By Patrick Lammer Sun Sentinel
3:28 p.m. EDT, October 13, 2010
Dwyer's talented trio of Nick O'Leary, Jacoby Brissett and Curt Maggitt is headed to Madison, Wis., this weekend to take an official visit to Wisconsin when the No. 18 Badgers play host to No. 1 Ohio State.
Coach Jack Daniels' Panthers, the defending Class 4A state champions, are loaded again this year with major-college prospects. Second-ranked Dwyer is off to a 4-1 start after defeating Palm Beach Lakes 62-6 Friday, with its only loss coming in a controversial finish vs. Cleveland Glenville in Ohio on Labor Day.
O'Leary, who at 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds, is widely considered the top tight end prospect in the nation, said the Panthers are starting to come together after tweaking a few missing parts due to graduation losses.
"I feel that we're just as good as last year," O'Leary said. "We don't have as many athletes as we had last year. But we're picking it up on the O-line now, cutting down on penalties and hopefully we can win another state championship."
Offensively, quarterback Jacoby Brissett makes Dwyer go. The 6-4, 230-pounder, who is also one of the top basketball prospects in the state, threw for three touchdowns against Lakes as Dwyer amassed 546 yards of total offense.
This week Dwyer will play host to Class 6A power Park Vista (4-1) on Thursday night.
"I think we're getting a lot better," Brissett said. "A lot more players are stepping up. We are being able to throw the ball around to our receivers, getting into our plays. I think our line is coming along ? they've come so far since the first game we played together."
All three plan to take all of their official visits before making a decision.
The trio checked out Florida State unofficially; visited Tuscaloosa, Ala., the weekend of Oct. 2 for the Crimson Tide's victory over Florida; has Wisconsin this weekend; and will be in Baton Rouge, La., the first weekend in November for 'Bama at LSU.
"That's the three [official visits] I've set so far," said Maggitt, a 6-4, 220-pound defensive end. "I'm definitely going to take all five, and I'm thinking probably Georgia [will get a visit]. But I haven't really decided yet. I'm just keeping it wide open still."
"I have no clue yet," added O'Leary, on who will get his final two official visits.
ESPN national recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg believes FSU is the front-runner to land O'Leary, and says if there is a No. 2 it's probably Alabama. Coach Daniels has gone on the record that he believes O'Leary will end up in Tallahassee as well.
As for when an announcement might come?
O'Leary said: "I am either going to do it in the Army [All-American] Game or just before then." Maggitt intends to declare his intentions the day after Christmas on a friend's television show. Brissett? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.
Among other Dwyer players with Division I-A offers: defensive tackle Keith Bowers (6-1, 260) has offers from Maryland, FIU and FAU, among others, with interest from Illinois and Kansas State; cornerback/wide receiver Darrell Hunter (5-11, 175) has been offered by Bowling Green, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Buffalo and Cincinnati, with interest from Maryland; and junior Bobby Puyol (5-11, 165) is one of the top kicking prospects in the South.
Wisconsin seems to be a long shot to land the three Dwyer standouts, but don't count out the Badgers. Head coach Bret Bielema recruited South Florida as an assistant coach at Iowa and assistant coach Charlie Partridge is a native of Plantation.