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'09 FL LB/S Frankie Telfort (Southern Cal Signee)

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Finalist for the high school version of the Butkus Award

Press Release

Finalists were named today for the 24th Annual Butkus Award(R) honoring the nation's top football linebackers.

The 12 collegiate finalists from 10 institutions include last year's winner James Laurinaitis from Ohio State University. Meanwhile, the first-ever high school category includes 12 candidates from high schools in eight states.

...

High school finalists: Nico Johnson, Andalusia High School, Andalusia, Ala.; Tana Patrick, North Jackson High School, Stevenson, Ala.; Marquis Simmons, Dominguez High School, Compton, Calif.; Frankie Telfort, Gulliver Prep, Miami, Fla.; Willie Ferrell, FAMU High School, Tallahassee, Fla.; C.J. Mizell, Leon High School, Tallahassee, Fla.; Jarvis Jones, Carver High School, Columbus, Ga.; Kevin Minter, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, Ga.; Manti Te'o, Punahou High School, Honolulu, Hi.; Jelani Jenkins, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Wheaton, Md.; Chris Norman, Renaissance High School, Detroit, Mich.; Dorian Bell, Gateway High School, Monroeville, Pa.
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Yea I think the coaches really want a safety in this class. And theres some talk that his USC and maybe FLa offers arn't holding up. But who knows, and his film I thought was a lot like Dorian bells just maybe not as polished. But this kid is a seek and destroy player.
 
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Gulliver is a private school just a few miles north of Miami Palmetto, where Jaamal Berry played. It's produced some great athletes over the years. Sean Taylor, the late Redskins DB, played there.

Having seen him play, he has a motor on him that reminds me a bit of Sean Spence, the freshman LB at Miami that has gotten a lot of accolades and attention. The one knock is that Gulliver plays in 2A football and having been in this area a long time, it's not what I would call the most competitive class in the state, since it doesn't play teams like Jaamal's Palmetto Panthers, which are in 6A. Most 2A teams when they have been playing higher classed teams this year have gotten royally killed.

My take on this is that Telfort wants to prove something on Sunday night on the field and then see how the recruiting goes for him after that game.

I can contrast him with Lamarcus Joyner, the fine DB out nearby Miami Southwest, who has played against tougher competition like Jaamal Berry's Palmetto squad and done a superb job despite similar size to Telfort.

So, let's see how Frankie does this weekend.
 
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From Rivals.com, Frankie was credited with one tackle in the UA All-American game:

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There seems to be such a huge discrepancy of opinion on Telfort which is very unusual this late in the process. On the surface, it appears that the top programs in the country are fighting hard for the kid (UF, OSU, USC) and the recruiting gurus all seem to love him. On the other hand, there are credible reports that say the UF and USC offers aren't actually commitable offers and many who have seen him play in Florida view him as more of a low level recruit who will likely end up at Duke or somewhere.

Does the BPRT have an opinion on the issue? Is the truth somewhere in between or is one version of the facts more accurate?
 
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tlinc;1375330; said:
There seems to be such a huge discrepancy of opinion on Telfort which is very unusual this late in the process. On the surface, it appears that the top programs in the country are fighting hard for the kid (UF, OSU, USC) and the recruiting gurus all seem to love him. On the other hand, there are credible reports that say the UF and USC offers aren't actually commitable offers and many who have seen him play in Florida view him as more of a low level recruit who will likely end up at Duke or somewhere.

Does the BPRT have an opinion on the issue? Is the truth somewhere in between or is one version of the facts more accurate?
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I don't think he is a low level recruit and certainly he is much better than Duke. His on the field speed reminds me of this guy Spence who plays for Miami. Also reminds me a bit of Zach Thomas, the former Dolphin standout. Telfort will give you 110% effort. He certainly didn't get pushed around Sunday night so I know he can compete at the next level.

Again, the only knock on him I see is the level of competition. But Florida 2A ball might be in some other states what we might term the top class or just one class below it. I think we need to keep that in mind when talking about any recruit out of the state of Florida, because these guys would be Superman in a lot of other states. Keep in mind, Buckeye recruit Carlos Hyde played in 3A football here in Florida.

I think you've got one hungry football player in Telfort and I am sure that would show on the field if OSU were to go after him.
 
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Scout.com: Recruiting Rankings: Who's Up? Who's Down?
(free)

*DOWN*
Frankie Telfort, 5-11/195, Linebacker, Gulliver Prep, Fla.
Considering Florida and USC

His game speed is a question for safety, and his size is a question at linebacker. Obviously, his height is out of his control, but he needs to play better in space.
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*DOWN*
Frankie Telfort, 5-11/195, Linebacker, Gulliver Prep, Fla.
Considering Florida and USC

Tellfort enjoys making the big hit, but he is not a real sure tackler. He always seemed to be a step a way from making the tackle, and just unable to get to the spot. He is a physical kid, but his reaction time seems to be lacking.
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Posted on Friday, 01.09.09 Recommend (0)share email print comment reprint
Gulliver's Frankie Telfort making believers out of doubters

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Is Gulliver Prep's Frankie Telfort more suited at safety or linebacker? PETER ANDREW BOSCH / MIAMI HERALD STAFF
Photo BY LARRY BLUSTEIN
[email protected]

Frankie Telfort and his family have had quite a two years on the football field. As a junior at Coral Reef, where he was introduced to the nation, and this year as a member of the 2A state runner-up Gulliver Prep Raiders. But soon, this gifted athlete will have a decision to make. One that will be the most important of his young life.

All season, much of the focus was what position this 5-11, 205-pounder will play. Linebacker or safety?

With schools such as Florida and the University of Southern California in the mix early on, there was some skepticism whether this speedy (4.41) standout could lineup at linebacker, but those who doubted him, were treated to impressive performances in his last two games -- against Jacksonville Bolles in the state title game -- and last weekend in Orlando in the Under Armor All-Star event.

With 12 tackles in the title game, Telfort silenced many of those who doubted if he could get it done against top-flight competition. Then, performing against the best in the all-star game, he did the same.

''I knew from the first day I arrived in Orlando that I belonged,'' Telfort said. ``I went up against some of the top-rated players in practice and came away more than holding my own.''

HYBRID DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Telfort is a hybrid defensive player. His speed is certainly the wildcard in the mix, giving schools the option of playing him at safety or linebacker, where he has spent a majority of his career.

Schools such as Florida and USC use larger linebackers, but the thought of a player with his skill level and speed, playing in the secondary, is intriguing. Perhaps enough for Stanford to offer.

''The Stanford thing has been in play all along,'' Telfort said. ``I am going there this weekend, and with the academics and improving football, it looks like a place where I would fit in fine.''

When he returns from California, Telfort will then take a trip to Gainesville and perhaps Ohio State before settling in making a decision based on what's best for him and not where the popular decision may be.

''This is a decision of a lifetime,'' Telfort said. ``One that will immediately change my life, so the entire family will be in on this decision.''

While Telfort continues his search for the perfect schools, other area prospects will make their choices.
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Gulliver's Frankie Telfort making believers out of doubters - Sports - MiamiHerald.com
 
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Great article and it brings up something else.

It notes he was playing at Coral Reef High School. That is a magnet high school. For those not familiar with this, it is public high school that specializes in certain key subjects and accepts applications from middle schools (I call them jr. highs) around the county and then selection is done by lottery except in the case certain music/arts programs. It's one of the best high schools in the county, state of Florida and in the U.S. Coral Reef also plays in the same district as Jaamal Berry's team, Palmetto. Telfort's current school Gulliver is one of the top private schools academically in the county, and the three schools are very close by. Thus, Telfort was playing against some good competition in the southern part of Miami, even though Coral Reef is not a powerhouse team by a longshot, thus this kid has had to pick up the slack and really has done an outstanding job.

He did play very well against Jacksonville Bolles in the 2A title game and I saw that game on tv. Granted, not the top recruit at his position but he's still up there.
 
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