The Super 16 countdown begins. Meet Polk County's best football players from 16 to 12
Polk County has had the top-ranked recruit in the state the past two seasons in former Lakeland standouts Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and Cormani McClain, who landed at Texas A&M and Colorado, respectively. The county has long been a hotbed for college prospects.
This year is no different. Although the county doesn't boast the No. 1 prospect in the state, there still remains a deep group of seniors who have attracted college interest and make up The Ledger's annual Super 16 list.
The Super 16 countdown begins today with selections from No. 16 to No. 12. The rest of the prospects will be released with five picks in each of the next two days, followed by a feature on the No. 1 prospect.
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Super 16: No. 16-12
No. 16 Carson Montsdeoca
School: Fort Meade.
Position: Quarterback.
Height: 6-3. Weight: 185,
Colleges: Committed to Florida for baseball but still garnering strong interest for football.
Scouting Report: Montsdeoca has the size and arm strength college coaches are looking for in high school quarterbacks. His strength is throwing the long ball who is always going to give his receiver a chance to make a play. He's a good leader with a strong work ethic. For the Miners last season, his first as a starter, Montsdeoca completed 103 of 179 passes for 1,497 yards with 24 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
"He's tough as nails, he's smart, and he does a real good job throwing the deep ball." — Fort Meade coach Jemalle Cornelius.
No. 15 Rashad Orr
School: Lake Wales.
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-10. Weight: 185,
Colleges: Offers from Navy, Eastern Kentucky, Bucknell, Erskine, Southeastern.
Scouting Report: Orr is a versatile back who should also factor in the passing game. He's quick and savvy. He's a straight-line runner but is very physical and can take the hit. Playing for Victory Christian last season, Orr rushed for 1,030 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he also had 18 receptions.
"He's electric and twitchy. That fits our offense. He gives us a threat outside and inside and on stretch plays." — Lake Wales coach Tavaris Johnson.
No. 14 Jay'son Williams
School: Bartow.
Position: Tight end/defensive end.
Height: 6-5. Weight: 205.
Colleges: Offers from UNC-Pembroke, Florida A&M, Howard, Florida Atlantic.
Scouting Report: Williams is raw as a football player as he had been just a basketball player. After playing in the spring, he picked up four Division I offers. He immediately drew notice as a pass catcher with size, speed and leaping ability. He's also quickly making strides as a blocker and can use his speed to make downfield blocks. In the spring his success at blocking was due more to his size and athletic ability but he's been working all summer to improve his technique.
"He's a tremendous athlete. ... I think he'll be an under-the-radar guy for a little while, and he'll be a guy that everybody is game planning for." — Bartow coach Tyler Eden.
No. 13 Jaydon Williams
School: Bartow
Position: Defensive Back
Height: 5-11. Weight: 181.
Colleges: Offers from Alcorn State, Bucknell, Central Michigan, Dartmouth, Delaware, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia State, New Hampshire, North Alabama, Northern Iowa, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech.
Scouting Report: Williams is the total package as a defensive back: athletic ability, size, strength, speed, coach ability, leadership. He has the ability to play both the run and the pass. Playing for Lake Gibson, Williams was fourth in solo tackles and also had one interception.
"He's everything you'd want in a player. He's definitely the quarterback out there on the defensive side, making sure everybody's where they need to be, doing what they need to do. He's a really smart kid." — Bartow coach Tyler Eden.
No. 12 Tristan Black
School: Lake Gibson.
Position: Offensive tackle.
Height: 6-4. Weight: 255.
Colleges: Offers from Arkansas State, Bethune Cookman, Florida Atlantic, Liberty, Temple, Tennessee Tech.
Scouting Report: Black is versatile. Normally a tackle, he has filled in at guard and, despite his size, he moves very well and can get out quickly and pull. He uses his agility and speed at tackle as a pass blocker. He's strong enough to stop power rushes but is quick and has the athleticism to block speed rushers on the course.
"He's 6-5 and about 260, but he bends and moves like a guy who is 5 foot. He's athletic and he's violent at the point of attack." — Lake Gibson coach Rich Pringle.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Ledger Super 16 countdown for Polk County high school football
