PREVIOUS: No. 4 St. John BoscoNEXT: No. 6 Grayson
Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas
Host Zack Poff breaks down one of the most talented teams in the country, St. Thomas Aquinas.
Head coach: Roger Harriott
Last season: 13-2, No. 6 national ranking, beat Plant in 7A state title game, 45-6
Last decade: 132-14, seven state championships
Famous alumni/players: Four-time NFL Pro Bowler Geno Atkins, NFL RB Giovani Bernard, 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Joey Bosa, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, former NFL running back Brian Piccolo
Head coach Roger Harriott (center) boasts one of the most talented teams in the nation.
Photo by Richard Ta
CB Al Blades Jr. (6-0, 170, Sr.) — The Miami commit is a Top 100 recruit in the Class of 2018.
CB Asante Samuel (5-10, 165, Sr.) — Committed to Florida State, he's a Top 100 recruit in the Class of 2018.
DE/LB Nik Bonitto (6-2.5, 205, Sr.) — He has 27 FBS offers and is a Top 200 recruit in the Class of 2018.
WR Elijah Moore (5-11, 170, Sr.) — The Top 200 recruit in the Class of 2018 has 33 FBS offers.
RB Daniel Carter (5-11, 195, Jr.) — A Top 100 recruit in the Class of 2019, he has 23 FBS offers.
Receiver Elijah Moore
Photo by Richard Ta
Aug. 25 — vs. No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Sept. 8 — vs. Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Sept. 29 — at Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)
Oct. 6 — vs. Deerfield Beach (Fla.)
STORYLINES* St. Thomas Aquinas joined Bolles as the only teams from Florida to have at least 10 state championships after winning the 7A state championship against Plant last season. If the Raiders make it a fourth-consecutive state title in 2017, they will become the sixth team in state history to accomplish that feat.
* The Raiders will have one of the top secondaries in the country led by Samuel Jr., Blades Jr., 2018 Louisville commit
Trenell Troutman and top 2019 prospect
Jaden Davis.
* The big question for the Raiders this season is at the quarterback position. They have to replace Jake Allen and the position is up for grabs between rising senior
Beau Fillichio and rising junior
Curt Casteel.
Cornerback Al Blades Jr.
Photos by Richard Ta
