Chaminade-Madonna Team Preview

I stopped by Chaminade-Madonna to watch team practice. The Lions are coming off a 8-2 season and a spot in the 3A state championship game. Chaminade-Madonna won three straight titles before falling to Trinity Christian Academy last season. The Lions are led by head coach Dameon Jones. First Game: @ Western (8/27) Next Two: @ American Heritage (9/3), @ Columbus (9/10) Players To Watch: Cedric Bailey - Quarterback 2024 Cedric Bailey has the body frame (not build) of a Vince Young/Terelle Pryor. The 6-foot-5, 175-pound quarterback completed 18 of 27 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns behind 2021 Jaylon Tolbert last season. During an intrasquad scrimmage, Bailey played as I would expect of a young player. He made some good throws and tossed a few that got away from him. Moreover, it appeared he missed a read or two on occasion. A defensive back also jumped a route and got him for an interception. I did not see him run, but I assume he has some speed to pick up yards on a set play or when a situation breaks down. You can tell Bailey has potential when he puts on weight and adds seasoning. Brock Lopez - Wide receiver 2022 Brock Lopez impressed me catching passes. The shifty wide out made a nice one-handed grab going towards the sideline during one sequence. He appears to be elusive and ready to run after the catch. Lopez is "listed" at 6-foot-1, 183 pounds. Per MaxPreps, he caught seven balls for 87 yards and one touchdown as a junior. He is also a very good student with over a 4.0 GPA. Davion Gause - Running back 2024 Davion Gause is the next great ball carrier at Chaminade-Madonna. Per MaxPreps, the 5-foot-11, 209-pound back had 81 carries for 762 yards and six touchdowns behind University of Miami freshman [player_tooltip player_id="32643" first="Thaddius" last="Franklin"] last season. Gause was recently named to the Preseason MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team. He holds offers from Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, Louisville, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Utah and West Virginia. I expect a big year from him. [player_tooltip player_id="49988" first="Kenyatta" last="Jackson"] Jr. - Defensive end 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="49988" first="Kenyatta" last="Jackson"] Jr. will be one of the anchors on Chaminade-Madonna’s defense. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound edge rusher has recorded over 20 sacks in his first three seasons of high school. As a junior, Jackson Jr. played alongside 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="32895" first="Allan" last="Haye"] Jr. and 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="50032" first="Jamaal" last="Johnson"]. He has big hands and holds an 80-inch wingspan. His power and speed will be a problem for opponents all season. Jackson Jr. will also make plays against the run. The 4-star recruit holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Auburn, FIU, FAU, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Florida A&M, Georgia, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, Southern Miss, Syracuse, Tennessee, Southern Cal, UCF, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Utah. Basically, pretty much everyone wants him. Jackson Jr. comes from a football family with his grandfather and two uncles playing at the professional level. [player_tooltip player_id="50032" first="Jamaal" last="Johnson"] - Defensive end UCF got a big add with the commitment of 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="50032" first="Jamaal" last="Johnson"] back in June. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound rusher recorded a team-best 13 sacks and even picked off a pass last season. Johnson plays with a high motor from snap to finish. Gus Malzahn is going to like this kid next year. [player_tooltip player_id="128485" first="Edwin" last="Joseph"] - Wide receiver 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128485" first="Edwin" last="Joseph"] will be a huge factor this season for the Lions. Per MaxPreps, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound wide out had 13 receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown over four recorded games last season. Joseph brings a ton of speed and great hands onto the field. His playmaking ability could be a huge part to this teams success on offense. The 3-star recruit holds offers from Florida A&M, Syracuse, West Virginia, Maryland, Syracuse and Texas A&M. [player_tooltip player_id="50049" first="Brian" last="Dilworth"] - Cornerback Dilworth is one of the strengths on defense after picking off a team-best seven passes last season. In fact, this entire unit is good for Chaminade-Madonna (see below). Dilworth has good size (6’0, 180) to play the position and a ton of upside. Moreover, Dilworth has great awareness and vision to jump a route. He is a strong tackler that will more than hold his own on the outside. The 3-star ball hawk holds offers from Penn State, Auburn, Arkansas, Boston College, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Minnesota, NC State, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Kent State and UCF. Dilworth decommited from Auburn back in February. UConn commit [player_tooltip player_id="111710" first="Jeremiah" last="McGill"] (6’,185) and Ohio State commit [player_tooltip player_id="108633" first="Ryan" last="Turner"] (6’,180) join him in the defensive backfield. Both McGill and Turner were second-team All-County picks last season. McGill was second on the team last season with four interceptions. 2024 Zaquan Patterson is another name to know receiving national attention. I think this unit dares an opposing quarterback to throw the ball downfield. Others To Watch: 2024 Curtis Janvier - Defensive back (5’11,175) 2022 Brett Hoffman - Defensive lineman (6’3,253) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128436" first="Will" last="Bankston"] - Wide receiver (6’,170) 2023 Wayne Peart - Defensive tackle/Tight end (6’4,250) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="111518" first="Jordan" last="Graham"] - Offensive lineman (6’3,285) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="111549" first="Cahlede" last="Jackson"] - Defensive tackle (6’,290) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128069" first="Deandre" last="Duffus"]* - Offensive lineman (6’5,300) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128586" first="William" last="Larkins"] - Offensive lineman (6’4,290) 2023 Jeno Junius - Defensive back (6’,185) 2023 Duane Thomas - Wide receiver (5’10,180) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128802" first="D’Angelo" last="Ponds"] - Defensive back (5’10,150) 2022 Kalun-J Matthew - Defensive tackle/Fullback (6’1,250) 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="128073" first="Elvin" last="Harris"] - Offensive lineman (6’5,300) 2024 Denzel Johnson - Linebacker (5’11,185) *Duffus holds 11 D-1 offers Overview: The Lions will clearly again be a favorite in Class 3A and a top 10 program in the state. The Hollywood program has reached the title game in five consecutive seasons with three wins from 2017-2019. I really like this team upfront on both sides of the ball. There is a lot of depth for Chaminade-Madonna to work with in the trenches. I am looking forward to watching the evolution of Cedric Bailey at quarterback. Davion Gause should show why he is one of the best young backs in the state of Florida. For any South Florida Prep Redzone news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.