Dwyer has strong senior leadership to go along with top-notch young talent.
Photo by Stuart Browning
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
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