Panther wide receiver earns Guy Toph award after catching 75 passes for 1,668 yards and 18 touchdowns; College coaches scavenging Tampa-area for football talent.
By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Wide receiver Derek Winter built quite a resume at Tampa Plant.
He caught 192 passes during his four seasons, totaled almost 4,000 yards and scored 44 touchdowns. His 90 catches during the 2006 season remain a Hillsborough County record. He helped the Panthers to a state championship and has caught the eye of plenty of college recruiters.
He added to that resume last week when was named the recipient of the Guy Toph Award. The honor, given to top football player in Hillsborough County, has been awarded since 1939.
Winter helped the Panthers to an 11-2 record and the state's Class 4A regional finals. He caught 75 passes for 1,668 yards and 18 touchdowns during his senior season. Winter, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, is the second straight Plant player to win the award. Former Plant quarterback, and current University of Miami quarterback Robert Marve, won the award last year.
Area Football Commitments
Tampa Middleton running back Carlton Jones has committed to the University of Toldeo. Jones, 5-11 and 215 pounds, led the Tigers in rushing with 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns. He helped the Tigers to a 7-3 record last season.
Tampa Alonso wide receiver Joe Clarke also is headed to Ohio, although to a different school. Clarke, 6-4 and 190 pounds, has committed to Miami of Ohio. Clarke chose the Redhawks over South Florida and Alabama-Birmingham. Clarke caught 13 passes and scored one touchdown last season.
Other commitments include Tampa Sickles' punter/kicker Corey Page (Holy Cross), Tampa Plant running back Lovell Jackson (Wake Forest), Tampa Berkeley Prep offensive lineman Alex Matzkin (Georgetown), Seffner Armwood kicker Wesley Skiffington (Stony Brook) and Tampa Hillsborough linebacker Marc Thomas (Georgia Southern).
Area Players Dominate Class 4A All-State List
The Florida Sports Writers Association's selection of the top football players in the Class 4A classification is littered with Tampa Bay-area athletes. No less than 24 players from the Bay area made the state's list of the best.
Leading the way on the All-State first team were Tampa Plant's quarterback Aaron Murray and wide receiver Derek Winter. Seffner Armwood offensive lineman Matt Patchan and defensive lineman Ryne Giddins also were named to the first team, along with St. Petersburg Northeast running back Jeff Brinson and Tampa Hillsborough linebacker Marc Thomas.
Area players making the All-State second team were New Port Richey Ridgewood running back Byronnell Arline and linebacker Ben Perry and Plant offensive lineman Rhonne Sanderson and defensive back Hunter Baldwin. Others making the second team included Gulfport Boca Ciega quarterback Orhian Johnson, Tampa Jefferson defensive lineman Max Holloway and Armwood defensive back Angelo Hadley.
Armwood running back Eric Smith, lineman Juan Gorostiaga and linebacker Petey Smith were among the area's All-State Third Team selections. Plant wide receiver Cornelius Gallon and Jefferson's Gorby Loreus were the others.
The honorable mention list included Tampa Middleton running back Carlton Jones, Tampa Leto senior defensive lineman James Guyton, Armwood offensive lineman Justin Cabbagestalk, defensive lineman Zachori Beasley and the Hillsborough duo of Moses McCray (DL) and Chuck Grace (DB).
