1. Manatee Hurricanes
2014 Record: 12-2
Comment: The Hurricanes will be stacked again with talent for the 2015 season after reaching the state semifinals under John Booth’s first year as Manatee’s Head Coach. DL Kwanzi Jackson (25 sacks, 27 QB hurries, 84 total tackles, two blocked punts) to anchor the defensive line, while CB Travon Rumph (95 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three blocked punts, nine pass deflections and 2 intereceptios) will anchor the defensive backfield. Kicker Nick Null and offensive linemen Josh Carden and Brad Stickler return as well. The biggest question mark is if the team will see running back Johnnie Lang at all for his senior season if and when legal troubles he encountered this off-season is put behind him.
2. Naples Golden Eagles
2014 Record: 10-2
Comment: The Golden Eagles return quite a bit of the talent they had on the field last year and that includes players like CB/WR Tyler Byrd (46 tackles, two interceptions, one tackle for loss as well as 228 yards receiving and three touchdowns), Carlin Fils-Aime (Three SEC schools fill out his top five), DB Chris Riley (103 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions). The kicking game will also be top-notch with Jerry Nunez back who set the school record last season for longest field goal with a 51-yarder. Overall eight starters from the defense are back which could give Naples, one of the nastiest defenses in Class 6A, while the offense might see a lot of running with several backs capable of producing.
3. Braden River Pirates
2014 Record: 10-1
Comment: Braden River was a surprise team last year in the Southwest Florida region and in the entire state. Head Coach Curt Bradley has been able to take a program that has been down in the cellar and bring them into spotlight with talent from right in their own neighborhood. With a lot of skill players returning their should be no issue. A couple of key players to be watched upon will include QB Jacob Huesman (1,946 yards passing, 17 touchdowns), LB Ronnie McClellan (80 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups) LB Chase Bailliette (74 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery). The Pirates will also expect more from rising junior, RB Rayomon Thomas (743 yards rushing, 16 touchdowns). Overall, this season could be bigger than last season for Braden River.
4. Venice Indians
2014 Record: 10-2
Comment: If there is a chance that things will go bigger for Venice, this could be the year, but they won’t be alone in company in District 7A-10 as Braden River has improved considerably and will be the Indians top target to knock off. Coach John Peacock expects his team to possibly contend for a state championship, but it will start with a big road trip to Stephenville, Texas in Week 1 that could set the tone for the Indians for the rest of the season. The team will have a lot of key players returning, which will help including QB Bryce Carpenter (975 yards passing, five touchdowns), who started as a freshmen last season, while rising senior, Jarrod Hewitt (105 total tackles, 12 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery) will anchor the defensive line. Defensive back Sage Lee (44 tackles, five interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble) will anchor the defensive backfield for the Indians this season as well.
5. Clewiston Tigers
2014 Record: 11-1
Comment: This team is being talked about from all angles as a team that to keep an eye on in Class 4A. However, what stands out for the Tigers will be their schedule this season which includes Class 8A Fort Pierce Central and Class 6A Fort Myers along a district game with Glades Central. With the Tigers also playing Pahokee, the best team in the Muck-area will be decided this season for the first time in a long time. Davis Witt (1,470 yards passing, 18 touchdowns) returns for the Tigers this season and will be the leader of the team.
6. South Fort Myers Wolfpack
2014 Record: 10-3
Comment: The Wolfpack will be entering the 2015 season with their second head coach in school history. However, the new face behind the program is no stranger as Anthony Dixon takes over with 15 starters returning. Some of the key athletes will include LB Andre Polk (50 tackles, three pass breakups, one interception), WR Willie Johnson (706 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns) plus they add in RB William Scott who comes in from Bishop Verot after rushing for over 1,200 yards last season. Coach Dixon thinks experience in the team is up front on both sides of the ball, while the weaknesses lie in the youth of several key skill positions. He does add that he thinks the program came together during the transition in May and that should help the Wolfpack on the field this season.
7. Fort Myers Green Wave
2014 Record: 12-1
Comment: The Green Wave graduated 24 seniors from their 12-1 regional finalist team last season, but that shouldn’t be the end all, be all for them. Coach Sirianni does feel his team has a good group of young skill players. That group will be led RB Darrian Felix who has over 20 Division I FBS offers after scoring over 20-plus touchdowns on rushing, receiving and kickoff returns last season. Key games for the Green Wave will come against an improved North Fort Myers squad, South Fort Myers, Charlotte and Clewiston later in the season. If the Green Wave’s skill players can develop nicely, there is not doubt they can win their district once again this season.
8. Island Coast Gators
2014 Record: 10-3
Comment: Despite it being another off-season of change for the Gators, things still look up. John Schwochow takes over as head coach after Rashad West who was originally hired to take over as head coach when Wayne Blair departed just a month into the job. Schowchow tells us that he plans being aggressive and push to get the kids better. The team itself will return 11 of 22 starters from last season including QB Kory Curtis who threw for 1,734 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Curtis will be the leader on the offense, while the teams figure out who will fill the shoes of Zach Lachman who transferred to Dunbar during the summer. The Gators have a chance to be solid team in District 6A-10, but the task won’t be easy.
9. Charlotte Tarpons
2014 Record: 7-4
Comment: Tarpons have been one of the most consistent teams to keep reaching the postseason every year. They want to continue that streak this year and for fans wanting to see it be put all on the line, they will get their chance this year. With the Tarpons in District 6A-10 that includes rival Port Charlotte as well as games against Cape Coral, Island Coast and North Fort Myers, each game will have to be treated like a one week season. The Tarpons will have several key athletes back this season including QB Brennan Simms (1,233 yards passing, 13 touchdowns), RB Elijah Mck (1,120 yards rushing, 16 touchdowns) and WR Trevor Laurent (881 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns). On defense DB Dee Hicks and LB Chase Shepherd will be back to be the leaders.
10. North Fort Myers Red Knights
2014 Record: 5-5
Comment: The Red Knights could be on the rise this season as they improved to 5-5 under first-year head coach Earnest Graham. Entering District 6A-10 this year, the Red Knights will certainly find challenges waiting for them in district games against Charlotte, Cape Coral, Ida Baker and Island Coast. If the Red Knights can win a majority of these games they, could be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Red Knights will be lead offensively by 2017 Florida State commitment Zaquandre White (73 yards on nine carries in the spring), while athletes like LB MiCario Stanley and WR Freddie Green are expected to big contributors as well for the Red Knights.
Next Five On The Bubble:Cape Coral, Immoaklee, First Baptist, Port Charlotte, Bishop Verot,
