'09 FL OG Jared Wheeler

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'09 FL OG Jared Wheeler



Offensive guard
Plantation (FL) American Heritage

Ht: 6-foot-3
Wt: 300 lbs
Class: 2009 (High School)

FloridaFB

SCOUTING WHEELER: Having watched this youngster from the first day he put on pads as a seventh grader at the varsity level, we have had the opportunity to see a kid mature into a young adult.

This is an athlete who also plays basketball, has tremendous feet and has had more than his share of teaching and coaching along the way at Sheridan Hills Christian, Hollywood Hills and now at American Heritage.

His size and quickness certainly give him the chance to become an elite guard at the next level. His smarts on and off the field make him one of those athletes who will learn and get better.

We have been fortunate to watch his progress at camps, during practices and in games for nearly five years, which is important when evaluating talent. Yet another player we have watched up close and personal with college coaches who have long said that this would be a tremendous player because of everything he brings to the table.

As he heads into the off season and looks toward spring, we believe that this will once again be a football player who will make a major impact as his first ever head coach, Chris Amos, predicted when he had him as a seventh grader!

WHEELER WOWS: By the time he graduates next year, there won't be anyone in our recent memory who has started more games at the varsity level in Florida. He began his career, as a seventh grader, at Sheridan Hills Christian School.

His older sister, Jenna, was one of the top volleyball players in Broward County at Hollywood Hills, where Wheeler attended as a ninth and 10th grader. His younger (10th grade) brother, Jacob, is 6-8!

Was viewed as one of the elite players at the D-1 Camp at Nova Southeastern last June, which was a huge springboard to his career. He was also selected as the top OL prospect by Floridafb.com after his sophomore season.

He also played for the state-rated American Heritage basketball team.

WHAT THE COLLEGE RECRUITERS ARE SAYING: "Having watched his progress over the past few years, this is a big, athletic young man who will continue to mature and learn more about his position."

HIS BAGS ARE PACKED: Take your pick. Nearly every school in the country is watching this standout. Most believe that if the Florida Gators offer, he will accept, but there is a long way to go before that decision will be made.

RP Discussion Links:

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Manny Navarro's Spring Tour, Part 5 - 05/24/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

You don't have to go very far from Plantation to find more talent in Broward.

Go west on Sunrise Boulevard to nearby American Heritage and there are several big-time players -- none bigger than 6-6, 305-pound offensive tackle Jared Wheeler (who also is in the 30s among college offers).

When I stopped by Heritage on Wednesday, Wheeler was in the weight room, pushing his teammates to go heavier. I got a chance to speak with Wheeler for more than 30 minutes and came away impressed with how important academics are to him. He really wants to study engineering in college and said he will take trips to Stanford and Boston College this summer. Wheeler, though, has plenty of other schools pursuing him, including the University of Florida, where his sister is a freshman.

''He by far has the best tools of any prospective player I've coached,'' Heritage coach Byron Walker said.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

5/27

From the Florida site...most recent offers are from LSU, FSU and Florida. Sister attends Florida and talks about his interest in LSU, FSU, Florida and Miami, but is also considering other schools.

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A. Heritage's Wheeler built to succeed - 05/30/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

He's a 6-6, 305-pound rising senior.

He drives a family-size van, which he uses to haul five of his eight brothers and sisters to Plantation American Heritage.

And if the NFL doesn't come calling, he plans to become an engineer.

American Heritage offensive lineman Jared Wheeler doesn't do small. From his size to his automobile to his career and football aspirations, Wheeler is big and he thinks that way, too.

Wheeler started playing football in middle school at 6-0, 200 pounds. Five years ago, when the football program at Sheridan Hills got under way, Wheeler was among the 22 players on the varsity team.

''Back then, I'm this little seventh grader playing spring football,'' Wheeler said. ``I'm going up against 300-pound boys at the time and I never got off the field. . . . I was on the kick return, punt return, punt team, offense and defense. I played everywhere. Anything that includes running people over, I loved it and still do.''

It's that kind of effusive attitude and work ethic that has Wheeler preparing this spring for what should be an eventful senior year.

''Jared is sitting on top of the world right now,'' coach Byron Walker said.

Wheeler, who is rated among the top 25 prospects in Florida, has impressed college scouts with his size, smarts and athleticism.

The 18-year-old said he has received scholarship offers from every Southeastern Conference school and most BCS schools.

''It's a shorter list of who has not offered Jared,'' Patriots offensive coordinator Brandon Walker said.

For all the opportunities he has in football, however, Wheeler's college choice will come down to a much more important matter. With a 4.1 GPA, Wheeler said he is more interested in which school has the best engineering program.

''I'm going to spend the summer looking at places,'' Wheeler said. ``The big thing for me is the academics.''

Division I schools have plenty to like about Wheeler. In addition to being a model student and citizen, the burly left tackle is relentless in his practice habits.

And it's not just the work ethic that makes Wheeler such a prized prospect.

Along with his younger brother, Jacob, Jared plays basketball for the Patriots, which has helped his football skills.

''A lot of times you find high school linemen who are statues,'' Brandon Walker said. ``They don't move very well. Jared bends very well and he runs really well and part of it is because he's been playing basketball a long time.''

In fall 2009, Wheeler will be at a Division I football program and could even start as a freshman, given his knowledge of the game.

''I'm not just saying this because he's my brother,'' said Jacob Wheeler, a right tackle. ``But he's really football-smart. He's quick to react to whatever the defense is doing and sees things happen at the line before anyone else does. That's big right there.''

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A little housecleaning...

Four Recruits Visiting Auburn

9/19

Four Broward County prospects--Shane Gordon, Conor O'Neill, Jared Wheeler, and Steven Jacques--are taking a trip to Auburn this weekend to see the Tigers host LSU, the defending national champions.

ESPN Gameday will be on the Auburn campus for the 7:45 p.m. start at Jordan-Hare Stadium, which will be jam-packed with over 87,000 in attendance.

Cypress Bay LB Shane Gordon has always said good things about Auburn so it will be interesting to see how his trip goes. Gordon has over 10 scholarship offers. SEC rivals South Carolina and Mississippi have also offered Gordon in addition to Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and South Florida.

St. Thomas Aquinas LB Conor O'Neill took a trip to Clemson last week and has a trip scheduled to Wisconsin two weeks after the Auburn trip. O'Neill has said those are his top three and a decision could come soon after his trips are completed.

American Heritage OL Jared Wheeler and South Broward OL Steven Jacques have both expressed heavy interest in the Florida schools as it is believed Wheeler likes Miami and Florida and Jacques likes Miami and Florida State. It is more likely Jacques would be interested in Auburn as they have been in on him since the beginning. Jacques will also visit South Florida and West Virginia.