2014 PREVIEW GUIDE: All-Panhandle Preseason Elite Team

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The Preseason All-Panhandle Elite Teams are selected based upon players returning this season and have shown a consistent effort at their positions.  The statistics shown are from the 2013 season.

All-Panhandle Preseason MVP: Johnathon Ortner (South Walton) Sr., QB
All-Panhandle Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Quaide Weimerskirch (Pace) Sr., RB
All-Panhandle Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Marquis Cass (Tate) Sr., LB
All-Panhandle Preseason Underclassmen of the Year: Antwan Durn (Sneads) Jr., RB
All-Panhandle Preseason Utility Player of the Year: Gerald Bright (Escambia) Sr.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB – Johnathon Ortner (South Walton) Sr.
Why: Ortner threw for 2,796 yards and 38 touchdowns last season guiding the Seahawks to their first district title since 2008.

QB – Matthew Webb (Navarre) Sr.
Why: Although Webb was lethal through the air accounting for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, he was deadly on the ground too with 305 yards and 4 touchdowns.

QB – Sawyer Smith (Tate) Jr.
Why: Smith guided the Aggies to their first playoff appearance since 2008 after throwing for 1223 yards and 12 touchdowns on 101 of 190 passing.

RB – Quaide Weimerckirch (Pace) Sr.
Why: The states leading rusher came out of now where after attaining 2,308 yards and 27 touchdowns on 359 carries.

RB – Antwan Durn (Sneads) Jr.
Why: Durn was named honorable mention Class 1A All-State after finishing with 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Pirates.

RB – Raekwon Webb (Bay) Jr.
Why: Webb was one of the Tornadoes bright spots on offense who burned area defenses accumulating 1181 yards and 11 touchdowns.

WR – Alex Smith (South Walton) Sr.
Why: Good portion of those 2,796 yards were thrown to Smith, who managed 755 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the Seahawks.

WR –  Daniel Byrd (Pensacola Catholic) Sr.
Why: With a beavy of weapons around him, Byrd still managned 669 receiing yards and 8 touchdowns.

WR – Josh Preston (Rocky Bayou Christian) Sr.
Why: Deep threat for Knights accumulated 678 yards and 10 touchdowns.

OL – Devin Gibson (West Florida) Sr.
Why: Vocal leader of Jags offense that averaged 342 yards and 44.3 points per game

OL – Chris Clark (Pace) Sr.
Why: Huge reason the Patriots offense accumulated over 2500 yards on the ground.

OL – Noah Banks (West Florida) Sr.
Why: Along with Gibson, Banks a 6-6, 309 pounder forms one of the Panhandles best line.

OL – Davin Smith (Pace) Sr.
Why: Huge reason the Patriots offense accumulated over 2500 yards on the ground.

ATH – Elijah Stove (Niceville) Jr.
Why: Stove, who has over 17 Division I offers, accounted for 977 all-purpose yards (275 rushing, 431 receiving, 8 TDs) to go along with 37 tackles and 3 interceptions.

ATH – Gerald Bright (Escambia) Sr.
Why: Bright runs the Gators flex bone triple option offense with perfection at quarterback, running for 1,538 yards and 18 touchdowns.

ATH – Torri Cotton (Arnold) Sr.
Why: 824 all-purpose yards (616 rushing, 187 receiving, 8 TDs)

K –  Zack Bailey (Niceville) Sr.
Why: Bailey converted 71 of 73 point after attempts and made 3 of 6 field goals including a long of 33 yards.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DB – Duke Acromite (Pensacola Catholic) Sr.
Why: 6 interceptions, 35 tackles

DB – Marcus Swint (Marianna)
Why: 11 sacks

DB  -Austin Brown (Vernon)
Why: Second team All-State has 12 offers and climbing

LB – Marquis Cass (Tate) Sr.
Why: 136 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions

LB – Anthony Whyrick (Blountstown) Sr.
Why: 113 tackles, 3 sacks

LB – Jack Williams (Marianna) Sr.
Why: 123 tackles, 3 sacks

LB – Kyle Tanner (Marianna) Sr.
Why: 103 tackles, 2 sacks

DL  -Dewayne Lattimore (Blountstown) Sr.
Why: 101 tackles, 7.5 sacks

DL – Clay Brown (Jay) Sr.
Why: 82 tackles

DL – Kyle Creekmur (Pine Forest) Sr.
Why: 58 tackles, 12 sacks

UT – Corin Peterson (Blountstown) Sr.
Why: 93 tackles, 1026 all-purpose yards, 14 TDs

UT – Reakwon Jones (Mosley) Jr.
Why: 92 tackles, 20.0 yards per catch

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB – Xavier Longerbean (Bay) Sr.
Why: 1300 yards and six touchdowns

QB – Dillon Brown (Mosley) Sr.
Why: 1754 yards and 11 touchdowns

QB – Cody Saunders (Arnold) Jr.
Why: 1003 yards, 10 touchdowns, five interceptions

RB – Michael Carter (Navarre ) So.
Why: 728 yards and 8 touchdowns-

RB – Teon Long (Marianna) Sr.
Why: 831 yards and 8 touchdowns.

RB – Jahbir Frye (Escambia) Jr.
Why: 687 yards and 8 touchdowns.

WR – Quan Moorer (Pensacola Catholic) Sr.
Why: 20 catches for 209 yards and 9 touchdowns

WR – Jacob Kubik (Gulf Breeze) Sr.
Why: 506 yards and 8 touchdowns

WR – Clay Moss (Gulf Breeze)
Why: 289 yards and 4 touchdowns

OL – Austin Goff (Sneads) Sr.
Why: Key reason Pirates rushed for over 2200 yards and 22 touchdowns.

OL – Tucker Harrington (Jay) Sr.
Why: Anchor of offensive line that paved way for Cross.

OL – Landon Turnmire (Marianna) Sr.
Why: Plenty of weapons return along with experienced line

OL – Devan Baxley (Marianna) Sr.
Why: Plenty of weapons return along with experienced line

ATH – Brandon Cross (Jay) Jr.
Why: 1124 yards and 12 touchdowns.

ATH – Alex Mayorga (Blountstown) Sr.
Why: 750 yards, 8 touchdowns

ATH – Tommy White (Marianna) Sr.
Why: 769 yards, 2 touchdowns

K – Emilio Maldonado (Escambia) Jr.
Why: 46 of 55 PATs, 3 of 6 field goals

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DB – Daniel Ghant (Bay) Jr.
Why: 38 tackles, 1 INT, 9 pass deflections

DB – Nigel Dunham (Blountstown) Sr.
Why: 57 tackles, 3 INTS

DB – Logan Walden (Escambia) Sr.
Why: 56 tackles

LB – Bryson Houston (Niceville) Sr.
Why: 82 tackles, 5 sacks

LB – Jacob Clark (Niceville) Sr.
Why: 98 tackles, 3 sacks

LB – Dillon Draughn (Pace)
Why: 92 tackles

LB – Khaifa Peabody (Pensacola Catholic) Sr.
Why: 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

DL – Stephens Matthew (Blountstown) Jr.
Why: 75 tackles

DL – Bacarius Boykin (Sneads) Sr.
Why: 72 tackles, 3 sacks

DL – Antoine Barker (Catholic) Sr.
Why: 71 tackles

UT – Kyle Lenoir (Freeport) Jr.
Why: 74 tackles, 4 sacks

UT – Kenny Wells (Rocky Bayou Christian) Sr.
Why: 128 tackles, 1 sack

HONORABLE MENTION

Bay: Travion Turrell (Sr., ATH)
Blounstown: David Elmore (Sr., QB), Shontavious Peterson (Jr., ATH), Fabian Solomon (Sr. FB/LB)
Chipley: Darren Stewart (Sr., RB/DB), Zack Campbell (Jr., WR/DB)
Choctaw: John Hicks (Sr., RB)
Escambia: Jamal Bynum (Sr., LB), Austin Travis (Jr., DL)
Fort Walton Beach: Antonio Marshall (Jr., WR), Kavika Crozier (Sr.), Jared Dunn (Sr., K)
Freeport: Dillon Bates (So., QB), David Godwin (Sr., RB)
Gulf Breeze: Slade Jarmon (Sr., QB), Josh Irby (RB/SS) 
Navarre: Derrick Smity (Jr., RB), Michael Sandle (Jr., DB)
Niceville: Aaron Willis (Sr., WR), Shi’Kim Coward (Sr., RB), Drew Frederick (Sr., QB), Colby Tuthill (Sr., QB), Romeo Finley (Jr., ATH)
Pace: Chase Lambert (Sr., LB)
Pensacola Catholic: Kyle Brown (Sr., RB), Jawan Purifoy (Sr., LB), Simeon Smiley (Jr., DB)
Pensacola: Roy Colom III (Sr., QB), Kevon Abrams (Sr., RB)
Pine Forest: Reid Gilliland (Sr., QB), Dejon Brown (Jr., RB), James Ellis (Sr., RB), Jeremiah Jackson (Jr., DB), Oliver Wright (Sr., LB), Angelo Garay (Jr., DT), Kyhri Loveless (Jr., S)
Rocky Bayou Christian: Daniel Demarra (So., K), Zachery Payne (Sr., KS/WR/LB), Seth Waldron (Jr., WR/DB), Bailey Tolbert (Sr., WR), Stephen Merrifield (Jr., DL)
Sneads: Alphonso Brown (Sr., WR/QB), Javarrius Goodson (Sr., RB), Devante Pettus (Jr., WR/DB)
South Walton: Harrison Schaefer (Sr., RB/LB)
Vernon: Darrius Peterson (Sr., FB/LB), Triston Porter (Jr., QB/SS)
West Florida: Damon Johnson (So., WR)