The start of the 2022 season is this week and that means it’s time to meet the seniors and superstars of the area teams here in Northeast Florida. This year was special because, each team has been working with Adriel Rocha of the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation and their Jaguars PREP initiative to provide activities, community service and support to local schools and programs in the area. Duval Sports is proud to work with Bakers Sports, Jaguars PREP and many other providers that make high school sports
Raines Vikings
Raines advanced to the second round of the playoffs last year as Coach Masline guided his team to an 8-3 record . The loss of key players such as Kareem Burke ( Famu) , Quincy Burroughs ( Cincinnati), and Kyree Hammond ( Tuskegee) will be tough. Returning starters WR Tadarius Devoe , DB Kenton Kirkland , LB Jabari Whitehead and WR Marcel Bowles provide size at the playmaker positions, as Raines looks to go even further this year in the playoffs.
Oakleaf
The resigning of Frank Garis had athletic director Marcus Miller step in as interim Head Coach, he takes over a team with big time playmakers on offense. It starts on the ground with Devin Outlaw who is looking to bounce back from injuries in recent years to regain that freshman fierceness. He has a playmaker in Taylor Bradshaw who put up 804 yards and 8 touchdowns. Drew Ammon will be tossing him the football and he’ll be protected by Wake Forest commit Kyland Armstrong. On defense, Drake Stubbs is the hot young defensive back gaining several D1 offers who is looking to develop from his freshman year.
University Christian
Coach David Penland III brought his two work horse stars with him to media day Orel Gray (WR, RB, ATH ) and Desirrio Riles (LB, ATH). These two athletes have been doing it for a long time at a high level in the area, and they are excited about giving it another run for the state championship. As sophomores, they guided their team as starters to a state runners up trophy. But this year they want it all.
Ed White
Ed White qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 7 years in 2021. Head Coach Lawrence Johnson led his Commanders to one of the best records in the city. A team full of seniors departed, including All-State and Duval Sports Prime Time Player Christian Ellis (Unv of New Mexico), so Coach LJ and his staff have been tasked with getting the Commanders ready for another run in 2022. They’ll start with unleashing the best NE Florida player in 2023 Davaughn Patterson who committed to Wake Forest.
Twin towers in quarterback Isiah Teal and wide receiver Gabriel Garmon both look to use their big game experience from last year to make big impacts on the field to match their big 6 foot 3 frames. Tavales Thomas comes over from Riverside, brining another element to the Commander defense that looks to continue creating turnovers like it did last season.
Englewood
A team to lookout for is Englewood and coach Zach Harbison. He’s had a couple of years to develop players and build a program, and last year was evident by the way the team played towards a winning 5-5 record. There’s big talent coming back and none bigger than 6’5, 240 pound J’Sean Scarver (DE, OT) and 6’3 , 188 pound Jalen Scarver. Big pieces to a big upcoming season for the Rams. Another player to watch is Julio Valcarcel (SS, CB • Sr. • 5′ 11″ 185 lbs).
Baker County
Coach Kevin Mays had a historic season in 2021, as his Wildcats advanced all the way to the state semifinal before falling to Miami Central. The efforts of his staff and his players were instrumental reasons for their success. Losing key contributors including quarterback Noah Ray, Chase Crews, Jamil Jones and Jaymodd Ruise will be tough, but returning players like Cam Smith (1339 yards rushing 18 TDs), Orlando Holland (27 sacks) ensure the the Wildcats are loaded up once again. This year they will compete in the newly designed rural conference, as they will face teams from rural areas only in the playoffs. It gives them a welcomed advantage.
Orange Park
There’s two big time playmaker in Orange Park this year and they’ll lead the Raiders far. First there’s JoJo Restall the do it all running back who rushed for 1194 yards and 12 touchdowns. On defense, OP is led by Florida State commit Roderick Kearny. The Big 6’4, 270 pound tackle and defensive end might be the hottest athlete in Northeast Florida right now, and definitely the most dominant in the trenches.
Sandalwood
Losing Chris Calhoun is a hard thing to replace, but if anyone can do it its Jordan Bean. Bean and Calhoun both rushed for over 1,000 yards. Bean converted from defensive back to running-back and the rest is history. He’ll be the focal point on offense along with new comers (QB) Baylor Hayes from Atlantic Coast, and Koron Hayward (WR) Mandarin. On defense, it’s Sayvion Blount’s time to shine, and the defensive end will look to dominate.
Bishop Kenny
Names like Baylor Newsome and Andrew Tabor are gone for the Crusaders. The seniors led Bishop Kenny to the playoffs last year. This year, Bishop Kenny is younger but they have one of the best staffs in Northeast Florida. 2024 / 6’4”-204lb QB James Resar will have a dominant year and quite possibly will be the #1 college prospect in the area in 2024. Coach Tim Krouse has done a masterful job revitalizing the program and galvanizing his players to play hard on every down.
More Media Day Content To Come All Week!
Check Back!
