No. 9 Washington (Miami) - Team preview / Preseason photo gallery
Strengths: Numerous starters are back from last year's Class 4A title-winning squad that hammered Bolles 35-7 in the finals. Quarterback
Treon Harris, who threw for 2,461 yards last year, enters his third season as the team's starting quarterback.
Lamar Parker,
Deltron Hopkins,
Krondis Larry and sophomore
Mark Walton give the team plenty of firepower on offense. The Tornadoes will also benefit from an experienced offensive line.
Chad Thomas is back on the defensive line after registering 54 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
James King, a transfer from Miami Beach, will help fill the void left by Matthew Thomas.
Question marks: This team has national title-caliber talent, and a schedule that could justify a No. 1 ranking. However, it was similarly touted last fall before it squandered a 16-point lead and lost to local rival Miami Central. With the Rockets back on the schedule this fall, and with a game against Georgia defending AAAAAA champion Norcross, Booker T. will need to play at a much higher level than last fall to escape September undefeated.
Outlook: One can make the argument that Booker T. Washington deserves a No. 1 preseason ranking for Florida. Others peg the Tornadoes in the 4-6 range. What's clear is that given its landmine-filled schedule, it has a chance to rise quickly up the national rankings.
