Braden River alum Troy Gatling is averaging 93 all-purpose yards a game for the New Mexico Military Institute.

That ranks him second on the team. The wide receiver has racked up most of his yardage in kick returns, taking one back for a touchdown in three games this season.

Gatling is one of several Manatee County players at the Junior College program in Roswell.

Desmond Blue, a former Herald All-Area Defensive Player of the Year for Southeast, is excelling in a new role. A linebacker for the Seminoles, Blue is playing safety and has already adjusted for the Broncos.

The freshman leads NMMI in tackles and interceptions. Blue has totaled 43 tackles and two interceptions, while also logging four pass breakups and one forced fumble in playing all six games for the Broncos (4-2).

He is joined in the secondary by Robert Jackson III (10 tackles and a blocked punt in five games) and Dequan Reddick (12 tackles in five games), who anchored Palmetto's fierce defense as the Tigers advanced to last year's Class 5A state semifinals.

Golf

Ericka Schneider posted a tie for 15th finish after a 5-over-par 221 total in the Golfweek Conference Challenge at the Red Sky Golf Club in Vail, Colo., last week.

The Lakewood Ranch alum aided fellow Ole Miss senior Haley Sanders in leading the Rebels to sixth place finish (899 total) in the three-day team tournament.

Former Saint Stephen's standout Sean Kelly, who trained at IMG Academies, fired a first-round 74, before falling to a 235 total in the recent Reese Jones Invitational.

The sophomore, though, plays for the University of South Carolina, which finished third in the tournament.

Soccer

Since the University of South Florida's women's soccer team has entered Big East Conference play, former Lakewood Ranch dynamo Sarah Miller has seen significant time on the pitch.

However, Miller hasn't found the net yet. Miller, who ripped off 96 goals and 65 assists during her tenure at Ranch, last scored during the 2011 season. In fact, the sophomore last logged a point in early September when she tallied an assist for the Bulls, who are 6-4-2, against Kennesaw State in the College of Charleston Cup. USF has two consecutive road matches, beginning this Friday against Connecticut, before returning home on Oct. 12 against Syracuse.

Pro spotlight

Palmetto's Mistral Raymond is the next Manatee County player to assert himself in the secondary of an NFL team.

Raymond earned a starting role with the Minnesota Vikings prior to the 2012 season starting, as Manatee County continues to be known for developing NFL-caliber defensive backs.

He joins Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Jenkins and Fabian Washington as recent defensive backs in the NFL.

However, Raymond suffered an ankle injury and was carted off the field in the Vikings' 24-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 23. Reports say he won't need surgery and could miss the next couple weeks. The strong safety tallied five solo tackles in three games.

Jason Dill, Herald sports writer, can be reached at 941-745-7080, ext. 7017. Follow him on Twitter at @Jason_Dill.