American Heritage was possibly the area’s most talented team last season. It had a dominant defense, one of the best running backs in the nation, a top-flight athlete playing quarterback and a near-automatic kicker.
That’s how the rest of the state saw it, too. Heritage had eight players on the Class 3A and 4A All-State teams, released Thursday.
Running back Greg Bryant, quarterback Marcus Davis, linebacker Jake Giordano and kicker Greg Joseph were first-team selections in Class 3A. Davis, who will play cornerback and/or receiver in college, was chosen as a utility player.
Also selected were offensive lineman Roderick Johnson, defensive lineman Giancarlo Bennardo and defensive back Xavier Swinton (second team) and linebacker Evan Harvey (honorable mention).
Cardinal Newman junior Travis Rudolph, selected as a utility player, and King’s Academy junior punter Paul Schumacher made the 3A second team.
Heritage’s Harvey included, there were six area honorable mentions in 3A: Benjamin running back McKenna Johnston, a junior, and tight end Jonathan Pavlov; Cardinal Newman tight end Matt Burke, who will play in the Army All-American Bowl; and two junior utility players, Pope John Paul II’s Will Jeanlys and John Carroll’s Edwin Thomas.
Palm Beach County doesn’t have a strong representation in Class 4A, given there were two area teams in that class. Inlet Grove junior Shawun Lurry was a first-team pick, while Clewiston running back Virthavious Robinson and offensive lineman Miguel Perera made second team.
The teams are selected by the newspaper editors and reporters covering Florida high school football.
In case you missed them, here are Classes 1A and 2A. Classes 5A through 8A will be released later this week.
Here’s the full list for 3A and 4A (area players in bold):
CLASS 4A
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Treon Harris 6-0 185, Jr., Miami Washington
RB-Derrick Henry, 6-3 240, Sr., Yulee
RB-Tarean Folston, 5-10 195, Sr., Cocoa
RB-Bo Ellis, 5-8 185, Sr. Miami Gulliver Prep
WR-Janorris Cunningham, 5-10 170, Sr., Havana East Gadsden
WR-Tyrian Taylor, 5-10 170, Sr., Orlando Jones
OL-Denver Kirkland, 6-5 330, Sr., Miami Washington
OL-Chance Edwards, 6-5 340, Sr., Bushnell South Sumter
OL-Nick Ortiz, 6-3 280, Sr., Yulee
OL-Jordi Dalmau, 6-3 280, Sr., Miami Gulliver Prep
OL-Treyvon Johnson, 5-11 245, Sr., Cocoa
UT-Kermit Whitfield, 5-9 170, Sr., Orlando Jones
K-Alejandro Cardenas, 5-9 170, Jr., Miami LaSalle
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Gregory Smith, 6-2 225, Sr., Havana East Gadsden
DL-Darien Williston, 6-3 240, Sr., Bushnell South Sumter
DL-Michael Cassidy, 6-2 265, Jr., Jacksonville Bolles
DL-Chad Thomas, 6-4 230, Jr., Miami Washington
LB-Matthew Thomas, 6-3 220, Sr., Miami Washington
LB-Kyle Deiner, 6-0 215, Sr., Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest
LB-Anthony Walker, 6-1 210, Sr., Miami Monsignor Pace
LB-Anthony Gordon, 6-2 225, Sr., Fort Myers Dunbar
DB-Darren Parker, 6-1 175, Sr., Miami Washington
DB-Tajze Battle, 5-11 165, Jr., Fort Myers Dunbar
DB-Keanu Neal, 6-0 205, Sr., Bushnell South Sumter
UT-Shawun Lurry, 5-10 180, Jr., Inlet Grove
P-Dalton Murphy, 5-11 185, Jr., Callahan West Nassau
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB-David Dessent, 6-4 245, Sr., Cocoa Beach
RB-Antwan Lee, 5-10 180, Sr. Cocoa
RB-Arterrious Mitchell, 6-1 185, Sr., Jacksonville Bolles
RB-Virthavious Robinson, 5-9 180, Sr., Clewiston
WR-Nicholas Norris, 5-10 170, Sr., Miami Washington
WR-Boone Lewis, 6-2 200, Sr., Cocoa Beach
OL-Ander Botkin, 6-6 280, Sr., Marianna
OL-Jack Dobrie, 5-10 280, Sr., Yulee
OL-Derrick Kelly, 6-5 265, Jr., Havana East Gadsden
OL-Miguel Perera, 6-1 290, Sr., Clewiston
OL-Freddie Booth-Lloyd, 6-4 295, Jr., Cocoa
UT-Franklin Labady, 5-8 160, Jr., Miami Edison
K-Harris Stolzenberg, 5-7 148, Sr., Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Deonte Barnett, 6-3 215, Sr., Cocoa
DL-Eric Mayes, 6-5 265, Sr., Sarasota Booker
DL-Michael Miller, 6-4 240, Sr., Orlando Jones
DL-Landon Stokes, 6-4 245, Sr., Orlando Lake Highland Prep
LB-Kyle Tanner, 6-0 195, Jr., Marianna
LB-Demerious Sweeting, 6-0 175, Sr., Cocoa
LB-Luke Kellschmidt, 6-2 190, Jr., Perry Taylor County
LB-Brycen Gagnon, 6-0 215, Jr., Yulee
DB-Michael Johnson, 6-0 175, Sr., Miami Washington
DB-Nigel Patten, 5-9 170, Jr., Miami Washington
DB-Kyle Francis, 5-8 155, Sr., Havana East Gadsden
UT-B.J. Simpson, 6-0 190, Sr. Orlando Lake Highland Prep
P-Gianluca Heatherly, 6-0 210, Sr., Jacksonville Bolles
HONORABLE MENTION
QB Treveze Robinson, 6-2 180, Sr., Havana East Gadsden; QB Jacquez Young-Battle, 6-1 160, Sr., Orlando Jones; QB Bobby LaRocca, 5-10 175, Sr., Mount Dora; QB Marvin Zanders, 6-1 175, Jr., Jacksonville Raines; UT Daniel Cobb, 5-10 165, So., Fort Myers Dunbar; QB Colby Peters, 6-0 205, Sr., Jacksonville Bolles; RB Alex Gonzales, 5-9 175, Sr., Keystone Heights; FB Jason Ray, 5-8 200, Sr., Yulee; RB Krondis Larry, 5-9 170, Jr., Miami Washington; RB D’Von Ballard, 5-9 180, Sr., Miami Washington; RB Marlon Mack, 5-9 175, Jr., Sarasota Booker; WR Lamar Parker, 5-10 175 Jr., Miami Washington; WR Kenny Dinkins, 6-0 175, Jr., Starke Bradford; WR Moral Stephens, 6-3 205, Jr., Perry Taylor County; UT Jerrell Reynolds, 5-9 180, Sr., Havana East Gadsden; RB Dexter Carter Jr., 6-0 170, So., Jacksonville Bolles; DL Brandon Curtis, 6-3 220, Sr., Bushnell South Sumter; LB Zane Cruze, 6-0 200, Jr., Yulee; DB Nigel Tribune, 5-11 170, Sr., Jacksonville Raines; DB Kenneth Maxwell, 6-0 180, Sr., Bushnell South Sumter; DL Calvin McLeod, 6-2 215, Sr., Miami LaSalle; UT Kalvin Cline, 6-4 220, Sr., Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest; DB Jamual Vickers, 6-2 180, Sr. Havana East Gadsden.
CLASS 3A
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Sean White, 6-3 200, Jr., Hollywood Chaminade
RB-Greg Bryant, 5-11 205, Sr., American Heritage
RB-Jordan Scarlett, 6-0 195, So., Davie University
RB-Lloyd Hylton, 5-10 185, Sr., Orlando First Academy
WR-Jordan Cunningham, 6-3 175, Sr., Davie University
WR-Jordan White, 5-9 170, Sr., Lakeland Christian
OL-Ira Denson, 6-4 320, Sr., Madison County
OL-Cory Martinez, 6-4 305, Jr., Tampa Catholic
OL-Josh Peters, 6-3 305, Jr. Orlando First Academy
OL-Jace Banfell, 6-3 290, Sr., Pensacola Catholic
OL-Tristan Brown, 6-4 285, Sr., Ocala Trinity
UT-Marcus Davis, 5-11 190, Sr., American Heritage
K-Greg Joseph, 6-1 195, Sr., American Heritage
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Nick Internacola, 6-4 225, Sr., Davie University
DL-Jordan Adderley, 6-1 245, Sr., Clearwater Central Catholic
DL-Kyle Lay, 6-2 230., Sr., Pensacola Catholic
DL-Brandon Crawford, 6-2 235, Sr., Madison County
LB-Skai Moore, 6-2 215, Sr., Davie University
LB-Delvin Purifoy, 6-2 230, Jr., Pensacola Catholic
LB-Jake Giordano, 6-1 230, Sr., American Heritage
LB-Colton Plante, 6-1 220, Sr., Orlando First Academy
DB-Nick Washington, 6-1 190, Sr., Jacksonville Trinity
DB-Mike Stevenson, 6-1 190, Sr., Clearwater Central Catholic
DB-Devin McCalebb, 5-9 170, Sr., Fort Meade
UT-Sheddrick Williams, 6-0 180, Sr., Madison County
P-Jason Coste, 5-11 175, Sr., Tallahassee Florida High
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Mike White, 6-3 195, Sr., Davie University
RB-Keon Bruton, 5-9 190, Sr., Madison County
RB-Khari Lewis, 5-11 185, Sr. Tallahassee Florida High
RB-Ben Deluzio, 6-2 185, Sr., Orlando First Academy
WR-Isaiah Ford, 6-2 175, Jr., Jacksonville Trinity
WR-Deonte Taylor, 6-0 175, Sr., Davie University
OL-Roderick Johnson, 6-6 318, Sr., American Heritage
OL-Kabarris Harkless, 6-5 260, Jr. Jacksonville Trinity
OL-Jordan Budwig, 6-5 320, Sr., Davie University
OL-Danny Munoz, 6-4 310, Sr., Hollywood Chaminade
OL-Maquadias Bain, 6-5 300, Sr., Davie University
UT-Travis Rudolph, 6-1 182, Jr., West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman
K-Peter Gilligan, 6-1 180, Sr. Jacksonville Providence
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Ryan Collins, 6-3 245, Sr., Melbourne Holy Trinity
DL-Brandon Boyce, 6-0 240, So., Davie University
DL-Giancarlo Bennardo, 5-11 245, Sr., American Heritage
DL-Elivisi Halapio, 6-3 238, Jr., St Petersburg Catholic
LB-Cecil Cherry, 6-3 245, So., Frostproof
LB-Tevin Floyd, 6-1 230, Sr., Tallahasee Florida High
LB-T.J. Harrell, 6-0 205, Jr., Tampa Catholic
LB-Kellen Snyder, 6-2 212, Jr., Fort White
DB-Xavier Swinton, 6-1 200, Sr., American Heritage
DB-Wesley Smith, 5-11 180, Sr., Davie University
DB-Jamonte Jones, 5-11 180, Sr., Ocala Trinity
UT-Trey Larry, 5-11 175, Sr., Clearwater Central Catholic
P-Paul Schumacher, 5-9 170, Jr., King’s Academy
HONORABLE MENTION
QB Cody Henry, 6-2 190, Jr. Pensacola Catholic; QB Christian Alexander, 6-3 205, So., Lakeland Christian; QB David Heinkle, 6-2 175, Sr. Williston; QB D.J. McKnight, 6-0 180, Sr., Madison County; RB Matt Henderson, 5-9 170, So., Jacksonville Episcopal; RB Devonte Clark, 5-9 180, Sr., Fort Meade; RB McKenna Johnson, 5-11 190, Jr., Benjamin; WR Jaleel Green, 6-1 190, Sr., Jacksonville Providence; WR Damien Strange, 6-0 175 Sr., Williston; TE Matt Burke, 6-6 215, Sr., Cardinal Newman; TE Jonathan Pavlov, 6-5 230, Sr., Benjamin; UT Will Jeanlys, 6-2 180, Jr., Pope John Paul II; UT Timothy Irvin, 5-9 175, So., Miami Westminster; UT Justin Motlow, 5-9 180, Jr., Tampa Catholic; UT Deonshay Wells, 5-9 170, Jr., Madison County; DT Gage Smith, 5-11 205, Sr., Ocala Trinity; LB Evan Harvey, 6-2 223, Sr., American Heritage; LB Tre Watson 6-3 210 Jr., Tampa Catholic; LB Ethan Thompson, 5-11 185, Jr., Clearwater Central Catholic; LB Bobby Martin, 6-1 200, So., Maitland Orangewood Christian; LB Cody Schooley, 6-0 230, Sr., Davie University; UT Edwin Thomas, 5-9 170, Jr., John Carroll; UT Michael Mulberry, 6-0 170, Sr., Fort White; UT Demardre Patterson, 5-11 190, Jr., Sarasota Cardinal Mooney; DB Jalen Battle, 6-3 175, Sr., Davie University