Round one in competitive sports usually features mismatches in most tournaments of 32. But in the Best of the Best series, round one is literally a celebrity death match. Each first round matchup in the Best Player of All Time series is literally star studded. They are all studs at their positions, and their star statuses most times led to collegiate and pro football careers. However, this is the Best of the Best High School Player, so we’ll just highlight what they did here in Northeast Florida as Preps players on the gridiron.
Sam Cowart LB Mandarin vs Lito Sheppard ATH Raines
Sam Cowart – Mandarin LB
Growing up in the mid 1990’s, If your desire was to play linebacker in Duval County, you looked at one guy to measure your game to, and that’s Sam Cowart. Starting his High School playing career at Bolles, Sam Cowart would transfer to Mandarin for his final two years. His senior year at Mandarin he logged 142 tackles. And this was in a time where coaches didnt deploy the southern bell tackling strategy to credit tackles ( “reach out and touch someone”). Sam Cowart didnt get credit for touching someone, he got credit for knocking ball carriers down. A Super Prep High School All-American selection and a USA Today All-America honorable mention, Cowart was named the Jacksonville Defensive Player of the Year by the Times Union and won first-team all-state honors. He helped to lead Mandarin to their first district championship and state playoff appearance.
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Lito Sheppard – Raines Athlete
Some say he was the most talented player on a team with the most talent ever assembled on a Duval County Public High School football squad. If he wasn’t the most talented, he certainly was the most electrifying. Lito Sheppard led Raines in kick off/ punt returns for touchdowns, and interceptions in two incredible years. In 29 games, he garnered 18 interceptions. He also played running back and receiver at times, on a team that had athletes at every position. However, he is the only player on the 1997 Raines championship football team that affected the outcome of a game on offense, defense and special teams. The most dangerous player on the field. He was a USA Today All-American, a Times Union Super 24, Super Prep’s top cornerback in the nation, and is on the FHSAA’s top 100 players of the first 100 years list.
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Now it’s time to vote! Choose who the Best of the Best is between these two all time greats! Remember, this is about their High School accolades only! Let the debate begin!
