Monday marked the first day of high school football practices across Central Florida with a number of quirky practice traditions and a healthy dose of Florida rain. There is no escaping that.
Alicia Delgallo of the Orlando Sentinel (along with several contributing reporters) surveyed the first day of practice which included Colonial’s Midnight Madness tradition and a Monday two-a-day prefaced by roosters for the second practice after the midnight practice Monday morning and 8A state champion Apopka getting back to work.
Last year was a great year for Orlando’s high school football teams. Apopka was among four (Osceola, Mainland, Bishop Moore were the others) Central Florida teams to make the state semifinals last year. Apopka winning in the state’s largest classification was a major victory for the area and the Blue Darters.
But this is a new season. As much as Apopka sought redemption in last year’s state tournament, defending a title is no easier.
And of course there is always more at stake than just team success for many players. Recruiting is just around the corner.
So what to watch? Here are the top five players in the region as ranked by Rivals:
Jonathan Jones, ILB/Oak Ridge
Jones is down to Michigan, Notre Dame and Stanford in his college choice according to Rivals. He is described as being built as a linebacker.
The Pioneers went 10-2 last year but lost to Neptune Beach Fletcher in the 7A Regional Quarterfinals. This was a team that actually defeated 8A State Champion Apopka last year. Oak Ridge will get Apopka again along with Dr. Phillips and Timber Creek on this year’s schedule. That is not an easy path back to the Playoffs.
But it should give Jones plenty of opportunity to show himself off one final time at the high school level.
Woody Barrett, QB/West Orange
Barrett is committed to Auburn and is working to graduate early to join the Tigers in the winter. The dual threat quarterback has some unfinished business at West Orange first though.
This year, he has to show off his improvement as a passer which head coach Bob Head noted back in June to Rivals:
“He’s getting better every day as a quarterback,” West Orange coach Bob Head said. “When he got to West Orange a year and a half ago, he was primarily a runner. He had a huge arm but didn’t really know how to play the quarterback position. He’s pushed himself to the next level in the weight room and on the field, and turned himself into one of the top quarterbacks in the country. “The thing that’s so scary is he has a chance to be even better. The potential is just through the roof.”
Barrett finished with a 61.9 percent completion percentage for 1,558 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior. The Warriors went 12-1 before losing to Apopka in the 8A Quarterfinals. No shame in losing to an eventual state champion.
West Orange struggled in that game though, losing 42-0 in the end. So maybe a little shame and redemption left this season.
Parker Boudreaux, T/Bishop Moore
Boudreaux is sticking with the private schools having committed to Notre Dame. The 6-foot-5, 291-pound tackle certainly has the size to step up with the Fighting Irish and dominate the high school gridiron. He is described as an aggressive and athletic tackle — an elite prospect at his position.
Bishop Moore had a successful run to the state semifinals last year and, with Boudreaux clearing a path, could be in for another strong season.
Jachai Polite, DE/Mainland
Polite’s recruiting appears still to be wide open, so he will have a lot to show off in his senior year at Mainland over in Daytona Beach.
Mainland certainly has a successful team after last year’s deep state tournament run. They also have a few defensive players that are getting serious college consideration. Both Polite and Kevin McCrary received offers from Pitt this summer according to Justin Rowland of Rivals. Polite has added offers from Florida and Miami in the meantime and has a ton of schools chasing after him.
Mainland will be relying heavily on Polite and McCrary to carry the defensive load. They lost a lot of talented players off last year’s team and state title run (that fell short).
McKinley Mitchell, OLB/Oviedo
Mitchell has received varying interest from several schools including Navy, Ohio State and Texas A&M. He has a lot of work to do to add some offers and solidify himself and his team in his senior year.
He will also be making a name for himself in Central Florida.
Mitchell moved from Plano, Texas this year to Oviedo. A chance to showcase himself on the Florida fields could bring some more offers.
Oviedo may need the help after going 7-4 last year. The Lions though did win the district before becoming the Blue Darters’ first victims on the way to the state title.
It seems indeed all roads to Orlando football supremacy will head through Apopka even this year. The target is on their backs. Lots of players should get their chance at them.
