No. 16 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) - Team preview / Preseason photo gallery
Strengths: After a disappointing 2011 season that ended with a 6-3 loss to Dwyer, St. Thomas Aquinas reasserted itself in 2012 with a Class 7A title run that featured a
stunning 35-18 victory over then No. 1-ranked Manatee. Numerous key players return from that squad, led by running back
Madre London and receiver
Corey Holmes.
Nick Linder is the leader of a big, nasty offensive line.
Anthony Moten, a Florida commit, is a key asset on defense.
Reigning National Freshman of the Year Nicholas Bosa should blossom even more as a sophomore. He'll thrive under the tutelage of the team's new defensive coordinator, Bill Tierney, a key cog in Don Bosco Prep's 2009 national championship team.
Question marks: John O'Korn, the quarterback who guided the team's offense last fall, will not be easy to replace.
Wade Freebeck, who spent last season at Western, looks like he could be the starter, but he'll have to earn it. The secondary returns only
Al Harris but has several young players who appear ready to step into starting roles. The team's linebackers were a highly senior-driven unit last year. As such, they will be largely inexperienced to begin 2013.
Outlook: Aquinas opens with a matchup that South Florida football fans have been dreaming of for a long time: a showdown against Northwestern (Miami). The large crowd and postseason-caliber intensity will be a great test.
