junior quarterback Andrew Chung. Rockledge counters with rising senior defensive backs Demond Scott Jr. and Elijah Floyd.

9. Choctawhatchee at Florida High

Date: May 14

Choctaw is coming off a state semifinal appearance in 2025, while Florida High was a Class 2A regional semifinalist a year ago. Choctaw returns rising senior cornerback Amir Reese and a trio of rising senior running backs who each scored at least five touchdowns in 2025. Florida High has one of the top rising junior recruits in the state in cornerback Izayah Vickers as well as rising senior linebacker Jason Harville.

8. Lake Howell Jamboree (w/ Bishop Moore and The Villages)

Date: May 15

Bishop Moore is coming off a regional championship in 2025 and returns a strong roster with rising senior wide receiver Magnus Talma (Boston College commit), rising senior linebacker Giacamo SanFlippo (Kansas State commit), rising senior edge Noah Prince and rising junior linebacker Cale Britt. Villages senior running back Tranard Roberts (No. 49) is the top-ranked running back in the state.

7. Bolles at Ed White

Date: May 22

Bolles was the Class 2A runner-up in 2025 and graduated a loaded senior class, but the cupboard certainly isn’t bare. Bolles is led by two of the premier players in the 2028 class in All-American edge rusher Asher Ghioto and running back Xander Edwards. Ed White averaged more than 49 points per game in 2025 and return rising senior defensive back Jacquari Parks (No. 95).  

6. Booker Jamboree (w/ Miami Palmetto and SmartEn)

Date: May 20

Booker and Miami Palmetto both are coming off state semifinal appearances in their respective classes. Booker graduated a talented senior class but rising senior defensive tackle Maleek Lee (No. 46) and rising senior defensive back Jordan Booker, who had five interceptions last season. Miami Palmetto could have a dynamic passing combination in rising senior wide receiver Kaden Howard (No. 86, Nebraska commit) and new rising senior quarterback Jamison Larsen.

5. Trinity Christian at Mandarin

Date: May 14

As with any game involving perennial power Mandarin, the conversation starts with rising junior wide receiver Brysen Wright. Wright is one of the nation’s top recruits in the 2028 class. The Mustangs also have rising junior quarterback Knox Annis (Miami commit) and rising senior defensive lineman Kindrid Outlaw (USF commit). Trinity Christian’s lineup includes rising senior linebacker Terrell Pinkney II (No. 74) and rising senior defensive lineman Adrian Williams.

4. Cardinal Mooney at St. John Nuemann

Date: May 21

Cardinal Mooney is the defending Class 2A state champion and returns key pieces to make another run at the crown in 2026. The Cougars have a trio of players on the top 100: quarterback Davin Davidson (No. 17, Florida commit), defensive tackle Kaleb Exume (No. 56, Louisville commit) and running back Connail Jackson (No. 69. UCF commit). Neumann was a regional semifinalist in 2025 and should get a boost from new rising senior running back Nino Joseph (No. 81).

3. DeLand at The First Academy

Date: May 21

Two of the state’s premier teams from a year ago face off in Orlando. DeLand, led by All-American rising junior running back Taijh Moore, went 12-1 in 2025 — losing only to eventual Class 8A state champion Lake Mary in the regional final. The First Academy went 5-5 against some of the top teams in the nation and return several standouts, including rising seniors Bam Whitfield (CB, No. 23) Reed Ramsier (OL, No. 25 top 100) and Brian Dillard (ATH, No. 63).

2. Palm Beach Gardens Jamboree

Date: May 14-15

The Battle in the Swamp is a two-day, eight-team jamboree with Atlantic, Coconut Creek, Mainland, McArthur, Martin County, Jensen Beach, Miami Southridge and Gardens. McArthur has a trio of top 100 players: safety Jaylyn Jones (No. 33, Miami commit), edge rusher Caleb St. Fleur (No. 67) and safety Sherrod Gourdine (No. 71, Miami commit). Mainland athlete Braylyn Simmons is No. 68 on the top 100, and Atlantic rising senior running back Omari St. Fort has a handful of Power 4 offers.

1. Lakeland Jamboree

Date: May 15-16

Once again, many eyes will be on the Battle at Bryant. The two-day, six-team jamboree includes state powers Buchholz, Jesuit, Clearwater Central Catholic, Port Charlotte, Evans and host Lakeland. The list of top recruits is staggering. The lineup includes several top 100 players such as Jesuit linebacker Kaden Henderson (No. 6), Port Charlotte wide receiver Elias Pearl (No. 32), Lakeland defensive lineman Santana Harvey (No. 34), Lakeland cornerback Jordan Young (No. 45), Lakeland edge rusher Drew Sapp (No. 50), Jesuit linebacker Tripp Keller (No. 71), Port Charlotte quarterback Logan Flaherty (No. 80) and Evans quarterback William Jackson (No. 100).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida high school football top 10 spring games, jamborees