Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Jacobbi McDaniel, Sr., DT, Madison County
The massive and strong 6-foot, 267-pound is a national top-10 recruit which isn’t easy at his position. McDaniel was rated the top defensive lineman at the U.S. Army All-American Combine in San Antonio earlier this year and despite his size he recorded a vertical jump of 33 inches to go along with 4.83 speed in the 40. He has also bench pressed 350 pounds. Also a dominant offensive lineman, McDaniel recorded 70 tackles and 12 sacks last season. He’s committed to Florida State. Returning state leaders - Passing: Aaron Murray (Plant) 201 of 329, 4,012 yards, 51 TDs; Rushing: Chris Thompson (Madison County) 187 attempts, 2,256 yards, 33 TDs.
Best All-Time Player: Emmitt Smith, RB, Escambia
Before he starred at Florida or the Dallas Cowboys, Smith was a phenom at Escambia, setting a state record with 8,804 career rushing yards. He led the Gators to two state titles and last year he was named the Player of the Century by the Florida High School Sports Association.
2008 Must See: Booker T. Washington vs. Northwestern
Last season, then Washington coach Tim Harris proposed a game against Northwestern even though the two teams weren’t on the schedule. It never happened. This year, the Dade County powers and defending state champions collide Sept. 19 in tiny 7,200-seat Traz Powell Stadium. It’s a hotter ticket than Disney World. Northwestern, which lost a ton to graduation, and is ranked 15th in the state coming into the season by Florida Football Magazine, will get to see where it stands right off the bat when it hosts California and national power Long Beach Poly on Aug. 30. Northwestern handled Texas power South Lake Carroll in Dallas last season. In a growing trend in South Florida, numerous teams will be heading out of state, including North Miami Beach which travels to 22-time Louisiana state champion John Curtis on Oct. 4. Other South Florida teams scheduled to travel are Washington at Northside Warner Robbins of Georgia (Sept. 6), St. Thomas Aquinas plays Elder of Cincinnati in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge (Aug. 30) and Cypress Bay travels to defending 5A Texas champion Katy (Oct. 4).
On The Throne: Madison County
Few 2A teams could ever contend for the top spot in one of the country’s richest football hotbeds, but with two future Florida State players in McDaniel and RB Chris Thompson (33 TDs) plus another fantastic athlete in Chris Atkins (24 TDs) and DB Dontarius Huggins (five interceptions), the Cowboys may be the state’s best. They return 17 starters, including four all-staters, to a team that went 13-1 last year and claimed the state crown. Other possible national Top 25 teams include Armwood (4A), St. Thomas Aquinas (5A), Pahokee (2B), Naples (3A), Deerfield Beach (6A) and Booker T. Washington (4A).
Best Rivalry: Jackson (Miami) vs. Northwestern
OK, the game has lost some luster in recent years, especially last season, after the Bulls put a 46-0 hurt on Jackson, which suited up just 25 players and finished the season 1-9, its worst since 1994. But this “Soul Bowl” has thrived for more than four decades and in 1998 drew more than 46,000 fans at the Orange Bowl.
Future Star(s): Rakeem Cato, QB, Miami Springs
A third-team All-Dade County selection behind Jacory Harris (now at Miami) and Nico Flores (North Miami Beach), Cato showed poise and polish beyond any freshman in the state last season. A dual threat, Cato ran track in the spring and looks to be in the mold of Harris, who led Northwestern to a pair of 6A state crowns. Other incoming sophomores on MaxPreps National Football Editor Stephen Spiewak’s national top 100 list (class of 2011) are QB Immoni Carswell (Hallandale), WR Dedric Dukes (Booker T), DE Deon Lee (Walton), WR Trey Nelson (Cypress Lakes), LB Denzel Perryman (Coral Gables), RB Jerron Seymour (Hialeah), WR Tacoi Sumler (Homestead), WR Austin Sweatt (Fleming Island).
Fun Fact
According to CBS Recruiting Expert Tom Lemming, Florida is king for top-end football talent. What the Class of 2009 lacks in Top-10 talent, in makes up for in depth. McDaniel is the only Floridian among the top 26 national recruits, according to rivals.com, but out of the next 74, 14 are from the Sunshine State, including RB Trent Richardson (Escambia, No. 27), WR Andre DeBose (Seminole, No. 31), RB Jamaal Berry (Miami Palmetto, No. 40), WR Willie Downs (Godby, No. 47) and QB Aaron Murray (Plant, No. 50).
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR – Andre DeBose, Seminole
WR – Nu’Kreese Richardson, Pahokee
WR – Rontavious Wooten, Glades Central
TE – Orson Charles, Plant
OL – Andrew Carter, Leon
OL – Nick Alajajian, Naples
OL – Jared Wheeler, American Heritage
OL – Henry Orelus, Glades Central
OL – Jordan Weingart, Buchholz
QB – Aaron Murray, Plant
QB – Eugene Smith, Miramar
RB – Lamar Miller, Killian
RB – Jaamal Berry, Palmetto
RB – Trent Richardson, Escambia
ATH – Lonnie Pryor, Okeechobee
K – Brendan Gibbons, Cardinal Newman
DL – Oliver Vernon, American
DL – Ryne Giddins, Armwood
DL – Jacobbi McDaniel, Madison County
DL – Demonte McAllister, Alonso
LB – Jon Bostic, Palm Beach Central
LB – Quan Fletcher, Dr. Krop
LB – Petey Smith, Armwood
LB – Mike Marry, Largo
LB – C.J. Mizell, Leon
DB – Zeke Motta, Vero Beach
DB – Jawanza Starling, Lincoln
DB – Willie Downs, Godby
DB – Brandon McGee, Plantation
P – Ben Turk, Aquinas
State Preview Video
