NFL Draft prospects who got their start at South Florida high schools

While the Dolphins don't have a first-round pick in Thursday's NFL Draft, local football fans will still have players to root for.

What's happening: Several of the nation's top college prospects whose NFL dreams may come true began their journeys playing high school football across South Florida.

Why it matters: Our area has long been a hotbed of NFL talent, from Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin to former MVP Lamar Jackson and Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.

• Last season, Miami was tied with Houston for the hometown with the most active NFL players (19).

Zoom in: Local players who could get drafted Thursday include Zay Flowers, WR (University School) and Calijah Kancey, DT (Miami Northwestern), per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

• Other local players projected to get drafted in later rounds include Jordan Battle (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Tyrique Stevenson (Miami Southridge).

💭 Martin's thought bubble: I went to St. Thomas Aquinas — the football powerhouse where Irvin and the Bosa brothers studied — and once got an autograph from Irvin.

• Another time, Alabama's legendary coach Nick Saban dropped by my economics class to chat with us.

What's next: The Dolphins have the No. 51 pick in the second round, which starts Friday, plus picks in the third, sixth and seventh rounds.

• The NFL stripped Miami of one of its first-round picks this year for having "impermissible communication" with quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton while they were employed by other teams.