FHSAA's All-Century Team

The FHSAA's All-Century Team was selected in December, 2007, to celebrate 100 years of high school football in the state of Florida. It was selected by a panel of Florida high school experts. [ [http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2007/1212.htm FSAA.org] ] The Florida High School Athletic Association lists the 33 greatest high school football players in state history. In conjunction with selecting the All-Century team, the FHSAA named an All-Century Coaching Staff. [ [http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2007/1210.htm FHSAA.org] ]

The Florida High School Athletic Association, was founded on April 9, 1920 by a group of 29 high school principals which met at Peabody Hall on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. It is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It claims a membership of more than 750 middle, junior and senior high schools. [ [http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2007/1212.htm FHSAA.org: News Release ] ]

Offense

Quarterbacks

*Daunte Culpepper, Vanguard (Ocala), 1994. Was the 1994 Mr. Football winner led team to state final with 3,070 passing yards and 602 rushing yards as senior. Career offensive total of 7,034 yards – 6,107 passing, 927 rushing – is in state’s top 10. Put the University of Central Florida on college football map as star QB who completed 73.6 percent of his passes. Third player in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000. Just finished his 10th NFL season

*Tim Tebow, Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach), 2005. State all-time total offense king with 13,042 career yards (9922 pass/3120 rush) and 159 TDs responsible for (96 passing/63 rushing) in 3 years as QB at Nease. Set single-season records as a senior with 5,552 yards (4286 passing, 1266 rushing) and 70 TDs (46/24) for 11-2 team. 2005 Mr. Football. Was awarded the 2007 Heisman Trophy as quarterback at Florida, becoming the first sophomore ever chosen to receive the prestigious award.

Running Backs

*Rick Casares, Jefferson (Tampa), 1950. Named 1 of only 5 players in history recruiting analysts believe could have gone directly from high school to the pros because of their physical abilities. A 2nd-team All-American in 1953 as a junior at Florida before being drafted into the military. Began 11-year NFL career after drafted in 2nd-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1954, beginning an 11-year NFL career. Was Bears’ all-time leading rusher until Walter Payton broke his records in the 1980s.
*Tucker Frederickson, South Broward (Hollywood), 1960. One of the best RBs in the state for his time. Led Bulldogs to a 10-1 record in 1960. Became an All-American at Auburn and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. His pro career, which included being the first overall pick in the 1964 draft by the New York Giants, was cut short due to injury.

*Willie Galimore, Excelsior (St. Augustine), 1952. “He was perhaps the greatest running back I ever saw or coached against” said Earl Kitchings, former head coach of Matthew Gilbert and Raines high schools. Considered by some experts to be the best Florida high school RB prior to Emmitt Smith. Remains leading rusher in FAMU history. Killed in an automobile accident in 1964.
*Emmitt Smith, Escambia (Pensacola), 1986. Still holds state rushing record with 8,804 career yards on 1,127 carries and 106 TDs. Led Escambia to state titles in sophomore and junior years (2,934 rushing yards, 32 TDs on 353 carries in 14 games), and 10-1 season as a senior in the days when only district champ made playoffs. Set a career rushing record (later broken) at the University of Florida. Played 15 NFL seasons, setting numerous records, including career marks for rushing yards (18,355) and carries (4,409) that still stand. Played in 3 Super Bowls and 8 Pro Bowls. Was the 1993 NFL MVP.

Wide Receivers

*Anthony Carter, Suncoast (Riviera Beach), 1978. One of the most electrifying players ever to come out of Palm Beach County. Had 161 catches for 3,641 yards during HS career, which ranks 4th all-time in state history. Caught 14 TDs as a senior, 36 in his career. Set several school and Big Ten records at Michigan. Played 3 seasons in USFL and 11 in NFL, where he was a 2-time Pro Bowl player and set receiving records for the Minnesota Vikings.

*Michael Irvin, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 1983. Caught 59 passes for 987 yards and 12 TDs during senior season for Raiders. Was all-state selection. Went on to brilliant collegiate career at Miami. A first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys. A Pro Football Hall of Famer.
*Darrell Jackson, Tampa Catholic, 1995. Set then-national HS records for career receiving yards (4,594) and yards per catch (24.05) as a senior. Caught 191 passes in 3 seasons for Crusaders. Had 89 receptions for 2,087 yards and 28 TDs as a junior and 67 receptions a year later. Went on to star at Florida before turning pro after junior season. Selected in 3rd round of NFL draft by Seattle. Now in his 8th NFL season. Closing in on 500 career catches and 7,000 yards.

Offensive Lineman

*Larry Brown, Bradford (Starke), 1966. One of Bradford’s first black players, excelled for Tornadoes’ state title team as senior. Played college ball at the University of Kansas. Had 14 NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including all 4 of Steelers’ Super Bowl wins. Was a TE from 1971-76 and an OL from 1977-84. Was picked to Pro Bowl in 1982.

*Lomas Brown, Miami Springs, 1980. After a highly successful prep career, became a multi-year starter for University of Florida. Was 6th overall selection in 1985 NFL Draft. Played 18 years in NFL before retiring following 2002 season.

*Larry Gagner, Seabreeze (Daytona Beach), 1961. A 2-way starter for the Sandcrabs. In his final 2 years, Seabreeze went 19-2-1. Claimed 1960 Class A mythical state championship when he was a junior. Was a mainstay on the OL for Florida Gators from 1963-65. Played in 60 NFL games with Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. One of the first three Florida Gators to drink Gatorade: http://web.history.ufl.edu/new/alpata/back_issues/Alpata2006.pdf (See 'An Excerpt from the Oral History of Gatorade with Dr. Robert Cade' - page 20)

*Steve Hutchinson, Coral Springs, 1995. Listed as 1 of top 3 HS offensive linemen nationally by SuperPrep. Four-year starter, 4-year All-Big 10 recognition at Michigan. Drafted No. 17 in first round by Seattle. All-Pro and still considered one of NFL’s top blockers. Currently plays for Minnesota Vikings.

*Larry Little, Washington (Miami), 1962. A small college All-American for Bethune-Cookman. Undrafted, but was selected to the NFL Hall of Fame for his 14-year NFL career. Named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1970s.

Utility-Offense

*Anquan Boldin, Pahokee, 1998. The 1998 Mr. Football and first-team All-American his senior year. First player in state history to surpass 10,000 yards and then 11,000 yards in career offense. Had 4,339 yards total offense (2,842 passing and 1,497 rushing) for a 14-1 team as a senior. Finished high school career with 11,433 total yards, 134 TDs (71 passing, 56 rushing, 5 on interceptions returns, 2 on punt returns). Converted into WR at Florida State. Now plays for NFL Arizona Cardinals where he has earned Rookie of the Year and All-Pro awards.

Kicker

*John Carney, Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach), 1982, First-team All-State K/P as HS senior. Made 55-of-58 PAT kicks and 15 FGs in 2 years, including a long of 49 yards. Finished collegiate career as Notre Dame’s all-time FG leader with 51 and was 2nd in scoring with 223 points. Kicked an NFL record 29 consecutive FGs in 1993. One of only 3 players in NFL with more than 400 career FGs. Ranked 4th on NFL’s all-time scoring list.

Defense

Defensive Linemen

*Jerome Brown, Hernando (Brooksville), 1982. Standout DL and 3-sport letterman at Hernando in early 1980s. Went on to be an All-American at University of Miami and an All-Pro with Philadelphia Eagles. Played from 1987-91, picking up 29.5 career sacks in 76 games during his 5-year NFL career. Died in June 1992 in an automobile accident.

*Ted Hendricks, Hialeah, 1965. Built upon his solid start at Hialeah to enjoy a College Hall of Fame career at Miami, where he recorded the most tackles ever for a Hurricane DL and finished 5th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1968. Won 4 Super Bowls in 15 NFL seasons and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Was 64th on The Sporting News’ list of 100 Greatest Football Players in 1999. Was a member of the NFL’s all-time 75th anniversary team in 1994.

*Deacon Jones, Hungerford (Eatonville), 1956. Standout high school star in the pre-integration era. A Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Famer at Mississippi Valley State. Finished college career at South Carolina State. Earned NFL Hall of Fame status as a member of L.A. Rams “Fearsome Foursome” defensive front. Played 14 NFL seasons and played in 8 Pro Bowls. Was legendary for sacking quarterbacks before it was adopted as a statistical category but amassed 173-1/2 sacks unofficially. Twice was voted the Newspaper Enterprise Association Defensive Player of the Year Award

*Jack Youngblood, Jefferson County (Monticello), 1966. Led team to state championship in 1966, playing OL and LB. Led a defense that shut-out 7 opponents. Four-year letterman in high school. At the University of Florida earned All-American honors and was the SEC Lineman of the year in 1970 while recording 29 career sacks for the Gators. Was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Charter member of Gators Ring of Honor. Drafted 20th player overall in 1971 NFL draft by Los Angeles Rams. Had 14-year career in the NFL and played in 7 Pro Bowls. Was a First- or Second-team All-Pro 8 times, was the 1975 NFC Defensive Player of the Year and recorded 151-1/2 sacks and was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Linebackers

*Derrick Brooks, Washington (Pensacola), 1990. USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year and everybody’s All-American as a senior. Joined Emmitt Smith as only Floridians picked to USA Today All-Time Team (20 years) in 1991. Starred at FSU. Now in 13th NFL season, all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Was 2002 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 2005 Pro Bowl MVP.
*Rickey Jackson, Pahokee, 1977. Jackson and Pahokee teammate Remoise Johnson were dynamic bookend DEs in high school. Scouting reports said not to run to Johnson’s side, but teams quickly found out that running to Jackson’s side was an unacceptable alternative. Starred at the University of Pittsburgh. Became a 6-time Pro Bowl selection at LB in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl ring in 1995 with the San Francisco 49ers. Played most of his pro career with the New Orleans Saints and is among the NFL all-time leaders in sacks (136) and fumble recoveries (29).
*Ray Lewis, Kathleen (Lakeland), 1992. Was team MVP at Kathleen in junior and senior seasons, playing LB, RB and KR. Recorded 207 tackles with 10 sacks, 3 blocked FGs, 8 INTs and 6 TDs via kick or punt returns in HS career. Played 3 years at University of Miami, finishing with 393 career tackles. Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, where he has played 12 seasons with 9 Pro Bowl appearances and twice was voted the AP National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award.
*Wilber Marshall, Astronaut (Titusville), 1979. Parade All-American in 1979 on a team with Cris Collinsworth at QB. Honored this year as the fifth former star in the University of Florida Ring of Honor. Racked up 343 tackles and 23 sacks for the Gators. Played 12 NFL seasons, with 23 INTs, 2 Super Bowl rings and 3 Pro Bowl appearances.

Defensive Backs

*Bennie Blades, Piper (Sunrise), 1983. Named to All-Time All-Broward Team in 1999. Played at University of Miami. Won Jim Thorpe Award in 1987 as top collegiate defensive back. Member of College Football Hall of Fame. First-round pick by Detroit Lions in 1988. Spent nine seasons in NFL.

*Leroy Butler, Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville), 1985. Had 139 tackles as LB and 388 rushing yards on 18 carries as WB in senior year at Lee, which he helped lead to 3 district titles. First team Class 3A All-State, All-South and Florida Super 24 selection. Signed by FSU. Made famous by “puntrooski” play at Clemson in 1988. An All-Pro selection 5 times, a Pro Bowl selection 4 times and 1996 Super Bowl champ with Green Bay Packers. Originated the infamous “Lambeau Leap.” Retired from football in 2001.

*Ken Riley, Union Academy (Bartow), 1965. One of 9 Union Academy graduates who made it to NFL before school closed in 1968. Played offense and defense in high school and QB at FAMU, where he was a 3-time All-American. Moved back to the secondary in the NFL, where he played 14 seasons with 65 INTs. Was later head football coach (1986-93) and athletic director (1994-2003) at FAMU.

*Deion Sanders, North Fort Myers, 1984. One of state’s great all-time athletes. First-team all-area in football, basketball and baseball as a senior before playing 2 pro sports. A standout option QB in HS. Two-time consensus All-American at FSU while also dabbling in baseball and track (1988 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier). Listed as No. 1 cornerback on Sports Illustrated’s All-Century college team. Played 14 NFL seasons, with 6 Pro Bowls and 53 career INTs. Was the 1994 National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. Also hit .533 for Atlanta Braves in the 1992 World Series and was leading the National League in stolen bases in 1997 when he returned to football.
*Sean Taylor, Gulliver Prep (Miami), 2000. Set state scoring record with 44 TDs as a member of Gulliver Prep’s 14-1 Class 2A state title team in 2000. Attended the University of Miami as a safety. Became 5th overall selection by the Washington Redskins in 2004 draft. Was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, including posthumously in 2007.

Kick Returner

*“Neon” Leon Bright, Merritt Island, 1973. Rushed for 4,036 yards and 77 TDs when Mustangs were at top of Florida’s big classification (1972 state champs) with a prolific offense. Led FSU in rushing with 713 yards in 1973 and was backup RB and renowned courageous punt returner for New York Giants. Fielded 141 punts without calling for a fair catch in 5 NFL seasons.

Utility-Defense

*Reggie Nelson, Palm Bay (Melbourne), 2002. Standout defender and return specialist for Pirates’ 2002 Class 4A state title team. Averaged 45 yards per punt return and 26.8 per kickoff return, totaling a state record 1,531 return yards as a senior. A first-team All-American as a junior free safety at UF in 2006 with 6 INTs and 2 blocked punts. Now a starter for Jacksonville in the NFL.

*Warren Sapp, Apopka, 1990. Did it all for Apopka, even punting, and was a first-team All-State pick as a LB. Converted to DL at the University of Miami. Earned consensus All-America honors and Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player in 1994. Played 13 NFL seasons, and made the Pro Bowl 7 times and was the 1999 AP Defensive Player of the Year. Finished career with 96 sacks.

Punter

*Pat Summerall, Columbia (Lake City), 1947. All-state selection in football and basketball in the late 1940s. Also lettered in baseball and tennis. All-Southwest Conference football and basketball player at Arkansas. Played 10 seasons in NFL for Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants, scoring 567 points during his career. Award-winning sports broadcaster. Inducted into Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

All-Century Team coaching staff

*Bill Castle (active). Castle has compiled a 308-74 record in 32 years as head coach of Lakeland High School, which has never had a losing season under his leadership. His Dreadnaughts have won six state championships, including three consecutive state titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006; a state record 53 consecutive victories (the streak was ended this season); and two mythical national championships in 2005 and 2006. Castle was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

*Gene Cox (retired). Cox won 313 games and two state championships in his 38-year career, which included stints at Suwannee (Live Oak), Jefferson County (Monticello), Leon (Tallahassee) and Aucilla Christian (Monticello). The bulk of his career was at Leon (from 1963-1990), where we won 238 games against just 68 losses and 4 ties. He is a member of the 1991 charter class of the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

*Walt Frazier (active). The coach at Miami Carol City for the past 26 seasons, Frazier has directed the Chiefs to three state championships (1996, 1997, 2003). His career record of 212-107, which includes three seasons at Miami Northwestern, ranks third on Miami-Dade’s all-time coaching list. Over the 1996 and 1997 seasons, the Chiefs won 29 straight games, which is still tied for Miami-Dade’s all-time longest streak.

*Joe Kinnan (active). Kinnan, who coached Manatee (Bradenton) from 1981 to 2000, returned to the sidelines as coach of the Hurricanes in 2005 after a four-year battle with cancer, and immediately restored the program to district championship prominence. His 23-season record as a head coach, including his first two seasons at Cypress Lake (Fort Myers), is 220-62. He has coached the Hurricanes to four state championships (1983, 1985, 1989 and 1992).

*Nick Kotys (deceased). The legendary Coral Gables High School coach built one of the most dominating programs in state history, winning FHSAA state titles in 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1968, and two mythical state championships before the playoff system was begun. Kotys also won four mythical national titles in 1956, 1964, 1967 and 1968. He retired in 1971 after 20 seasons as head coach of the Cavaliers with a 160-33-9 record. Kotys died in 2005 at the age of 92.

*Carl Madison (retired). Madison coached Tate (Cantonment) to the 1980 state championship, and Pine Forest (Pensacola) to back-to-back state titles in 1987 and 1988, with the 1988 team being declared national champions by USA Today. In 24 seasons as a head coach at five different Florida high schools, Madison accumulated a record of 261-97-6. His overall career record, including stints at three out-of-state schools, is 326-129-7 over 34 seasons, good for second on Florida’s all-time coaching victories list.

*Gerald Odom (retired). Odom’s Merritt Island High School teams made four appearances in the FHSAA Finals, winning two state titles in 1978 and 1979. He retired following the 2004 season after 33 years as a head coach at Merritt Island, New Smyrna Beach and Cocoa high schools with a career record of 268-85-2.

*Nathaniel "Traz" Powell (deceased). Powell, who was the first black athlete to score a touchdown in the Orange Bowl stadium, went on to become one of the top coaches in the pre-integration Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association. He compiled a 167-37-3 career record over 21 years from 1949 through 1969 as head coach at Miami’s Carver and Mays high schools. Powell died in 1980. The football stadium at Miami-Dade College, which is the home to many of Miami-Dade’s top high school teams, including Miami Northwestern and Booker T. Washington, was renamed in his honor in 1988.

*Robby Pruitt (active). The youngest coach ever to reach 100 wins and be inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2000), Pruitt won seven state championships in just 16 years – four at University Christian (Jacksonville) in 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1992 and three straight at Union County (Lake Butler) in 1994, 1995 and 1996. His record when he left the state after the 1999 season was 167-30, including a 31-6 playoff record. Pruitt has continued his success in Georgia, going 81-16-1 at Fitzgerald and Warner Robins high schools. His current overall career record is 248-46-1 in 24 seasons.

*Corky Rogers (active). The winningest coaching in state history, Rogers has a 361-68-1 career record over 37 seasons – at Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) from 1971-88 and at Bolles (Jacksonville) from 1989 through the present. He has coached Bolles to seven state championships in 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Although the Bulldogs lost in the region finals this year, they finished the regular season 10-0, giving Rogers’ his ninth perfect regular season. He is a 2005 inductee into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

*George Smith (active). Smith has amassed a 318-65 career record in 31 seasons, all at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, which is good for third on the all-time Florida coaching victories list. His Raiders have won three state championships (1992, 1997, 1999) in 10 FHSAA Finals appearances. They will be making an 11th finals appearance (fourth straight) this Friday night in the Class 5A state championship game. Smith is a 2005 inductee into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

*Al Werneke (deceased). Werneke was the first coach to win back-to-back FHSAA championships at two different schools – in 1971 and 1972 at Glades Central (Belle Glade) and in 1982 and 1983 at Titusville. In 24 seasons at five different Florida high schools he compiled a 187-69-2 record. His overall career record, including nine seasons in Illinois, was 257-93-5. Werneke died in 1997 and was posthumously inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

References

External links

* [http://www.fhsaa.org/ Official web site of the Florida High School Athletic Association]
* [http://www.orlandosentinel.com:80/sports/orl-bk-fhsaateam121207,0,2712170.story Orlando Sentinal, Dec. 12, 2007]