Having ranked many of the state’s top players by position this summer, we conclude the series this week by listing the Top 10 cornerbacks entering the 2023 Florida high school football season. (Recruiting rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
10. Josh Philostin (Cardinal Newman)
We begin our rankings of the top Florida high school cornerbacks with Philostin, who is entering his senior season at Cardinal Newman. The three-star prospect saw time on both sides of the ball last season, collecting 12 tackles and 4 INTs and catching 20 passes for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns.
9. Tavoy Feagin (Carrollwood Day)
Feagin, a four-star Clemson commit, is a senior at Class 1M’s Carrollwood Day, where he had 21 tackles and 7 PD for the Patriots a year ago.
8. Carlos Mitchell Jr. (Lakeland)
The first of four offseason transfers on this list of top Florida high school cornerbacks is Mitchell, who makes the move from defending 3S state champion Lake Wales. The three-star senior was one of the state’s most productive two-way players a year ago, making 81 tackles, 9 TFL, and 8 INTs and catching 28 passes for 815 yards and 12 touchdowns.
7. Jameer Grimsley (Tampa Catholic)
Another offseason transfer to make this list, Grimsley, a four-star Alabama commit, enters his senior season after having transferred to Tampa Catholic from Bloomingdale. Playing both ways a year ago, Grimsley compiled 6 tackles and caught 25 passes for 356 yards and 3 touchdowns.
6. Jon Mitchell (Mandarin)
Mitchell is a senior and a four-star Penn State commit who had 37 tackles, 3 TFL, and 4 PD a year ago for the Mustangs.
5. Jamari Howard (Miami Central)
One of the state’s biggest offseason transfers, Howard sits at No. 5 after making the move from Westland Hialeah to defending state champion Miami Central in Class 2M. Howard, a four-star prospect in the 2024 class, had 33 tackles and 15 PD for the Wildcats a year ago.
4. Zavier Mincey (Mainland)
A key player returning for 2022 Class 3S runner-up Mainland, Mincey is a four-star prospect in the 2024 class who compiled 30 tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 INTs for the Buccaneers last season.
3. Cai Bates (Edgewater)
Class 3M’s lone selection on this list is Bates, who is entering his senior season at Edgewater. The four-star LSU commit had 4 INTs, and he also posted 17 receptions for 241 yards and a touchdown.
2. Charles Lester III (Venice)
Sitting at No. 2 is one of Florida high school football’s top offseason transfers. Lester will suit up for Venice after spending his junior season at Riverview Sarasota. The five-star Florida State commit played both ways a year ago, amassing 18 tackles and catching 34 passes for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns.
1. Ellis Robinson IV (IMG Academy)
One of the state’s – and nation’s – premier prospects in the 2024 class, Robinson is No. 1 among the top Florida high school cornerbacks entering the 2023 season. The five-star Georgia commit returns as a starter for an IMG Academy defense that allowed an average of 9 PPG a year ago.
Honorable Mention
- Ricky Knight III (Cardinal Newman)
- Chris Ewald (Chaminade-Madonna)
- Ben Hanks Jr. (Booker T. Washington)
- Ryan Mack (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- Cameron Keys (Mosley)
- Alex Graham (IMG Academy)
- Earl Kulp (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- Teddy Foster (Cardinal Mooney)
- Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (Mandarin)
- Vernon Woodward (Winter Park)
