Advertisement

2023 Brevard HS football preseason blog

We are in the second week of Brevard County high school football practices, and our team-by-team Tour of Brevard that looks at each school in the county started and continues every day except Saturday.

Follow along here for photos, team updates, stories and video throughout the preseason.

Aug. 10, 2023

Aug. 9, 2023

Our fourth player on the 321preps Dandy Dozen list of top senior high school football recruits is at Cocoa. Today we look at Loren Ward, an FAU commit.

321preps Dandy Dozen: Cocoa's Loren Ward brings consistency to D-line

Loren Ward of Cocoa chases a Palm Bay ballcarrier during their game Friday, November 18, 2022. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
Loren Ward of Cocoa chases a Palm Bay ballcarrier during their game Friday, November 18, 2022. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

Aug. 8, 2023

Tour of Brevard team previews

Today on the Tour of Brevard, we visit the Holy Trinity Tigers, in their second season with former Merritt Island coach Hurlie Brown. the Tigers reached the playoffs last season and are still a young team.

Tour of Brevard: Holy Trinity Tigers 2023 football

Here is the 2023 Brevard HS football schedule

Plan your season week by week with the 2023 schedule. Preseason games are Aug. 17-18, and the regular season begins on Aug. 25.

Aug. 7, 2023

We present the second Rockledge High player in a row for our next 321preps Dandy Dozen list of the top high school football senior recruits in the area.

The hard-hitting linebacker has put up big numbers in the middle of the Raiders defense, and it caught the attention of recruiters. He has said he will sign with UCF.

321preps Dandy Dozen: Prolific D.J. McCormick is Rockledge hitting machine

Aug. 4, 2023

Aug. 3, 2023

Melbourne looks to senior leadership

The Bulldogs took the field this afternoon on the fourth day of the first official week of practice.

With several players from last season moving on from the program after graduation, senior James Hinds said he and the other seniors on the team will step up and take a leadership role this season.

Hinds also expressed excitement about the young players on the team this year. Hear more from the lineman in the video above.

Big photo day

FLORIDA TODAY photographers spread out across Brevard County today for high school football photos. Check them out.

Aug. 2, 2023

Holy Trinity shifts later

The Tigers started at 5 p.m. today and already have more players than last season, which was the first under Hurlie Brown. Hear from returning Holy Trinity Brogan McNab in a video posted above.

Bears work with good weather Wednesday

Like many football teams across the county, rainy weather impacted Bayside at the start of the first official week of practice.

With the sun shining on the third day of practice, the Bears were able to take the field this afternoon and have a normal practice as they prepared for their week one matchup against Palm Bay.

Defensive end Brock Eden said it felt amazing to take the field and get into the mood of playing football. Hear more from Eden in the video above.

Heading south for the next player on the 321preps Dandy Dozen: Tayshawn Benson

Our next 321preps Dandy Dozen player is an electric running back for Heritage High. The third player will be revealed Friday, when we showcase one of the Rockledge Raiders.

Heritage's Tayshawn Benson (12) moves the ball down the field.
Heritage's Tayshawn Benson (12) moves the ball down the field.

321preps Dandy Dozen: Tayshawn Benson's experience and versatility back for Heritage

Aug. 1, 2023

July 31, 2023

Stormy afternoon shortens practices

Brevard County high school football and thunderstorms intersect often, and they didn't wait long in 2023. A swiftly moving storm rolled through and set off several lightning detectors in the area.

Eau Gallie got about an hour in before the alarm chased the Commodores inside. This season, the 17 starters who were freshmen or sophomores last season are a year older as the team faces a schedule with nine 2022 playoff teams. Check out the video above to hear from center Chavez Thompson, one of those juniors and a University of Oregon commit.

Panthers beat the weather

The Heritage Panthers took the field around 3:30 p.m. on the first official day of the 2023 football season under the leadership of first-year head coach Mykel Benson.

Heritage had a team camp earlier this summer, where Benson said he was able to get a good look at the team ahead of this week. His plan for the week was to expand upon what the team did at camp.

"It's really not a first week of practice for us, because we went to team camp the week before last, so we are just kind of picking up where we started off coming from team camp," Benson said. "It's more so just cleaning up the things we had seen at team camp and really just getting this team to gel even more from what we've seen."

New Panthers leader: Benson focusing on culture as new Heritage High football head coach

Raiders early on the field

Rockledge High continued its tradition of morning practices today, making 9 a.m. its starting time. The Raiders wrapped up around 11:30 with a few sprints. Check back here for more notes and a photo gallery.

Most area teams hold afternoon practices today and through the week. We will be at several of those today, with more notes, photos and video. Watch for those updates this evening.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @321preps and online at 321preps.com.

Bayside's Miller one of five new area head coaches

Read about new Bears head coach Billy Miller and his coaching influences here. They include several area coaches and his own high school coach from South Carolina.

Bayside football head coach Billy Miller instructs his players during practice Thursday, May 11, 2023. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
Bayside football head coach Billy Miller instructs his players during practice Thursday, May 11, 2023. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

Bears new top coach: Bayside's Billy Miller credits his HS coach as top influencer

Other new head coaches are Logan Hallock at Astronaut, Bayside's Mykel Benson, and two who aren't new to the county: Dan Burke of Palm Bay and MCC coach Nate Hooks.

Who's coaching where in 2023? A guide to Brevard County's 16 high school football coaches

321preps Dandy Dozen: DayDay Farmer headed to Pitt Panthers

We began our 321preps Dandy Dozen of the top high school senior football recruits on Sunday with one of our most highly recruited: DayDay Farmer of Melbourne Central Catholic.

Day Day Farmer of Melbourne Central Catholic runs through drills during spring football practice Friday, May 12, 2023. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
Day Day Farmer of Melbourne Central Catholic runs through drills during spring football practice Friday, May 12, 2023. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

321preps Dandy Dozen: MCC's DayDay Farmer flashes diverse game

The former Holy Trinity and FHSAA champion Cocoa receiver has committed to sign with Pitt. He's at MCC with new head coach Nate Hooks, formerly the Holy Trinity head coach.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 2023 Brevard HS football preseason blog by 321preps and FLORIDA TODAY