Miami-Dade County is replete with state title contenders. Here’s how they could finish
Miami-Dade County enters the 2023 season with two defending state champions and several others in contention. Get to know all of the county’s teams with a district-by-district breakdown, listed in the Miami Herald’s projected order of finish.
District 15-4M
1. Columbus
Coach: Dave Dunn
Last year: 14-1 (won Class 4M championship)
Top players: WR Jose Leon, Sr.; TE Benjamin Blackburn, Sr.; DL Daylen Russell, Sr.; DE Dylan Stephenson, Sr.; LB Willis McGahee IV, Sr.
2. Doral Academy
Coach: Eddie Delgado
Last year: 8-5 (made Region 4-4M championship)
Top players: RB/CB/FS Isaac Forbes, Jr.; WR Ernest Mallard, Sr.; G/DT Anuar Herrera, Sr.; DE Omar Yaques, Sr.; LB Davon BeZada, Sr.
3. Goleman
Coach: Ariel Cribeiro
Last year: 5-5
Top players: RB/LB Anthony Rodriguez, Jr.; DE RJ Alphonse, So.; MLB Dylan Celeide, Sr.; CB/SS Darryl Bell III, So.
4. Miami High
Coach: Dorrean James
Last year: 4-7 (made Region 4-Class 4M quarterfinals)
District 16-4M
1. Palmetto
Coach: Mike Manasco
Last year: 6-6 (made Region 4-4M semifinals)
Top players: WR/FS Jacory Barney Jr., Sr.; DL Davion Dixon, Jr.; LB Char’quez Lee, Sr.; CB/SS Lawrence Johnson, Sr.; S Tomauri Johnson, Sr.
2. South Dade
Coach: Chris Reid
Last year: 2-7
Top players: QB X’zayvion Clayton, Jr.; RB/WR Sedric Melvin, Jr.; CB/FS Tedarius Hughes, So.; SS Tedrick Lee, So.
3. Coral Gables
Coach: Frank Welsh
Last year: 5-4
Top players: QB/K Andreus Rios, Sr.; WR Ahmad Fambro, Sr.; CB/FS Evan Noval, Jr.
District 13-3M
1. Dr. Krop
Coach: Tommy Caporale
Last year: 7-5 (made Region 4-3M semifinals)
Top players: DL Caleb Turner-Allen, Sr.; DB Kal-El Pascal, Sr.; QB Jamaal Haggins, Sr.
2. South Broward*
Coach: Charles McCrea
Last year: 5-5 (made Region 4-3M quarterfinals)
Top players: QB Randy Phillips III, Jr.; RB/CB/SS Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, Sr.; TE/DE Sean Burke, Sr.
3. McArthur*
Coach: Kevin Burnett
Last year: 5-5
Top players: QB Florentino Lopez, So.; CB Adonis Ferguson, Jr.; FS Camari Hall, Jr.
4. Hollywood Hills*
Coach: Brandon Graham
Last year: 4-6
Top players: QB Dylan Pelliccio, Jr.; RB Dellroy Paul, Sr.; RB/WR Amari Isaac, Jr.; WR/P Kristian Bailey Sr.; CB/FS Nathan Williams, Jr.
District 14-3M
1. Miramar*
Coach: AJ Scott
Last year: 10-2 (made Region 4-3M championship)
Top players: QB Kael Alexander, Sr.; WR/TE Eric Nelson Jr., Sr.; DE/OLB Shamar Meikle, Sr.; MLB/SS Eric Kelly, Sr.; CB/FS Caleb Solomon, Sr.
2. American
Coach: Tim Neal
Last year: 2-8
Top players: QB Jake Spaeder, Fr.; WR Shamar Fowles, Jr.; DT George Stubbs Jr., Sr.; DE/OLB/SS Jordan Campbell, So.; LB Theandre Balloon, Sr.
3. Everglades*
Coach: Rodney Rumph
Last year: 4-6
Top players: DE/OLB Kenley Israel, Sr.
4. Pembroke Pines Charter*
Coach: Keidran Willis
Last year: 6-4 (made Region 4-3M quarterfinals)
Top players:QB Jayden Gonzalez, Fr.; RB/SS Keidran Willis Jr., Jr.; LB Jeremiah Alexander, Sr.
District 14-3M
1. North Miami
Coach: Gerald Cox
Last year: 5-6 (made Region 4-3M quarterfinals)
Top players: QB Michael Zephirin, Sr.; RB/SS Gerson Alette, Sr.; RB/WR/SS Jadarius Gaines, Sr.; WR Kendrick Canon, Sr.; WR/DB Antwan Moore, Jr.
2. Hialeah
Coach: Tony Smith
Last year: 4-5
Top players: WR/CB Abudllah Gosha Jr., Sr.; WR/MLB Jaylen Jackson, Sr.
3. Miami Beach
Coach: Alex Terry
Last year: 2-8
Top players: RB/LB Ghiashnitz Lambert, Sr.; WR Mitch Joseph, Jr.; CB Willie White, Jr.
4. Mater Academy Charter
Coach: Frank Morales
Last year: 3-7
Top players: WR Quintero Frierson, Fr.
District 16-3M
1. Homestead
Coach: Ronnie Thornton Jr.
Last year: 12-3 (made Class 3M championship game)
Top players: QB Joshua Townsend, Sr.; WR/FS Cortez Mills, Jr.; WR James Randle, Sr.; LB Eduardo Nunez, Sr.; ATH Isaac Brown, Sr.
2. Southridge
Coach: Pierre Senatus
Last year: 7-5 (made Region 4-4M semifinals)
Top players: WR Jayquan Reid, Sr.; WR Glenn Smith III, Sr.; DL Spencer Voss, Jr.; OLB/SS Curtis Bryant IV, Jr.; K/P Gabriel Perez, Sr.
3. Belen Jesuit
Coach: Don Chaney
Last year: 5-6 (made Region 4-3M quarterfinals)
Top players: RB/WR Khamani Alexander, Sr.; T/G AJ Paredes, Sr.; DE Gavench Marcelin, Sr.; CB/FS Tyler Brown, So.
4. Southwest
Coach: Taj Marshall
Last year: 0-10
Top players: LB Leroy Lee, Sr.
District 13-2M
1. Central
Coach: Jube Joseph
Last year: 14-0 (won Class 2M championship)
Top players: WR/CB/FS Lawayne McCoy, Sr.; DL T.A. Cunningham, Sr.; DE Armondo Blount, Jr.; LB Vincent Shavers, Sr.; CB Jamari Howard, Sr.
2. Norland
Coach: Daryle Heidelburg
Last year: 9-3 (made Region 4-2M championship)
Top players: DL Tyclean Luman, Sr.; DL Tycoolhill Luman, Sr.; DL Dimitry Nicolas, Sr.; LB Jeremiah Marcelin, Sr.; CB Larry Tarver, Sr.
3. North Miami Beach
Coach: Jeff Bertani
Last year: 4-6
Top players: RB/WR/FS Frank Montijo, Jr.; WR/S Gio Olivo, Jr.; T/DT Fernando Jeanty, Sr.; ATH Justin Petit-Homme, So.
4. Monsignor Pace
Coach: Anthony Walker
Last year: 5-5
Top players: QB Aidan Karsh, Sr.; T/C/DT Jabari Dukes, Sr.; T/DE Wilnerson Telemaque, Jr.
5. Carol City
Coach: Vernon Wilder III
Last year: 5-6 (made Region 4-2M quarterfinals)
Top players: RB/OLB/SS Malik Hunter, Sr.; T Isaiah Frazier, Sr.; DT Trevon Black, Sr.; LB Shawn Joseph, Sr.
District 14-2M
1. Booker T. Washington
Coach: Tim Harris
Last year: 9-3 (made Region 4-2M semifinals)
Top players: WR/CB/FS Antonio Branch Jr., Jr.; DT Jamorie Flagg, Sr.; CB/FS Ben Hanks Jr., Jr.; QB Claudest Sherman, Sr.; RB Antwan Smith, Sr.
2. Northwestern
Coach: Michaelee Harris
Last year: 6-5 (made Region 4-2M semifinals)
Top players: QB Adrian Posse, Sr.; T/G Tramayne Carson, Sr.; T/G Trey Collesso, Sr.; CB/FS Guylijah Theodule, Sr.; S Sadonnie Gay, Sr.
3. Edison
Coach: Luther Campbell
Last year: 5-5
Top players: RB Sterling Joseph, Jr.; WR Kobe Yokin, Sr.; WR Brandon Lowe, Sr.; T/G Chenellson Exume, Sr.; DL Dinellson Exume, Sr.
4. Jackson
Coach: John Harris
Last year: 7-4 (made Region 4-2M quarterfinals)
Top players: QB Brandon Mincy, So.; RB Max Auguste, Sr.; WR Joshua Joseph, Sr.; FS Tarod Dickson, Sr.
5. La Salle
Coach: Helder Valle
Last year: 4-6
Top players: CB Tavarus Jones, So.; CB Wendell Copeland, So.; DT Jaden John, Sr.
District 15-2M
1. St. Brendan
Coach: Steve Smith
Last year: 7-4 (made Region 4-2M quarterfinals)
Top players: RB/MLB Widley Jean-Francois, Sr.; OL/DL Bernard Oliva, Jr.; G/DT/OLB Jamy Eme, Jr.; MLB/SS Terrell Franklin, Sr.; CB/FS Kevin White Jr., So.
2. Miami Springs
Coach: Mario Montoya
Last year: 3-6
Top players: QB/TE Fabian Rodriguez, Sr.; WR/FS Dante Alexander Jr., Jr.; WR/SS Ronnie Jones Jr., So.
3. Westland Hialeah
Coach: Joe Gross
Last year: 4-6
Top players: WR Tyreail Millings, So.; OL/DL Zamari Allen, Jr.; OLB Daniel Nunez, Jr.
District 16-2M
1. Gulliver Prep
Coach: Earl Sims
Last year: 5-5 (made Region 4-2M quarterfinals)
Top players: FB/MLB Dylan Calero, Sr.; WR/CB Amare Sanders, Sr.; WR Kenny Williams, Jr.; DL/OLB Brandon Rosenthal, Sr.; K Cosme Salas, Sr.
2. Killian
Coach: Bryce Bishop
Last year: 3-7
Top players: WR Kaden Sims, Sr.; C/DT Jordan Williams, Sr.; DE Damien Gill, Sr.; DE/OLB Jerald James, Jr.; OLB/SS Dylan Gill, Jr.
3. South Miami
Coach: Arties Knight
Last year: 5-4
Top players: WR-DB-ATH Jalin Mack, Sr.; ATH Tony Jones, Jr., Sr.; OL-DL Vincent Blanding, Sr.
4. Somerset Silver Palms
Coach: Matt Dixon
Last year: 3-6
Top players: RB/WR Robert Reddish, Sr.
5. Everglades Prep Academy
Coach: Nick Mendelsberg
Last year: 2-6
District 7-1M
1. True North Classical Academy
Coach: Greg Laffere
Last year: 9-4 (made Class 1M semifinals)
Top players: QB Zac Katz, Fr.; WR/TE/DB Reed Ramirez, Sr.; WR Jasen Lopez, So.; OL Anthony Brown, Fr.; ATH Dominic Turnbull, So.
2. Dade Christian
Coach: Michael Norman
Last year: 0-6
Top players: QB/WR Antwan Moore, Jr.
3. Florida Christian
Coach: George Gulla
Last year: 2-6
Top players: QB/DB Bradley Garcia, Sr.; FB/LB Perry Pitelli, Sr.; WR/DB Treyvon Scott-Pitelli, Sr.; OL/DL Dany Gonzalez, Sr.
4. BridgePrep Village Green
Last year: 0-6
District 8-1M
1. Archbishop Carroll
Coach: Jorge Zagales
Last year: 9-2 (made Region 4-1M semifinals)
Top players: RB Alejandro Isaza, Sr.; T Jake Santovenia, Jr.; LB Jorge Sanchez-Morales, Sr.; CB Ryan Gonzalez, Sr.; FS Kenneth Pembleton, Sr.
2. Westminster Christian
Coach: Patrick Wennin
Last year: 8-3 (made Region 4-1M semifinals)
Top players: QB Jason Barket Jr., Jr.; RB/OLB Jarvis Johnson, Sr.; RB/SS Malachi Keels, Sr.; RB/OLB Amarri Irvin, Fr.; WR/FS Victor Perez, Sr.
3. Palmer Trinity
Coach: Mark Reese
Last year: 6-6 (made Region 4-1M championship)
Top players: RB/MLB Andres Williams, Sr.; RB/OLB Tommy Barcinas Jr., So.; WR/CB Max Drucker, Sr.; TE/MLB Lou Kipp, Sr.; TE/OLB Jake Pearcy, Sr.
4. Palm Glades Prep
Coach: Andre’ Daniels
Last year: 1-9
Top players: RB Terrell Jones, Jr.; WR/CB Nesbrielson Demosthen, Jr.; WR Amir Wright, Fr.; OLB/SS Giovanni Velez, Sr.; CB Kenry Parrish, So.
5. Somerset Academy South Homestead
Coach: Robert Chester
Last year: 4-6
Top players: RB Rolando Perez, Sr.; DL Pedro Rivera, So.
Independents
Braddock
Coach: Juan Torres
Last year: 8-3
Top players: RB Brian Delrio, Jr.; TE/DE Dorian Perez, Sr.; G/DL Guillermo Ibarra, Sr.; G/DT Anthony Mecias-Avila, Sr.; CB Edward Lopez, Sr.
Coral Park
Coach: Julio Nunez
Last year: 5-5
Top players: RB/MLB Xavier Bravo, Sr.; WR/SS Andy Guevara, Sr.; WR/CB David Fresco, So.; DE Ruben Ramirez, Jr.; LB Logan Martinez, Sr.
Coral Reef
Coach: Tim Wood
Last year: 9-2
Top players: WR Mayson Mendez, Sr.; DL Andres Quiroz, Sr.; OL Loic Adam, Sr.
Ferguson
Coach: Gene Chew
Last year: 5-5
Top players: RB/OLB Manuel Rodriguez, Sr.; FB/MLB Nicolas Quintero, Sr.; OL Brandon Lopez, Sr.; DE/MLB Gabriel Cifuentes, Sr.; OLB Nicholas Estrada, Sr.
Hialeah Gardens
Coach: Greg Magner
Last year: 4-6
Top players: RB-DB Fabio Carrero, Jr.; FB-LB Alberto Soto, Jr.; OL-DL Frank Delaterga, Sr.
Hialeah-Miami Lakes
Coach: Kevin Wald
Last year: 3-7
Miami Country Day
Coach: Chris Polite
Last year: 1-7
Mourning
Coach: John Downs
Last year: 3-7
Ransom Everglades
Coach: Jake Caron
Last year: 6-3
Top players: T/DE Rudy Pages, Jr.
Reagan
Coach: Francisco Rojas
Last year: 3-6
Top players: QB Connor Buchanon, Jr.; RB-LB Juan Hernandez, Sr.; TE-LB Ramon Hermido, Jr.
Sunset
Coach: Mandrell Nickle
Last year: 4-6
Varela
Coach: Patrick Ledan
Last year: 1-9
Top players: QB/SS Nathan Avael, Jr.; ATH Isaiah McGowan, So.
This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 12:56 PM.
