Friday is the first blockbuster night of high school football but Thursday offers a bunch of top-notch games for players who list Florida in the Rivals.com database. There's a big game in Tallahassee between Lincoln and Rickards.
T.J. Bryant, a five-star prospect and the second-best cornerback nationally, leads Lincoln into the contest. Bryant had 48 tackles and three interceptions last season. He recorded eight picks as a sophomore. Florida, Florida State, Southern California, LSU and a host of other major national programs are pursuing him.
Also for Lincoln, watch out for three-star dual-threat quarterback B.J. Daniels, offensive guard Steven Robinson and weak-side defensive end Kirkland Gainous, a Mississippi State commit. Daniels threw for 1,153 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 548 yards and six scores a year ago.
Lincoln tight end Jabaris Little is a Florida State commit and defensive tackle Padric Scott has pledged to Minnesota. Rickards is led by three-star cornerback Kevin Green, who lists offers from Purdue and Arkansas. Junior safety Jajuan Harley is also one to watch.
Four-star linebacker Etienne Sabino and three-star cornerback Travis Howard, who each list an offer from Florida, take to the field against four-star defensive end Corey Liuget and his Hialeah squad. Liuget finished with 55 tackles and six sacks last season and is drawing interest from a host of major programs.
Linebacker Malcolm Munroe, whose brother Dorian is a redshirt sophomore safety at Florida, and top 2009 prospect Frankie Telfort lead Miami Coral Reef against Hialeah American. Telfort was one of the top underclassmen at Florida's Friday Night Lights camp last month.
Other games of note in Florida: Wide receivers Markinley Saint-Fort and Chavar Watkins lead Sunrise Piper against Fort Lauderdale Stranahan. Athlete Junior Mertile and North Miami battle Miami Southridge.
There are a bunch of out-of-state games worth noting. Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's, led by wide receiver Destin Hood, athlete Mark Barron and 2009 quarterback AJ McCarron, take on Fairhope. Barron and Hood have verbally committed to Alabama. McCarron threw for 1,974 yards with 25 touchdowns and four picks last season. Rivals.com included him on the top 100 to watch list.
Four-star defensive end William Green, who lists Florida, Alabama, LSU, Florida State Miami, Auburn as some of his top schools, leads his Hoover (Ala.) Spain Park squad against Pelham. Green recorded 54 tackles and eight sacks as a junior. Reform (Ala) Pickens County and 2009 athlete Mardrecas Hood take on Gordo.
Running back Covaughn Deboskie, athlete Gerell Robinson and Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton look to build on their 44-0 win over Buena last weekend when the team visits Phoenix Brophy College Prep Thursday night. Robinson is an Arizona commit. Deboskie is rated the fourth-best all-purpose back nationally and has Florida in his top six schools. He rushed for 1,304 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
Four-star wide receiver Chris Tolliver, who caught 76 passes for 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, leads Rayville (La.) against Oak Grove. Rayville outside linebacker Justin Higgins is also one to watch.
Three-star wide receiver Khiry Cooper, who visited Florida during one of its early fall practices, and his Shreveport (La.) Calvary Academy squad battle Shreveport Southwood. Cooper had 50 receptions for 750 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. Arkansas, Nebraska and others have offered.
Muskegon (Mich.) wide receiver Corey Johnson leads his team against Muskegon Reeths-Puffer. Muskegon beat Grand Rapids Creston, 39-0, last weekend. Johnson, rated the 10th best player in the Michigan top 30, lists offers from Florida, Kansas State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Offensive guard Dalton Freeman and his Pelion (S.C.) squad look for their third win to start the season. Pelion beat Andrews by 17 points in the season opener and won by nine against Swansea last week. It battles Gilbert Thursday night. Freeman is a four-star offensive guard rated as the ninth-best player in the South Carolina top 20.
Logan Heastie, a 2009 wide receiver, opens his season Thursday as Chesapeake (Va.) Great Bridge visits Chesapeake Deep Creek. Heastie has made it no secret Florida leads for his services. Virginia, Maryland and a host of others are also involved. He is also included on the Rivals.com 100 to watch list in the junior class.
Other national games of note: Athlete Mark Ingram and his Flint (Mich.) Southwestern Academy squad take on Flint Central. Ingram's team beat Midland Dow last week, 49-14. Athlete Fritz Rock leads Minneapolis (Minn.) Wayzata against Rochester (Minn.) Century.
Laurel (Miss.) Northeast Jones and outside linebacker Ramon Blakeney host Gulfport. Norman (Okla.) North quarterback Tyler Tettleton leads his team against Norman. Athlete Randy Ponder and Edmond (Okla.) Sante Fe host Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst. Weak-side defensive end Nick Kasa and his Broomfield (Colo.) Legacy squad take on Niwot.
Note: Players in this preview list Florida as a school of interest in the Rivals.com database. It does not necessarily mean the Florida coaching staff is recruiting each of these prospects…Check back Friday for an expanded preview of games across the country.