It's that time of year again, folks. High school football practice begins on July 29th, which means field season is upon us.
High school football preseason games will begin across Florida on Aug. 16, with the regular season starting Aug. 21-23.
The No. 1 team in the Sunshine State is the IMG Academy Ascenders, followed by the Chaminade Madonna Lions. As you can see throughout this list, South Florida is once again ranked highly.
Heading into the 2024 season, here's a complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams.
2024 SBlive Preseason Football Florida High School Football Top 25 Rankings
Coach Billy Miller is once again loaded with stars, and with a number of talented transfers over the past few weeks, Miami-bound Gavin Nicks and Ohio State-bound London Merritt will lead one of the best front seven defenses in the nation.
A lot will be known about this team when it plays California powerhouse St. John Bosco on Aug. 24. The Lions have a very potent offense thanks to the additions of quarterback Zach Katz and wide receivers Jabari Brady, Coby Howard and Jansen Lopez.
Who wouldn't be impressed with how the Tigers performed last season? This team was virtually undefeated and should have gone on to the Class 2S state championship. They return quarterback Brady Hart (bound for Michigan) and wide receiver Jayvan Boggs (bound for Missouri) and have a dynamic offense.
Jube Joseph and the Rockets have been working hard at NW 95th Street. The Rockets are not at all happy with how they finished in 2023 and are good enough to make a state tournament appearance in Class 3A. Penn State-bound Beckham Kritza will be the team's starting quarterback, solidifying the Rockets' most important position.
Not to write off Roger Harriott's Raiders, but there are some questions on offense. They graduated a lot of players who gained yards at the wide receiver position, but that doesn't mean they're thin on the bench. Maryland-bound Travareth Daniels II and defensive edge rusher Trevor Sommers (bound to Pittsburgh) lead a talented defensive front seven.
Don't be too surprised to see last year's Class 2M state championship Cinderellas ranked so high on this list. They're back in good form under coach Dominic Chao and the players are looking to win another state championship. Five-star prospect Dallas Golden (bound to Notre Dame) and underrated running back Joseph Troup (bound to Temple) will lead the Buccaneers.
The last time we saw the Vikings was in a tough loss to Berkeley Prep in the Class 2M state championship game (see below). Miami Norland has bounced back and continues to practice. Quarterback Ennio Yapur is coming off a strong junior season and looking to add to his Dade County record.
With quarterback Dia Bell (bound for Texas), wide receiver Malachi Toney (bound for Miami) and running back Byron Lewis, it's hard to ignore the offensive line. Add in the fact that the Patriots have the fastest track and field team in the state, made up of football players, and you can see why Mike Smith's team is on the list.
This Dreadnoughts team is loaded with talent and could easily move up on this list after their Week 1 game against No. 4 Miami Central. They also have 2026 star linebacker Malik Morris ready to play in college right now, and they're joined by USF forward Jermichael Gillis, a transfer from St. Francis Academy (Md.).
It would be a bit odd not to include them somewhere on this list, especially considering the firepower they have on the offensive end. With Florida State-bound Tramell Jones directing the offense and five-star wide receiver Jamie French returning to throw the pass, the Mustangs should be competitive with any team they face in 2024.
When you look at the talent-rich teams scattered across South Florida, the Homestead Broncos somehow get buried. Ronnie Thornton Jr. returns with a very talented team, led by four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills (bound to the University of Oklahoma). Add in Montclair (N.J.) transfer Malachi “Bubba” Lewis at quarterback and there should be fireworks at Harris Field this fall.
Seeing Carter Smith (University of Michigan) direct the Vikings' offense this spring was certainly a wake-up call for some. This team is versatile across the board and can be aggressive on defense. Watching their play against Columbus and Sarasota Riverview shows Bishop Bellot is a team on the rise this fall.
Sanford Seminole head coach Carl Calhoun played linebacker during his time with the Seminoles, and now in his second year, he has a strong front seven, including linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who has committed to Florida State University. Quarterback Michael Clayton, offensive lineman Max Buchanan (University of Miami commit) and utility dynamo David Parks (Howard University commit) make up a potent offensive unit.
It all starts on August 23rd at 7pm at Cardinal Gibbons High School with the Rams taking on the Chiefs. For Lake Mary, the opportunity on the national stage will show what this team is made of, with quarterback Noah Grubbs (bound for Notre Dame) looking to win a state title and perhaps set the state single-season touchdown passing record.
There's no denying the offensive power of this Yellow Jackets team, with quarterback Rocklan Hewlett (USF commit) and wide receiver Carl Jenkins Jr. (UCF commit) producing plenty of touchdowns through the air this fall, and there's hope this team will compete for a state crown in Class 4A.
Are the Hawks back in the state championship conversation? In Class 6A, I believe so. Coach Evan Davis has arguably his most talented team to date. Sophomore quarterback Reece Brush had a great offseason and has a great new target to throw to in Georgia commit Tyler Williams.
It's hard to imagine the Indians finishing lower than the top 15, but their spring performance left a little to be desired if John Peacock's squad wants to be a state championship contender in Class 7A, and the addition of star wide receiver Winston Watkins and the return of Jamaris Wilder to the backfield should make things a little easier.
As always, the Fighting Tigers have a very tough 2024 schedule that includes teams like Auburndale, Edgewater, Kissimmee-Osceola and Lake Wales. Class of 2026 quarterback DeReon Coleman (bound for the University of Miami) will once again be at the helm along with wide receiver Vernell Brown III (bound for the University of Florida).
Mark Whitmore is back in the Bobcats' head coaching chair after just one season away, and they don't seem to be missing out at all. With experienced quarterback Trace Johnson at the helm, the transition will no doubt go well. Make no mistake, North Central Florida is the team to beat in the region.
Tampa Bay Tech seems to be well-equipped at quarterback, with Logan Rodgers returning and competing for the starting spot with Hillsboro transfer Darrion Jones, and having a guy like Dallas Wilson (Oregon) to throw passes to makes it a little easier, and Jason Roberts' East Hillsboro team is loaded with talent.
That may seem tough on Dave Dunn's Explorers, but that's because Columbus set a pretty high bar for itself. It may have felt that way after winning back-to-back Class 4M state championships, but they brought back some talent and also inherited some. Bryce Fitzgerald, arguably one of the best all-around skill players in the state, returns this fall.
If there's any doubt the Knights are one of South Florida's better teams this fall, just take a look at their star players. One of them is West Virginia-bound defensive end Romand Johnson, who leads the front seven. Antwan Parham, who will attend Tulane University, leads the offense as a wide receiver. The Monarchs reached the Class 4M state semifinals last season and are looking to win in Class 6A.
It's Year 1 of the Jerem Bell era at Mainland and many believe the Buccaneers are taking a wait-and-see approach. This Mainland team, which beat St. Augustine to win the Class 3S state championship, lost many of its best players from last year. UCF commit Christian Hudson is another talented anchor of the defensive front seven.
Don't scratch your head as to why the Raiders are on this list, if you really look at the players on this team it's clear they're loaded with talent. Powerhouse linebacker Malachi Boone (UCF commit) leads the way, joined by safety Rashad Johnson (Georgia commit) and defensive back George Mullins (Michigan State commit). These guys are pretty good.
They may be one of the most underrated teams in the state with very few big names on the roster, but the Plant Panthers are definitely loaded with talent when you take a closer look at their roster. Waltez Clark, who is committed to the University of Florida, will play running back and linebacker, while Max Hunt, who is committed to the University of Pittsburgh, will play tight end. Hunt will be joined by Trip Brown and quarterback JC Mirasola to round out a solid offensive unit.
From the outside: Apopka, Bartram Trail, Bartow, Benjamin, Bishop Moore, Bolles, Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Gibbons, Cardinal Newman, Carroll Wood Day, Choctawhatchee, Clearwater Central Catholic, Coconut Creek, Creekside, DeLand, Delray Beach Atlantic, Dunbar, Eau Gallie, Edgewater, Escambia, Golden Gate, Kissimmee Osceola, Lincoln, First Baptist Academy, FSU High, Hawthorne, Jesuit, LeslieIke Wales, Manatee, Miami Booker T. Washington, Miami Edison, Miami Northwestern, Miami Palmetto, Mitchell, Monarch, Niceville, Naples, Newberry, Palm Beach Central, Pensacola Catholic, Ponte Vedra, Port Charlotte, Rains, Sarasota Booker, Sarasota Riverview, Sebring, Treasure Coast, Trinity Catholic, Union County, Vanguard, Vero Beach, Western, West Orange, Williston, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills
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— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
