NextLevel Sports Academe is about to start putting young Plant City athletes on the map.
High school football never stops for underclassmen, and things really start to pick up as camps and combines begin in February. Many Plant City-area athletes are preparing for the offseason blitz with the help of NextLevel Sports Academe.
The program, based out of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, helps develop football players from Hillsborough and Polk counties in between high school seasons. Coach Gerold Dickens and his four-person staff are currently helping around 40 high school and middle school athletes get better on the football field, get college recruiting attention at training camps and combines and, because there’s more to a roster spot than football skills, prepare to do well in the classroom.
Of course, the camps and combines are what NextLevel focuses most intently on.
“There’s a lot on that calendar,” Dickens says. “You’ve got the Rivals camps we’ll hit, the Nike opens, the Elite 11, NUC Five-Star, VTOs — we’ll wind up hitting each and every one. As the kids do real well, we’ll promote them out to be a part of bigger camps, and that’s a way for them to get ranked.”
NextLevel has already hit several camps, in areas such as Tampa, Orlando and Valdosta, Georgia. But it’s the Sunday, Feb. 21, Nike Football Opening Regionals in Orlando — where athletes get their SPARQ scores — that the Florida recruiting scene begins to heat up.
Not all athletes are able to participate in the invite-only competition, but several high-profile athletes from the area will get to make their mark.
Representing Durant are wide receiver Brandon Myers, who led the Cougars in 2015 with six receiving touchdowns, and tight end Steven Witchoskey, a multi-sport athlete that caught three touchdown passes and averaged over 15 yards per catch.
Representing Plant City are Antoine Thompson, who excelled in 2015 playing both wideout and defensive back, and linebacker Steven Ogletree, who made 138 total tackles and led the team with nine sacks, two forced fumbles and one blocked punt.
NextLevel does not have any athletes from Strawberry Crest this year — likely because the Chargers recently hired a new head coach.
The team also participates in 7-on-7 exhibitions with teams from around the state. The middle-schoolers will be in action from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Marshall Middle School field.
Rising Stars
NextLevel Sports Academe coach Gerold Dickens says that these three local athletes could impress a lot of people in offseason camps and the 2016 high school season.
Ashton Mincey
LB No. 55, Plant City (FR)
2015 stats: 7 GP, 21 tackles (11 solo), 1 fum. rec, 1 PD
On the upcoming 2016 season:
“I’m excited for the opportunity that’s given to me, that coach (Greg) Meyer believes in me. That I can be one of the greats to come out of Plant City.”
On playing varsity as a freshman:
“The first couple of games, I was nervous to get out there. I was a freshman, and they don’t really know me — I might get picked on. As games went on, I just started getting used to it, getting a feel for the defense, getting used to the tempo.”
On the game when everything clicked:
“It was against Freedom. I got a lot of playing time and got to see how the defense really runs.”
On his football strengths:
“My power and my ability to recognize where the ball is going to go — where the play is going to go.
Brandon Myers
WR No. 14, Durant (JR)
2015 stats: 9 GP, 24 rec., 280 yds., 6 TD (led team)
On his new role:
“It was good getting experience. The year before, I was behind Garrett Rentz, so it was good to be the big-play receiver, to be reliable and make plays for the team.”
On Durant becoming more pass friendly:
“I think it will keep going. Our line’s getting better, Carlton’s getting better. We practice a lot after workouts, and we’re developing more.”
On his goals for 2016:
“My goal is to get my name out there and to get college coaches to look at me, come to my games and check me out. I want to be seen as a top receiver in the area.”
On his football strengths:
“I’m reliable. I can go downfield and, if you throw the ball, I’ll go up and get it. I can make yardage after the catch, and I get the best out of everything.”
Cameron Myers
RB No. 28, Durant (SO)
2015 stats: 5 GP, 20 car., 160 yds. (8.0 YPC), 2 TD
On the highlight of 2015:
“Our game against Newsome, when Brandon caught a 30-yard touchdown pass. We were down in the fourth quarter, and Peyton Ledbetter got a field goal to win the game.”
On his football strengths:
“I know I have speed, I can make people miss and open up space. I know I need to work on my vision and holding onto the ball.”
On his pitch to college scouts:
“I’m a hard worker. I’m coachable, I have a good attitude and I can do whatever you want me to do.”
On making a big leap:
“As a sophomore, I was nervous playing on varsity. As a freshman, I didn’t start on JV. Getting experience on the varsity team will help me in the long run.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
