Deerfield Beach High is extremely well known for its yearly production of high-level athletes, many of whom have moved on to the professional ranks.
Known as a breeding ground for some of the best football talents in South Florida, Deerfield has seen many of its former players move on to Division-1 caliber schools, especially in recent years. Many of those former Bucks have had their skills acknowledged by NFL teams who selected them in their annual draft.
Deerfield Beach High currently has six alumni actively playing in the NFL, which is the most among all public high schools in the nation as far as representation in the league. This statistic may surprise some, but it is a testament to the rich tradition of hard work and success that has been built at Deerfield over many decades.
The list includes Jason Pierre Paul, who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants and now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jerry Jeudy, a 2016 graduate, starred at Alabama and won a national championship with the Crimson Tide before being selected 15th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft. Jason Strowbridge and James Pierre were two other former Deerfield players who were selected in the 2020 draft, going to the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers respectively. Capping off the list are two standout wide receivers in the Atlanta Falcons’ Brandon Powell and the Chicago Bears’ Riley Ridley.
“This really is a proud moment. It is a testament to the hard work that these guys have been putting in. They have been building a foundation for our program. It is well deserved and well earned,” said head football coach Jevon Glenn.
“Those kids have worked really hard on and off the field and have put themselves in a position to have these honors. I’m really proud of the things they have accomplished and the trail that they have set for these guys that will be coming up to follow them,” Glenn said.
Another football player worth mentioning is former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Denard Robinson, who had his No. 16 retired by Deerfield Beach High in 2018. Robinson is now the offensive quality control coach for the Jaguars.
One can also look to Deerfield High’s own administration to find a former professional football player. Assistant Athletic Director Josh Philpart spent two years playing for the Jacksonville Sharks of the now-defunct Arena Football League.
A handful of former 2020 Beach Boys have found their way onto the rosters of some of the top football universities in the country. Former Bucks quarterback Michael Pratt has found a gig as the starter for the Tulane Blue Wave. Pratt was named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team for his efforts this past season. The University of Miami also features two Deerfield stars of old in running back Jaylan Knighton and flex player Xavier Restrepo.
While football is certainly Deerfield Beach High’s forte, it is not the only professional sport to boast ‘Next Level Beach Boys’. Two Bucks baseball players have found success in Major League Baseball organizations. Pitchers Mike Fiers and Mickey Storey, who were both key figures on the 2003 district championship team, still have roles in pro ball.
Fiers, who has played with the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and Oakland Athletics, has had quite the career. Fiers has tossed two no-hitters during his ten-year tenure in the Majors, one in 2015 and the most recent in 2019. He also won a World Series championship with the Astros in 2017. This title became the center of controversy in late 2019 when Fiers revealed the Astros’ elaborate and illegal sign-stealing operation to The Athletic. Fiers was playing for Oakland at the time of the story’s publication and felt that he needed to set the record straight. The Astros ‘17 championship has generally been viewed as illegitimate by baseball fans after Fiers came forward. Fiers returns to Deerfield High in the offseason to throw bullpens and spread his knowledge to the Bucks’ current ballplayers.
Storey also played for the Astros in 2012 and spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013. More recently, he returned to the Astros organization in 2020 to manage the Round Rock Express, the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Texas.
Former Deerfield athletes have also found professional success overseas. Julius Jenkins and Elson Nesbitt, two former basketball stars, played professionally in Germany and Belgium respectfully.
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