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Doral Academy ready to make its move

BY LARRY BLUSTEIN

lblustein@MiamiHerald.com

Last year, as an independent, Doral Academy lost just once, and that came to Gulliver, 8-0. The team went on to win nine times under veteran coach Evan Cooper, and judging by what the Firebirds have accomplished this summer, and looking at the roster, things could get very interesting.

While judging a team on what happens during 7-on-7 tournaments is never a fair comparison, you can tell which teams have the superior athletes by just watching them practice. If last weekend's performance in the Palm Beach 7-on-7 event is any indication, this is a team that will grab the spotlight -- in a hurry.

For the second consecutive year, Doral Academy made the more than one-hour drive to Palm Springs to test the waters against some of the region's top teams, and like last year when nobody had a clue who this team was, it made the finals again. But this time instead of losing to 4A powerhouse Dwyer, the Firebirds finished 8-0 and beat the Panthers 27-22.

If this team was a surprise to the many who came and spent the day in summer heat, winning was certainly not unexpected by the Firebirds. Despite a bus breakdown, forcing the team to arrive more than an hour after the event began, Doral Academy took care of business, and the some 35-40 Division 1 prospects on hand for the 16-team showcase were impressed.

BUILDING UP

''This is a program that has been building for the past two years,'' said Cooper, who knows just a little bit about building programs and elevating the talent on his teams. ``People can talk and say all the things they want, but we'll keep developing talent and giving these you men an opportunity to get a quality education.''

Cooper grew up in Miami-Dade County, attending Killian, playing in the secondary for the University of Michigan and spending seven years in the NFL with Philadelphia, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. This is someone who knows just about every family in the area and has been instrumental in coaching at South Miami, American Heritage-Delray and starting the competitive program at Bay Point.

His son, Evan Cooper Jr., played for him at American Heritage, leading Palm Beach County in interceptions before accepting a scholarship to Temple, where he will be a senior in the fall.

While Doral Academy was put on probation last year for failing to field a complete team the season before, this year the Firebirds have not only assembled more than enough players, but the athletes this team has rivals just about any team we've watched this spring and summer.

''We have kids who want to play the sport of football,'' Cooper said. ``We have young men who feel that getting an education at a charter school is certainly an honor.''

One of the players who has slipped through the recruiting cracks is senior safety/receiver Carlton Callendar. This 6-1, 190-pounder, who began his career at Southridge and played for the Firebirds last year, is easily one of the most talented football players we've watched during the summer. He is fast, covers as much ground as the top safeties in the state and makes plays.

NOT A LOT OF PUBLICITY

Even though he has been watched by schools such as Louisville, Colorado State, Clemson and Syracuse, Callendar has not been one of the athletes talked about the way he should have been all along.

''Colleges have been around, but not having the chance to see me play in games may have been the reason that I wasn't getting the attention others have,'' Callendar pointed out. ``I know that now that people watched me during the summer, things will change.''

In a tournament that included 6A power Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth as well as North Broward Prep, Fort Pierce Westwood, Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast and coach Willie Bueno's defending 1A state champion American Heritage Delray, Callendar and his teammates dazzled all day.

''That's a great team,'' Bueno said. ``They have speed and athletes on both sides of the ball.''

As good as Callendar was, and with some five interceptions during the day, he wasn't alone in his quest to get this program noticed, especially in a year when they are eligible to compete for postseason play. Junior quarterback Jermaine Kelson brought back the days of Oklahoma standout Jamelle Holieway as he passed his way to the MVP trophy.

Kelson, a 5-8, 160-pound speedster from North Carolina, is the one of the new faces of this program. He is one of 11 players who were not around when this team lost to budding 1-A power Dade Christian in the spring. Senior tight end/linebacker Keyshawn Reynolds (6-2, 230), running back/corner Micah Shinhoster (5-9, 165), defensive back/receiver Darius Turner (5-9, 170) and linebacker Terry Armstrong (5-10, 195) have come in and turned plenty of heads.

So has junior cornerback/receiver Tearon Partridge (5-10, 140), and freshmen Shelton Reyes (DB/WR, Doral Broncos) and Suniland product Darius Roberts, a 5-5, 130-pounder who is one of the top young 2012 prospects.

''The thing about this team is that everyone cares about one another,'' Reynolds said. ``When you work hard and travel together to events like the 7-on-7, you form a bond. We have started to do just that.''

While there are new faces on this team, there are also athletes who have been with the program and are expected to make a major contribution. Senior linebacker/kicker Jon Marco-Lari (5-9, 150), defensive back Claudio Cruz (5-10, 150), defensive back/receiver Tyjuan Walker (5-9, 170), and brothers Jaquari Dantzler (DB, 5-7, 160) and Kanari Dantzler (RB, 5-8, 160) all have the opportunity to be a part of a rising program.

Junior receiver Albert Harris (6-1, 180) and linebacker Nathaniel Berry (5-11, 215), a Southridge transfer, have also been impressive.

Sophomore receiver Andy Baca (6-2, 160) is a gamebreaker with impressive speed. Linebacker Miguel Despain (5-10, 155) and linebacker/tight end Anthony Flowers (6-0, 170) also have plenty of promise.

The criticism of many good 7-on-7 teams comes with not having an offensive line to get it done in games. The Firebirds have size and promise with seniors David Bencomo (6-3, 240), Kenneth Perez (5-8, 265) and Garrick Amedee (6-4, 270), Berry and impressive sophomore Jacoby Session, a 6-5, 270-pounder.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

When Todd Meiklejohn played at on the line at Southridge back in the 1980s, he was considered one of the top players around. Fast forward a few decades, and his son, Perry, an impressive 6-4, 295-pound junior center at Westminster Christian, is already being viewed as one of the top young prospects around.

After starting every game last year at Coral Reef, Meiklejohn made the move to Westminster. Last weekend, he took part in the Seminole Showcase at FSU, where he more than held his own against highly recruited juniors and seniors.

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