First Coast Varsity Weekly | Undrafted but unfinished: UDFA deals for area football stars
They're not drafted. But they're not finished.
Although the NFL Draft ended without a Northeast Florida player selection, the first time that has occurred since 2009, football prospects from the First Coast are quickly finding potential homes as undrafted free agents.
For some, it's one more opportunity to fight their way into the league, whether it's on an active roster or in a practice squad role for now. It's a road that's paid off for the likes of University Christian graduate Dwayne Carswell, who worked his way onto the Denver Broncos as an undrafted tight end in 1994 and went on to play 13 years with two Super Bowl victories.
Among the early signings:
Western Carolina receiver David White, who played high school football at Westside, is coming back home to Jacksonville after signing an undrafted free agent deal with the Jaguars.
Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed (St. Augustine) signed with the Bears, joining No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams in the Windy City.
Another quarterback making the NFL jump is South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley. The former Providence QB signed with the Raiders.
Former Menendez star Kenny Logan Jr., coming off an outstanding year in the Kansas secondary, signed with the Rams.
Rutgers wide receiver Isaiah Washington (Trinity Christian) signed with the Ravens, where he gets the chance to play alongside two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Some others with local ties have yet to sign but are heading to minicamps as invitees, like Florida A&M running back and former Mandarin state champion Terrell Jennings, who's heading to the New England Patriots.
The one player from the area who did receive a draft pick is Auburn cornerback Jaylin Simpson from across the Florida-Georgia line at Frederica Academy, becoming the first-ever draftee from the Glynn County school.
Meet the Times-Union 2023 All-FBS team: The First Coast's best in college football
IMG stunner, perfect game boost Columbia
Talk about sending a message before playoff time.
Columbia baseball made a statewide statement on Friday night, defeating national diamond superpower IMG Academy 1-0 on Bynton Edge's go-ahead single in the eighth inning. Ayden Phillips limited IMG to two hits over seven innings, and Grant Bowers came on for the save in the eighth.
How rare is that? Pretty rare.
IMG Academy (19-6), which includes national prospects like Noah Franco (TCU commit), Sean Gamble (Vanderbilt) and Josh Hanson (USC), went unbeaten in 2023 and hadn't lost to a Florida public school since an 8-2 defeat to Lakeland on Feb. 22, 2020.
The celebrations weren't finished in Lake City, either. On Monday, Tigers softball registered a highlight when Harleigh Price hurled a seven-inning perfect game to defeat Tallahassee Lincoln, 8-0.
Englewood cheers 25th anniversary champions
Better late than never.
More than six weeks after weather washed out the initially-planned celebration, Englewood honored the 25-year anniversary of its 1999 state championship baseball squad on Wednesday against Bolles.
The game reunited the 1999 Rams coaching combination of Mike Boswell, Lee Geiger and Billy Bell, while recognizing several of the players who led Englewood to the FHSAA title.
The schools had originally planned the event for March 5, but inclement weather postponed the ceremony.
Bolles ace Chayce Kieck made sure Englewood had less to celebrate on the scoreboard: The Clemson-signedsenior limited the Rams to three hits over six innings and junior Gabe Gonzalez belted a homer as the Bulldogs won 5-0.
Gray, Dorsey announce transfer plans
Orel Gray, the Times-Union's All-First Coast offensive player of the year in 2022, announced Thursday that he is entering the transfer portal after one season at Florida A&M.
Gray gained 3,156 all-purpose yards and scored 37 touchdowns during his senior year at University Christian, and also contributed to UC's basketball program. During his career at University Christian, Gray amassed 4,199 yards rushing and stood out in receiving and kick return roles as well.
He appeared in two games during his freshman year with the Rattlers.
Also during the week, former Parker receiver/defensive back C.J. Dorsey announced his plans to transfer from Ferris State football. Dorsey earned All-First Coast honors with the Braves, including a junior season with nine interceptions and 1,303 all-purpose yards.
Oakleaf grad Turner commits to Temple
It's destination Philadelphia for Kaylah Turner.
The former Oakleaf guard announced her commitment to Temple women's basketball by way of the transfer portal for her sophomore season in 2024-25.
Turner played last season at Alabama A&M, where she averaged 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals to earn Southwestern Athletic Conference freshman of the year honors.
A proven defensive standout at Oakleaf, she recorded 1,791 points and 521 steals, and helped the Knights to the FHSAA final four in 2021 and 2023.
Temple finished 20-12 in 2023-24 and reached the American Athletic Conference second round before losing to Rice.
Turner is the most recent high-profile transfer of the past month among Northeast Florida graduates. Taliah Scott (St. Johns Country Day) moved from Arkansas to Auburn after an All-SEC Freshman season.
Signings roll on into spring
Even as the calendar flips into May, signing season isn't through yet. With families and classmates cheering them on, six University Christian athletes signed national letters of intent Tuesday morning.
It's the latest step for UC standouts like senior infielder Jaleigha Harris, a six-year starter on the softball squad and a key leader on University Christian's Class 2A champion squad in 2023.
"She was always going to show up on a big stage in a big way," University Christian softball coach Keith Stroud told assembled students on Tuesday.
Also signing at UC were C.J. Carter (Athletes in Action Prep, men's basketball), Camden Harnage (FSCJ, baseball), Shadrack Kakora (Trinity Baptist College, men's basketball), Truth King (Campbell, women's track and field) and Andre Williams (Elizabeth City State, football).
For some, like Harnage, the work is still going. The senior has belted three walk-off hits in the last two and a half weeks for the now-surging UC baseball team, including the game-winner against then-No. 1 Trinity Christian.
UC isn't the only team recognizing spring signees. Bishop Kenny held a signing ceremony Wednesday for Ben Hale (FSCJ, men's cross country), Alexis Holmes (Jacksonville, women's cross country), Kayly Le (Ithaca, gymnastics) and Matthew Leitheiser (Clarion, men's swimming). Also last week, Middleburg recognized signings for Emma Brugh (Wingate, volleyball), Brooke Cooper (Siena Heights, flag football), Aidan Farber (Freed-Hardeman, men's basketball), Hunter Gammons (Anna Maria, baseball), Desiree Hall (Siena Heights, flag football), Lauren Hughes (FSCJ, women's cross country) and Cheyenne Jenkins (Warner University, flag football).
Bishop Kenny shines on the sand
Bishop Kenny is the First Coast's last team standing on the beach.
The Crusaders, winners of 11 consecutive matches, moved on from Monday's Florida High School Athletic Association play-in beach volleyball round with a 5-0 sweep of Fletcher.
Ponte Vedra and Beachside both exited the playoffs, losing to Tallahassee Chiles and Gulf Breeze, respectively.
Next up for Bishop Kenny is a Thursday home contest against Chiles, with the winner advancing to the early rounds of the state championships May 10-11 at Florida State University.
FCAL crowns baseball, softball winners
Peniel Baptist is lifting the first trophy of the softball season.
The Warriors went 3-0 to win the Florida Christian Athletic League tournament, with victories of 10-0 over Ocala Christian, 15-0 over Eagle's View and 13-3 over Harvest Community.
Freshman Traelyn Baker, playing first base, dominated at the plate with an .818 batting average, three doubles and a triple, scoring eight runs and driving in seven.
In the FCAL baseball tournament, meanwhile, Eagle's View captured the trophy by winning 5-0 over First Coast Christian, 10-3 over Trenton Riverside Christian and 6-3 over Ocala St. John Lutheran.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Northeast Florida football: Undrafted free agent deals for 2024 NFL
