First Coast Varsity Weekly: Bradford's Torin Brazell selects college before Signing Day

One week from the traditional National Signing Day, one of Northeast Florida's top pass rushers is finding a college football home.

Bradford edge rusher Torin Brazell announced his commitment Sunday night to East Carolina, after two outstanding years on a Tornadoes defense that ranked among the best in the state.

An All-First Coast selection, Brazell recorded 31 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles as a senior in Bradford's run to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2S title game. He also made eight sacks and 25 tackles for loss in his junior year.

Listed at 6-2 and 250 pounds, Brazell has also contributed as a tight end on offense, and saw part-time duty on the school's Class 1A champion basketball team in 2022.

While dozens of the area's highest-rated prospects previously confirmed their college plans during December's early signing period, plenty of other future next-level athletes are still scheduled to sign next week.

Also among the week's college football commitments are Bolles linebacker Noah Cole (Gardner-Webb), Union County defensive tackle Jacob Jenkins (North Carolina A&T), Trinity Christian cornerback Jayke Jones (Kennesaw State), Ponte Vedra cornerback Joe Mahoney (Wagner), Fletcher wide receiver Anthony Vaglienti (West Florida) and Oakleaf linebacker Neil Whyte (Southeastern).

'Cloud nine': Middleburg manager a 3-point ace

Robert Piccirillo had never taken a shot in a high school basketball game. He never even stepped onto the court aside from his role as a student manager in his senior year at Middleburg.

But in his one moment to shine on senior night in the Broncos' Friday night game against St. Johns Classical Academy, he lit up his home gym.

"When he made that first one," head coach Sean Sweeney said, "it brought tears to my eyes."

The senior, who normally spends his game nights handing out sports drinks to players on the Clay County school's bench, turned into the star of the show by sinking four 3-pointers in the Broncos' 66-32 victory before a Middleburg crowd cheering his every highlight.

Sweeney said that Piccirillo has dealt with physical challenges, including a heart issue three years ago that forced him to temporarily pause his role. Even after receiving special clearance to take the floor for senior night, he was only able to play for short stints. But he made those moments unforgettable.

"He wanted to score so bad. He thought he could score 30," Sweeney said. "I said, 'Let's start with one, Bud.'"

Piccirillo ended the night with a 3-pointer at the buzzer as a crowd that Sweeney described as the Broncos' largest of the season swarmed the court in celebration.

"He's been on cloud nine this week," Sweeney said.

Piccirillo's points weren't the only ones to celebrate during the week at Middleburg. Senior guard Aidan Farber hit the 1,000-point mark for the Broncos during their 69-57 victory against Bradford.

Tocoi Creek also celebrated its first 1,000-point scorer when Bryson Castillo attained the milestone for the three-year-old school during the Toros' 55-45 win against Bartram Trail.

Mandarin's Ny'keria Thomas became the area's latest girls hoops player to hit the milestone, during Thursday's 50-15 victory against First Coast.

Velvet takes over for Shields at Baldwin

After five seasons and five playoff visits, Robert Shields stepped down as Baldwin's head football coach, with longtime defensive coordinator Don Velvet stepping into the top role.

Baldwin named Velvet to the post on Monday, taking the helm of a team that's qualified for six consecutive regional playoffs.

Shields, named the Jacksonville Jaguars' coach of the year following the 2022 season, achieved many milestones at Baldwin: a long-awaited district title, the school's first win over rival Baker County since 1968 and the team's first-ever FHSAA regional playoff victory. He finished with a 36-18 record in his five-year tenure.

In a remote interview with the Times-Union on Tuesday, Shields said he felt the time was right to step away from what he described as the "24/7/365" grind of head coaching.

Amid the change on the sidelines, Baldwin will maintain some continuity. Velvet has more than 15 years of football coaching experience and has worked on Baldwin's staff for eight seasons as defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and junior varsity head coach.

"He's the right man for the job," said Shields, who remains with the school.

Baldwin is scheduled to move from Class 2S to Class 2A in the classification cycle for 2024 and 2025.

Velvet becomes the fourth new head coach for Duval County public schools entering 2024, along with Jackson's Bobby Ramsay, Sandalwood's Brad Kessel and Stanton's Ryan Carter.

Nassau pair jumping to SSAA football

A double dose of Nassau County news jolted arrangments for the coming football season.

Both Fernandina Beach and West Nassau are among the teams leaving FHSAA football district competition for the Sunshine State Athletic Association Atlantic League, the SSAA announced.

With the move, Fernandina Beach and West Nassau waive their eligibility for the FHSAA tournament, but both will be able to compete in the SSAA's own postseason tournament.

The move does not affect the status of either school in other FHSAA sports.

Before the Nassau County duo made the switch, the only public schools in Northeast Florida competing in SSAA football were Paxon and Stanton, both Duval County academic magnets that have never before qualified for FHSAA football regionals. By contrast, Fernandina Beach and West Nassau have both appeared multiple times in recent playoffs, although their postseason success remains limited.

The FHSAA had originally assigned Fernandina Beach and West Nassau to District 4-2A for 2024 and 2025 under the new classification system, which replaces the jettisoned Metro-Suburban format. Now, that district will include only Baldwin, Bolles, Jackson and Wolfson.

The Nassau schools' SSAA move further underscores the association's growth at the expense of the FHSAA districts. During the past six years, SSAA football membership has more than tripled, mushrooming from 32 to nearly 100 for the coming 2024 season.

800-win club for UC's Stroud

High school sports' 800 Club just got a new member.

University Christian celebrated the 800th career victory across multiple sports for head girls basketball coach Keith Stroud on Monday against Palatka. He attained the milestone one week earlier.

Stroud, who also coached UC to the state softball championship last May at the Class 2A finals in Clermont, has directed teams across the school in sports ranging from football to both boys and girls hoops.

A UC graduate, his coaching tenure includes portions of five decades at the school. He lifted his first state title as a head coach in last year's softball championship against Fort Myers Evangelical Christian.

Nease's Anthony nears 700-win mark

The countdown to a milestone is on for Nease girls basketball coach Sherri Anthony.

A National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee in 2021 and a former Flagler College guard in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Anthony could officially reach the 700-victory mark for her high school career in regular season and postseason games as early as this week's District 3-6A tournament.

She has guided Nease for 38 seasons, including an FHSAA championship in 1999 and a state runner-up finish in 2017. Anthony entered the NHSACA hall with 639 victories and has since added 25 (2021-22), 20 (2022-23) and 13 this year for 697 career wins as of the start of the week, as compiled in St. Augustine Record totals.

Among Northeast Florida girls basketball coaches, Ribault's Al Austin leads the all-time list with a 721-60 record between 1978 and 2004.

Herron retires from Camden County football

Across the state line in Georgia, a 300-game winner is hanging up the whistle.

Camden County head football coach Jeff Herron announced his retirement Friday, stepping down after a coaching career that spanned 32 seasons. In an interview with radio station WKBX, he cited health reasons for his retirement.

Herron recorded 334 wins while coaching in Georgia and South Carolina, 309 of those coming in the Peach State. He won Georgia High School Association championships at Oconee County (1999), Camden County (2003, 2008 and 2009) and Grayson (2016).

He led Camden County from 2000 to 2012 and again from 2021 to 2023, compiling a 154-18 record in his first stint and a 22-15 mark in his second. Other than the first year of his return to Chris Gilman Stadium, Herron surpassed .500 in every season of his coaching career.

Camden County finished 10-4 in 2023, advancing to the Class AAAAAAA semifinals before losing to Walton. Herron's successor will inherit a roster that includes Georgia-committed Elyiss Williams, the nation's top-ranked junior tight end in the 247Sports composite.

Three local teams win cheerleading regionals

West Nassau's cheer squad looks like a team ready for a repeat.

The 12-time state champions were among three Northeast Florida teams returning from the Panhandle with regional trophies after Friday's Region 1 competitive cheerleading championships in Port St. Joe.

West Nassau easily won the medium non-tumbling division, recording 86.70 points, further building momentum ahead of this weekend's two-day FHSAA state championships at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The school has lifted the state trophy every year since 2015.

Also placing first in their respective divisions were Bishop Snyder, scoring 89.60 points in the small non-tumbling division and Fleming Island, with 74.40 points in medium co-ed.

Class 2A teams compete Friday, followed by Class 1A on Saturday. In addition to West Nassau, last year's state champions from Northeast Florida included Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra and Providence.

Around the area

Wolfson outfielder Jordan Smith committed to Edward Waters baseball. … Oakleaf pitcher Charley Maddox committed to Dartmouth softball. … Bolles baseball will play in the Blue bracket of the Perfect Game High School Showdown from Feb. 29-March 2, beginning against Austin (Ala.). … Former Creekside defender Hayden Petrick signed with Appalachian State women's soccer after transferring from Kentucky. … The 2024 Florida High School 7v7 Association State Championship is scheduled for June 21-22 at The Villages Charter School. ... Spring sports officially begin Monday with the start of the regular season in FHSAA tennis.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bradford defensive end Torin Brazell commits to East Carolina football