Here are South Florida’s 2024 NFL draft prospects who could hear their name called this week

21.04.2024 19:03

Sun-Sentinel

Here are South Florida’s 2024 NFL draft prospects who could hear their name called this week

Nearly two dozen South Florida high school products from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties could get taken in the 2024 NFL draft.

Every year, the NFL draft is fed numerous prospects who first made a name for themselves at South Florida high schools before going on to various colleges and eventually turning pro.

The 2024 draft is no different, with approximately 20 prospects who have a chance to hear their name called, or will surely get a chance with an NFL team in the offseason and training camp.

This year, edge defender Dallas Turner, who once shined at St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage before developing further in college at Alabama, leads the way as a prospect bound for a first-round selection.

The NFL draft begins Thursday night, with Rounds 2 and 3 Friday night and 4 through 7 on Saturday. Here are the draft prospects from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties who could get drafted:

Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida State, Miami Central

A standout on stout Central defenses, Bethune started out at UCF before finishing his college career at FSU the past two years. He was a combine invite and could be a Day 3 draft pick.

Al Blades Jr., CB, Duke, St. Thomas Aquinas

The Blades name is royalty at the University of Miami, and that’s where Blades played most of his college ball, like his father by the same name and uncles Bennie and Brian Blades. He transferred to Duke for his final season, but before all of that, he was a four-star recruit in the class of 2018 out of Aquinas after first making a name for himself at University School. Blades could be a late selection or find a professional home as an undrafted free agent.

Jarvis Brownlee, CB, Louisville, Miami Carol City

Has a great story of overcoming personal hardship in his youth growing up in north Miami-Dade County. He went to FSU first and then finished college with the Cardinals. Brings toughness and versatility in the secondary and projects as a mid-round draft pick.

Te’Cory Couch, CB Miami, Chaminade-Madonna

As part of the 2017 and 2018 3A state-champion Lions who started a run for the school of winning titles in six of seven seasons, Couch had a productive five college seasons at UM. Last year, he tallied 38 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defensed, one sack and a forced fumble, but his size makes him either a late-round pick or undrafted target.

Jaden Davis, CB, Miami, St. Thomas Aquinas

A four-star recruit and multi-time state champion at Aquinas, Davis spent four seasons at Oklahoma before returning to South Florida to play for the hometown Hurricanes. He ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the pro day and could be a Day 3 pick.

Akeem Dent, S, Florida State, Palm Beach Central

Palm Football Player of the Year Akeem Dent of Palm Beach Central — Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel
Akeem Dent was the Sun Sentinel’s Palm Beach County Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 as a defensive back for Palm Beach Central. (Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel)

An elite five-star recruit in high school that graduated from Central but was a state champion at Pahokee before that is in this year’s draft after five seasons at FSU. Dent also won Palm Beach Defensive Player of the Year while in high school. He should either be a Day 3 selection or could go undrafted.

Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon, Deerfield Beach

At the scouting combine, Dorlus said being surrounded by talented recruits at Deerfield, one being Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, made him elevate his game. He ended up getting a chance at Oregon, where he went with four-star outside linebacker Ge’Mon Eaford. Dorlus became a first-team All-Pac-12 selection two of the past three seasons and now could see himself as a Day 2 draft pick, finding his professional home by the middle rounds.

Corey Gaynor, OL, North Carolina, Stoneman Douglas

Highly experienced interior offensive lineman after seven college seasons. He got an offer from Miami late in his senior season at Douglas and played five seasons with the Hurricanes before getting two ACC wins against UM the past two seasons. He will either be a late draft pick or join a club undrafted.

Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Miss, Miami Killian

Like his future Hall of Fame father by the same name, he doesn’t possess the measurables with size and speed but is productive with great vision and strong internal drive. Gore ran for more than 4,000 yards with 26 touchdowns over four seasons at Southern Miss. He could last deep into Day 3 of the draft.

Tyler Harrell, WR, Miami, Miami Columbus

A speedster who ran a 4.28-second 40 at UM’s pro day could never quite find the on-field production of his 2021 college season at Louisville, when he had 18 receptions for 523 yards and six touchdowns. He couldn’t find playing time at Alabama in 2022 or with the Hurricanes last season, but a team could take a chance on him for that blazing speed.

Calvin Hart Jr., LB, Oregon State, American Heritage

Was at the heart of a defense that won back-to-back state titles in 2016 and 2017, coached by former Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain and alongside several current NFL players, including Denver Broncos All-Pro Patrick Surtain II. Could be a late selection after time at three colleges — North Carolina State and Illinois before Oregon State.

Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami, Miami Northwestern

Hurricanes star safety Kamren Kinchens, shown during UM's win over Texas A&M on Sept. 9, will skip Miami's bowl game against Rutgers so he can prepare for the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Doug Murray) — Miami Hurricanes star Kamren Kinchens, shown during UM’s win over Texas A&M on Sept. 9, is one of the better safety prospects in the 2024 NFL draft. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)

The 2022 All-American as a sophomore plays a lot faster than his 4.65 40 indicates, and it shows with his 11 interceptions over the past two seasons. In addition to the ball skills, he possesses toughness, physicality and instincts. A gamer, he projects to get selected in the middle rounds.

Bryce Oliver, WR, Youngstown State, Dillard

Started off at Kentucky out of Dillard and went on to have three uber-productive seasons for the Penguins after COVID. He totaled 2,065 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns since 2021. Oliver can be a late draft pick or sign somewhere undrafted.

Noah Pierre, CB, Indiana, Hialeah Champagnat Catholic

Once was part of Champagnat’s first state championship-winning team in 2017 as a teammate of Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau. After six college seasons as a Hoosier and 50 games played, he’s a pro prospect that could go late in the draft.

Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane, Deerfield Beach

One of two quarterbacks keeping South Florida churning passers in recent history, along with the traditional athletes. After starring at Boca Raton and finishing high school with the Bucks, Pratt threw for 9,611 yards and 90 touchdowns in four years at Tulane. He could go in the mid- to-late rounds of the draft depending on how quickly NFL teams dip back into the passers after the top run of quarterbacks go off the board.

Mark Pope, WR, Massachusetts, Miami Southridge

A ballyhooed five-star recruit who once caught the game-winning touchdown in Southridge’s 2016 Class 8A state championship victory, Pope never quite lived up to the hype with the Miami Hurricanes, with drops often haunting him when he created separation. After a 2023 season at UMass that saw him collect 33 receptions and 420 yards, a pro team could take a late flier on the agile route-runner or bring him in undrafted.

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, WR, Georgia, St. Thomas Aquinas

A high-end prospect out of a top local high school program, Rosemy ended up winning two national championships with the Bulldogs. He found his niche in college his junior and senior seasons, combining for 63 receptions, 872 yards and six touchdowns. Nonetheless, he isn’t regarded as one of the top draft prospects and likely finds his home late.

Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami, Miami Palmetto

Always primed for success at future levels as a five-star recruit, Taylor is the first of the vaunted “Palmetto Five” to head to the NFL. His athleticism at 300-plus pounds and interior pass rush will make him a viable option for teams in the middle rounds of the draft.

Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State, Benjamin

Palm Football Player of the Year Travis Jordan of the Benjamin School — Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel
Jordan Travis as the Palm Beach County Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 at Benjamin. (Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel)

A dual-threat quarterback out of Palm Beach County, he went to Louisville first, then transferred to Florida State to compete for playing time and ultimately became a household name in contention for the Heisman. His unfortunate leg injury cost the Seminoles a spot in the subjective College Football Playoff selection, but he’s not expected to face many limitations ahead of his rookie season. Travis likely gets selected on Day 3.

Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama, St. Thomas Aquinas

Here is South Florida’s sure-fire first-round draft prospect in 2024, with many projections pegging him as a top-10 pick. Turner starred at both American Heritage and then St. Thomas Aquinas, earning Broward County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He made an immediate impact at Alabama, and after three seasons — the last as SEC Defensive Player of the Year with 10 sacks — he is quite possibly the draft’s top edge defender.

Dee Wiggins, WR, Cincinnati, Miami Southridge

Played his first four college seasons at UM, but transferred out with the change from Manny Diaz to Mario Cristobal as coach — first to Louisville and then to Cincinnati. He’ll go into the draft under the radar and might go undrafted.

James Williams, S, Miami, American Heritage

With a big Sean Taylor-like build at safety all the way back to his early high school days when it was already known he would be a blue-chip prospect, many expected Williams to grow into an in-the-box-defender. Sticking at safety in college, the 6-foot-4, 231-pound defender began flashing what he can do at linebacker early in the draft process at the Senior Bowl. There’s considerable intrigue over what an NFL team would like to do with the unique ‘tweener who could be a versatile piece for a defender that maybe goes in the middle rounds.