Out of 22 starting spots, Booker T. Washington has 18 of those spots filled by returning starters. That's cause for more than just optimism in Overtown.
Photo by Stuart Browning
In one of high school football’s most fertile football hotbeds,
Washington (Miami) could be top dog this fall.
Last season, the Tornadoes lost narrowly to Bolles in the Class 4A title game. This season, with a whopping 18 starters back, there’s simply no reason to think this team won't be playing for a state title once again.
On offense, it starts with returning quarterback
Treon Harris, son of head coach Tim “Ice” Harris. A member of Booker T.’s highly touted 2014 class, Harris tossed for 1,320 yards and rushed for another 892 as a sophomore.
Lamar Parker is one of two returning wide receivers.
Photo by Stuart Browning
Receivers
Lamar Parker and
Nicholas Norris return on the outside while
Krondis Larry and
D'von Ballard, the team’s top two running backs a year ago, are also back in addition to 2015 standout
Shaquille Green. The offensive line is led by blue-chip recruit
Denver Kirkland.
Defensively, Booker T. might be even stronger. One of the nation’s top defensive players dons black and orange in linebacker
Matthew Thomas. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound blue-chip recruit boasts a 4.6 40 time along with a 34-inch vertical jump.
Along with junior
Chad Thomas, he gives the Tornadoes a pair of superb pass rushers with requisite speed to thrive in Dade County.
The secondary, led by Florida State commit
Michael Johnson, will have good speed and good size.
Local looks: “Booker T. Washington is a program that has the right balance of senior leadership mixed in with a number of underclassmen who have already left their mark. The Tornadoes have built through their nationally rated youth football program that is still going strong in Overtown. In addition, having three coaches on staff who have been head coaches and know the community as well as anyone gives this program a huge lift within the region.”
- Larry Blustein, Miami Herald"After seeing the performance level during the 2011 Class 4A state final against Jacksonville Bolles, you could see that this team has what it takes to be a winner in 2012. The talent level is exceptional and to return most of your roster from last season is a huge plus for the Tornadoes. With Ice Harris, he is there to win and it would be very shocking not to see the Tornadoes representing Class 4A South in the 2012 Class 4A Final come December."
- Joshua Wilson, FlaHSFootball.com
