The key to McArthur's future on the football field could be a reputation the Mustangs carved out in a rich past.

Last weekend, while McArthur played at the University of Central Florida 7-on-7 tournament in Orlando, many of the central and west Florida teams were puzzled about a team most never heard of before.

It has been a number of years since McArthur has been in the mix for a state championship, but coach Mike Zarra's team finished second in the district last year and made the playoffs, losing to Dillard.

With athletes who were a mystery to some, the Mustangs kept knocking off other teams. A quick refresher course on the talent that has played there and made the Mustangs a team to take seriously:

Errict Rhett, Bryant McFadden and Erasmus James got enough attention, and when McArthur made the final eight of the

32 teams entered, it was evident that this was a program that wasn't average anymore.

Between last year and this spring, McArthur added enough talent to give stronger opponents a legitimate run. Players no longer were jumping ship and going to other schools. They wanted to stay home and help build this program back to where it was at the start of the decade.

After winning eight times at the University of South Florida Sling & Shoot tournament last summer, McArthur followed that up with a second-place finish in a district that also was the home of the mythical national champion, St. Thomas Aquinas.

It would have been easy to use the St. Thomas excuse as a reason to be average, but McArthur worked hard in the spring, knocking off Coral Glades, and made a commitment again to a summer of trying to close the gap between the Mustangs and the Raiders.

Last weekend, the Mustangs lost by seven points to eventual champion Tampa Alonso. This week, they entered the Miami Dolphins Academy 7-on-7 with the idea of getting more work in and making an impression. Again, they made the field of eight.

There are no major stars on this team, but players such as defensive end/outside linebacker Travon Bailey and quarterback Javon Smith have been receiving major-college attention. Add in receivers Denzel McCullum, Jovan Murphy and Alvin Clarke, and the talent level rises.

Other seniors who figure to make major strides during the summer are linebacker Marvin Romelus and defensive backs Ayomide Awe, Helman Pulido and Dilan Ramjohn.

EYES ON NORTH

Although the senior class is talented, Zarra believes the future of the program is the key to the rebuilding process. The junior class is loaded with talent, and 6-0, 175-pound cornerback Nick North could be as good as anyone in the state over the next two years.

North, already a two-year varsity performer, is cat-quick and covers as well as any player around. He already has seven interceptions in the two tournaments the Mustangs have played in.

''Nick has been flying way beneath radar,'' Zarra said. ``We feel that he is as good as anyone we've played against. He has everything you are looking for in a defensive leader. He is fast, instinctive and very smart -- in and out of the classroom.''

JUNIOR PRIDE

Over the next few months, we will bring you the class of 2011's top prospects from throughout the state. For starters, some local elite players to watch:

• Quarterbacks: Teddy Bridgewater, 6-3, 175, Northwestern; Imonni Carswell, 6-1, 185, Plantation; Rahkeem Cato, 6-0, 170, Miami Springs; Ritchy Desir, 5-10, 165, North Miami Beach; Jerrard Randall, 6-2, 190, Chaminade-Madonna.

• Running backs: Jerron Seymour, 5-8, 185, Hialeah; Robenson Therezie, 5-11, 190, Jackson; Corey Tindal, 5-11, 175, Stranahan.

• Receivers: Charles Gaines, 6-0, 165, Central; Jabari Gorman, 5-10, 180, Monsignor Pace; Eli Rogers, 5-9, 175, Northwestern; Tacoi Sumler, 5-10, 170, Gulliver Prep; Craig Wilkins, 6-0, 170, Hialeah.

• Offensive linemen: Russell Haughton-James, 6-6, 285, Western; Jared Maldonado, 6-3, 282, Hollywood Hills.

• Defensive linemen: Willie Bromell, 6-5, 200, American; B.J. Dubose, 6-4, 230, Northeast; Anthony Rabasa, 6-3, 220, Columbus.

• Linebackers: Brandon Bradley, 5-11, 190, Columbus; Rakim Carter, 6-1, 190, Hialeah Miami Lakes; Lyndon Edwards, 6-1, 190, Northwestern; Arrington Jenkins, 6-3, 215, Killian; Miles Pace, 6-1, 230, Central; Denzel Perryman, 5-11, 213, Coral Gables.

• Defensive backs: Nick North, 6-0, 170, McArthur; Jermaine Reve, 6-0, 170, Northwestern; Cedric Walker, 5-9, 175, Gulliver Prep.

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