All-Suncoast Football

[E.T.]

All-Suncoast Football

The Times ' picks for the top players from Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

By Times staff

Published December 25, 2006

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Quarterback

Stephen Garcia  Jefferson  6-3  220  Sr.

Finished as the Tampa Bay area’s leader in career yards (8,018) and touchdowns (83). Graduated early to attend spring practices at the University of South Carolina, where he orally committed in December.

Running backs

Brynn Harvey  Largo  5-11  210  Jr.

A tough, between-the-tackles runner, Harvey gained 1,746 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He set a playoff record by carrying the ball 51 times against Countryside in region quarterfinals.

Byronell Arline  Ridgewood  6-2  220  Jr.

Arline set a school record with 1,717 rushing yards and helped his team to just its second winning season in school history. His rushing total was second-most ever in Pasco County, and his 21 touchdowns were tops as well.

Kevin Valenti  Jesuit  5-11  185  Sr.

After rushing for about 250 yards throughout his junior year, Valenti rushed for more than 200 in many games this season before finishing off at more than 1, 600. Several Ivy League schools have expressed interest.

Wide receiver

Derek Winter  Plant  6-2  185  Jr.

In the 4A state final, Winter caught 13 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the game’s final completion, a 4-yard touchdown with 17 seconds remaining. Winter had more than 1,000 yards for the season.

Greg Ellingson  Robinson  6-3  195  Sr.

Played five positions, including punter and kicker. College stock raised considerably through the season as a wide receiver, as he averaged more than 20 yards a catch for more than 1,000 yards.

Offensive line

Kyle Peters  Largo  6-10  303  Sr.

The Packers behemoth is big enough to block out the sun, but quick on his feet. He was the guy Largo ran behind on nearly 70 percent of its running plays.

Matt Patchan  Freedom  6-7  265  Jr.

Quick, strong, fast, tough. Patchan could be the highest-rated prospect among next year’s recruits. Patchan plays pretty well on both sides of the ball, which could serve the up-and-coming Patriots well in 2007.

Luigi Destino  Gaither  6-4  300  Sr.

Loves to block for the run, which makes sense when you consider Gaither’s top running back, Jarvis Giles, rushed for more than 1, 400 yards. “I like to run block because I like to smash people,†Destino said.

Will Sloat  East Lake  6-4  270  Sr.

Selected to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s North-South game, Sloat has the agility of a linebacker and the dependability of a Maytag. He was the ace up front who helped the Eagles go 7-3.

Rhonne Sanderson Plant  6-3  270  Jr.

Top offensive lineman on state title team. Exceptional at pass and run blocking. Don’t be surprised if much of the Panthers offense veers to his side in 2007. Projected as one of the area’s top Division I recruits next fall.

Utility

Jock Sanders  S.P. Catholic 5-10 190 Sr.

An all-everything dynamo, Sanders had 1,467 yards rushing, 236 receiving and 24 touchdowns. He has orally committed to West Virginia.

Kicker

Josh Martinez  Countryside  5-11  180  Sr.

Martinez, the son of former major-leaguer Dave Martinez, has a strong and accurate leg. He made 10 field goals this season, including 53- and 56-yarders.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive line

Darrick Fullwood Land O’Lakes 5-9 296 Sr.

Thick lineman credited with plugging holes and making tackles. His 73 tackles weren’t tops on the team, but his presence was a key reason Land O’Lakes won Class 5A, District 5 and earned its 10th consecutive playoff berth.

Nick Bennett Osceola 6-2 175 Sr.

A speed rusher off the edge, Bennett created havoc in the backfield, registering 80 tackles and 22 sacks.

Torrey Davis Armwood 6-4 280 Sr.

Perhaps no lineman in the state had more combined size, agility and speed than Davis. The University of Florida commitment had 16 sacks and anchored the area’s best defensive line.

Sergio Joyner Armwood 6-2 185 Jr.

Joyner’s motor never stopped running, and it revved at an exceedingly high level, which led to his 27 quarterback hurries. Few offensive linemen, no matter how much bigger they might have been, slowed Joyner.

Linebacker

Petey Smith Armwood 6-0 230 So.

Projected by many to be Armwood’s best defensive player ever, Smith already hits as hard as any player in Hawks history. The concern to opponents is that Smith still has two years to get quicker, stronger and faster.

Vince Chalecki Wesley Chapel 5-11 225 Sr.

Chalecki opted to forgo surgery to repair a torn posterior cruciate ligament in the hope of playing his senior season and earning a football scholarship. Known for his onfield leadership, quiet demeanor and hard hitting, he played the entire season, logging 143 tackles for the Wildcats.

Marc Thomas Hillsborough 6-3 200 Jr.

Led the Terriers in tackles and, by season’s end, was playing a great deal at running back. Despite Hillsborough’s struggles (losing four games for the first time in more than 14 years), Thomas kept working hard.

Defensive Back

Chris Kuzdale Plant 5-11 185 Sr.

Intercepted five passes in the final three playoff games of Plant’s state championship season. The biggest picks were arguably his first two in the regional against Armwood. Kuzdale returned both for touchdowns, one 64 yards and the other 81.

Michael Floyd Zephyrhills 5-10 170 Sr.

Speedy playmaker did it from everywhere on the field, scoring via kick return, interception, safety, blocked kick and pass reception. Floyd came up with a county-leading six interceptions, and was the Bulldogs’ most dangerous wide receiver.

[highlight]Alton Voss Gulf 6-2 215 Sr.

Voss signed with USF as a quarterback, but was even better on defense this season as he tied for the team lead in sacks and interceptions, blocked eight kicks and was an imposing nuisance for the opposition as he lined up everywhere.[/highlight]

Sherod Murdock Middleton 6-1 175 Sr.

Committed to the University of Alabama early in the season, but is rethinking that after Mike Shula was fired as the Tide’s coach. Pittsburgh and Kansas are now in the mix with Bama.

Utility

Marquise Gamble Tarpon Springs 6-2 170 Sr.

Gamble’s speed, coverage skills and tackling ability make him the total package as a defensive back. He had 73 tackles and eight interceptions, two returned for touchdowns.

Punter

Thomas Parrott Plant 5-8 155 Sr.

Averaged nearly 42 yards on 26 punts. Also kicked field goals and kickoffs, the majority of which he deposited in the end zone. Had a few punts sail more than 60 yards in the air.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Quarterback

Joe Weatherford  Land O’Lakes  6-4 190 Sr.

Running back

DuJuan Harris  Central  5-8  190  Sr.

Running back

Justin Hart  Osceola  5-11  170  Sr.

Jarvis Giles  Gaither  5-10  170  So.

Wide receiver

Develin Robinson  Land O’Lakes  6-0  190  Sr.

Cornelius Gallon  Plant  5-10  170  Jr.

Offensive line

Elvis Fisher  SPC  6-6  315  Sr.

Andrew Smith  Zephyrhills  6-1  296  Sr.

Josh Curtis  Ridgewood  6-4  270  Sr.

Colin Boss  Berkeley Prep  6-4  310  Sr.

Chaz Hine  Newsome  6-5  297  Sr.

Utility

Luke Rorech  Plant  5-11  155. Sr.

Kicker

Jon Heiser  Wesley Chapel  6-1  163  Sr.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Defensive line

Lawon Scott  St. Petersburg  6-2 300  Sr.

Tyler Hardin  Jefferson  6-3 230 Sr.

Cameron Pope  Pasco  6-3 300  Sr.

Ryne Giddins  Armwood  6-3 215  So.

Linebacker

Vince Hollingsworth  Dunedin  5-9 205  Sr.

Ben Perry  Ridgewood  6-0 210  Jr.

Brent Thomas  Plant  5-10 215 Sr.

Defensive back

Quinton Newton  St. Petersburg  5-8 175  Sr.

Cameron Harris  Land O’Lakes  5-8 154  Sr.

Mike Towns  Dunedin  6-1 170  Jr.

Angelo Hadley  Armwood  6-0 175  So.

Utility

Dontarrius Thomas  Land O’Lakes  6-2 167  Sr.

Punter

Alex Spock  Land O’Lakes  6-0 193  So.

HONORABLE MENTION

Honorable Mention

Alonso - Jamal Crook; Armwood - Marquise Branton, Darren de Rochemont, Juan Gorostiaga; Boca Ciega - Josh Bellamy; Citrus - Patrick Kruis, Antoin Scriven, Tyler Horton; Chamberlain - Justin Bell, Carlos Nieves, Joey Pelt, Deven Persaud; CC Catholic - Chris Campbell, Nate Lenz; Countryside - L.D. Crow, Josh Martinez; Crystal River - Justin Rolph, Ronnie Baldner, Kyle Roddenberry; Dixie Hollins - Jamar McKinne; Dunedin - Matt Gilghrest, Evan McKeon; East Bay - Steve Torkelson; East Lake - Brent Hill; Gaither - Trey Thrailkill, Mike Whitescarver; Gulf - Jesse Jecusco; Hudson - Travis Tindell, Jake McFadden; Jefferson - Kevin Brown, Evan Cromer, Byron McCleod, Cedric Mills, Mike Williams, Tito Zumbado; Jesuit - Adam Perhosky, Mike Peterson; King - Kevin Donaldson; Land O’Lakes - Jerome Blyden, Brad Patton, John Weatherford; Largo - Leron Barnett; Middleton - Carlton Jones; Mitchell - Gary Brizzolari; Nature Coast - Josh Ortiz; Newsome - Ryan Rodd; Northeast - Jeff Brinson, Pat Hanley, Dylan Mundella; Osceola - Justin Hart, Bryce Williams; Pinellas Park - Quinton King; Plant - Tyler Evans; Ridgewood - John Karakaris, Wil Nichols; Riverview - Jahleel Addae, Chris Luther; SP Catholic - Andrew Harris; Tampa Catholic - Benny Junco, Joey Lauteria; Tarpon Springs - Donnel Engram; Wesley Chapel - Mario Melvin; Wharton - Terrel Hicks, Josh Jones, Rod Saint-Juste; Zephyrhills - Beau Barnes.

[fidbull]

Am I missing something? Where's Marve?

[E.T.]

... interesting indeed. Just goes to show what others opinions are.

[Bullpride08]

haha, no guys you missed the initial article that discussed him as the POY for the Suncoast Team.   Funny, nah any kid that breaks Tebow's single season yardage and Triggs season td total wasn't going to get left out.

[bulls96go]

are we only are getting possibly 3 of these guy's in our own backyard?

marve, voss, fisher?

[Bullpride08]

are we only are getting possibly 3 of these guy's in our own backyard?

marve, voss, fisher?

yeah, and....outside of those three I can only see a few I would want or consider.  Develin Robinson is still considering us too.  A few mistypes many kids mentioned as seniors when they're in actuality juniors.  The local scene this year was mainly dominated by talented youth play.  I can count on barely two hands the recruits that USF wants in the area.

[KeysBull]

Voss could be an awesome linebacker in college if QB doesnt work out......

[Bullpride08]

Voss could be an awesome linebacker in college if QB doesnt work out......

LB, FS, SS, FB....truth be told Voss has run in the low 4.5's at his best as a 6-3 215lbs kid!  He could fit in at any number of positions but I believe that if he's given time and training he can be a very good QB in the mold of Grothe- a bigger Grothe- but he'll need 2 or so years to get there.

[bull2468]

Highly doubt USF takes Fisher.  C'mon Bien you should know that too  

It will come down to numbers, if USF lands the two guys they have over Fisher, then the only way they take him is if he Grey shirts.  And thats if he even wants to do that.

Josh Newberg

[Bullpride08]

Highly doubt USF takes Fisher.  C'mon Bien you should know that too  

It will come down to numbers, if USF lands the two guys they have over Fisher, then the only way they take him is if he Grey shirts.  And thats if he even wants to do that.

Josh Newberg

Yeah, but he's still on the list for now.  Outside of QB, and some athletes in Pinellas (what's new) are there many good seniors.  Dontarious Thomas at LOL HS is a junior but watch out next year he's a better all-around player than Develin Robinson and Develin is a good one.  Just not that many big time players in the area this year, next year Sergio Joyner, and Smith at Armwood will be highly sought after, those two Pinellas RB's, Thomas, Addae, that OL at Plant, Gallon at Plant....all those guys should be making the top 100 and will make the Bay Area hot again for recruiting.