Top 25 Early Contenders high school football team preview: No. 16 Miami Central

It's not all about talent, Central football coach Roland Smith said.

Sure, there's no shortage of it for the four-time defending 6A Florida state champions. The current Rockets boast six players among the 247Sports Composite's top 1,000 senior recruits.

Over the last decade, Central has sent 20 top 1,000 recruits to FBS schools, including elite running backs Devonta Freeman (Atlanta Falcons), Dalvin Cook (Florida State) and Joseph Yearby (Miami).

But Smith, heading into his fifth season, said his coaching staff "does a tremendous job of developing talented kids on and off the field. Plus we've built some tradition here. The senior classes don't want to be the one not to bring home a state title."

View the Miami Central Early Contenders photo shoot

Smith said District 16 play is where the Rockets really prepare for the postseason, when they play teams like  No. 42 Carol City (Miami) and Northwestern (Miami).

"We are definitely battle-tested by the time we get to the playoffs," Smith said. "We call our district the SEC of high school football."

Key Players
With six returning starters on offense, Smith believes that side of the ball should help carry the Rockets early.

They feature one of the nation's top tackles in 6-foot-5, 335-pound senior Navaughn Donaldson, who has 12 college offers but selected Miami. He's ranked the nation's No. 17 senior tackle by 247Sports Composite.

"He's done a tremendous job getting in the weight room and buying into the coaching," Smith said of Donaldson. "The exciting part is that he continues to get better. He just got back from the 5-Star Challenge and he definitely showed why he's one of the best in the country."

See Rocket RB James Cook Ultimate Highlights

Donaldson will be blocking for a bevy of college-bound skill position players, including receivers Carmoni Green (6-0, 180), Anthony White Jr (6-2, 180) and Jernard Phillips (5-10, 180).

With a first-year starting quarterback, don't expect Central to be flinging the ball around, but rather handing the ball off to four talented backs, led by junior tailback James Cook (5-11, 190). The MaxPreps Freshman All-American last year reclassified to the Class of 2018 and recently committed to Florida State, where his brother Dalvin Cook is starring.

James Cook rushed for 178 yards and three scores in the state title game last year. Kywon Smith (5-9, 190), Enos Lewis (5-10, 180) and Johnny Harris will get plenty of carries early.

"We definitely have some kids who can run the ball," Roland Smith said.

Three players are fighting it out for the quarterback spot, all underclassmen. Smith said he thinks the position will be a strength by the end of the season.

Juniors TiJuane Morten, Seth McGill and Maurice Underwood, a 6-2 sophomore transfer from nearby Champagnat Catholic, will all have an opportunity to run the show.

The defense is led by linebacker Waynmon Steed, a 6-1, 225-pound senior who is ranked the 16th best player at his position in the country by 247Sports. He's a firm commit to Miami.

"He's a very smart football player," Smith said of Steed. "He's not only very tough in the box, he can go out and cover a slot."

Defensive end Owen Carney (6-4, 232) has 22 college offers but looks to be choosing between Duke and Miami.

The Keys
No question, the development at quarterback and along the lines will be vital for the Rockets.

Smith said he likes how the group has jelled during spring practice. 

"If you've won as many state titles as Central has won, the kids really need to be accountable for one another," Smith said. "We really see our program as one big family."

With all those wins — 114 over the last decades — and titles, it's definitely one big happy family.