LocalReplay Class 3A Florida Football Rankings (Preseason Edition)
August 29th, 2007 Posted in Florida Sports, Recruiting News, High School Sports, Florida Football, football, High School FootballLinks to other Florida high school football class previews:
Class 1A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 1B Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 2A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 2B Florida High School Football Rankings
Pine Forest went off to Class 5A, leaving a spot for another team to step up. We think Naples is the team that’s going to take advantage. The Golden Eagles were one of few team’s that gave last year’s champs, Glades Central, a scare, and most of the Eagles are back this fall. We’re most interested in seeing how Immokalee performs this fall after being held out of the postseason in 2006.
1. Naples—Perhaps the team’s top accomplishment in 2006 came during one of two losses. Naples won 11 times, including twice in the state playoffs, but they also fell 24-14 to eventual state champion Glades Central. Not too shabby considering that the game was sandwiched between Glades Central’s 56-0 and 48-0 wins. This fall, the Golden Eagles return almost all of their key players, including QB Craig Wingate, and longtime coach Bill Kramer believes his squad can make some noise deep into the playoffs.
2. (Belle Glade) Glades Central—One of Florida’s swamp monsters is a safe bet to reach the state championship a season after coasting to into the final and winning 39-27 against Pine Forest. They’ll have to battle District 3A-15 foes Cardinal Gibbons in a game that could provide some insight into whether another state title is likely. Expect Glades Central WR Travis Benjamin to be prolific this fall. He’s a game-breaker who can turn on the burners without much warning.
3. Cocoa—Here’s a team that absolutely clobbered New Smyrna Beach in its 27-0 preseason classic win. With FB Brandon Smith and WR/DB David Rowe in the mix, the Tigers are expected to be strong again this fall. In 2006, Cocoa finished 9-2 after losing 38-20 to Kathleen in the regional quarterfinals. Now John Wilkinson is in his third year at the helm and is ready for a third straight playoff berth.
4. (Tallahassee) Godby—A game-winning field goal by Washington knocked a previously unbeaten Godby team out of last year’s playoffs. Led by highly-regarded RB British Footman, who rushed for 121 yards in that heart-breaking loss, and junior QB A.J. Graham, who threw for nearly 1,500 yards last fall, Godby plans to finish stronger in 2007. Footman should top 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns this fall, and Graham could push his way into the upper echelon of Florida’s Class of 2009. There’s every reason to believe the team can go much deeper into the playoffs under Shelton Crews, who is in his ninth season with the Cougars. After all, Washington only lost by a single point in the regional semifinals and the team that defeated them, St. Augustine, fell by a narrow 26-21 score to state runner-up Pine Forest.
5. (Sarasota) Booker—Last fall, Booker went 9-2 and reached the regional semifinals before falling 28-7 to Bartow. The Tornadoes defense led the way under coach Joe Hammond. Look for Booker to reign in District 3A-11 again this fall if they can get by an improved Palmetto team. John Jones Jr. is a key to the team’s success on both sides of the ball. At wide receiver, he caught more than 40 passes for 500-plus yards in 2006. The 6-3, 220-pound Jones is also a swarming defensive lineman who can use speed and size to push past people en route to the ball-carrier. A key game is Oct. 5 at Belen Jesuit.
6. (Fort Lauderdale) Cardinal Gibbons—They eked out an 18-14 win against Monsignor Pace in the regional quarters last fall before falling to Naples to finish at 9-2. Now senior QB David Blackwell is ready for a full season as the signal-caller after earning stripes during a 2006 season that saw him start the year on the opposite end of passes.
7. Immokalee—Naples is strong in District 3A-14, but they likely won’t muscle the Fighting Indians out of the top spot following a 10-0 season last fall. The team returns some key players, including RB Carl Elie, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 17 times last fall, but there are questions on a defense that has lost most of its experienced players and at quarterback, where sophomore Fred Pey will be counted on to lead the charge.
8. (Miami) Belen Jesuit—There might have been more mouthwash than Gatorade at two-a-days this fall after Glades Central pounded Jesuit 56-0 in the regional quarterfinals last fall. That bad taste, though, might be worse with Edison joining a district that already also features Monsignor Pace. Senior LB Diego Fernandez-Soto is back and ready to plow through offensive lines and runners, but some opponents might do the same to Jesuit, which lost the heart of its big offensive line.
9. (Crawfordville) Wakulla—Nigel Bradham is creating quite a buzz, but he’s not the only key to the team’s defense, which also features highly-touted senior DB C.J. Holton, who has a verbal agreement to play at Florida State next fall. Despite the talent, Wakulla only reached the regional quarters last fall and failed to score in a 20-0 loss to eventual state runner-up Pine Forest.
10. (Citra) North Marion—The team’s offense sputtered at times in the state playoffs, and that allowed Pine Forest to claim a 35-21 state semifinals win. Now, North Marion seeks revenge. Now, WR Darius Morgan is ready to explode and carry the offense if North Marion can get the ball in the hands of 6-4 senior.
11. St. Augustine—In his 12th season at the helm, coach Joey Wiles hopes to get over the hump after his team was dealt an early playoff exit last fall. The 2005 state champs return a deep and talented roster that includes QB Kawau Jakes. Junior RB Jarvis Jordan will be relied upon to help carry the running game.
12. (Orlando) Bishop Moore—After winning its first 11 games, Bishop Moore was eliminated from a state title run in a 12-7 loss to North Marion. Now they enter 2007 without star RB V.J. Floyd, who dominated last fall before graduating in the spring. Bishop Moore also lost two key offensive linemen, which will make the running game difficult.
13. Palatka—The team had a mediocre 2006, finishing 5-6 and losing 28-21 to Andrew Jackson in the regional quarters. Some key starters from that squad are gone, but fourth-year coach Wilson Edwards has hopes again for a playoff berth. He’ll likely rely heavily this year on senior RB Malcolm Smith, who can barell through the middle with his 5-9, 200, pound frame.
14. Bartow—There’s a monster lurking on defense here, as LB Aaron Davis kicks off his senior year looking for big hits and big collegiate offers.
15. Eustis—Many starters are back from coach Steve Moser’s 2006 team, which lost to North Marion in the regional finals last fall. Expect Moser, in his sixth year, to air it out with the arm of senior QB Courtney Keith.
16. (Palm Coast) Matanzas—In its first year last fall, the football program finished at 5-4. Don’t count this squad out of the running in District 3A-4, where St. Augustine and Palatka are the primary competitors.
17. Pensacola—There’s a little more elbow room in District 3A-1 this fall, and Pensacola hopes to parlay that into a deep playoff run. There’s every reason to believe it could happen following the team’s strong 2006 season, which featured eight wins and just two losses, both to district teams that are no longer in the district.
18. Dunnellon—Senior LB Lerentee McCray is a punishing defender with speed and power, but he’s not alone on the Dunnellon defense, which also features LB Dustin Young. With third-year coach Frank Beasley calling the plays, QB Andrew Stichter should continue to emerge. Expect him to throw for about 1,500 yards with 15 touchdowns. There have been some changes to the running game, and there’s a chance that McCray will play a role for the offense this fall.
19. (Lakeland) Kathleen—This team earned a playoff berth in 2006 and defeated Cocoa, 38-20, in the regional quarters before falling 31-28 to (Wauchula) Hardee, which then dropped a quadruple-overtime thriller to Bartow. Senior WR T.J. Lawrence is ready for another big season after catching 70 balls for 1,245 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2006.
20. (Titusville) Astronaut—The War Eagles launched itself into the state playoffs but finished 8-3 after a devastating 10-9 loss to Bartow, which went on to reach the state semifinals. Now, though, the team that swept District 3A-9 in 2006 is challenged by some stiff competition, including fellow district team Cocoa, a lock for the district title.
2 Trackback(s)