With high school football around the corner, the Herald-Tribune is highlighting the top juniors in Sarasota and Manatee counties ahead of the 2026 season.
This group includes members of this year’s Big 15, Next 15 and other players expected to be key contributors for their teams this fall.
Here’s a list of 32 top players to watch in the 2028 class.
Sirdarrean Allen, Palmetto
Allen is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound receiver, who transferred to Palmetto in July after playing at Manatee last season. He has five offers from Louisville, Pitt, Wake Forest, East Carolina and UConn.
Ty Baker, Parrish Community
In 2025, Baker had 33 total tackles, 13 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack and five quarterback hurries. He also forced two fumbles, recovering one. Baker is a 5-foot-11, 225-pound middle linebacker.
Ryan Bundrage, Southeast
Bundrage is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete, who can play on both sides of the ball at receiver and linebacker. In 2025, he had 26 total tackles, 21 solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and three pass deflections.
Cameron Calloway, Parrish Community
Calloway is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound offensive tackle.
Elijah Christian, Manatee
In 2025, Christian notched 312 yards and two touchdowns on 20 receptions. Christian has 11 offers to Tulane, Memphis, FAU, Toledo and Alabama State.
Aric Cleveland, Lakewood Ranch
During his sophomore year, Cleveland had 41 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass deflection. He’s a 6-foot, 170-pound athlete, who can play at outside linebacker and strong safety.
Kahleb Crawford, Southeast
Crawford is a 5-foot-8 linebacker. During his sophomore year, Crawford had 62 total tackles, 43 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, two pass deflections and two fumbles recovered for a combined 32 yards.
Athian Early, Manatee
In 2025, Early had 29 total tackles, 20 solo tackles, seven pass deflections and one forced fumble. Early is a 5-foot-9, 160-pound cornerback.
Seneca Hawthorne, Cardinal Mooney
Hawthorne is a 6-foot, 168-pound receiver entering his junior season.
AJ Heater, Sarasota
Heater is a wide receiver/kick returner who averaged 23.8 yards per return last season, adding 140 receiving yards on 14 receptions. He has one offer from Sacramento State.
Jayvian Hoffmann, Venice
Hoffmann is receiving attention from Kansas State and other programs. He transferred to Venice from Booker in the offseason.
Wyatt Inman, Parrish Community
Inman is a 5-foot-7, 165-pound quarterback who can also play at defensive end.
Cedric King, Cardinal Mooney
King is a 6-foot, 165-pound wide receiver. King has three offers to Minnesota, Liberty and Toledo. In 2025, King played at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, recording 546 yards and five touchdowns on 31 catches.
Desi Kmit, Venice
Kmit can play on both sides of the ball at running back and linebacker. After transferring from Michigan, Kmit will likely start at outside linebacker.
Felly Kmit, Venice
Kmit is a middle linebacker. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound player transferred from Michigan during the offseason after he had 55 total tackles, 16 solo tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two sacks during his sophomore season.
Kingston Kokoefer, Out-of-Door
Kokoefer is a 6-foot junior who can play on both sides at the ball at wide receiver and defensive back.
Cooper Kolbe, Manatee
Kolbe is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound tackle/defensive end.
Evan Larrick, Sarasota
Larrick is a 6-foot, 185-pound receiver. He had 504 yards and three downs on 33 receptions last season, despite missing three games due to injury. He has eight offers, including from Arizona, Cal, Sacramento State and Toledo.
Travion Lester, Cardinal Mooney
Lester recorded 96 total tackles, 51 solo tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 12 sacks during Cardinal Mooney’s title run in 2025. He added 21 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two pass deflections.
Jayden Lewis, Manatee
Lewis is a 5-foot-10, 155-pound free safety entering his junior season.
Tyree Mannings Jr., Venice
Mannings is ranked the 10th best receiver in the country and the 69th best prospect nationally, according to 247Sports. Last season, Mannings had 1,429 yards on 84 catches for 12 touchdowns. He also added 19 carries for 193 yards and one score. So far, the junior has 23 offers, including from Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, USC, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Miami.
Carson McBride, Saint Stephen’s
McBride is a linebacker, who had 116 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble last season.
Harold McKeever, Lakewood Ranch
McKeever is a 5-foot-7 middle linebacker, who had 11 total tackles and two solo tackles in five games during his sophomore season.
Dylan McLeod, Saint Stephen’s
McLeod is a returning two-way starter who can play on both the offensive and defensive line. He recovered five fumbles and forced another last season.
Grayson Miller, Parrish Community
Miller is a 5-foot-7, 290-pound offensive lineman.
Noah Patton, Venice
Patton is a three-star quarterback, according to On3 with seven offers, including Arizona State, Minnesota, Kentucky and Arkansas. He transferred from IMG Academy to Venice in January.
Jared Sanders, Cardinal Mooney
Sanders is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound defensive back. At Manatee, Sanders led the Hurricanes with 10 pass breakups, adding 37 tackles and four tackles for loss last season. He transferred to Cardinal Mooney in the offseason.
Jordan Sanders, Cardinal Mooney
Sanders is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound strong/free safety.
Jackson Snelling, Cardinal Mooney
Snelling has 28 offers to numerous Power 4 programs, including LSU, Illinois, Auburn, Clemson and Florida State. Standing at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, Snelling has been crucial for the Cougars’ offensive line.
Hudson West, Sarasota
In 2025, West completed 55.1 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,836 yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added 13 carries for 121 yards. West currently has 23 offers from many Power 4 schools, including Florida, Florida State, Iowa State and Virginia Tech. Rivals lists West as the 108th best player in Florida.
Julian Wilcom, Sarasota
Wilcom is a 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver/cornerback. In 2025, he was on IMG Academy’s State team before transferring to Sarasota.
Ky’ion Williams, Riverview
Williams is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 32 Sarasota, Manatee high school football juniors for the 2026 season
Reporting by Emma Moon, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emma Moon, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
