St. Thomas In National Spotlight Today

It is only fitting that one of the nation’s elite programs over the past 30 plus years should be in the spotlight on opening day. With more NFL players than any other high school in the country, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and head coach <strong>Roger Harriott</strong> will step into the spotlight today (12 noon) for a game on ESPN. St. Thomas Aquinas, which is rated in the top 10 nationally, will take on Maryland powerhouse St. Frances Academy. The Raider are two-time defending 7A state champions – with a co-national title two years ago after a win over St. Louis High of Hawaii in the Geico Bowl in Las Vegas. This is a team that has a mix of veterans and youth prospects, coming in as one of the top teams in the nation. A win today would enhance this program’s national standing – with some impressive programs still left to play. When <strong>Biff Poggi</strong> left <strong>Jim Harbaugh’s</strong> Michigan coaching staff after just one season to become the head coach at St. Frances Academy, he set out with one goal in mind — turn the program into a powerhouse. The veteran coach accomplished just that, leading St. Frances to a prominent place in the national pecking order. Most importantly, he helped numerous student-athletes land college football scholarships at every level. Now, he’s returned to a familiar place in the college ranks to put a bow on his coaching career. St. Frances is left in good hands after Poggi’s departure, as <strong>Messay Hailemariam will</strong> take over as the program’s new head coach. Hailemariam worked in that role with the program from 2011-15 and has played a major role in its rise to national powerhouse status with Poggi at the helm <strong>10 ST. FRANCIS PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong> 2022 – Malik Baker, WR, 5-11, 190 2022 - Jaishawn Barkham, LB, 6-3, 230 2022 – Cornell Evans, DT, 6-1, 280 2022 – John Griffith, QB, 6-1, 206 2022 – Brian Jester, TE/H-Back, 6-3, 240 2022 - Cam Johnson, CB, 6-0, 175 – Virginia Tech commitment 2022 - Derrick Moore, DL, 6-4, 250 – Oklahoma commitment 2022 – Lamar Patterson, WR, 5-11, 175 2022 - Nasir Pierce, DL, 6-3, 275 2022 - Aaron Wilson , DL, 6-2, 235 &nbsp; <strong>St. Frances Academy 2021 Schedule</strong> 8-28 – at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 9-3 – St. Joseph’s Regional (N.J.) 9-11 – at Reirstown Franklin 9-17 – at Olney Our Lady of Good Counsel 9-25 – Richmond Beacon Hill, Va. 10-1 – at Concord De La Salle, Ca. 10-9 – at Bryn Athyn Academy of the New Church, Pa. 10-15 – Chester Life Christian Academy, Va. 10-22 – Columbus Bishop Sycamore, Ohio 10-29 – West Toronto Prep, Ontario 11-5 – Oakdale St. Thomas More, Connecticut 11-19 – at Bradenton IMG Academy <strong> </strong> <strong>10 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong> 2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="50006" first="Julian" last="Armella"], OL, 6-7, 290 2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="50184" first="Camden" last="Brown"], WR, 6-4, 205 – Pittsburgh commitment 2022 – Derrieon Craig, OLB, 5-10, 200 2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="49995" first="Anthony" last="Hankerson"], RB, 5-9, 195 2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="50244" first="Tellek" last="Lockette"], OL, 6-3, 310 2023 – [player_tooltip player_id="128717" first="King" last="Mack"], S, 5-10, 180 2024 – James Madison II, WR, 6-3, 203 2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="111491" first="Mason" last="Taylor"], TE, 6-4, 225 – LSU commitment 2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="50029" first="Zion" last="Turner"], QB, 6-2, 195 2023 – [player_tooltip player_id="128731" first="David" last="Vadala"], LB, 5-10, 215 &nbsp; <strong>St. Thomas Aquinas 2021 Schedule</strong> 8-28 –  St. Frances Academy 9-3 –  at Plantation 9-10 - at Plantation American Heritage 9-17 – Miami Monsignor Pace 9-24 – Western 10-1 – Cooper City 10-8  –  at South Plantation 10-16 – at Cardinal Gibbons 10-22 – Dillard 10-29 – at Nova &nbsp; <strong>OTHER SATURDAY GAMES</strong> American Collegiate at Westover, 7:30 Delaware Valley at Wakulla, 8 Jacksonville Ribault at Creekside, 3:30 North Miami at North Miami Beach (Traz Powell Stadium) Orange Park at Oakleaf, 7 Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast at Plantation American Heritage (Naples, 7) Tampa Catholic at IMG Blue, 7 World of Knowledge at Vidalia Heritage, 12 <strong> </strong> <strong>TRACKING FLORIDA: Teams Look At 2021 Season. </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/tracking-florida-teams-look-at-2021-season/">https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/tracking-florida-teams-look-at-2021-season/</a> &nbsp; <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>