Add Colin Hurley to one of high school football's most exclusive clubs.
The Trinity Christian state champion earned selection to the Elite 11 in the annual showcase for the nation's top-recruited high school quarterbacks, only the fifth Jacksonville-area player to qualify for the national list.
The area's other Elite 11 players over the years form a short list: Nease's Tim Tebow in 2005, Bartram Trail's Kyle Parker in 2007, Mandarin's Carson Beck in 2019 and Sandalwood's Jeff Sims in 2019. Former Episcopal quarterback Luke Del Rio also received Elite 11 selection in 2012, but he had transferred to Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Valor Christian prior to the summer.
For many of today's NFL quarterbacks, Elite 11 selection turned into a springboard to the top: Among the noted Elite 11 honorees are Matthew Stafford (2005), Kyler Murray (2014), Tua Tagovailoa (2016) and the Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence (2017).
Hurley joins C.J. Carr, Jadyn Davis, Ethan Grunkemeyer, Will Hammond, Hauss Hejny, Daniel Kaelin, Luke Kromenhoek, D.J. Lagway, Air Noland, Dylan Raiola and Julian Sayin in the Elite 11 list.
A Florida High School Athletic Association title-winner as a freshman starter in 2021, Hurley completed his sophom*ore year with 88 of 166 passing for 1,513 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, although an injury sidelined him for a month in the season's latter stages. In November, he reclassified to the 2024 class and committed to LSU.
Meanwhile, one of Hurley's top teammates on offense is also making college plans. Rising senior wide receiver Miles Burris committed to American Athletic Conference football at Charlotte.
The 6-2, 187-pound Burris, listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, also had Football Bowl Subdivision offers from schools including Coastal Carolina and Central Michigan.
A big-play target downfield, he caught 32 passes for 664 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, even though Trinity used the passing game sparingly after Hurley's injury. He enters 2023 among Jacksonville's most productive returning wideouts.
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Hornets' Hale buzzes toward Air Force
Yulee rising senior Rylan Hale is making college football a family tradition, committing to Air Force.
His older brother, Landon Hale, signed with Florida International in December and is set to begin his freshman season in the Panthers' secondary.
Among the most versatile players in Northeast Florida, Rylan Hale is listed at 6-2 and 210 pounds, playing both sides of the ball for the Hornets last fall.
He finished with 15 receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns at tight end last year, with a host of stats on defense: 90 tackles (12 for loss), three sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, an interception and two kick blocks.
He enters 2023 as a two-way threat on a Yulee team that could pack a sting this fall. In addition to Hale and athlete L.J. Jacobs, who is also drawing college attention, the Hornets have added transfer quarterback Nikao Smith from 2022 Georgia High School Association champion Ware County.
Proffitt, Booker staying in state
For the third time this summer, Florida Atlantic picked up a football commit from Northeast Florida.
Bishop Kenny offensive lineman Ethan Proffitt announced his commitment to FAU on Sunday. Proffitt, listed at 6-4 and 300 pounds, is rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports and is a top-110 line prospect nationwide in the 247Sports composite.
He transferred to Bishop Kenny during the offseason from Fletcher, where he helped the Senators to the District 1-3M title, and is on course to block for Iowa-committed Crusaders quarterback James Resar this season.
Proffitt follows Trinity Christian wide receiver Kyle Boylston and Fleming Island offensive lineman Braden Cunningham as Owls commits for the 2024 class.
Meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman also added to its list with the commitment of Jaylen Booker, a second-team All-Clay County selection last year at Middleburg.
Listed at 6-4, 300 pounds, Booker is particularly noted for punishing run blocking on a Broncos offense that churned out 3,385 rushing yards in 2022.
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Creekside's Miller wins New Balance 200
A three-time Florida champion, Christian Miller is now finishing first against the nation's best.
Creekside's rising senior won the boys 200-meter race at Sunday's New Balance Nationals Outdoor in Philadelphia, crossing the line in 20.45 to overcome Jelani Watkins of Klein Forest (Texas).
Miller's time, although wind-aided, was one-tenth of a second below his previous best.
The double FHSAA sprint champion also placed fourth in 10.26 in the boys 100, which was won by Montverde star Issam Asinga.
He wasn't the only Creekside athlete to shine at Franklin Field: Teammate Josh Howell won the freshman section of the boys 100, in 10.63 seconds, and ran 21.43 for second place in the freshman 200.
Howell already ranks among the top 10 freshmen in the national MileSplit list for both distances.
- Also at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, Sandalwood's Brittney Jennings placed eighth in the girls 100 hurdles and Creekside's Janay Moorer finished eighth in the girls 400. The two combined with Providence's Skyy Dixon and Creekside's Melissa Epting for third place in the girls sprint medley relay for St. Johns Striders.
- Yulee's Camilla Clarke threw 36 feet, 3 1/2 inches to win the freshman division of the girls shot put at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.
- In the girls hammer throw, an event not contested by the FHSAA, Clay's Annalee Harbison took second in the championship at 130 feet, 9 inches, and Yulee's Adriana Clarke came in third with 118 feet, 7 1/4 inches in the national elite division. Paxon's Rose-Esther Saint-Germain finished fourth in 56.52 in the national elite girls 400 at the same meet, and Bartram Trail's Caden Vann took fourth in the boys national elite 110 hurdles in 14.79.
- Bishop Kenny's Gabby Johnson ran 55.82 for third place in the girls championship 400, and Jayden Harris cleared 1.95 meters for third in the boys national elite high jump.
- Mandarin also picked up several high finishes at the Adidas meet, with Jaylen Lewis seventh (10.71) in the boys 100 and Kyla Skinner sixth (25.21) in the freshman girls 200.
- Already a champion in Georgia, Brunswick senior Riyon Rankin is adding a national honor to his resume. Rankin won the boys high jump over the weekend at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., clearing 6 feet, 9 inches.
Around the area
Jackson offensive lineman Deryc Plazz de-committed from Penn State, less than a month after committing to the Big Ten school. … St. Johns Country Day guard Mary Kate Kent committed to Newberry women's basketball. … Former Ponte Vedra long-stick middie Max Schalit is transferring to Jacksonville University, after playing on the Notre Dame team that won the NCAA championship. … Bartram Trail's Joshua Lindblom ran 10.66 to set a school record in the boys 100. … Tocoi Creek announced Caleb Cantrell as its new boys soccer coach, and Preston Davis will coach the Toros' boys lacrosse team. … St. Johns Country Day hired former Clay County athletic coordinator John Sgromolo as the Spartans' new athletic director. Sgromolo previously served as athletic director (2017-20) and baseball coach at Ridgeview. … Former Palatka and NFL defensive back Willie Offord, who coached Palatka in 2012 and 2013, was hired as head football coach at Sumter (S.C.) Lakewood. ... High School 9:12 and the Jacksonville Athletic Club announced the launch of the new Cross Country Invitational scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs, which will include both high school and middle school events.
