Wanting to catch multiple teams in action at one place? We look at the Top 5 MUST WATCH spring football jamborees
As we look at the Top 10 Must Watch Spring Football Games yesterday, today we will look at the Top 5 Must Watch Spring Football Jamborees as a variety of jamborees will be featured in spring games of the course of the next two weeks when most teams will take the field against other opponents to get a gauge of what is working and what needs to be worked on over the summer.
5. Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach), Florida High (Tallahassee) vs. Mosley (Lynn Haven)
When: Fri. May 17, 6 p.m. CT
Where: Bozeman High School, Panama City
Skinny: There is so much to love about a jamboree like this when you got great coaching involved that includes Frank Beasley at Choctaw, Jarrod Hickman at Florida High and Tommy Joe Whiddon at Mosley, with all three teams having recent playoff success that you can’t help but want to see what each coach has been doing since the season came to end in getting their teams ready for the 2024 season. As such fans and college recruiters will get a glimpse of what the fall will look like in this jamboree. With Choctaw coming off back-to-back regional finalist appearances, Florida High having deep playoff runs including a state championship appearance in 2022 and Mosley shocking fans around the state last season when they pulled off a big upset on Niceville is what makes this worth watching these teams that have each have next-level prospects that will be worth watching this fall on football fields around the Panhandle.
4. Columbus (Miami), Riverview (Sarasota) at Bishop Verot (Fort Myers)
When: Fri. May 24, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Viking Stadium, Fort Myers
Skinny: With a defending back-to-back state champion making the trek across the Alligator Alley and a regional finalist in Riverview driving south from Sarasota to a program in Bishop Verot that had its deepest playoff run since the 1990s, you know that the storylines from how the teams will be able to replicate what they did in 2023 this fall to all the next-level athletes that will be showcased in front of fans and college recruiters in one of the final jamborees that will take place for the spring football season. With Columbus returning as back-to-back state champions and Bishop Verot looking to work behind one of the top quarterback prospects in the state and nation, fans will be curious to see what will come about in preparing for the 2024 season.
3. Bradford (Starke), Buchholz (Gainesville) vs. Suwannee (Live Oak)
When: Thu. May 16, TBD
Where: Paul Langford Stadium, Live Oak
Skinny: A state runner-up, a state semifinalist and a regional playoff team coming together is usually a sign of great things to come when you put three teams like this that have the resumes as Bradford, Buchholz and Suwannee have. With Bradford coming of its first state finals appearance since 1985, Buchholz finishing as a state semifinalist for the third year in a row and Suwannee having playoff success once again, all three teams will challenge each other to see what they have in preparation for the fall. Bradford will have Jamie Rodgers going into his third season as head coach and Mark Whittemore returning as head coach after taking one-year off last season will be two of the storylines to follow along with the all three teams having athletes that will demand the attention of college recruiters.
2. DeLand, Edgewater (Orlando) at Osceola (Kissimmee)
When: Thu. May 23, 6 p.m.
Where: Kowboy Field, Kissimmee
Skinny: Three of Central’s Florida powerhouse teams will clash in this spring classic and it is one football fans and college recruiters will certainly be in attendance for this one as all three of these programs over the last few years have been deep playoff contenders and state semifinalists. DeLand which is the most recent of them coming off a state semifinalist in Rick Darlington’s second year as head coach, made a lot of waves and the biggest question who will step up into the various roles that will need to be filled due to lost of talent due to graduation? That is one story line to follow. Another story line to follow is what steps the host Kowboys have taken during the off season after last year was a bit shaky at times due to injuries amid a tough schedule. Will things look improved in this game for Osceola to have hope that the 2024 season will be more in line of the winning expectations that fans and the community has with the Kowboys program? And for Edgewater, what will they have to do to keep the winning momentum going and have that carry over to another playoff berth in 2024? Those answers will start come about here. Again keep an eye on this jamboree as all three of these teams are going to be teams to watch in 2024.
1. Atlantic (Delray Beach), Coconut Creek, Fort Pierce Westwood, Hialeah, Homestead, Miami Norland, Miami Edison, Miramar, Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) at Palm Beach Gardens
When: Fri. May 17 & Sat. May 18 (4 p.m. Fri, 8 a.m. Sat)
Where: Palm Beach Gardens High School Stadium, Palm Beach Gardens
Skinny: This is the mega jamboree of all jamborees with 10 teams converging on Palm Beach Gardens High School over a two-day span. Given that all 10 teams were playoff teams in 2023 including two of the teams in Homestead and Miami Norland finishing as state runner-ups gives this jamboree all the hype would want. Each of the teams will come out hitting hard and looking to see what they can build on for the 2024 season while building off the successes of the 2023 season. If you are a high football fan or a college recruiter, this is the ultimate jamboree to be at to get a variety of action of teams from the Treasure Coast all the way down to Homestead. Atlantic, Coconut Creek, Fort Pierce Westwood, Miami Norland, and Miami Edison will be featured in Day 1 of the jamboree on Fri. May 17 while HIaleah, Homestead, Miramar, Treasure Coast and Palm Beach Gardens will be featured on Day 2 of the jamboree on Sat. May 18.
Other jamborees worth watching that just missed the cut: Clearwater Central Catholic, Pinellas Park (Largo) at Countryside (Clearwater) – May 15; Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota), Clearwater at St. Petersburg – May 16; Palm Beach Central (Wellington), Spanish River (Boca Raton) West Broward (Pembroke Pines) at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) – May 16; Pensacola Catholic, Pine Forest (Pensacola) at West Florida (Pensacola) – May 17; Jensen Beach, Jupiter, Miami Palmetto, Piper (Sunrise), Seminole Ridge (Westlake) at Jupiter – May 18; Belen Jesuit (Miami), Monsignor Pace (Miami Gardens) vs. Miami Southridge at Southridge Stadium – May 22
