A graduate of Miami High School, Andre Johnson has gone on to become one of the best receivers in the NFL.
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The Miami metro area is home to some of the top football recruits in the country. As a result, many have gone on to win fame at both the college and professional levels. Here's a look at 10 of the best high school football players the Miami metro area has ever produced.
Greatest Miami High School Football Players
Bennie Blades, Piper (Sunrise), 1983
A nine-year veteran in the NFL, mostly with the Detroit Lions, Blades was a two-time All-American while at the University of Miami and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in college. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. At Piper, Blades' efforts earned him inclusion on the All-Time All-Broward Team.
Michael Irvin, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 1983
A member of the NFL Hall of Fame after a career that saw him play on three Super Bowl champion teams, Irvin was also an outstanding receiver on the great University of Miami teams in the mid-1980s. As a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas, Irvin earned all-state honors after catching 59 passes for 987 yards.
Andre Johnson, Miami, 2000
Currently one of the top receivers in the NFL, Johnson was a Parade All-American while at Miami, grabbing 31 passes for 908 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was the MVP on the University of Miami national championship team in 2001 and he ranks 18th all-time in the NFL for career receptions and 23rd for yardage.
Marvin Jones, Northwestern (Miami), 1989
Considered one of the top linebackers in the country while in high school, Jones was a Parade All-American. He was an All-American at Florida State and was an All-Pro with the New York Jets.
Larry Little, Washington (Miami), 1962
Little came out of high school without much fanfare as he went undrafted out of Bethune-Cookman. However he was a stalwart on the offensive line for the Miami Dolphins during their two Super Bowl wins. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Ted Hendricks, Hialeah, 1965
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Hall of Fame, Hendricks got his start at Hialeah. He starred at University of Miami and went on to win four Super Bowls, one with the Colts and three with the Raiders.
Tucker Frederickson, South Broward (Hollywood), 1960
Although he had an injury-plagued NFL career, Frederickson was an All-American at Auburn and he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. A former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, Frederickson led South Broward to a 10-1 record during his senior year.
George Mira, Key West, 1959
Mira was a college sensation at Miami, where he led the nation in total offense. He was a two-sport star at Key West High School, particularly for the baseball team which he guided to a pair of state championships. He was also all-state in football and he went on to play eight seasons in the NFL, mostly as a backup quarterback.
Frank Gore, Coral Gables, 2000
The all-time leading rusher for the San Francisco 49ers with 9,215 yards, Gore was also a record-setting running back in high school at Coral Gables. He set a record with 38 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for 2,955 yards.
Samari Rolle, Miami Beach, 1994
An All-American in high school, Rolle went on to an outstanding career with the Florida State Seminoles and played 10 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Tennessee Titans. He was an All-Pro and had 31 career interceptions. He's also a cousin to Keyshawn Johnson, Chad Johnson and Antrel Rolle, according to Pro Football Reference.com.
