As Natturner Harris warmed up on practice football fields at the University of Central Florida last weekend, before a quarterfinal game in the adidas 7-on-7 tournament, he had that look of confidence. One that you wouldn't expect from a senior who just watched 18 starting teammates graduate from the 4A state champions.

Harris was upbeat. In fact, the entire team showed that finding playmakers will not be a problem. With first-year head coach Earl Tillman Jr. leading the way, the Tornadoes gave a glimpse to some of the 44 teams on hand that his Tornadoes will not give up that title without a fight.

Perhaps one of the teams that figured to replace Booker T. in the south, Dwyer, got a front row seat as coach Jack Daniels and his Panthers, who also brought some of the top young players in the state, watched quarterback Torrance Moise cruise to a 9-0 record, beat defending national champion Pahokee in the finals and earn a trip to Atlanta for the national championship July 30-31.

''We didn't come all this way to go back without winning it,'' said Moise, who was the MVP in the finals, throwing three touchdown passes in a 20-12 win against the Blue Devils. ``We didn't care how many starters we had to replace; part of the reason we won it all was the depth of our team, and here's the depth right here in front of you.''

THE PLAYMAKERS ON DISPLAY

While a 7-on-7 is never a total measure of what a team is going to be about, it does provide enough to tell you who the playmakers will be. Remember, BTW took care of Dillard in the spring game, using a punishing defense, led by Harris, who has come up with five interceptions in offseason leagues. So, combine the aggressive, quick defense with an athletic offense and you have a team that all of a sudden is right back in the mix -- with a new supporting cast.

''First of all, this is a great group of young men,'' Tillman said. ``They practice hard, work on passing, throwing out of the backfield and other defensive schemes. It is the best thing for a team that still needs to work on things.''

Tillman, who took over for the highly-successful and well respected Tim ''Ice'' Harris, knows what this program is capable of accomplishing. When people were writing the Tornadoes off after the win against Nease in Orlando, he knew that there would be receivers such as seniors Andre Edwards (5-9, 160), and Emmanuel Noel (5-10, 170), who caught eight balls in the championship game and over 50 in the two days.

The junior class is also very impressive with Jelanie Rouland (6-3, 165), Jayvon Wrentz (6-0, 175) and one of the future stars in Quinton Dunbar, a 6-3, 170-pounder who can get up and run with the best.

Then, there is one of the most talented running backs in the nation. Junior Eduardo Clements (5-11, 195) is a big quick, athletic back who catches the ball out of the backfield as well as anyone. His line of scrimmage running has been compared to some of the best to wear uniforms over the years in Miami-Dade County.

''I have had the chance to watch some of the great backs in this state, and there is no doubt that Eduardo is among the best you'll find,'' said Charles Fishbein of elitescoutingservices.com. ``The burst of speed he has is tremendous, and he has such great vision.''

While Harris anchors the secondary, he has received plenty of help in the offseason with seniors Jamal Forrest (5-11, 160) and Miami Pace transfer David Van Dyke (5-11, 175). There are also sophomores Jonas Clark (6-2, 162), Denard Turner (5-10, 145) and Scottie McClary (5-6, 145) who will play a major role in a young but very talented secondary.

Senior linebackers Jarius Levy (5-10, 180) and Keenan Frazier (6-0, 180) are also players the Tornadoes believe will fill in nicely. In the spring, Frazier made plays all over the field. In the 7-on-7 tournament, he and Harris made impossible to throw over the middle. Junior O'Bryan Ferguson (5-8, 160) is also a special player. So is sophomore Anthony Smith (6-0, 178).

The Tornadoes started play on the second day as one of four other unbeaten teams. Tampa Plant, with Georgia-bound quarterback Aaron Murray, and Pahokee, which had a sophomore quarterback, Emmanuel Perez, take control of a team that is still impressive. The final team that reached the semifinals was coach Bill Powers and his defending 1B state champion Jupiter Christian Eagles. This team is for real in the 7-on-7 leagues and tournaments.

EARNING RESPECT

This team has earned so much respect this summer, winning the Heath Evans Tournament in West Palm Beach, finishing in the final six at the Miami Dolphins impressive event, and this past weekend, making the final four in the adidas 7-on-7 event at the University of Central Florida, finishing 7-1.

''Three years ago, this program was probably rated somewhere around the 550th best team in the state,'' Powers laughed. ``Look at where we are now, and the great things about it is the kids are having fun and people are respecting what we have done with very few kids to get it done with.''

The roster for the adidas event included Marshyl Rothman (QB/DB), Mark Ballitori (WR/DB), Westin Peterson (WR/DB), Jupiter High transfer Cobie Graham (WR/S), Will Powers (LB/RB), Brent Eiskant (LB), Byron Dames (LB/RB), James Foster (LB/S), Ryan Powers (LB), Keddy Bostic (WR), Taylor Marsh (LB) and linebacker Ryan Marsh.

``This was a great opportunity for us, said Rothman, one of the top juniors in Florida. ``I think we really turned some heads up here this weekend. This was a great tournament field, and to make it to the final four is great for this school and the program.''

Rothman hooked up with Ballitori for 14 TDs, Peterson for four more, and Bostic, Dames, Graham each scored once. Rothman and Ballitori both had interception returns for TDs on defense.

Jupiter Christian beat Dwyer two times, Orlando Jones, talented Orlando Dr. Phillips, Longwood Lyman and Palm Beach Central, before losing to the Tornadoes by one touchdown.

RETURN OF RAINES

When you think of Jacksonville Raines High School, names such as Lito Sheppard (Eagles), Brian Dawkins (Eagles) and Jabar Gaffney (Patriots) come to mind. It brings back memories of the good football times for the Vikings.

While the population began shifting to the suburbs and new schools were opening, Raines became a program on the decline. The once proud inner-city rivalries that were once a trademark of the First Coast, were replaced by games against Mandarin, Fleming Island and Bartram Trail.

Last year, things began to change, and coach Cedric Thorton started to bring this once proud program back with a 7-4 record and a playoff appearance. As much talent as this program has, the graduation of tailbacks Jasmine Parker and Philip Teamer as well as most of the secondary, including safety Donovan Masaline, has put this team in a tough situation.

But as many talented football players that won't be returning to the lineup, there are some quality football players to choose from such as junior defensive tackle Louis Nix. At 6-3, 285, Nix is easily one of the best in Florida, and perhaps the country for the Class of 2010.

Joining Nix on this year's team are juniors Sean Tapley (WR), D'Angelo Jordan (LB), Mike Cutler (DB) and Travis Muller (LB).

The senior class will also be improved with defensive lineman Laurence Henderson, Javon Perdue (WR), Cedric McCloud (QB), Julius Frazier (RB), Kevin Hutchings (ATH), and offensive linemen Gary Shaw and Michael Reed.

TOP 100

Don't forget to check out our list of the all time best high school football players in Miami-Dade County history. The information is on the High School blog and we have well over 200 names. We will keep the list up until the end of July and then will have a panel pick the top 100!

Larry Blustein is co-host of the Miami Dolphins Gridiron Show every Thursday evening from 7-8 on WQAM (560 AM). Have a comment? E-mail lblustein@MiamiHerald.com.

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