Whether it was Mike Mularkey, Terry Richardson, Dan Eichloff or Leon Pennington in the past -- or recent stars Dimitri Linton, Josh Hartigan, Audi Augustin or this year's defensive standout David Gilbert, Northeast has always been able to churn out top-flight recruits.

Track this program back to the Lynn Stickfort days and you will find that what Adam Ratkevich has been fortunate to do is build on what this program has had available to them. Youth football programs in the community have perhaps some of the best prospects around. While many might not land on the Hurricanes' doorstep, a good number of the quality athletes have found a reason to stay in Oakland Park, and this season could start to back that up.

For Ratkevich, the opportunity to coach such outstanding athletes has translated into competitive teams over the past few years. This season, this is still a team, despite a district loss to Dillard last Friday, that has an opportunity to reach the playoffs. They have a number of major college prospects that have already backed up the preseason hype.

GILBERT SET TO BE IMPACT PLAYER

One of those quality athletes is Gilbert. Like many of the past standouts this program has boasted, the 6-4, 215-pounder, who is down to Wisconsin and Florida with several others still in the mix, is talented and will be an impact player at the next level.

Gilbert, who has played on both sides of the ball this year, is one of the football players who will get bigger and stronger as he makes the move to the next level. For the Hurricanes, he has been impressive, making plays all over the field and being that voice of leadership.

''David is a tremendous football player,'' Ratkevich said. ``He has speed, strength and a knack of running people down. This is a very gifted talent.''

Speaking of gifted football players, twins Isaac and Jacob Geffard (6-3, 200), who both play safety, both have Louisville, Minnesota, FIU and Iowa State in the mix. Other senior prospects Northeast features include receiver Xavier Reese (6-3, 195), running back Travis Laurent (5-9, 175) and center Michael Flash, a 6-2, 305-pounder.

Reese has Minnesota, Purdue, Colorado State and Central Michigan -- while Flash is looking at both FIU and FAU. Laurent will keep his options open.

Senior depth and experience will be helpful with linebackers Aquino Cole (5-9, 190), Nick Monsalve (5-9, 205), Tony Porter (5-11, 215), Jude Rezolus (5-10, 185), defensive end Nate Zephir (5-10, 210), and defensive backs Sterling Tillman (6-0, 175), Phillip Scott (5-10, 170), Luis Philius (5-7, 165) and Ricardo Noel (5-9, 170). There are also linemen Richard Jordon (5-11, 210), Dallas Gilbert (6-0, 235), Peter Morejon (6-0, 260), Chris Heil (6-0, 200), Antwan McCarthy (6-2, 270) and Jason Ross (5-10, 240).

Offensively, receivers Cameron Jason (5-10, 165), Brad Pinnock (5-11, 175), quarterback Casen Gerhart (6-0, 190), running backs Jesus Rivera (5-8, 180) and Daniel Montalvo (5-7, 165), and lineman Johnny Price (5-7, 230).

IMPRESSIVE JUNORS

There's also an impressive list of juniors on the offensive side of the ball to keep an eye on. Quarterbacks Evan Krivjanik (6-1, 165) and Audry Woodson (5-10, 180), running backs Santiago Pierre (5-8, 180), Clawsondy Cayo (5-7. 150) and Dennis Aaron (5-7, 150) have proven to be valuable. There are also receivers Calvin Jean (5-8, 152), Claude Alexander (5-7, 145), Jake Pinela (6-0, 165) and Quinton Davenport (5-11, 165), tight end Richard Perez (6-0, 215), and linemen Edmond St. Fleury (5-11, 250), Sean Jones (5-9, 220), Vincent Jones (6-3, 210) and Domingo Ortiz (6-2, 280).

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