Day 3 Notes (Polk): Florida Citrus Sports Media Day

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday, schools from Brevard and Polk Counties attended the final day of the Florida Citrus Sports Media Day hosted in Orlando and orgainized by Dan Laforest. Most schools from both areas attended Day 3 of the event. Here is a list of the Polk schools who were interview and shared thoughts on the upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top takeaways&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Polk Schools Look Solid</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bartow Yellow Jackets&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: (7-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1022076' first='Blake' last='Johnson'] (QB), Tavares Murray (DB), Cory Butler (WR), De'coryian Stanley (LB)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second-year head coach Tyler Eden is looking to make some noise this season despite losing some talented ball players to the next level. I expect this team to move with a chip on their shoulders and ready to prove they are truly back with championship aspirations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lakeland Dreadnaughts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: 12-3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key returners: </strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='827385' first='Zander' last='Smith'] (QB), Malik Morris (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1581905' first='Jadarius' last='Dobie'] (RB)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back-to-back state championships (9 total) for this historic high school who will look to push for a three-peat which hasnt been done in many years. Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='827385' first='Zander' last='Smith'] is back from injury and ready to lead this team who has a lot of skill talent on the offense. Its the defensive side of the ball who will shock teams this season and lead the way.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Auburndale Bloodhounds</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: (7-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1230944' first='Amari' last='Turner'] (QB), Darion Jiles (ATH), [player_tooltip player_id='1143144' first='Riley' last='Cooper'] (OL/DL), William McKenzie (DB)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburndale will be an interesting school I want to see this fall under first-year head coadh Antonio Thomas. The motto is now “NEW Auburndale” as some faces have left and some new ones have arrived to help bolster the roster. Look out for senior Darion Jiles to make some noise this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Winter Haven Blue Devils</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: (7-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='829494' first='John' last='Kostuch'] (QB), Cassidy Ervin (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1026558' first='Marlon' last='Tullis'] (DB), Felix Ocasio (OL)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Winter Haven Blue Devils will be a team to watch under head coach Carl White who has dealt with some off-season losses but still returns somevaluable production talent who will be back for blood. Rising 2025 QB [player_tooltip player_id='829494' first='John' last='Kostuch'] is looking the part and will have a couple of weapons to work with. After speaking with White at the event, its evident that he can feel it's his team's time to make noise in the city</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mulberry Panthers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: 7-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key returners: </strong><em>Cedric Townsend (DB, Jamarion James (WR), Connor Townsend (DE), Javonn Baptiste (WR)&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Really excited about this Mulberry team who has a lot of enery and upsdie about this program, Recently won the Polk 7v7 tournament which stands for somehting beforeheading into thenew season . This team has some skill on paper and if they look solid in the trenches I'm sure the Panthers can make some noise.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Meade Miners</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='833712' first='Keveun' last='Mason'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1628903' first='Omari' last='Russell'] (DB), [player_tooltip player_id='1230854' first='Darian' last='Kirkland'] (ATH), Markell Baker (RB)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a season Fort Meade put together last year as they had one of the better teams I've watched coming from that district and area in a while. Interested to see how they bounce back after losing some production with a new head coach at the helm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>George Jenkins Eagles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: 4-5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key returners: </strong><em>Cameron Turner (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1230899' first='Melik' last='Murray'] (DE), Robert Newman (OL)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's about time for the south side of Lakeland to make something shake. This team has a lot of size from what i saw at the media day along with a solid QB prospect. Been too long for the Eagles not to get over the hump in the city.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lake Gibson Braves</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023: (5-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: </strong><em>Derrick McBride - ATH - 2026, Aydan Garcia - OL - 2025, [player_tooltip player_id='1141192' first='Cason' last='Dash'] - 2026 - CB/WR.&nbsp; Martavius McCall - 2025 - DB, Mel Joseph - 2025 - DE/LB&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Braves will look to replace a lot of talent this fall season and will be led by a young 2027 QB. I'll be out to LG this spring to give readers a better feel of what's coming.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->