Known tOSU targets in bold
Orlando Sentinel
Stellar running backs highlight 2007 class
Published March 12, 2006
When all is done, about 375 Floridians will sign Division I-A football scholarships for this fall, and most observers believe the class of 2007 will be much stronger.
It's a class with three nationally coveted running backs (Hialeah-Miami Lakes' Armando Allen, North Fort Myers' Noel Devine and Lakeland's Chris Rainey) and a ton of superb defensive backs. It's a class with numerous big offensive linemen. And it's a class that demonstrates just how good Lakeland can be.
Remember, this is a pre-spring evaluation and is just one man's opinion based on talking to college and high school coaches. A lot can happen between spring football and the kickoff of the season in the fall.
OFFENSE
QB: Steven Garcia (6-3/190), Tampa Jefferson: Played in shadow of rival Jarred Fayson for two years, and now it's his time in the sun.
RB: Armando Allen (5-10/185), Hialeah-Miami Lakes: All-Dade pick with 1,100 rushing yards last season.
RB: Noel Devine (5-8/175), North Fort Myers: Has all the tools for success, including uncanny vision, but must improve in the classroom.
RB: Chris Rainey (5-9/171), Lakeland: A most dangerous runner for state 5A champs, he also finished second in the state last year in the 100 meters.
WR: Dion Lecorn (5-11/200), Ocala Trinity Catholic: Great speed and playmaking capability. Also a big-time kick returner.
WR: Deonte Thompson (6-2/180), Belle Glade Glades Central: Ran 10.38 100-meter dash as sophomore, caught 12 TD passes as junior.
TE: D'Angelo McCray (6-5/268), Jacksonville Jackson: Two-way talent who also can play defensive end.
OL: Branden Curry (6-4/325), Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson: Earned All-Broward first-team honors as a junior.
OL: Emeka Nwankwo (6-5/290), Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna: Best blocker for one of the biggest and best offensive lines to ever play in a Class 2A state championship game.
OL: LaShawn Pouncey (6-4/270), Lakeland: Best blocker on Dreadnaughts team that won mythical national prep title.
OL: Chris Sale (6-4/325), Niceville: Steady, unheralded contributor at a solid program.
OL: James Wilson (6-5/315) Ponte Vedra Beach Nease: Helped pave way to Class 4A state title.
K: Michael Taylor (5-10/175), Pensacola Washington: Boomed 48 of 62 kickoffs to the end zone, and was 12-of-17 on field-goal attempts and 41-of-44 on PATs.
Honorable mention/offense
QB: Robert Arnheim (6-4/195), Edgewater; Taylor Beasley (6-2/200), Lake Howell; John Brantley (6-3/190), Ocala Trinity Catholic; Wesley Carroll (6-2/198), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; Dominique Davis (6-1/190), Lakeland Kathleen; T.K. Hill (6-1/190), Avon Park; Johnathan Jones (6-4/190), Orlando Timber Creek; Bryan Mann (6-2/198), Belle Glade Glades Central; Desmond Newbold (6-1/185), Merritt Island; Matt Piloto (6-4/200), Engelwood Lemon Bay; Alton Voss (6-2/215), New Port Richey Gulf; LaTravis Washington (6-3/210), Bradenton Bayshore.
RB: Eric Baker (6-1/195), Jacksonville Ed White; Damien Berry (6-0/170), Belle Glade Glades Central; Dominique Booker (5-11/170), Lakeland Evangel Christian; Mike Brown (5-9/170), Brandon; Muhammed De'Reese (6-3/215), Titusville; Antwain Easterling (5-11/185), Miami Northwestern; T.J. Clark (5-9/170), Melbourne; V.J. Floyd (5-10/185), Bishop Moore; Cameron Harris (5-9/178), Titusville Astronaut; Ereck Plancher (6-0/180), Naples Lely; Troy Pollard (5-9/185), Jacksonville Jackson; Jamar Taylor (5-11/210), Lakeland.
WR/TE: TE Lars Anderson (6-4/235), Winter Springs; Doug Baldwin (6-0/170), Gulf Breeze; Alphonso Bryant Jr. (6-0/190), Homestead; Derrick Clark (6-2/190), Apopka; Jason Frierson (5-9/165), Coral Gables; TE Jake Goray (6-4/235), Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee; Leonard Hankerson (6-2/185), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; Tarus McKinley (6-0/190), Belle Glade Glades Central; Patrick Richardson (6-1/185), Pensacola Woodham; Develin Robinson (6-1/175), Land O' Lakes; Marquis Rolle (6-1/175), Olympia; Paul Wilson, 6-1/175, Lakeland.
OL: Edward Ferguson (6-5/305), Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna; Carl Gaskins (6-5/255), Palm Bay; Micah Grimes (6-5/285), Fort Meade; Jatavious Jackson (6-4/298), Belle Glade Glades Central; Jacoby Love (6-2/278), Belle Glade Glades Central; Tyler McDermott (6-2/262), Palm Beach Central; Kyle Peters (6-9/290), Largo; James Pouncey (6-4/265), Lakeland; Josh Samuda (6-3/310), Hollywood Hill; Abraham Washington (6-4/310), Miami Jackson; Clyde Yandell (6-6/295), Ponte Vedra Beach Nease.
DEFENSE
DL: John Brown (6-2/295) Lakeland: Simply a man in the trenches. The top defender on the state's top team.
DL: Torrey Davis (6-4/285), Seffner Armwood: Perhaps the best all-around prospect in Hillsborough.
DL: Jay Howard (6-5/235), Jones: He has become a great football prospect with speed to complement his size.
DL: Ian Williams (6-2/300), Longwood Lyman: Credited with 43 tackles for loss, and has helped the team to back-to-back playoff seasons.
DL: Rufus Williams (6-2/255), Titusville Astronaut: He may be the best prospect at Astronaut since Wilber Marshall in the late 1970s.
LB: Joshua Bynes (6-2/218), Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson: He was an All-Broward County pick who was credited with 123 tackles.
LB: Brian Rolle (6-0/220), Immokalee: Has more than 200 career tackles with a 3.75 grade-point average.
CB: Brandon Paul (5-10/175), Tallahassee Lincoln: One of Florida's fastest returning football players and the anchor of the nation's fastest 4x100 relay last spring.
CB: Doug Wiggins (5-10/190), North Miami Beach: Great athlete who earned All-Dade honors.
FS: Lorenzo Edwards (6-2/215), Edgewater: A great athlete can play safety, corner, linebacker, running back or wide receiver.
SS: Major Wright (6-2/190), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: An All-Broward pick with reputation as a big hitter.
P: Chris Fuchs (6-1/180), Pembroke Pines Charter: Averaged 45.5 yards per punt.
ATH: Jordan Hammond (6-4/240), Lakeland: Can play TE or DE or could grow into a DT.
Honorable mention/defense
DL: Kevin Bryant (6-6/375), Hallandale; Mike Cabbage (6-2/225), Titusville Astronaut; Kyle Dampier (6-3/265), Merritt Island; Jarvis Givins (6-4/295), Miami Gulliver Prep; Uriah Grant (6-6/320), Miramar Everglades; Benjamin Jones (6-4/265), Miami Springs; Greg Lloyd (6-2/230), East Ridge; Terrell McClain (6-3/275), Pensacola; Dakota Merritt (6-7/257), Pensacola West Florida Tech; Jacoby Monroe (6-2/250), Jacksonville Sandalwood; Donte Nichols (6-3/270), Pompano Beach Ely; Jabaal Sheard (6-4/240), Hollywood Hills.
LB: Ricky Anderson (6-2/200), Cape Coral; Marquis Boone (6-1/210), Jacksonville Sandalwood; Henry Grace (5-11/218), Fort Meade; Robert Isola (6-2/225), Bishop Moore; Alfrederick Jones (5-10/220), Bartow; Johnny Jones (6-3/205), Sarasota Booker; Darren Kinsey (6-1/235), Homestead; Adewale Ojomo (6-3/215), Hialeah; Kendall Smith (6-2/210), South Sumter; Xavier Stinson (5-11/220), Hollywood Chaminade Madonna; Ronnie St. Fleur (6-1/210), Hollywood Hills; Rai-Shawn Wilson (6-1/210), St. Augustine.
DB: Ahmad Black (5-10/165), Lakeland; Will Brown (6-1/170), Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer; Travaris Cadet (5-11/180), Miami Central; Dwayne Gatlin (5-11/180), Miami Palmetto; Darius Jackson (6-1/185), Quincy East Gadsden; Chris Lett (6-1/190), Pensacola; A.J. Matthews (6-2/175), Clearwater Countryside; James Scott (6-0/175), Seabreeze; Eain Smith (6-0/185), Hollywood Chaminade Madonna; Antoine Stubbs (6-3/200), West Palm Beach Forest Hill; Darnell Williams (6-2/175), Winter Park; Mike Williams (6-1/170), Palm Bay.
Bill Buchalter can be reached at [email protected].
Orlando Sentinel
Stellar running backs highlight 2007 class
Published March 12, 2006
When all is done, about 375 Floridians will sign Division I-A football scholarships for this fall, and most observers believe the class of 2007 will be much stronger.
It's a class with three nationally coveted running backs (Hialeah-Miami Lakes' Armando Allen, North Fort Myers' Noel Devine and Lakeland's Chris Rainey) and a ton of superb defensive backs. It's a class with numerous big offensive linemen. And it's a class that demonstrates just how good Lakeland can be.
Remember, this is a pre-spring evaluation and is just one man's opinion based on talking to college and high school coaches. A lot can happen between spring football and the kickoff of the season in the fall.
OFFENSE
QB: Steven Garcia (6-3/190), Tampa Jefferson: Played in shadow of rival Jarred Fayson for two years, and now it's his time in the sun.
RB: Armando Allen (5-10/185), Hialeah-Miami Lakes: All-Dade pick with 1,100 rushing yards last season.
RB: Noel Devine (5-8/175), North Fort Myers: Has all the tools for success, including uncanny vision, but must improve in the classroom.
RB: Chris Rainey (5-9/171), Lakeland: A most dangerous runner for state 5A champs, he also finished second in the state last year in the 100 meters.
WR: Dion Lecorn (5-11/200), Ocala Trinity Catholic: Great speed and playmaking capability. Also a big-time kick returner.
WR: Deonte Thompson (6-2/180), Belle Glade Glades Central: Ran 10.38 100-meter dash as sophomore, caught 12 TD passes as junior.
TE: D'Angelo McCray (6-5/268), Jacksonville Jackson: Two-way talent who also can play defensive end.
OL: Branden Curry (6-4/325), Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson: Earned All-Broward first-team honors as a junior.
OL: Emeka Nwankwo (6-5/290), Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna: Best blocker for one of the biggest and best offensive lines to ever play in a Class 2A state championship game.
OL: LaShawn Pouncey (6-4/270), Lakeland: Best blocker on Dreadnaughts team that won mythical national prep title.
OL: Chris Sale (6-4/325), Niceville: Steady, unheralded contributor at a solid program.
OL: James Wilson (6-5/315) Ponte Vedra Beach Nease: Helped pave way to Class 4A state title.
K: Michael Taylor (5-10/175), Pensacola Washington: Boomed 48 of 62 kickoffs to the end zone, and was 12-of-17 on field-goal attempts and 41-of-44 on PATs.
Honorable mention/offense
QB: Robert Arnheim (6-4/195), Edgewater; Taylor Beasley (6-2/200), Lake Howell; John Brantley (6-3/190), Ocala Trinity Catholic; Wesley Carroll (6-2/198), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; Dominique Davis (6-1/190), Lakeland Kathleen; T.K. Hill (6-1/190), Avon Park; Johnathan Jones (6-4/190), Orlando Timber Creek; Bryan Mann (6-2/198), Belle Glade Glades Central; Desmond Newbold (6-1/185), Merritt Island; Matt Piloto (6-4/200), Engelwood Lemon Bay; Alton Voss (6-2/215), New Port Richey Gulf; LaTravis Washington (6-3/210), Bradenton Bayshore.
RB: Eric Baker (6-1/195), Jacksonville Ed White; Damien Berry (6-0/170), Belle Glade Glades Central; Dominique Booker (5-11/170), Lakeland Evangel Christian; Mike Brown (5-9/170), Brandon; Muhammed De'Reese (6-3/215), Titusville; Antwain Easterling (5-11/185), Miami Northwestern; T.J. Clark (5-9/170), Melbourne; V.J. Floyd (5-10/185), Bishop Moore; Cameron Harris (5-9/178), Titusville Astronaut; Ereck Plancher (6-0/180), Naples Lely; Troy Pollard (5-9/185), Jacksonville Jackson; Jamar Taylor (5-11/210), Lakeland.
WR/TE: TE Lars Anderson (6-4/235), Winter Springs; Doug Baldwin (6-0/170), Gulf Breeze; Alphonso Bryant Jr. (6-0/190), Homestead; Derrick Clark (6-2/190), Apopka; Jason Frierson (5-9/165), Coral Gables; TE Jake Goray (6-4/235), Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee; Leonard Hankerson (6-2/185), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas; Tarus McKinley (6-0/190), Belle Glade Glades Central; Patrick Richardson (6-1/185), Pensacola Woodham; Develin Robinson (6-1/175), Land O' Lakes; Marquis Rolle (6-1/175), Olympia; Paul Wilson, 6-1/175, Lakeland.
OL: Edward Ferguson (6-5/305), Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna; Carl Gaskins (6-5/255), Palm Bay; Micah Grimes (6-5/285), Fort Meade; Jatavious Jackson (6-4/298), Belle Glade Glades Central; Jacoby Love (6-2/278), Belle Glade Glades Central; Tyler McDermott (6-2/262), Palm Beach Central; Kyle Peters (6-9/290), Largo; James Pouncey (6-4/265), Lakeland; Josh Samuda (6-3/310), Hollywood Hill; Abraham Washington (6-4/310), Miami Jackson; Clyde Yandell (6-6/295), Ponte Vedra Beach Nease.
DEFENSE
DL: John Brown (6-2/295) Lakeland: Simply a man in the trenches. The top defender on the state's top team.
DL: Torrey Davis (6-4/285), Seffner Armwood: Perhaps the best all-around prospect in Hillsborough.
DL: Jay Howard (6-5/235), Jones: He has become a great football prospect with speed to complement his size.
DL: Ian Williams (6-2/300), Longwood Lyman: Credited with 43 tackles for loss, and has helped the team to back-to-back playoff seasons.
DL: Rufus Williams (6-2/255), Titusville Astronaut: He may be the best prospect at Astronaut since Wilber Marshall in the late 1970s.
LB: Joshua Bynes (6-2/218), Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson: He was an All-Broward County pick who was credited with 123 tackles.
LB: Brian Rolle (6-0/220), Immokalee: Has more than 200 career tackles with a 3.75 grade-point average.
CB: Brandon Paul (5-10/175), Tallahassee Lincoln: One of Florida's fastest returning football players and the anchor of the nation's fastest 4x100 relay last spring.
CB: Doug Wiggins (5-10/190), North Miami Beach: Great athlete who earned All-Dade honors.
FS: Lorenzo Edwards (6-2/215), Edgewater: A great athlete can play safety, corner, linebacker, running back or wide receiver.
SS: Major Wright (6-2/190), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas: An All-Broward pick with reputation as a big hitter.
P: Chris Fuchs (6-1/180), Pembroke Pines Charter: Averaged 45.5 yards per punt.
ATH: Jordan Hammond (6-4/240), Lakeland: Can play TE or DE or could grow into a DT.
Honorable mention/defense
DL: Kevin Bryant (6-6/375), Hallandale; Mike Cabbage (6-2/225), Titusville Astronaut; Kyle Dampier (6-3/265), Merritt Island; Jarvis Givins (6-4/295), Miami Gulliver Prep; Uriah Grant (6-6/320), Miramar Everglades; Benjamin Jones (6-4/265), Miami Springs; Greg Lloyd (6-2/230), East Ridge; Terrell McClain (6-3/275), Pensacola; Dakota Merritt (6-7/257), Pensacola West Florida Tech; Jacoby Monroe (6-2/250), Jacksonville Sandalwood; Donte Nichols (6-3/270), Pompano Beach Ely; Jabaal Sheard (6-4/240), Hollywood Hills.
LB: Ricky Anderson (6-2/200), Cape Coral; Marquis Boone (6-1/210), Jacksonville Sandalwood; Henry Grace (5-11/218), Fort Meade; Robert Isola (6-2/225), Bishop Moore; Alfrederick Jones (5-10/220), Bartow; Johnny Jones (6-3/205), Sarasota Booker; Darren Kinsey (6-1/235), Homestead; Adewale Ojomo (6-3/215), Hialeah; Kendall Smith (6-2/210), South Sumter; Xavier Stinson (5-11/220), Hollywood Chaminade Madonna; Ronnie St. Fleur (6-1/210), Hollywood Hills; Rai-Shawn Wilson (6-1/210), St. Augustine.
DB: Ahmad Black (5-10/165), Lakeland; Will Brown (6-1/170), Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer; Travaris Cadet (5-11/180), Miami Central; Dwayne Gatlin (5-11/180), Miami Palmetto; Darius Jackson (6-1/185), Quincy East Gadsden; Chris Lett (6-1/190), Pensacola; A.J. Matthews (6-2/175), Clearwater Countryside; James Scott (6-0/175), Seabreeze; Eain Smith (6-0/185), Hollywood Chaminade Madonna; Antoine Stubbs (6-3/200), West Palm Beach Forest Hill; Darnell Williams (6-2/175), Winter Park; Mike Williams (6-1/170), Palm Bay.
Bill Buchalter can be reached at [email protected].