CELEBRATION, Fla. – Roughly 1,700 football prospects participated in the Orlando-area stop of the Rivals Combine Series and a handful of particularly impressive prospects were invited back to participate in Sunday’s elite camp. Below is a look at some of the players that made the cut.
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A 6-foot cornerback from Plant City High School, Ian Jolly impressed with his long arms and a 4.6 laser-timed 40-yard dash. His blend of size and quickness should serve him well at Sunday’s elite camp, where he will test himself against top-tier wideouts. Jolly has received passing interest from Northwestern and hopes to raise his recruiting profile over the weekend.
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Quarterback Nate Mikell wowed onlookers with a quick 40 time and a long build. The Wildwood High School star threw for nearly 2,000 yards last season despite missing two games with injury. So while it’s difficult for quarterbacks to impress in combine settings, he’ll have his chance to prove his worth at Sunday’s event. Mikell has received interest from schools such as Wake Forest, FIU and Louisiana-Lafayette.
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Orlando Jones High School defensive back Jayden Gillens looked fluid and quick in drills. His upside is what makes him an interesting prospect. Gillens is a class-of-2023 prospect with plenty of time to add size. He’s already receiving interest from FAU, FIU and USF. He is yet to receive his first offer but there’s no doubt that he’ll have FBS opportunities down the road.
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Defensive lineman Devin Barnes’ shuttle time was impressive for his size. That, combined with his measurables, earned him an invite back for Sunday’s camp. Barnes’ older brother, William Barnes, currently plays at North Carolina. Devin Barnes is yet to pick up his fist offer but hopes to attract some attention by standing out from the pack on Sunday.
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The most imposing-looking young lineman at the event, TJ Shannahan, was invited back to showcase his skill on Sunday. Shannahan, who will play next season at Timber’s Creek High School, stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 301 pounds as a freshman in high school.
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Wide receiver Sebatian Vargas' film shows crisp routes and impressive speed. He backed up the latter running the 40-yard dash in the 4.5 range. Vargas is receiving interest from Group of Five schools but is still awaiting his first offer.
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Other prospects receiving invites included; defensive back Dwayne Harris, running back Jahshari Jones and linebacker Jeremiah Williams.