2021-22 Football Class Announced

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart announced the additional seven players that have joined the 2021-22 signing class on Wednesday, which is National Signing Day.

“Recruiting is a lot different now,” said Taggart. “You better change with the changes, or you will be left behind. It has been unique. It has been interesting. It has been pretty cool with us, because we have tried to adjust the way we are recruiting in order to get the roster the way that we need it to be.

I feel really good about the guys that we brought in in December. I thought that we added some really good additions to our recruiting class today. There will be some more that we will get here later on in the spring.”

2021-22 Recruiting Class Click HERE

*December signees

Carter Boatwright *
Redshirt Sophomore | 6-4 | 240 | TE
Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County (Florida State)

At Florida State (2020-21)

Played in one game each season with the Seminoles

High School

His senior season, 2019, helped Colquitt County to 9-3 record
Caught 10 passes for 95 yards and a score
Was a GACA All-Star as a sophomore

Personal

Out of high school, rated as the No. 42 tight end in the nation, and as a three-star prospect, according to the 247Sports composite
ESPN also had him at three stars, as the No. 22 tight end, and No. 95 recruit from Georgia
Chose FSU over UCF, Pitt, Coastal Carolina, Navy, Appalachian State, Akron, Troy, UAB, Southern Miss and Marshall, among others

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Michael Boone
CB | 6-0, 185 | Fr.
Tampa, Fla. / Tampa Bay Tech

High School

Played at Tampa Bay Tech who went 14-1 on the season, with the only loss coming at the hands of St. Thomas

Personal

Chose FAU over Iowa State, Boston College, FIU and Arkansas State
Two-sport athlete, football and track (ran the 100 meters in 10.8 sec)

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Brendan Bordner
OL | 6-5, 205 | GS
Columbus, Ohio / Hilliard Bradley (Rutgers)

Senior (2021)

Played in 12 games with five starts on the offensive line
Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors (12/14) for the fourth time
Started at left tackle versus Delaware (9/18)
Started at right tackle with no sacks allowed and six team rushing touchdowns in the win over Temple (9/4)

Senior (2020)

Played in all nine games with three starts on the offensive line
Named to the Academic All-Big Ten list (12/10)
Helped Rutgers post a program-high 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season
Started at right tackle in the win at Maryland (12/12) and recovered three fumbles to help the offense retain possession as the team rush for a season-high 235 yards
Made first collegiate start at left tackle in the win at Purdue (11/28) as the Scarlet Knights controlled the ball for 21:57 in the second half
Saw action at right tackle versus Michigan (11/21)
Moved to the offensive line in the offseason

Junior (2019)

Played in all 12 games on the defensive line
Named to the Academic All-Big Ten list (12/11)
Totaled 20 tackles with three for a loss
Added a pair of stops at No. 12 Penn State (11/30)
Recorded a tackle-for-loss versus Michigan State (11/23)
Collected a season-high five tackles with one for a loss against No. 2 Ohio State (11/16)
Assisted on two tackles versus No. 20 Minnesota (10/19) and against Liberty (10/26)
Had two stops with one for a loss at No. 20 Michigan (9/28)
In on a tackle-for-loss at No. 20 Iowa (9/7)
Made a tackle in the season opener against Massachusetts (8/30).

Sophomore (2018)

Played in eight games on the defensive line
Named to the Academic All-Big Ten list (12/5)
Totaled three tackles
Had a stop at Wisconsin (11/3)
Added a tackle at Kansas (9/15)
Made collegiate debut at No. 4 Ohio State (9/8) and recorded one tackle

Freshman (2017)

Did not see game action
Enrolled in January and participated in spring practice

High School

Coached by Mike LoParo at Hilliard Bradley
Led the Jaguars to a 9-2 record and an Ohio Cardinal Division Championship
All-Central District Second Team by the Newark Advocate
Tabbed a top-100 player in Ohio by Cleveland.com
Collected 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a junior
Named Second Team All-Ohio Capitol Conference as a junior
Consensus three-star recruit
35th-best player in Ohio by Rivals
Second-best defensive end prospect in the Buckeye State by Scout
Three-star prospect by ESPN
No. 47 overall defensive end nationally by 247Sports.

Personal

Graduated from the Rutgers
Has one year towards a master’s degree in financial analysis under his belt

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A’ceon “Ace” Cobb
WR | 6-3, 195 | Fr.
Orlando, Fla. / Jones

High School

Played for Elijah Williams at Jones high school
Earned Sonic Prep Player of the Week
Jones was 7-0 for the first time in program history with much of the success attributed to Cobb
Credited with 672 yards and seven touchdowns between his sophomore and junior seasons

Personal

Also considered Coastal Carolina, Buffalo, Arkansas

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Justin Goodwin
DL | 6-3, 280 | Fr.
Birmingham, Ala. / Huffman

High School

Had nearly 50 tackles in his senior campaign, including five sacks
Vikings were 4-6, which included a three-game win streak to start the season

Personal

Other interested schools included Delta State, West Alabama, Shorter, Samford and Jackson State

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Jymetre Hester
WR | 5-10, 170 | So.
Belle Glade, Fla. / Belle Glade Central (Mississippi)

Mississippi Gulf Coast

In 2020-21, played in five games, had 19 receptions and tallied 354 yards, with two scores
In 2019-20, played in 12 games, tallied 48 receptions for a total of 657 yards, 10 TDs and a career long 68 yard reception

High School

As a senior, named to The Palm Beach Post Super 11 and the All-Conference 6A-1A Team
As a junior, caught 45 passes for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns
Named to Class 4A All-State First Team by FloridaHSfootball.com and the FACA All-District Team
Played for Coach Jessie Hester.

Personal

Also considered Louisville, Arkansas State, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe

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Jahbari Hill
CB | 6-1, 187 | Fr.
Boynton Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community

High School

Played alongside fellow signee Jeremiah McClendon in the defensive backfield at Atlantic Community
Eagles went 6-1 and finished the year on a five-game winning streak
They outscored their opponents 281-79, or an average of 40-11

Personal

Three-star recruit by 247Sports.com
Other offers included USF and FIU

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Morven Joseph *
Sophomore | 6-2 | 220 | OLB
Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson (Tennessee)

At Tennessee (2020-21)

In two seasons, saw 12 game appearances for the Volunteers
Posted his first career sack this past year, Sept. 18, against Tennessee Tech
During the 2020 campaign, played in 10 games
Recorded two tackles his first year, with a half-tackle for loss, plus a quarterback hurry

High School

His senior year, collected 115 tackles, 28 for loss, with 13 sacks
Led his Lake Gibson squad to an 11-1 mark and Class 6A District 9 title
For his efforts, was chosen FHSAA Class 6A All-State First Team
The year prior, had 62 tackles (18 1/2 for loss) and 8 1/2 sacks
Also forced four fumbles
Was named FHSAA Class 6A Honorable Mention, and was an All-County First Team defensive choice by The Ledger

Personal

Four-star recruit that was ranked as the No. 12 weakside defensive end nationally by 247Sports
Was also the No. 38 prospect from the state of Florida by them
Per ESPN, was No. 33 at his position and No. 63 in the Sunshine State
Was courted by most top schools; chose Tennessee over Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Kentucky, Texas A&M, UCF and USF

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Okino King
OL | 6-2, 298 | Fr.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Northwestern

High School

Northwestern squad was 3-2 in 2020, winning one playoff game before closing out play in the postseason
Was chosen for the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game
As a junior, was credited with 23 pancake blocks in 12 games as the Bulls went 13-2, were an undefeated 4-0 and 5A District 16 champions, and won the Class 5A state title in a 34-17 victory over top seed Jones
The year before, was named Third Team All-Dade Class 8A-6A by the Miami Herald

Personal

Was rated as the No. 97 guard nationally according to 247Sports composite
Also considered Coastal Carolina and Tennessee State

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Jaleel McRae *
Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 230 | ILB
New Smyrna Beach, Fla. / IMG Academy (Florida State)

At Florida State (2019-21)

Played three seasons for the Seminoles, seeing action in 25 games
This past season, played in four games
His second year, had six tackles in eight outings (with one start)
Tied his career high in the 2020 season opener with three, against Georgia Tech
Saw the field in all 13 games his freshman campaign
Recorded 15 tackles (2.5 for loss) with a sack
Was named to the ACC Honor Roll

High School

Played his senior season at IMG Academy, helping the squad to a 7-1 record, for a defense that allowed just 7.9 points per game
Selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game, and was named to the Dick Butkus Award watch list (as the top high school LB)
Previously played at New Smyrna Beach High School
As a junior, had 73 tackles (6.5 for loss), and was named Second Team All-Area
Had 72 tackles as a sophomore, 12 for loss, with five sacks
Was chosen as a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American

Personal

Rivals and ESPN named him as a four-star linebacker
Was tabbed as No. 122 in the ESPN300, as No. 11 at his position, and No. 20 from Florida
247Sports rated him No. 34 at OLB, and 56th overall in the state of Florida
Picked FSU with other offers coming from Georgia, Florida, Cincinnati, LSU, Texas A&M, UCF, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech

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Xavier Peters *
Redshirt Junior | 6-4 | 255 | OLB
West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West (Garden City CC)

Prior to FAU

Saw action in five games in 2021 for Garden City Community College, recording three tackles
Broncbusters went 8-3, including scoring a school record for points in opener, 76-24 over Fort Scott CC
In 2019, took the field for three games at Kentucky
Posted his first career tackle as a Wildcat against Vanderbilt
Played in two games – but took a redshirt – in 2018 at Florida State
Had a tackle and a pass breakup against Wake Forest

High School

At Lakota West, had 78 tackles his senior season, including six sacks
Chosen First Team All-Greater Miami Conference, and Second Team Southwest Ohio All-District
Was an Under Armour All-American as well

Personal

Out of high school, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 5 recruit from Ohio, and the No. 15 outside linebacker in the country
Rivals chose him No. 5 in Ohio, No. 6 OLB and No. 75 national prospect
ESPN had him as Ohio’s No. 12 overall recruit, the No. 21 OLB, and No. 25 prospect from the Midwest region
Committed to Florida State over Kentucky and Alabama, as well many other interested schools such as Georgia, Florida, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, LSU, Oregon, USC, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Texas, UCLA, West Virginia and Tennessee

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Jamie Pettway *
Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 235 | ILB
Albany, Ga. / Westover (Missouri)

At Missouri (2019-21)

After a redshirt first year, played in nine games for the Tigers in 2020
Had a TFL against Vanderbilt for a six-yard loss
Posted another tackle against Arkansas
This past season made 10 total tackles (six solo and four assists) in seven games
Had another TFL among those 10 stops

High School

Posted 76 tackles his senior year, 8.4 a game, with two sacks and two interceptions (one of which went for a 25-yard score)
Named by league coaches as All-Region 1-AAA and the region’s Defensive Player of the Year
All told in his four seasons at Westover, had 182 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and three picks

Personal

Was a four-star prospect, and by 247Sports, the No. 25 inside linebacker in the nation
That outlet also ranked him as the No. 47 prospect from Georgia
Rivals slotted him as the No. 21 ILB
ESPN put him at No. 66 at his position and No. 84 among Georgians
Missouri was chosen from a final group that also included Louisville and South Carolina. Also interested were Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Pitt, Maryland and Tennessee

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Jayshon Platt
WR | 6-1, 195 | Fr.
Venice, Fla. / Venice

High School

Played high school football at Venice, Fla.
Part of a Venice team that dominated with a 35-7 win in the State Championship
Credited with seven receptions for a total of 108 yards

Personal

Chose FAU over Richmond, Navy, Lafayette, and Bryant
Three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track)
Part of a relay 4X100 relay team that held the best time in the 4A District 8 met (41.89)
Ran the 100 meters in 10.9 sec and the 200 meters in 22.1

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Brandon Schabert
WR | 6-2, 205 | Fr.
Loxahatchee, Fla. / American Heritage – Delray Beach

High School

In seven games of a shortened senior season, caught 28 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns
Added two more rushing scores
Chosen First Team Palm Beach Post All-County, and First Sun Sentinel 5A-1A First Team
Also was a Lou Groza Award nominee
Stallions went 4-4, which included two playoff wins and a trip to the Class 4A Region 4 finals
In that game, hauled in a 70-yard touchdown reception

Personal

Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, and among the top 200 Florida recruits at No. 181
Also ranked as the No. 195 wide receiver nationally
Three-star rating by ESPN as well
Chose the Owls over offers from Kentucky, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Kent State, Boston College, Tulane and Southern Miss

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Marvin Scott II *
Sophomore | 5-9 | 205 | RB
Daytona Beach, Fla. / Spruce Creek (Nebraska)

At Nebraska (2020-21)

In two seasons, played nine games for the Cornhuskers
This past year – his second freshman campaign – he carried the ball 17 times for 66 yards with two touchdowns
Posted his first career score against Fordham, totaling 30 yards on six carries
At No. 19 Wisconsin, tied for the team lead with nine totes, for 29 yards, including a one-yard score
As a true freshman, had a start among his five games, rushing 24 times for 71 yards

High School

Played five seasons in total in his high school career, totaling 7,482 yards and 80 total touchdowns
Unofficially – according to floridapreprecords.com – that rushing total ranked sixth in Florida high school history
As a junior and senior at Spruce Creek, had more than 2,700 yards on the ground
His final season, had 1,477 and 18 touchdowns; as a junior, recorded 1,226 and 16 scores
Played three varsity seasons at Warner Christian Academy, including 1,736 rushing yards as an eighth grader
Was also a state champion weightlifter

Personal

Consensus three-star recruit
By 247Sports, was touted as the No. 50 nationwide running back and the 94th-ranked prospect from Florida
By ESPN, was No. 53 at RB and No. 94 from Florida
Nebraska beat out Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Kentucky, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Iowa State, Wake Forest, Boston College and Tennessee for his services
Was clocked at a 4.54 40 as a senior

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Marquish Seabon
RB | 5-10, 190 | Fr.
Lake Wales, Fla. / Lake Wales

High School

Part of a team that tallied a 9-3 record
Considered to be the key to the Highlanders’ offense
Rushed for 1,896 yards, 12.9 yards per carry, 189.6 yards per game and tallied 26 TDs

Personal

Also considered Alabama State, Coastal Carolina among others

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Wyatt Sullivan *
Freshman | 6-4 | 198 | WR
Quincy, Fla. / Robert F. Munroe Day School

High School

In 10 games as a senior, caught 38 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns
Also made 38 tackles, with five sacks, and two quarterback hurries
Plays basketball and runs track & field as well for Munroe
Previously attended Buford High School (Georgia)

Personal

Three-star composite recruit by 247Sports.com
Also three stars by ESPN
Chose the Owls over such schools as Coastal Carolina, WKU, Charlotte, Akron and Troy

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Dearis Thomas
LB | 6-1, 220 | Fr. (G)
Naples, Fla. / Naples

High School

Played for Naples High School who went 10-1 on the year
Saw action in 28 games and tallied 255 total tackles for an average of 9.1 tackles per game
Had a total of 39.0 tackles for a loss, including eight sacks I 2021
Credited by MaxPreps with 2 fumble recoveries as a freshman and 3 for a total of 32 yards of return
As a freshman had four interceptions
NDN Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Babcock Ranch, he earned after tallying 15 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery versus Lely
Participated in the Blue-Grey All-American Combine

Personal

Also considered Cincinnati and Miami of Ohio

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Jaylen Wester *
Freshman | 6-0 | 200 | OLB
Palmetto, Fla. / Palmetto

High School

Led Palmetto as a senior with 124 tackles (including 71 solo), and 35 went for a loss
Also added 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, one pass defended, two forced fumbles and blocked three punts.
Recorded 126 stops as a junior, 30 for loss
Additionally that season, picked off three passes (returning two for scores and had a total of 110 INT return yards) and blocked one punt and two field goals
And as a sophomore had 17 TFL, including 2.0 sacks, among his 82 total tackles

Personal

Also was courted by SMU, USF, Toledo, and Colorado State, among others
Ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune coverage area
His brother LaJohntay is a current Owl, a rising sophomore wideout that has played two seasons with the squad

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Kareem Wilson
DL | 6-4, 260 | Fr.
Miami, Fla. / Gulliver Prep

High School

Instrumental in Gulliver’s success and 11-2 season, ranked by Max Prep as Florida’s 11-best player for his position
Well above the national average in all statistical categories

Personal