Recruiting: Florida Gators were the biggest in-state winner in June
USA Today Florida Network recruiting reporters Jon Santucci and Nick Wilson look at which schools have had the most success during the month of June.
- The FHSAA received allegations against Miami Northwestern’s football program following a social media post by coach Teddy Bridgewater.
- Bridgewater’s post detailed personal spending on the team, including Uber fees, raising concerns similar to violations by The First Academy in 2024.
- The FHSAA investigated Northwestern in recent months, the first regarding an alleged ineligible player that resulted in no action.
The Florida High School Athletic Association is once again looking Miami Northwestern’s football program.
The FHSAA received an allegation against Northwestern on Wednesday, according to FHSAA administrator of public relations Kelvin Richardson, who said Thursday that the FHSAA is looking into the allegation but didn’t have any further updates.
The allegation stems from a social media post by Northwestern coach Teddy Bridgewater on July 7. In a lengthy Facebook post asking for donations for the football program, the former NFL quarterback said he spent considerable personal money on the team in 2024. He specifically noted, “each week I sept [sic] around $700 on uber fees.”
The Uber rides immediately drew attention because it was one of the many violations The First Academy in Orlando was found guilty of in November. That situation ended with the TFA being fined $36,000, forfeiting eight wins, and receiving a two-year postseason ban.
Earlier in the 2024 season, five players from First Academy were initially suspended for a calendar year for receiving impermissible benefits, including four players receiving a free lunch at school and one player receiving a free Uber ride. The length of the suspension was later overturned, and the players sat out one game.
Bridgewater also said he spent $14,000 for a four-night preseason training camp, $9,500 for pride sets (Northwestern-branded clothing), $1,300 a week for recovery trucks after games, and $2,200 a week for pre-game meals.
Bridgewater did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
The FHSAA received an allegation of Northwestern using an ineligible player in November. After almost two weeks of looking into the matter, the FHSAA determined not to take action against the program.
Northwestern is coming off a banner season when it went 12-2 and won the Class 3A state championship. The Bulls outscored their five opponents by a combined score of 222-12 in the postseason and Bridgewater was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year.
Northwestern is expected to be one of the premier teams in the state — if not the country — this fall. In addition to returning five-star senior wide receiver Calvin Russell Jr. (Syracuse commit), four-star junior wide receiver Nick Lennear and three-star senior linebacker Desmond Johnson (Pitt commit), several top players transferred into the program this offseason.
The list of transfers includes four-star senior defensive lineman James Johnson (Georgia commit), four-star senior linebacker Jordan Campbell (Miami commit), three-star safety Tedarius Hughes (Florida State commit) and highly recruited sophomore quarterback Neimann Lawrence.
− USA Today Florida Network Recruiting reporter Nick Wilson contributed to this report.
