According to the 247Sports Composite all-time recruiting rankings, Florida has produced 14.3 percent of the 70 highest-rated high school football recruits since 2000, landing 10 players inside that group. We take a look at who those top Florida high school football prospects were and where each is now, starting with the highest-rated recruit to ever come out of Florida.
LB Ernie Sims (North Florida Christian)
We begin here with former North Florida Christian linebacker Ernie Sims, who is one of only five recruits to hold a perfect ‘1.000’ rating in 247Sports Composite history. Considered the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2003 class, Sims spent three seasons collegiately at Florida State after his time at North Florida Christian, as well as eight seasons in the NFL. He last appeared in a game during the 2013 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
EDGE Nolan Smith (IMG Academy)
As you’d expect, IMG Academy is well-represented on this list of top Florida high school football prospects, with the first name to come from the Ascenders program being that of Smith, the No. 1 overall player from the 2019 class. Smith recently concluded his senior season at Georgia and is set to be selected highly in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
OT Martez Ivey (Apopka)
The highest-rated offensive tackle to come from Florida since 2000 is Ivey, who came out of Apopka in the 2015 class as the No. 2 overall player nationally. After playing collegiately at Florida, Ivey has made multiple stops professionally in the NFL, XFL, and most recently, CFL, where he currently plays for the Edmonton Elks.
EDGE Xavier Thomas (IMG Academy)
Another prominent IMG Academy edge rusher on this list of top Florida high school football prospects is Thomas, who was the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect in the 2018 class. Thomas is still playing collegiately – he’ll return for his sixth season at Clemson this fall.
LB Willie Williams (Miami Carol City)
Williams is one of the highest-rated recruits to come out of the talent-rich south Florida area – the former Miami Carol City linebacker was rated as the No. 3 overall player nationally in the 2004 class. Williams began his collegiate career at Miami and later played in both junior college and at Louisville.
EDGE Byron Cowart (Armwood)
Also considered the nation’s No. 3 overall player in his respective class was Cowart in 2015. A five-star, highly touted edge rusher from Armwood, Cowart went on to play three seasons at Auburn, as well as a year at Maryland. He is one of few names on this list currently in the NFL, playing for the Indianapolis Colts.
WR Ryan Moore (Dr. Phillips)
The highest-rated wide receiver to come out of Florida since 2000 is Moore, who was rated the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect in the 2002 class. Moore went on to play five seasons collegiately at Miami, with the last coming in 2006.
S Derwin James (Haines City)
Perhaps the most recognizable name on this list is James, who was considered the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect from that prominent 2015 class out of Haines City. A collegiate star at Florida State, James is currently one of the top safeties in the NFL. He recently made his third career Pro Bowl appearance in only his fifth season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
QB Shea Patterson (IMG Academy)
Patterson, who attended IMG Academy, is the highest-rated quarterback prospect to come through Florida high school football since 2000. He was the nation’s No. 4 overall player in the 2016 class prior to attending Ole Miss. Patterson also saw time collegiately at Michigan and has since played in the NFL, USFL, and CFL, where he recently signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
OT Alex Leatherwood (Booker T. Washington-Pensacola)
We conclude this list of top Florida high school football prospects with Leatherwood, who was rated the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect in the 2017 class out of Booker T. Washington-Pensacola. Leatherwood went on to shine collegiately at Alabama, and he recently concluded his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears.
