No. 1 Florida Football Recruits: Where Are They Now?
Ever wondered what happened to former No. 1 football recruits from the state of Florida? Here is a look at the last 10 top recruits from the state and where they are now.
2021: OT JC Latham – IMG Academy
The most recent top recruit from the state of Florida was JC Latham, an offensive tackle from IMG Academy who was rated as the No. 3 overall player in the country. Latham is currently in his freshman season at Alabama where he is a reserve on the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.
2020: DT Gervon Dexter – Lake Wales
Gervon Dexter was rated as the No. 12 player in the country out of Lake Wales, as well as the No. 3 overall defensive tackle. Dexter is currently in his sophomore season at Florida in which he has posted a combined 32 tackles and two sacks across 13 games.
2019: DE Nolan Smith – IMG Academy
The nation’s top overall player coming out of high school, Nolan Smith was one of three IMG products rated among the Top 10 nationally. Smith is currently a junior at Georgia where he has amassed 50 career tackles and 7.5 sacks.
2018: DE Xavier Thomas – IMG Academy
The third IMG product on this list, and second consecutive defensive end, Xavier Thomas was rated as the No. 3 player nationally in the Class of 2018. Thomas is currently a senior at Clemson where he has totaled 69 career tackles with nine sacks.
2017: OT Alex Leatherwood – Booker T. Washington
After leaving Florida high school football as the No. 4 player nationally, Alex Leatherwood went on to have a successful tenure at Alabama. Recently selected No. 17 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Leatherwood is currently in his rookie season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
2016: QB Shea Patterson – IMG Academy
Shea Patterson was rated as the No. 1 quarterback in the country, as well as the No. 4 overall player nationally out of IMG Academy in 2016. Patterson concluded his collegiate career a year ago where he combined to throw for 8,800 yards and 68 touchdowns combined between four seasons at Ole Miss and Michigan.
2015: OT Martez Ivey – Apopka
One of the top recruits ever from Apopka, Martez Ivey was rated as the No. 2 player in the country and the No. 1 offensive tackle back in 2015. Ivey played at the University of Florida from 2015-18, then signed with the Patriots in 2019 after going undrafted in the NFL. He is currently signed to a one-year contract with the Panthers.
2014: RB Dalvin Cook – Miami Central
Dalvin Cook would attend Florida State for three seasons after high school where he rushed for 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns across three seasons. Drafted No. 41 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, Cook is currently in year five with the Vikings, during which time he has amassed over 5,000 total yards and 37 touchdowns and been to the Pro-Bowl twice.
2013: CB Vernon Hargreaves III – Wharton
After high school, Vernon Hargreaves was a three-year starter at Florida, during which time he totaled 121 tackles and 10 interceptions. Drafted No. 11 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, Hargreaves is currently in year six of his NFL career and in year two with the Houston Texans.
2012: OT John Theus – Bolles
Rated as the No. 15 player in the country out of Bolles, John Theus went to spend his collegiate career at Georgia. Selected No. 145 in the 2016 NFL Draft, Theus appeared in four games in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Written by: Matt Melton
