MORE: Sunshine State prospects dish on the Big Three
The offseason 7-on-7 circuit is just getting started in earnest, with several elite teams from around the country holding their tryouts and showcases. Two of most notable and well-known teams in South Florida, the Florida Fire and South Florida Express, held their events last weekend, with plenty of big-time talent on hand. With so many future stars from the Sunshine State, we thought there would be no better time than to ask them a series of questions about the Big Three -- Florida, Florida State and Miami -- as well as some other recruiting topics. Today is part two of the survey.
Which Big Three program do you think had the best 2019 recruiting class?
Pick: Miami
Why: “I like a lot of those players. Almost all of them.” -- 2021 wide receiver Jacorey Brook
Pick: Florida
Why: “I believe Florida … for sure. Keon Zipperer? Chris Steele? I like that class.” -- 2020 Rivals250 wide receiver Aydin Henningham
Pick: Florida
Why: “This year it was probably Florida. They had some big-time kids from Lakeland and around the country. Keon Zipperer and Lloyd Summerall, those were some of the guys that caught my eye.” -- 2021 offensive tackle Marcus Tate
Pick: Miami
Why: “To be honest, I know a lot of the guys that are going there and I know they can play.” -- 2020 defensive back Jordan Cash
Pick: Miami or Florida State
Why: “It’s either Miami or Florida State. They had all the best players.” -- 2020 Rivals100 wide receiver Marc Britt
Pick: Florida State
Why: “They got some guys from down here, Jarvis Brownlee is one of them. I think they got some good players.” -- 2020 quarterback Katravis Marsh
Pick: Florida
Why: “I think Florida. They have the Florida guys. Then, they got Chris Steele and I’ve seen enough videos of him to know.” -- 2020 three-star wide receiver Bryce Gowdy
Pick: Florida
Why: "Florida for sure.” -- Rivals250 Penn State linebacker commit Derek Wingo
Which Big Three program has the best gameday experience?
Pick: Miami
Why: “Miami for sure – when they get the turnover chain out and then the beat drops.” -- Brooks
Pick: Miami
Why: “As of right now, I’m going to say Miami. It’s fun at those games.” -- Britt
Pick: Florida
Why: “It’s so loud there, everything echos inside the stadium and it’s huge.” -- 2020 three-star quarterback Michael Pratt
Pick: Miami
Why: “I’ve only been to a Miami game and an Alabama game so far but it’s different. Miami, there’s a whole vibe from the city, but for Alabama it seems like it’s just people from the school because it’s in a college town.” -- Tate
Why do you think some top prospects opt to leave the state of Florida?
Why: “Ya know, I think they just want to experience something new and get out of Miami.” -- Brooks
Why: “They want to see something different. Sometimes, people get tired of here.” -- Henningham
Why: “Probably just to play against the best competition level among the best talent they can be around. Probably just to get away, too, to experience new things and see what it’s like.” -- Pratt
Why: “They don’t want to be around this environment. Like me, I don’t want to be here. I would rather go far from here because I don’t want to get caught up in anything in college.” -- Marsh
Why: “Sometimes, it’s just because the coaches in the state don’t really mess with us like that.” -- Gowdy
Why: “I guess they’re just doing what’s best for them and they’re doing what’s going to help them get to the next level. I respect everyone’s decision and they have to do what’s best for them and if they feel like that’s where it’s at, that’s why they leave.” -- Tate
Why: “I think it’s the best thing for them. They’re making a name for themselves outside of Florida, which is what I want to do. When I go to school I don’t want to be in Florida I want to get out of Florida” -- Cash
Which out-of-state program does the best job of recruiting Florida?
Pick: Georgia
“Georgia is always getting the nice athletes down here – running backs, wide receivers and DBs.” -- Brooks
Pick: Penn State
Why: “I think they do a good job. They love me and they are trying hard. They try with all the top guys here.” -- Britt
Pick: Alabama
Why: “Man, probably Alabama. They do a great job. They get the top guys.” -- Gowdy
Pick: Louisville
Why: “They’re always down here recruiting Florida guys. I actually talked to them last week.” -- Cash
Pick: Clemson
Why: “They’ve come down here and gotten some guys out of Miami before.” -- Marsh
Pick: Georgia
Why: “Georgia has been getting a lot of the top players from down here.” -- Tate