No. 17 Dwyer

There are many new faces on the Dwyer sidelines this season, but the expectations to win a state title are the same.

While Dwyer's senior class doesn't have as much blue-chip, top-level talent as it possessed the past two seasons, this year's team should feature tenacious line play and impressive young talent.

As long as Jack Daniels is at the helm for the Panthers, they will always be extremely well coached.

Line play should be a strength of this year's team. Offensive tackle Patrick Miller, if healthy, will be one of the top players at his position nationally. Heath Walker is another asset returning up front.



The Panthers will line up either Faton Bauta or Bobby Puyol behind center, but both will contribute in other places as well. Puyol is an outstanding kicker, while Bauta will play linebacker if he doesn't win out in the quarterback race as expected.

Cortney Lowery will be the lead back while Julian Whigham brings experience to a receivers unit that is green but also very talented.

Defensive tackle Mike Minns and defensive end Malik Brown will lead the team's front seven with linebacker Gage Batten, a transfer from King's Academy, giving Dwyer major talent at the linebacker position. Two starters returning in the secondary, Whigham and Robert Moss, will blend with some skilled but inexperienced defensive backs. Dwyer's defense should be extremely fast and will be a problem for any team that relies on home-run plays that require a lot of time to develop.

A number of sophomores, including Clint Stephens, Johnnie Dixon, Daikwon Fuse and Shaun Boone, will compete for quality minutes.

Dwyer is never bereft of talent, but there are many unproven players who will be counted on this season. If the Panthers' maturation process occurs as quickly as Daniels and staff like, Dwyer will star the season with an impressive win over a very good Glades Central team.

Local look: "Dwyer is replacing its three biggest pieces. Florida-bound quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Florida State signee Nick O'Leary and Tennessee's Curt Maggitt are gone, but Dwyer has BCS-level prospects in QB/LB Faton Bauta, OL/DL Patrick Miller and LB Gage Batten. DT Mike Minns should contribute as well. Dwyer's road to state will be tough; it moves into a realigned Class 7A which includes St. Thomas Aquinas, Boyd Anderson and Blanche Ely."
- Matt Porter, Palm Beach Post



Continue to School Profile
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School size: 7A


Enrollment: 2,300 (approx.)


2010 finish: Class 4A semifinalist


Head coach: Jack Daniels


Career record: 139-38


Years at school: 15




Notable players coached:
OL Rashad Butler (Miami, NFL)
LB Jaevery McFadden (Wisconsin)
DB Matt Elam (Florida)
QB Jacoby Brissett (Florida)

Continue to Key Returners
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No. of returning starters: 4 (offense), 3 (defense)

Key losses:
QB Jacoby Brissett
DL Curt Maggitt
TE Nick O'Leary

Key returners:
OL Patrick Miller
WR/DB Julian Whigham
DL Mike Minns
QB/K Bobby Puyol

Key newcomers:
QB/LB Faton Bauta (Transfer from Poly Prep)
LB Gage Batten (Transfer from King's Academy)
WR Johnnie Dixon (Transfer from Cardinal Newman)

Continue to Season Outlook
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Toughest game: Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.). Dwyer's young skill players can make a name for themselves early on against a very experienced Glades Central defense.

Question mark: Will Dwyer be able to reproduce the production that dual-threat quarterback Jacoby Brissett game them last year?

Local outlook: Glades Central and Dwyer should be the top two teams in Palm Beach County, but this could be the year that American Heritage asserts itself into the national rankings discussion. Atlantic is another team to keep an eye on. Outstanding quarterback Evan Moore returns at Lake Worth, which could also have a good season in store.

Overall outlook: While Dwyer is without three All-American-caliber players in Brissett, Maggitt and O'Leary, the talent level on this team is still extremely high, particularly among underclassmen. This team may drop a game early on, but it will be extremely difficult to beat come playoff time.

Coach quote: "They (offensive linemen) got better every day, took a bunch of steps this spring. They have their own set of workouts every morning at 7 a.m. The line is going to be OK. Skill-wise, we’ve always had plenty of skill players. This is probably the deepest we’ve been. We could probably go 10 deep at wide receiver and put guys out there that could make plays."
- Jack Daniels

Continue to Video of Returning Players
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