Florida LB is a Class Act

Junior to Watch: Mozell Axson Jr.

School: Lakeland (Fla.) George Jenkins HS

Positions: Middle Linebacker and Fullback

Size and speed: Axson Jr. is 6-1, 230 pounds, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. During spring practice at George Jenkins Axson benched pressed 185 pounds 18 times, squatted 425 pounds, power cleaned 190 pounds and turned in a 32-inch vertical jump.

Favorite Schools: Many including Dad’s alma mater, Miami

Skinny: Being the son of a former Miami Hurricane is enough pressure put on an up-and-coming football star. But then to add even more pressure, your Dad (the former Hurricane) is also the linebacker coach of your high school football team, which just happens to be the position you play. Well this is what faces Lakeland George Jenkins linebacker Mozell Axson Jr.

"The thing you have to realize is that Mozell eats, sleeps, and thinks football because once we are done with practice he is going to hear it from his father when he gets home if he misses a tackle or doesn’t go full-out for a play," George Jenkins head coach Casey Vaughn said.

However, as difficult as the situation may sometimes sound, that constant coaching by Mozell Axson Sr. has turned his son into one of the top linebackers in the state of Florida.

As a junior, Axson Jr. racked up 118 tackles, and led the team in tackles for losses. That was Axson Jr.’s second year in a row with 100-plus tackles – as a sophomore he collected 110 tackles. In addition, he also picked off three passes from his coverage linebacker position his junior year on his way to All District, All-County and honorable mention All-State honors in Class 4A.

"MJ lives and breathes football. When the going gets tough, he is at his best," Vaughn said. "He is one of those guys always around the football."

Ordinarily Miami would have the inside track in landing Axson Jr.’s services, however that might not be entirely the case.

"He is like most kids, he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, but if you ask his dad, the main thing he wants is for his son to get an education," Vaughn said. "They both said they would leave the state if he didn’t feel comfortable in-state."

But that has hardly halted Miami’s recruitment, as the ‘Canes are still heavily pursuing Axson Jr. But as of now there is no clear-cut leader.

"The main thing that Axson Jr. is looking for is a school that is going to compete for the national championship over the next couple of years," Vaughn said."

Probably after Axson Jr.’s busy summer, we will get more of an idea after he brings his talents to the Central Florida, Florida, Florida State and Miami summer football camps.

"Here is the best thing I can say about MJ – when the college coaches are here and are at practice, they can close their eyes and listen for pads and that is where MJ is," Vaughn said. "They all know who made that hit.

"MJ is a class act. He is a no sir, yes sir kind of guy. He always has a smile on his face. He currently has a 3.0 GPA but he is taking upper level courses, (like) Physics and Chemistry and he has a 4.0 in both classes."