MaxPreps 2015 Florida preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Early Contenders - No. 2 Miami Central (FL)
MaxPreps unveils the No. 2 team in the nation.


1. Central (Miami)
Coach: Roland Smith
2014 finish: 14-1; Class 6A state champion
Team preview

Central is the state's No. 1 team and the nation's No. 2 team, behind only De La Salle of California. It's absolutely loaded on defense, has key players back on the offensive line and also features one of the country's best wide receivers. Put simply, there is very little not to like about this year's Rockets squad, a legit national contender.

See the Top 11 teams with the most all-time Florida state titles

2. IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Coach: Kevin Wright
2014 finish: 10-1
Team preview

Perhaps the nation's most intriguing (and polarizing) program, IMG has the country's most talented roster and perhaps its most ambitious schedule. The addition of quarterback Shea Patterson could vault IMG even farther up the national rankings. Including Patterson, four of the country's top 17 recruits attend IMG, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The only question facing IMG is how quickly it will jell as a team.

See the MaxPreps national football videos page

3. Flanagan (Pembroke Pines)
Coach: Devin Bush Sr.
2014 finish: 12-1
Team preview

Former Florida State great Devin Bush has developed Flanagan into a burgeoning powerhouse, and it seems as if the stars are aligning for a major breakthrough season in 2015. Devin Bush Jr., Josh Metellus and Devin Gil help form one of the state's top defenses. Stanford Samuels, a five-star cornerback, is also a playmaker on defense, but he'll be expected to play quarterback as well due to an injury to Kato Nelson. Games against Coconut Creek, Miramar and St. Thomas Aquinas will certainly test Flanagan.

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4. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
Coach: Roger Harriott
2014 finish: 15-1; Class 7A state champion
Team preview

St. Thomas Aquinas is another team that is ranked highly both locally and nationally. Defensive end Nick Bosa, perhaps the nation's finest defensive player, returns for his fourth varsity season. Quarterback Jake Allen and running back Mike Epstein are among several key transfers who will suit up for the Raiders. New head coach Roger Harriott, an Aquinas graduate, will lead the team toward another state title, and perhaps a national one.

See last season's Florida football computer rankings

5. Mainland (Daytona Beach)
Coach: Scott Wilson
2014 finish: 14-1
Team preview

For Mainland in 2015, anything short of a state title would be a disappointment. It returns enough ammunition on both offense and defense to hoist the trophy in December (which almost certainly would mean a victory over playoff nemesis Central). Quarterback Denzel Houston was one of the nation's most productive sophomores last year, and should thrive with another year of experience. Four-star junior safety Cyrus Fagan is back in the secondary.