Few high school coaches ever get a chance to win a state championship or coach an NFL player. Nigel Dunn has done both. But what he has done more than any other coach of late -- possibly in the entire country -- is the latter.

''I got a call the other day from a reporter who told me that I've got more former players in the NFL than any other coach in the country,'' said Dunn, who has a list of 10 former players he has coached from his time at Miami High (1994-99) and Norland (2000-current) currently in the league -- including former University of Miami receivers Andre Johnson and Roscoe Parrish. ``I don't know if its a record. But I definitely feel very blessed.''

Blessed or not blessed, Dunn knows how to evaluate talent and help it go places. Earlier this decade, he pulled Dwayne Bowe out of the hallway at Norland and helped launch a career that led Bowe to being a national champion at LSU before he was selected as a first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007.

Dunn has another receiver at Norland now who is drawing lots of comparisons to Bowe in 2009 recruit Xavier Rhodes.

Last Friday, I made a pit stop at Norland during my spring tour to watch the 6-2, 190-pounder during practice. Although I didn't see an instant comparison to Bowe, I was impressed with how Rhodes does not shy away from contact.

On one play in which he caught a quick outlet pass during 7-on-7 work, Rhodes had an opportunity to use his speed and outrun an opponent down the sideline for a touchdown. Instead, he opted to run up the middle of the field. After breaking an attempted tackle by a linebacker, Rhodes stiff-armed a safety and outran the rest of the secondary for a score. Although he caught an earful from coaches for not bouncing outside and using his speed, it was the type of play Dunn said shows how Rhodes and Bowe are a little different.

''I think talent-wise, he is right there with Dwayne,'' Dunn said by phone Wednesday. ``Both have big-time strength and speed. I think X might be a little faster than Dwayne was at this time and maybe a little more physical. Dwayne would catch the ball and try to elude you. X wants to catch the ball and run you over.''

Dunn said Rhodes has 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash and currently has scholarship offers from Miami, Florida State, FIU, West Virginia and Auburn. Rhodes told me he likes ''FSU.'' Dunn said he expects more schools to pursue Rhodes soon, though. After catching 20 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns last season and sharing the limelight with FIU signee Emmanuel Souarin, Rhodes figures to be the central focus of Norland's spread offense this fall.

The Vikings, who will play their spring game against District 12-6A rival Carol City on May 23 at Traz Powell Stadium, return six starters on offense and five on defense from a team that finished 7-4 and lost to Cypress Bay in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Dunn said his toughest task will be replacing the leadership Souarin provided as well as his entire starting linebacking unit. But there is always plenty of talent around Norland, which draws some of the best talent in North Dade from places such as Scott Lake Optimist.

One of those talents is Tourek Williams, a 6-3, 220-pounder who will be a senior next season. Williams started both ways for Dunn last season on the line but will see more time next season at tight end. Williams doesn't have any Division I-A scholarship offers yet, but Dunn expects Williams to have some by the end of the spring.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.