MaxPreps 2017 Football All-American Team Announced

[OldSchoolLion]

11 Florida kids were recognized, including 6 linemen.  California had 15 players recognized and Texas had 7, so those 3 states accounted for more than 50% of the players.

 9 of those young men from Florida have been heavily recruited, 4/5-star athletes and were not surprises.

2 of the selections were pleasant surprises... 

Jaivon Heiligh, a wide receiver for 7A state champion Venice, has not gotten much much attention from FBS colleges. In fact, he has not even been ranked in the top 300 wide receivers in the country, despite his accomplishments.  He is currently committed to Coastal Carolina.  In the state championship game, he had 8 receptions for 159 yards.

Daniel Longman, a kicker for 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna, has not gotten much attention, if any. I had read that he was planning to walk on somewhere.  Maybe this recognition will help to change that.   He kicked the game-winning field goal in the last seconds of the state championship game.

First Team

WR — Jaivon Heiligh, Venice (Fla.)
The Venice star had a remarkable senior campaign. He broke the state's single-season records in receptions (132), receiving yards (2,139) and receiving touchdowns (32). His 2,139 yards receiving were tops in the nation and helped lead Venice to its first state title since 2000. 

OL — Nicholas Petit-Frere, Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.)
The 5-star offensive tackle is one of the best players overall in the country. He checks in as the No. 3 rated offensive tackle in the 2018 class and is a Top 20 recruit overall. 

DL — Xavier Thomas, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
The 2018 Clemson pledge was one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the country this past season. Thomas is one of six finalists up for the American Family Defensive Player of the Year award. 

 DL — Andrew Chatfield, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Chatfield was one of the leaders on one of the top defenses in the country this past season. He finished the year with 25 tackles for loss and 14 sacks while leading American Heritage to its second consecutive state title and a spot at No. 4 in our Top 25. 

DB — Brendan Radley-Hiles, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
The 4-star cornerback was one of the leaders on one of the top defenses in high school football. He finished the season with five interceptions and helped lead IMG Academy No. 2 in our final Top 25. 

Second Team

RB — Lorenzo Lingard, University (Orange City, Fla.)
The 2018 Miami Hurricane pledge rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 26 scores in 2017. He checks in as the No. 2 running back from the Class of 2018 and was named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in Florida. 

OL — Curtis Dunlap Jr., IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
The 6-foot-4, 370 pound offensive guard was one of the most dominant players in the trenches for the No. 2 team in high school football.

DL — Nesta Silvera, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
The 2018 Miami pledge helped anchor one of the best defenses in the nation. He finished his high school career with 107 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. 

DL — Taron Vincent, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
The 5-star defensive tackle was one of the main cogs for one of the most dominant defenses in high school football this past season. 

DB — Patrick Surtain Jr., American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
The 5-star defensive back is the top rated corner from the Class of 2018. He is one of the best shutdown defensive backs in the country and if he didn't miss a few games because of a knee injury he would have been a first-team selection.

P — Daniel Longman, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
Longman was one of the best special teams players in the country this past season. He had nearly 50 punts land inside the opponent's 20 yard line and was also 18-of-19 on field goal attempts.

[DarterBlue2]

I notice the selections were very heavily skewed towards the private schools.

Interesting.