large schools - St. Thomas Aquinas High School Football

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14C
12-28-05
14C
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2005
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CYAN MAG YEL BLACK
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sun-sentinel.com • SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL
ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM: LARGE SCHOOLS
CLASSES 6A-5A-4A | TEXT BY CHRISTY CABRERA CHIRINOS | TEAMS COMPILED BY COACHES’ BALLOTS
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
HERB BYNES
Boyd Anderson
Pos.: QB
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 220
Class: Sr.
Comment: Had 103
completions for 1,135
yards and six TDs, with a
team average of 283.6
yards per game in the
regular season. Louisville,
Nebraska and Bowling
Green are interested.
MATT
JOHNSON
Fort Lauderdale
Pos.: QB
Ht./Wt.: 5-11, 160
Class: Sr.
Comment: Passed for
1,974 yards and 17 TDs
and rushed for another
409 yards and four
scores. FAMU, FIU and
Colgate are interested.
BRANDON
BELL
Deerfield Beach
Pos.: WR
Ht./Wt.: 5-9, 157
Class: Sr.
Comment: Caught 40
passes for 596 yards and
had 127 yards on punt
returns. Kansas, FAMU,
Hampton and Colorado
State are interested.
XAVIER
HARRIS
Fort Lauderdale
Pos.: WR
Ht./Wt.: 6-0, 175
Class: Sr.
Comment: Led largeschool WRs with 48
catches for 864 yards and
6 TDs. Clemson, Auburn,
Wisconsin, Michigan St.
and UCF are interested.
CHRIS
ANDERSON
Hollywood Hills
Pos.: RB
Ht./Wt.: 5-9, 180
Class: So.
Comment: Finished
among large-school
leaders with 159 carries
for 971 yards. Scored 19
TDs to lead all Class
6A-5A-4A players.
KURTIS
HART
Taravella
Pos.: RB
Ht./Wt.: 5-11, 225
Class: Sr.
Comment: Rushed for
1,297 yards and 13
touchdowns. Rushed for
200 yards against South
Broward. Massachusetts
and Connecticut are
interested.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DEVAN JAMES
Ely
Pos.: RB
Ht./Wt.: 5-10, 175
Class: Sr.
Comment: One of three
solid Ely backs, was
among 6A-5A-4A leaders
in rushing (800 yards)
and scoring (13 TDs).
Runs a 4.4 40 and has
Georgia Tech, Akron and
Mississippi interested
RANDY
PONDER
Piper
Pos.: RB
Ht./Wt.: 5-8, 155
Class: Sr.
Comment: First-year
starter who was among
county leaders with 138
carries for 987 yards and
20 touchdowns. Had 249
against Monarch.
MARCUS
GILBERT
St. Thomas Aquinas
Pos.: OL
Ht./Wt.: 6-6, 280
Class: Sr.
Comment: Helped
anchor a powerful
offensive line. Had more
than 90 pancake blocks.
Miami, LSU, Florida and
Auburn are interested.
TOMMY
PEARCE
Taravella
Pos.: OL
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 270
Class: Sr.
Comment: Team was
fourth in the county with
a regular season average
of 285 yards per game.
Kansas, Colgate and
UMass are interested.
DAN
WENGER
St. Thomas Aquinas
Pos.: OL
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 285
Class: Sr.
Comment: Helped the
Raiders total 4,606 yards
and was selected to the
U.S. Army All-America
Bowl. Orally committed
to Notre Dame.
BRETT
SWENSON
St. Thomas Aquinas
Pos.: K
Ht./Wt.: 5-9, 155
Class: Sr.
Comment: Converted 56
of 57 extra-point tries
and 6 of 12 field goals,
including a long of 42
yards. Had 56 touchbacks
and has orally committed
to Michigan State.
FRANTZ
ACCIME
EMMANUEL
PEREZ
JARRED
COREY
JAMES
WILSON
BOBBY SEAY
JOSH BYNES
MAJOR
WRIGHT
JAMES
THOMAS
AUDI
AUGUSTIN
JOHN
WARE
JARED
MARTIN
JULIAN
LELAND
Boyd Anderson
Pos.: DB
Ht./Wt.: 5-10, 180
Class: Sr.
Comment: Had four
interceptions and 46
tackles, including 13
against Douglas. Is
being recruited by
Pittsburgh, Illinois and
Louisiana-Lafayette.
YOUNG AND RELENTLESS: Offensive tackle Sam Young didn’t allow a sack in two seasons for St.
Thomas Aquinas. And the nation’s top colleges have taken notice. Staff photo/Andrew Innerarity
SAM
YOUNG
He plays an anonymous position, but St. Thomas’
towering tackle is impossible to ignore.
Sam Young has the power, speed and size to be
one of the nation’s best high school offensive
linemen.
But Young, who helped St. Thomas Aquinas
generate one of Broward County’s top offenses this
season, also has a sense of humor about what he
does on the field.
“Being on the O-line is different,” Young said.
“As an offensive lineman, the only time your name
gets in the paper is when your running back has a
bad game and it’s your fault. It’s an unheralded
position.”
Linemen don’t have the flashy numbers of the
running backs they block for or the gaudy statistics
of the quarterbacks they protect. Despite their
massive bodies and the fact that coaches
everywhere stress their importance, offensive
linemen usually go unnoticed.
But Young’s stellar play made him hard to miss,
even though he was on a team loaded with Division
I talent. Young was a finalist for the Parade AllAmerica Player of the Year and was selected along
with fellow lineman Dan Wenger to play in the U.S.
Army All-America Bowl next month. Gatorade
selected Young as its Florida Player of the Year, and
USA Today named him a first-team selection to its
All-USA team.
College coaches across the country have filled
his mailbox and voice mail with messages, hoping
to land him in their 2006 signing classes. And now
the 6-foot-7, 297-pound lineman that helped St.
Thomas gain 4,606 yards of total offense and didn’t
allow a sack in two seasons is the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel Class 6A-5A-4A Player of the Year.
He was such a force, opposing coaches spent
days trying to prepare their players for the physical
presence Young represented on the Raiders’ line.
“He’s aware that games can be won or lost in the
trenches,” said Hollywood Hills coach Al Lang,
whose team lost to St. Thomas 29-24 in a District
16-5A game that both teams entered unbeaten.
“I’ve had the opportunity to coach guys that were
big, but Sam has size, he’s physical and I watched
him pass protect. . . . If a kid that size can do that, it
means he’s quick. He was just impressive.”
But Young isn’t content to rest on his
accomplishments. The senior, who is weighing
offers from Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame and
Southern California, says his determination won’t
let him do that.
“I think my greatest strength is just my desire to
be the best,” Young said. “One thing that was
instilled in me early was to have a good work ethic.
There’s no one aspect of my game I’m completely
happy in. I want to keep looking for the next step
up, whatever it is. Agility drills, time in the weight
room. I’ll do it. I’ll outwork you, and that’s what I try
to bring to the field.”
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’ SAM YOUNG
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DB: Delvin Davis, Flanagan, Sr.
DB: Avery Holley, Ely, Sr.
DB: Calvin Marshall, Dillard, Sr.
DB: Ackim Thomas, Miramar, Sr.
LB: Richard Alseme, South Broward, Sr.
LB: Sean Campbell, South Plantation, Sr.
LB: Dustin Tremellen, Cypress Bay, Sr.
DL: Bobby Christopher, Cardinal Gibbons, Jr.
DL: Uriah Grant, Everglades, Jr.
DL: Jameson Moody, Dillard, Sr.
DL: Mauricio Riquer, South Plantation, Sr.
DL: Roger Tirado, Hollywood Hills, Sr.
P: Michael Groody, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr.
Everglades
Pos.: DB/LB
Ht./Wt.: 6-0, 175
Class: Sr.
Comment: Had 75
tackles, 10 sacks, 5
forced fumbles, 2
interceptions and 2
blocked punts. Georgia,
Maryland, Michigan St.
and Pitt are interested.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Pos.: DB
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 195
Class: Jr.
Comment: Has
generated nationwide
attention after notching
60 tackles, including 10
for loss, and 6
interceptions.
Hollywood Hills
Pos.: DL
Ht./Wt.: 6-4, 215
Class: Sr.
Comment: Had 26
tackles, 5 sacks and 3
forced fumbles.
Pittsburgh, Wisconsin,
FIU, FAU and Tennessee
are interested.
Boyd Anderson
Pos.: LB
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 225
Class: Jr.
Comment: Already
noticed by major college
programs after a junior
season in which he had
147 tackles, 8 forced
fumbles, 5 fumble
recoveries and 3 sacks.
Ely
Pos.: LB
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 210
Class: Sr.
Comment: Had 86
tackles (57 solo), 3
sacks, 2 interceptions
and 4 fumble recoveries.
Orally committed to
West Virginia.
Christy Cabrera Chirinos can be reached at
ccabrera@sun-sentinel.com.
“I think my greatest strength is just my desire to be the best. . . . Agility drills, time in
the weight room. I’ll do it. I’ll outwork you, and that’s what I try to bring to the field.”
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Wesley Carroll, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr.
QB: Brad McClellan, Deerfield Beach, Sr.
RB: Dwann Ivey, Everglades, Jr.
RB: D’Andre Stringer, Miramar, Sr.
WR: Kendrick Johnson, Dillard, Sr.
WR: Travius Thompson, Boyd Anderson, Sr.
WR: Lon Woods, Taravella, Sr.
OL: Mike Blanc, Deerfield Beach, Sr.
OL: John Decoster, Everglades, Sr.
OL: Kindly Jacques, Stranahan, Sr.
OL: Brian Lobello, Taravella, Sr.
OL: Chase Turman, Ely, Sr.
K: Christian Montano, Hollywood Hills, Sr.
Western
Pos.: DB
Ht./Wt.: 5-10, 172
Class: Sr.
Comment: Plenty of
speed made Corey solid
on special teams. Had
four interceptions and
returned two punts and
a kickoff for TDs.
Everglades
Pos.: DL
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 215
Class: Jr.
Comment: Provided
power up front for the
Gators. Had 17 sacks, 43
tackles, 2 forced
fumbles and a punt
block. USC, Texas, FSU
and LSU are interested.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GENE ATKINS
St. Thomas Aquinas
Position: DL
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 270
Class: Sr.
Comment: Atkins
consistently made big
plays when needed. A powerful athlete who placed
second in the state shot put, he had 67 tackles,
including 22 for loss. He also had 7.5 sacks and
forced two fumbles. He was voted the state’s Class
5A Player of the Year, and Michigan State, Auburn,
N.C. State and Pittsburgh are among his college
options.
COACH OF THE YEAR
GREG MINNIS
Deerfield Beach
Comment: The Bucks
(8-4) clinched the District
9-6A title before Hurricane
Wilma hit and went nearly
four weeks without a
game before the playoffs. The Bucks then won two
overtime playoff games and also beat Miramar and
Miami Northwestern. Deerfield Beach advanced to
the school’s first state championship game.
HONORABLE MENTION
Boyd Anderson: Jaron Odom, Brandon Corry, Kamal
Cherisma, Darin Smith; Cardinal Gibbons: David Blackwell,
A.J. Johnson, Kevens Dorsainvil, Blair Walsh, Lorenzo
Fullmore; Coconut Creek: Raymond Newsome, James
Perry, Derek Anglin, Jon Freeney; Cooper City: Daniel Blum,
Alex Carver; Coral Glades: Perry Grisati, Greg Romeus, T.J.
Picinic; Coral Springs: Chris Daily, Eddie Alexander;
Cypress Bay: Keon Strachan, Brian Griffith, Mike Johnson,
Greg Scala; Deerfield Beach: Pat Nemorin, Rodney Harrell,
Steve Tirogene, Brent Creary, Norvin Ruiz; Dillard: Wayne
Baynard, Andrew Simeon, Travius Thompson, Jermaine
Arnold; Douglas: Adam Neiberg, Kahil Hyppolite, Connor
Cole, Derrick Nelson, Twyon Martin, Doug Capra; Ely: Josh
Moore, Rodney Lovett, Laron Graham, Eddie Cameron, Travis
Standley, Jahmal Blanchard; Everglades: Michael Hellman,
Jeff Wilson, Joel McCleod, John Smith, D’Angelo Wofford;
Flanagan: Mateo Jimenez, Billy Williams, Wayne Cobham,
Jazz Aulla, Anthony Martucci; Fort Lauderdale: Alfred
Louis, Val Canton, Ken Johnson, Alfonte Jones, Brandon
McCall, Paul Edoura, Darner Gue; Hallandale: Johnny
Garces, Terron Riley, Justin Edwards, Kevin Bryant;
Hollywood Hills: Storm Tropea, Josh Samuda, Mike Burns,
Jabaal Sheard, Ronnie St. Fleur, Calvin Francois; McArthur:
Josh Evans, Joe Widlan, Rodney Jones, Henry Smith, Christian
Medina; Miramar: Andrew Hylton, Jorge Cruz, Eugene
Smith, Julius Winn, Darren McKahn, Kris Claros, Sheldon
Robinson; Northeast: Darrian Williams, Bo Williams,
Charles James, Devin Pittman, Josh Hartigan; Piper: Keith
Robinson, Demarcus Roberson, Nathan Shortridge, Maurice
Sapp; Plantation: Jeremy McKeener; St. Thomas
Aquinas: Marcel Archer, Bobby Crawford, Leonard
Hankerson, Phillip Garner, Steven Brown; South Broward:
Joe Jones, Mike Chandler, Gary Daniels; South Plantation:
Tavious Polo, Antonio Sparks, Rupert Webley, Jeff O’Neal,
Brandon Ellison, Maurice Rolle, Robert Guerero; Stranahan:
Brian Harden, Jeff Lubin, Billy Foster, Angelo Erilus, Jacky
Candy; Taravella: Mike Herrara, Durval Drummond, Kyle
Fabian; Western: Junior Allen, Joe Krissel, Will Griffin, Troy
Naddy.
Northeast
Pos.: DL
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 230
Class: Sr.
Comment: A Collegiate
Sports America PrepStar
Magazine All-Region
selection, is considering
N.C. State, S. Carolina,
Michigan St. and Pitt.
Western
Pos.: DL
Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 285
Class: Sr.
Comment: A vocal
leader, Martin had 67
tackles, including 24
solo stops, and 3 sacks.
Has orally committed to
Pittsburgh.
Cardinal Gibbons
Pos.: LB
Ht./Wt.: 5-11
Class: Sr.
Comment: Played both
sides of the ball and had
46 tackles, 650 rushing
yards, 200 receiving
yards and 10 TDs. N.C.
State commitment.
Cypress Bay
Pos.: P
Ht./Wt.: 5-7, 155
Class: Sr.
Comment: BCAA and
Dade-Broward all-star.
Averaged 39.7 yards on
31 punts. Had 8 punts
longer than 50 yards.
Auburn, Florida and
Georgia are interested.
CYAN MAG YEL BLACK