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Miami defensive back transfer commits to Florida State

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Miami defensive back transfer commits to Florida State


Yet another familiar name is coming to Tallahassee.

FSU pursued former UCF Knights defensive back transfer Davonte Brown last offseason, but Brown chose the Miami Hurricanes to play with his brother, former FSU target and fellow defensive back, Damari Brown.

After entering the portal, once again, following one season in Coral Gables, the elder Brown has announced his decision to transfer to Florida State. At 6’2 185 pounds, there’s a thought he’ll play safety in Tallahassee. He’ll be mentored by FSU defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain, his former high school head coach.

Brown was a bona fide starting cornerback at UCF for his final two seasons in Orlando, making him a popular portal target the first time he entered. Last season for the Hurricanes, he was part of an uneven defensive back unit and totaled 10 tackles (eight solo) in 11 games of backup duty. According to Pro Football Focus, his best attribute this past season was tackling.

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We’ll see if Davonte’s addition to the Tribe has any impact on his extremely talented younger brother when the next portal cycle hits.

From his Miami bio:

2023 (Junior): Saw action in 11 games during season…Finished with 10 total tackles (nine solo) in debut season at Miami…Made Hurricanes debut in season opener against Miami (Ohio) (Sept. 1) and finished with pair of stops…Had one solo tackle in win over Texas A&M (Sept. 9)…Had one tackle in wins over Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 14) and at Temple (Sept. 23)…Added one tackle at North Carolina (Oct. 14)…Credited with one stop in Miami’s 2OT win over Clemson (Oct. 21)…Had pair of solo tackles at NC State (Nov. 4)…Saw time at Florida State (Nov. 11)…Finished with one tackle in home finale against Louisville (Nov. 18)…Saw action in regular season finale at Boston College (Nov. 24).

Prior to Miami: Spent first three seasons at UCF, where he delivered standout career…Served as full-time starter for final two seasons and started 31 games while making 36 appearances…Posted 30 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and two interceptions in final season…Had four PBUs and one forced fumble in 2022…During second-year freshman season (2021), earned third-team All-AAC honors from Pro Football Focus while leading team and ranking third in conference with 13 PBUs…Added 28 tackles, one sack and one interception in 2021…Totaled 23 tackles, one tackle for loss and one PBU in true freshman season (2020).

High School: Made 20 tackles, 14 solo, and interception as senior in 2019 at American Heritage High School…Helped American Heritage to 10-2 mark and Florida 5A regional final where Patriots fell 23-20 to Northwestern…Had four tackles for Patriots vs. both Gonzaga and Northwestern in 2019…Helped American Heritage to No. 1 final regular-season 5A ranking by Associated Press and No. 3 in all Florida divisions by FloridaHSFootball.com…Also ran track in high school.

Personal: Intends to major in communication studies…Older brother of freshman, Damari, and son of former Hurricane Selwyn Brown.

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‘Confident’ Bencic takes out Anisimova, eyes Gauff next in Miami

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‘Confident’ Bencic takes out Anisimova, eyes Gauff next in Miami


A “super clean and confident” performance from Belinda Bencic earned her an upset of one Top 10-ranked American at the Miami Open on Monday night — and she’s hoping that form carries over into another in less than 24 hours.

Miami: Scores | Draws | Order of play

The No. 12 seed led nearly wire-to-wire in a 6-2, 6-2 thumping of No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova to put her through to a 12th career WTA 1000 quarterfinal, and second in Miami after she reached the 2022 semifinals. She’ll face another Florida resident, No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, on Tuesday night in the hopes of matching her tournament best from four years ago.

Bencic had good reason to praise her play against Anisimova, in a match that was projected to be a late-afternoon affair but ended up taking the court at 9 p.m. after three of the four matches preceding it on Grandstand stretched to three sets. She landed 87% of her first serves, winning 72% of those points, and hit 19 winners in 14 games to break a 2-2 head-to-head tie against the two-time Grand Slam singles finalist.

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She saved the only break point she faced, too, which came when she was already ahead 6-2, 4-1. 

Bencic next looks to complete a personal Sunshine Double of sorts against Gauff as she eyes back-to-back Top 10 victories on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz.

Though the American has won four of their previous six meetings, Bencic’s most-recent win came in the Round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open last year.

More to come…

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Miami-Dade trainer helps young athletes chase their next big opportunity

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Miami-Dade trainer helps young athletes chase their next big opportunity


KENDALL, Fla. — With March Madness underway and Division I athletes back in the spotlight, the level of training it takes to compete at the top of college sports is getting plenty of attention.

In Kendall, one coach is working every day to help young athletes reach that level.

Kevin Lopez is the fitness director at D1 Training Kendall, where the focus is helping athletes get stronger, faster and more confident.

For Lopez, the work is personal. His own athletic career started with a similar opportunity growing up in Miami.

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“I got trained by a guy down here in Miami who focused on strength and conditioning, specifically for athletes — for kids that are trying develop, improve and go to college,” Lopez said. “It allowed me to be one of the top receivers in that year for our district, which gave me opportunities to go play at Iowa.”

That experience changed his path and ultimately brought him back home.

Now Lopez says his mission is to give other athletes the same type of chance.

“I want to try and help out as many people as I can, to give them that same opportunity, or at least get them as close as they can to reach that if that’s a goal that they have for themselves,” he said.

Inside the gym at D1 Kendall, the training goes well beyond basic workouts.

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“We focus on lateral movements, we focus on their agility, their quickness, we focus on building that upper body strength as well,” he said.

Just as important, he says, is helping athletes stay healthy and confident.

“A lot of kids are coming in to build their confidence,” Lopez said. “It’s not just to improve their speed, their agility, their quickness to transition over to the field or to the court.”

The gym has also become a place where athletes feel comfortable pushing themselves.

“We’re just trying to build a community around here,” Lopez said. “We’re trying to expand and touch as many people, as many athletes, as many adults as we can.”

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“This is a home for them,” he added. “And they have somewhere they’re going to come, feel at ease, not feel intimidated.”

To learn more about D1 Kendall, visit their website.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



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Sebastian Korda stuns world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at 2026 Miami Open | Tennis.com

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Sebastian Korda stuns world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at 2026 Miami Open | Tennis.com


Korda threatened to run away with the second set when he won three games in a row and earned a chance for a double-break lead. Alcaraz held on until it came time for Korda to serve for the match.

Keeping the pressure on, Alcaraz secured a love-break and reeled off five straight games to force a final set.

Undaunted, Korda snapped the streak to get back on the board and weathered some stellar play from Alcaraz to score the first break of the decider.

Down 3-5 for a third straight set, Alcaraz made another brave last stand to force Korda to serve for the match. Korda made no mistake this time, putting away a backhand to set up two match points. Alcaraz saved the first but Korda claimed the second with one last well-struck serve.

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Standing between Korda and a return trip to the quarterfinals will be either No. 14 seed Karen Khachanov or Spanish qualifier Martín Landaluce.



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