Team USA Roster Announced
Team USA Football Head Coach Mark Guandolo has selected the majority of his roster from Broward and Miami-Dade counties for the NFL Global Junior Championship XI to be played at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on January 31 and February 3. Coach joined visitors to www.NFL-GJC.com live from his office at Chaminade-Madonna Preparatory School in Hollywood, FL, to reveal his selections.
“When I first agreed to coach Team USA Football I thought that with all the all-star games we’d have trouble filling the team," he said. "But there’s been great interest and a lot of top players have wanted to be a part of it.
“We’ve had great support from the local coaches in the two counties and almost 300 nominations. We got together all our coaches and put together a good team that represents both counties equally. My assistant coaches have helped by calling coaches they know for nominations, so putting together great staff has certainly helped.”
On Monday night coach Guandolo (above) and his coaching staff met with the players who will have the honor of representing the United States against the national junior teams of Canada, Japan, France, Mexico and Panama. Having received a commitment from 34 student athletes who were nominated by their own head coaches, Guandolo named those players to his roster. Six more players will be added before the January 8 deadline for all teams’ rosters to complete the 40-man squad.
Here's what coach had to say about the players who have been selected for Team USA Football:
Quarterbacks
Derek Rifenbury, Monarch
Marc Ende, Pine Crest
Travaris Cadet, Miami Central
“The quarterbacks are very good athletes who throw the ball well and I think it’s important that they can also scramble and make something happen when the play isn’t there. Rifenbury and Cadet threw for a lot of yards on successful teams this year.”
Running backs
Gordon Warner, Miami Central
Justin Lee, Boyd Anderson
Junior Allen, Western RB/WR
Bo Williams, Northeast
James Maitland, Northeast FB
“We have a lot of speed and some small backs and one big back in Bo Williams. I also think they’re versatile because several can also go out and play a slot receiver and are also kick returners.”
Wide receivers
Jason Frierson, Coral Gables
Tight ends
Michael Hellman, Everglades
“Jason is really quick and runs great routes and has exceptional hands and he can do it all, so we’re excited about him. We also have a couple of big time defensive backs who can fill the receiver spot and will look for more receivers from our final six selections.”
Offensive Line
Ryan Goldman, Chaminade-Madonna
Juan Gonzalez, Columbus
Ernest Goodley Jr., South Plantation
Emeka Nwankwo Chaminade-Madonna
Joseph Martin-Culet, Coconut Creek
Saf Ahmad, Miami Norland
Ladevan Kirkland, Miami Washington
“We’ve got a good mix of size and tough kids who can really play. We have a 6-2, 220 pounds lineman in Kirkland and also Nwankwo, who is going to Notre Dame. Some kids might be seen as being a little undersized but they have had great seasons for their high schools and I’m happy that they get to show their talents in this game.”
Defensive Line
Danny Thompson Jr., Cypress Bay
Martin Wright, Miami Washington
Terrance Blakely, Coconut Creek
Adewale Ojomo, Hialeah
Joshua Stanley, Ely
Jason Paul-Pierre, Deerfield Beach
“Our defensive ends are probably the most talented area on the team. Ojomo is committed to the University of Miami, Wright looks like he’s headed to Florida and Paul-Pierre was Deerfield Beach’s top defensive end. So we have some great rush guys to come off the edge and put pressure on the quarterback.”
Linebackers
Antonio White, Miami Washington
Reginald Sandilands, Miami Northwestern
James Kirk, Miami Varela
Patrick Grant Boyd, Anderson
“This is a good solid group and Reggie Sandilands comes from the 6A state champions Miami Northwestern.”
Defensive Backs
Deleon Gause, Miami Central
Charles James Jr., Northeast
DeMarcus Van Dyke, Miami Pace
Bryan Blanfort, Hialead DB/WR
Eian Smith, Chaminade-Madonna
Dahrnaz Tigner, Ely
“This is a really talented group. We have good cover corners and hard hitting safeties. Van Dyke is probably one of the best corners in the state of Florida.”
Specialists
Tom Picinic, Coral Glades P/K
“Picinic is a great punter and kicker, so we’re hoping he can do both duties to save us a roster spot, which is important when you have 40 players.
“I can also confirm the dates we intend to practice for the NFL Global Junior Championship, which are January 16-20 and January 22-27. We’ll confirm our schedule for the week of the tournament closer to the time. All practices are scheduled to be at Florida International University, though we might move some, and we will have exact times and dates in the New Year.”
Tickets for the NFL Global Junior Championship cost $5 per day and are available from local schools Cardinal Gibbons, Pine Crest, North Broward Prep, Western High, University and Chaminade-Madonna Preparatory, with all proceeds benefiting those schools.