No. 14 Glades Central

Speed has been the hallmark of the Glades Central program for years and that will be no different in 2011.

Fourteen starters, many of them lightning-quick, return for the Raiders following a 12-2 season that ended with a one-point loss to Cocoa in the Class 2A playoffs.

The team's defense, particularly against the pass, should be its strength. The secondary is loaded, with Jamie Wilson, Crevon Leblanc, junior William Likely and Pahokee transfer Leon King all possessing Division I-type talent.

The linebacking unit will be equally fierce. Jatavis Brown, Dominique Gibson and Don'kevious Johnson all return and should be adept at plugging the run game as well as dropping back into coverage.



Aaron Baker should see most of the carries, but watch for sophomore Jerry Jones, an accomplished track runner. There's no shortage of other athletes able to take handoffs as well. Likely and Wilson should double as receivers giving new quarterback Tanner Redish plenty of targets.

Redish will likely be the determining factor in how far this Glades Central team can go. It returns two starters on the offensive line, a nice foundation to make sure Redish has time in the pocket. However, Glades Central's schedule is brutal early on, so Redish needs to acclimate extremely quickly for his team, which is ranked No. 7 on MaxPreps' Top 10 Florida Football Dynasties list.

Glades Central's defensive line will be inexperienced and undersized, but very fast. The team's linebackers and defensive backs will be able to pick up the slack early on as the unit develops. There's plenty of talent to go around on offense. If Redish can get in sync with his receivers and the Raiders can fine-tune their running game, this Glades Central squad will be bound for the state title game in Orlando.

Local look: "It's a mixture of old and new at Glades Central. After losing his second consecutive state-title game, former coach Jessie Hester was fired and replaced with Roosevelt Blackmon, another Glades Central legend. Blackmon brings a defensive mind to a defensively stacked team. The Raiders will line up at least six BCS-level players on defense. On offense, Redish, who transferred to Glades Central in the spring, has a lot riding on his arm. The Raiders are again favorites to make a run to the state championship, but the questions about Redish and Blackmon persist. How quickly the new faces jell with the old stars will be the main factor in Glades Central's success or failure."
- Jeff Greer, Palm Beach Post

Continue to School Profile
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School size: Class 5A


Enrollment: 1,116




2010 finish: 12-2


Head coach: Roosevelt Blackmon


Career record: 0-0


Years at school: First as head coach


Notable alumni:
Fred Taylor (Florida, NFL)
Santonio Holmes (Ohio State, NFL)
Ray McDonald (Florida, NFL)

Continue to Key Returners
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No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 8 (defense)

Key losses:
WR Kelvin Benjamin
DL Robert Way
WR Davonte Allen



Key returners:
LB Jatavis Brown
LB Dominique Gibson
WR/DB Jamie Wilson
ATH Crevon Leblanc
ATH William Likely

Key newcomers:
QB Tanner Redish
LB/DB Leon King
RB Jerry Jones




Continue to Season Outlook
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Toughest game: Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens). Glades Central has had success against local rival Dwyer in recent years, but the Panthers will be strong once again in 2011. This will be an instant test to see if Glades Central belongs among the nation's elite.

Question mark: How well can Tanner Redish, a transfer from Glades Day, adjust behind center?

Local outlook: Glades Central and Dwyer should be the top two teams in Palm Beach County, but American Heritage, which is extremely talented and improved greatly throughout the season last year, could emerge on the national scene.

Overall outlook: This team has an extremely high ceiling, but with a new head coach, a new quarterback and new players on both lines, it is not without its uncertainties. If this team comes together over the summer, it will have the ability to overwhelm teams this fall.

Coach quote: "We've always had talent. I'm never going to doubt that."
- Roosevelt Blackmon

Continue to Video of Returning Players
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