5 Florida Teams In First Top 25 Rankings
With California not starting high school football until late December – along with some other states, choosing the top teams in the country is not an easy task to accomplish.
California is usually home to five or more of the top 25 teams in America, so with that state out of the mix, it gives other programs a chance to shine.
As the Sunshine State gets started – with four of the eight state champions not in the mix at the beginning – experts from across the country figured they would at least give it a shot.
Texas leads the way with five programs.
Here is USA Today’s first rankings – heading into the weekend. Keep in mind, St. Thomas Aquinas, Miami Central and three-time defending state champion Miami Northwestern have no idea when they will begin play.
Also, keep in mind that Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, a three-time defending 3A state champion, is loaded with talent – as are defending 8A state champion Miami Christopher Columbus as well as 8A powers Miami Palmetto, Davie Western, Deerfield Beach, Lutz Steinbrenner and state runner-up Apopka.
Other programs in Florida that truly deserve mention are 4A Miami Booker T. Washington, a state champion from last year, state runner-up Jacksonville Bolles, Miami Gulliver Prep, Cocoa, Davie University School, St. Petersburg Lakewood and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.
In addition to Miami Northwestern, one of the best teams in the nation, 5A programs such as Plantation American Heritage, Crawfordville Wakulla and defending state runner-up Orlando Jones deserve mention.
While Miami Central certainly deserves to be rated highly in 6A, keep in mind that Pensacola Escambia, Tampa Gaither, Palmetto, Naples and Fort Lauderdale Dillard needs to be in the conversation.
While St. Thomas Aquinas and Orlando Edgewater were two of the best 7A teams in Florida last season, certainly Seffner Armwood, Lakeland and Venice deserve recognition as well.
1A power Madison County and state runner-up Blountstown need to be recognized nationally for showcasing some quality teams once again in 2020.
Defending 2A state champion Hialeah Champagnat Catholic is also a program that continues to produce. Lakeland Victory Christian continues to have plenty of talent.
In addition to three-time defending state champion Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, Tallahassee Florida High has plenty of athletes as well in 3A.
1 – Bradenton IMG Academy. (0-0). Easily one of the top programs in the country once again. This team is loaded at every turn. Coach Bobby Acosta will have this team rolling all year.
2 – Duncanville, Texas (0-0).
3 – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. (0-0). When the Raiders begin play, they will easily be one of the best teams in the country. Where they lost prospects, they replaced them with impressive talent. The defending 7A state champions are for real again.
4 – Houston North Shore (0-0)
5 – Chandler, Arizona (0-0)
6 – Grayson, Logan, Georgia (0-0).
7 – Austin Westlake, Texas (0-0).
8 – Miami Central Rockets (0-0). The defending Florida 6A state champions return a number of prospects – and have added some new faces under head coach Roland Smith.
9 – Valdosta Lowndes County, Georgia (0-0).
10 – Katy, Texas (0-0).
11 – St. Louis De Smet Jesuit, Missouri (0-0).
12 – Orlando Edgewater Eagles (0-0). Coach Cameron Duke and his team are coming off an amazing season, losing to St. Thomas Aquinas in the 7A state finals. While they lost plenty up front, they do return several key athletes.
13 – Shadow Creek, Pearland, Texas (0-0).
14 – Lousville Trinity, Kentucky (0-0).
15 – Draper Corner Canyons, Utah (3-0).
16 – Alabaster Thompson, Alabama (2-0).
17 – Greenwood Center Grove, Indiana (2-0).
18 – Irmo Dutch Fork, South Carolina (0-0).
19 – Allen, Texas (0-0).
20 – Miami Northwestern Bulls (0-0). Hate to argue with rankings, but there are NOT 19 teams better than head coach Max Edwards and his three-time defending state champions. Not with 9 Power 5 recruits in the senior class alone and several key returners. Anyone who has followed this program knows that they are a top 5 program anywhere in the nation.
21 – Jersey City St. Peters Prep, New Jersey (0-0).
22 – Denton Guyer, Texas (0-0).
23 – Bixby, Oklahoma (1-0).
24 – Metairie Archbishop Rummel, Louisiana (0-0)
25 – Oradell Bergen Catholic, New Jersey.
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on Twitter (@PrepRedzonefl)