South Florida Recruiting Notebook: Several prospects garnering major interest

Ahead of the official 2025 football season, several top prospects from South Florida are receiving interest from several big-time programs.

3-star 2026 ATH Tedrick Lee

Three-star 2026 athlete Tedrick Lee has several offers that include Arkansas, Louisville, Nebraska, and Mississippi State. But it’s programs like FAU, USF, and Bryant that are making the most contact with the two-way player from Miami-Dade County.

Now at Columbus, former Explorer head coach Chris Merrit has the Bryant Bulldogs in the race for his talents, but defensive backs coach DeMarcus Van Dyke (DVD) at USF will definitely have a say in where Lee chooses. Although FAU has a new staff, the Owls will remain a contender until signing day.

Lee intends to visit Bryant in September for a game-day visit.

3-star 2026 WR Malik Penson

Senior wide receiver Malik Penson made his commitment to local program FIU in January and does not seem to be wavering from that pledge.

Pitt is the only other school in the running for the True North talent, but FIU wide receivers coach Jelani Berassa has convinced Penson that staying close to home is the right move.

Penson is open to taking a game-day visit to Pittsburgh this season.

2028 DL Antonio Wilcher

The high-upside talent from Miami Southridge, Antonio Wilcher, is already receiving plenty of attention from several programs.

Wilcher holds over ten offers, but it’s Miami and Florida State that are the clear leaders of this recruitment. The third team of the big three, Florida, is the offer that he covets the most, as he grew up as a fan of the Gators.

The talented South Florida talent also plans to play both ways, playing offensive guard and defensive tackle.

2027 DB Sherrod Gourdine

In-state schools Miami and USF are currently recruiting the cornerback talent Sherrod Gourdine from McArthur the hardest.

Coach DVD from USF is making headway, along with Miami analyst Terry Jefferson. Gourdine is a fan of the hometown Hurricanes, so seemingly UM has the inside track.

2026 TE Hunter Ratkevich

The senior tight end, Hunter Ratkevich from Western, is the head coach’s son and is looking to prove many doubters with a strong 2025 season. The six-foot-five, 200-pound tight end tore his ACL, which caused him to miss his junior year. Over 20 schools reached out to him during his rehab process.

Coastal Carolina, Pitt, and USF are an unofficial top three for Ratkevich, and Florida, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia are also interested.

2026 RB Justin Compere

The FIU commit Justin Compere is remaining loyal to the Golden Panthers, but says his recruitment is still open.

FAU, Tulane, and USF are all looking to flip the explosive running back from the local school. Compere, out of Miami Carol City, tore his meniscus last season but recovered without surgery and currently squats 450 pounds. He squatted 385 before his injury.

2026 WR Damarius Higgs

Athletic South Florida receiver Damarius Higgs has two schools, Western Carolina and Pitt, showing him the most attention at the moment.

Higgs, from McArthur High School, will officially visit the Catamounts at the end of August and is also aiming to visit Pittsburgh during the season.

2026 QB Kymani Corbett

Toledo and Appalachian State are the two schools leading for Kymani Corbett‘s commitment.

The dual-threat, from Miami Killian, likes the atmospheres at Toledo and Appalachian State, but both have taken quarterbacks for their 2026 classes. App State has Nathan Bernhard and Toledo has Bo Polston pledged to their respective classes.

The six-foot-one, 180-pound QB is looking to embrace competition at any program he chooses. An official visit is in the works for Toledo for Corbett.

2026 DB Elijah Robinson

The contact is daily with senior DB Elijah Robinson and USF, as Coach DVD is developing a strong relationship with him since shining at a camp in Tampa. Staying in Florida would be an ideal situation for Robinson if possible.

The two-way athlete (wide receiver and cornerback)from Deerfield Beach is being recruited as a defensive back, and Norfolk State is also in the mix, as Robinson has had conversations with former NFL star Michael Vick, now the head coach for the Spartans.

Robinson has an official visit set with USF for November 12th and is also looking to schedule OV dates with Akron and West Virginia.

2026 Edge Demetrius Geathers

The USF commit, Demetrius Geathers, remains in daily contact with the South Florida staff, with head coach Alex Golesh and defensive ends coach Kevin Patrick strengthening the relationship. Geathers took his only official visit to USF.

The athletic senior defensive end from West Boca, is still in contact with Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Tulane. The Green Wave is standing out among the three contenders as outside linebackers coach Bam Hardmon continues to build a strong relationship.

Geathers is also open to visiting Georgia State and Tulane to see what they have to offer.

2027 CB Tyre Lloyd

Liberty, UCF, and USF are the three schools recruiting Tyre Lloyd consistently at the moment.

Lloyd visited UCF and felt a family atmosphere in Orlando and Coach DVD from USF is connected with Lloyd due to his South Florida ties.

Liberty has been in consistent contact with the talent from Flanagan since the recent offer and is building a straightforward connection with the South Florida talent. Staying in Florida could be a factor for Lloyd, so the Florida schools have an inside track.

Alabama, which has talked to Lloyd about inviting him to Tuscaloosa, and FIU are also in contact.

2026 CB Malik Miller

FIU has been the most consistent in contacting senior corner Malik Miller and has not taken any official visits yet. Miller also holds offers from FBS schools Akron and Eastern Michigan.

Miller, from Flanagan High School, likes the family atmosphere at Eastern Michigan, but FIU seems to have the inside track based on his relationship with the cornerbacks coach, Anthony Gaitor.

2026 DL Terrell Evans

Syracuse, UCF, and USF are the three standout schools for Terrell Evans. The Orange have quickly built a bond with Evans after a recent visit to his high school, Hialeah.

Evans is still waiting on official offers from UCF and Syracuse, but USF has offered since he attended a camp, and DL Coach Patrick has kept in daily contact. USF remains as Evans’ only OV taken.

Evans considers Minnesota as one of his top three schools with USF and Syracuse. Gophers’ director of defensive scouting, Chase Gallagher, stays in contact.

Evans wants to commit sooner rather than later.

2026 OL Dejuan Johnson

Syracuse General Manager Thomas Caporale and defensive analyst Nitron Stork visited Dejuan Johnson recently, and the relationship has grown since.

Coach DVD from USF, a former Monsignor Pace alum, has maintained a relationship with Johnson, keeping the Bulls in the race.

The six-foot-eight, 315-pound Johnson is working to schedule official visits with Georgia State and Syracuse.

2026 OLB Hadley Ohenhen

Toledo, Troy, and Western Kentucky are out in front for the recruitment of senior defender Hadley Ohenhen.

Ohenhen is being recruited as a nickel corner, as most schools see him as an athletic linebacker that can cover.

WKU built a connection with Ohenhen from the spring that continues to blossom, but Toledo, who discovered him at a Miami camp, could be a major player down the line. Troy was thoroughly impressed by Ohenhen at a camp on campus, and the six-foot-three, 200-pounder is looking to take OVs with the three aforementioned schools.

The talent from Miami Norland is also in contact with Auburn and TCU.

2027 RB Tyler Reid

Pitt commit Tyler Reid is looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps, Desmond Reid, who is one of the top backs to watch in the ACC for the 2025 season.

The four-star back has developed a connection with the Panthers’ staff since his brother was being recruited, and the relationship has naturally grown over time.

Florida State and Syracuse remain in the race for his signing as both ACC programs remain in contact. Reid stated that he runs a 4.3 40-yard dash and ran a 10.5 in the 100 meters.