Florida spotlight: Most talented high schools

Florida is top dog when it comes to pumping out college football talent, so it stands to reason that the state if full to powerhouse programs that keep the high-level prospects coming by the bushel. Below is a look at five of the many Florida-based schools that are loaded in 2017.

TALENT HOTBEDS: Midwest | Southeast | Mid-Atlantic | West | Texas

The national king of college-bound talent, IMG Academy is a school that literally exists to get players ready for the next level of athletic competition. It’s full list of FBS-bound players is too long to write out in this space, but the roster houses 17 Rivals250 prospects in the 2018 and 2019 classes alone. Headliners include Alabama commit Trey Sanders, Clemson commit Xavier Thomas, Ohio State commit Taron Vincent, Nebraska commit Brendan Radley-Hiles and Miami commit Artur Sitkowski. Due to the program’s national recruiting base, no other school in the country can match the quality of depth on display in Bradenton.

Aquinas would make this list in any given year, so this season is no different. Currently, the Raiders have more than 30 prospects with Power Five offers and that number will grow throughout the fall. The schools has been a FBS talent factory for years and currently boasts a senior class headlined by Miami commit Al Blades, Florida State commit Asante Samuel, Georgia commit Elijah Moore, Duke commit Rocky Shelton and Louisville commit Trenell Troutman.

Another program that has been loaded for years, Heritage’s calling card this season is a pair of uncommitted cornerbacks that are among the nation’s top players. Patrick Surtain is the No. 3 player in America and will likely land at LSU, Clemson, Florida State or Alabama. Meanwhile, Tyson Campbell, a Rivals250 prospect, has a long list of offers and is considering Miami, Florida, Georgia and a number of other schools. Vanderbilt commit Miles Jones may be the sleeper of the bunch, as he is unbelievable effective despite being slightly undersized. American Heritage is also home to four-star Miami pledge Nesta Silvera and uncommitted wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, one of the nation’s fastest prospects.

At least this season, Chaminade-Madonna is an SEC feeder program of sorts. The Lions have seven players committed to SEC schools and are also equipped with a number of underclassmen with SEC-type talent. The headliners here are Alabama wide receiver commit Xavier Williams and Auburn running back commit Shaun Shivers, who is also a track star. The school houses four Kentucky commits, including 2019 Rivals250 member Keontra Smith. Four-star Te'Cory Couch, who is pledged to Tennessee, is also an impressive underclassman.

A Tampa-area powerhouse, Armwood’s 2018 roster is led by Oregon commit Warren Thompson and Ohio State commit Brian Snead. Defensive end Malcolm Lamar is also committed to the Ducks. While the team currently lists just nine players with FBS options, the younger classes are also loaded with players that have major-college potential.