Conference USA has long taken advantage of the South Florida pipeline, and that remains the case entering the 2026 college football season.
Unsurprisingly, FIU has several Miami-Dade County alumni poised to make significant impacts this year, and they’re not alone. The time is now for those from the 305.
For this story, we are including only players with a Miami-Dade County school listed on their school’s official football roster. Players who are originally from Miami-Dade County but played elsewhere in high school are listed separately. Check your favorite team’s category page for those posts!
FIU
Dante Anderson, DE, Homestead Senior, R-Sr.: A former four-star prospect and Florida State transfer, get ready to hear Anderson’s name throughout the 2026 season. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Anderson forced three fumbles and recorded five TFLs in his first year at FIU. We won’t be surprised to see him in an NFL training camp next spring.
Demetrius Hill, S, Miami Springs, R-Sr.: Hill’s college journey has been fascinating, with him signing with FIU out of high school. After redshirting in 2021, he joined former Indianapolis Colts star receiver T.Y. Hilton as the only FIU players to ever appear on the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team with a phenomenal 2022 campaign. Hill then spent two years at Illinois, returned to FIU ahead of the 2025 season, and is a legitimate All-CUSA candidate.
Germaine Carter, DT, Miami Norland, Jr.: Carter impressed as a sophomore, racking up three TFLs and 1 1/2 sacks for Willie Simmons’ Panthers squad. Keep your eyes on how he develops throughout the 2026 season, especially given defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt’s track record with NFL players.
Robert Czeremcha, K, Christopher Columbus, R-Sr.: Czeremcha went 2-of-3 on field goals last year and is a perfect 19-of-19 on extra points in two seasons. If this FIU offense lives up to expectations, he’ll have no shortage of chances to maintain his 100% extra point rate.
Liberty
Refeno Vangates, WR, American, R-Sr.: Vangates arrives at Liberty after a 26-catch, 352-yard season at North Carolina Central. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Vangates also shone on special teams, returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown against Morgan State last November. The former All-Dade County receiver initially began his college career at Keiser.
Missouri State
Anthony Mattison, S, Miami Norland, Jr.: Mattison joins Missouri State after a stellar season at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, having totaled 13 tackles for loss and four sacks as a linebacker/safety hybrid. We suggest getting familiar with Mattison, because safeties who can create that much havoc in the backfield often find themselves on NFL teams’ radars.
Antonio Smith, S, Gulliver Prep, Jr.: Smith tallied 13 tackles in his first season with the Bears after transferring over from FAU. Missouri State caught college football by surprise last year, going 7-6 and reaching the Xbox Bowl in its first season as an FBS program. What do Smith and the Bears have in store next?
New Mexico State
Luke Moise, G, Miami Central, Jr.: In what is a must-win season for New Mexico State coach Tony Sanchez, at least he now has Moise on his offensive line. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Moise started all 24 games he played at Wofford, including three at center last year.
Sam Houston
Tim Burns Jr., WR, Miami Northwestern, Sr.: Burns turned heads at Navarro College in 2024, earning SWJCFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 after a 53-catch, 860-yard season. He’s excelled as a returner at both schools, scoring a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown against Oregon State last November. Burns finished his first season at Sam Houston State with 12 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown.
Which former Florida high school players are you expected to see in college football this season? Let us know!
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