Consistency Is Key For Canterbury

As the 2020 season was pretty much a season that will be remembered as the pandemic year, many football programs will look back at the season where things changed. Despite ending the season 4-3, head coach <strong>Andrew Layton</strong> – an Estero High alum, and his Fort Myers Canterbury Cougars learned many lessons this past season – several have carried over to the spring and summer. The four wins to start the season gave this program so much to be optimistic about. The wins over Marco Island, Southwest Florida Christian, Cape Coral Oasis and Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy were all huge. But the way this team finished the year may have wiped away those positives. Losses to Community School of Naples, Bradenton Christian and Fort Myers Gateway Charter was not the way this team wanted the year to finish. This off-season, the Cougars have gone back and played on the strengths of this team, and in the process, established that the work in the classroom combined with football will add up to something special. There were 16 members of the team with a 4.0 Grade Point Average or better. One with a 5.0, so the emphasis is getting things ready for after high school and college – and that is why this is a program that so many colleges and universities have the pulse on what’s going on in Lee County. If there is progress in 2021, the senior class will be the first to provide it – with talented prospects such as <strong>Chris Bradford</strong> (OL/DL, 6-5, 240 – 2.77 GPA), <strong>Julian Daller</strong> (FB/LB, 5-7, 170 – 4.63 GPA), <strong>Michael Damiani</strong> (WR/DB, 6-2.5, 170 – 4.11 GPA), <strong>Ryan Dunavant</strong> (RB/CB, 5-7, 150 – 4.66 GPA) and versatile <strong>Ethan Javedan </strong>(K/DB, 6-2.5, 166 – 4.91 GPA). The Cougars also boast <strong>Marcos Johnson </strong>(RB/CB – 3.48 GPA), all-around standout <strong>Connor O’Connell</strong> (TE/DL, 6-5, 205 – 5.0 GPA), <strong>Jacob Schwartz</strong> (WR/DB, 6-0, 166 – 4.57 GPA), <strong>Chris Sporles </strong>(FB/LB, 5-11, 180 – 3.4 GPA) and <strong>Chase Thompson</strong> (WR/DB – 4.47 GPA). <strong>PLENTY OF UNDERCLASSMEN TO CHOOSE FROM</strong> This is a program, that over the next few years, will be deep and talented – on and off the playing field. Class of 2023 standouts such as <strong>Chase Alley</strong> (K/P, 5-9, 165 – 4.75 GPA), <strong>Max Bazan</strong> (OL/LB, 5-8, 200 – 4.81 GPA), <strong>Alex Camarca (</strong>Athlete/DB, 5-10, 181 – 4.11 GPA), <strong>Kevin Gonzalez</strong> (WR/DB, 6-1, 160 – 4.79 GPA), <strong>Owen Hawley</strong> (FB/LB, 5-8, 173 – 4.48 GPA) and <strong>Hunter Thomas</strong> (FB/LB, 5-9, 204 – 4.06 GPA) will be counted on heavily. Class of 2024 prospects are waiting to make an impact for the Cougars. Student/athletes such as <strong>Harley Brook</strong> (DL, 5-9, 165), <strong>Samson Hall</strong> (OL/LB, 5-8, 190 – 4.06 GPA), <strong>Derrick Hueniken</strong> (TE/DL – 4.69 GPA), <strong>Cisco Navas</strong> (DL – 3.24 GPA),<strong> Noah Schwartz </strong>(OL/DL – 4.12 GPA) and <strong>Kian Shimazaki</strong> (OL/LB, 5-6, 220 – 4.45 GPA) will all have a chance to help this program. If you are looking toward the future, the Class of 2025 will represent a freshman class that is deep and ready to learn. Look for <strong>Andrew Cato</strong> (OL/DL, 5-9, 193), <strong>Anthony Cedeno</strong> (OL/DL), <strong>Fin Curran</strong> (RB/DB), <strong>Harry Doucette</strong> (OL/DL), <strong>Colin Gaddis </strong>(OL/DL, 6-1, 195), <strong>J.T. Huether</strong> (QB, 5-11, 145), <strong>Azarian Leavette</strong> (RB/DB), <strong>Collin Meagher</strong> (WR/DB), <strong>Kyle Sharlau </strong>(RB/DB) and <strong>Anthony Valenzuela</strong> (RB/DB). Keep in eye on emerging prospect <strong>Charlie Stone</strong> (TE/LB, 6-1, 170), who will be in the 8th grade in the fall. <strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF CANTERBURY FOOTBALL</strong> <strong><em>You Can Contact [player_tooltip player_id="111610" first="Larry" last="Blustein"] with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>