Florida high school football: Drafting dream teams from the state's top senior recruits

The early signing period is right around the corner, which means college football coaches and fans are dreaming about putting together the best class possible.

State of Recruiting H.Q. hosts Jon Santucci and Chris Boyle are no different.

For the second consecutive year, Santucci and Boyle wondered what a 22-player team (sorry kickers and punters) would look like if they could draft any senior football player in the state.

They had just one rule: They couldn't pick more than two players from any school. (Basically, no loading up on IMG, Chaminade-Madonna, St. Thomas Aquinas, Mainland, etc.)

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Here's how that draft played out.

(Boyle lost a best-of-three coin flip, so Santucci picks first)

Santucci: Jeremiah Smith

(Chaminade-Madonna WR, Ohio State commit)

Santucci: Do you really have to ask who I'm picking at 1? This pick needs no explanation. Smith is the best player in the nation and the best high school receiver I've ever seen. Good luck trying to draft defensive backs to stop him.

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Boyle: LJ McCray

(Mainland DL, Florida commit)

Boyle: Whether you view him as a defensive end or interior guy, McCray is the best defensive lineman in Florida, and just scratching the surface at how great he can be. Nobody made a bigger leap from 2022 to now than the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder from Class 3S state champion Mainland.

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Santucci: David Stone

(IMG DL, Oklahoma commit)

Santucci: I didn't think McCray would get past you. There are only a couple defensive linemen in that elite level, so I'll grab Stone. I want to someone who can wreck any plan you have offensively.

Boyle: Jordan Seaton

(IMG OL, Colorado commit)

Boyle: The jewel of Colorado's recruiting class, Seaton is the best clear-cut tackle in Florida. Building through the trenches is what the best programs do, year in and year out.

Santucci: Dang it! I was really hoping he would slip past you. He was going to be my next pick.

Santucci: Zaquan Patterson

(Chaminade-Madonna S, Miami commit)

Santucci: With Seaton off the board, this is easy. I’ll take the guy who can do a little bit of everything. Patterson is the ultimate chess piece for a defense.

Boyle: After his dominant outing in the 1M final, Patterson was next on my board. Touché.

Boyle: Charles Lester III

(Venice CB, Florida State commit)

Boyle: Length and ball skills, those are the coveted traits of modern-day corners. Lester is 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, and has picked off eight passes the last two seasons. Not to mention, he's caught seven touchdowns for good measure.

Santucci: Ellis Robinson IV

(IMG CB, Georgia commit)

Santucci: I’m going to finish my IMG picks. Robinson might be the best cornerback in the nation. I feel good about him against whoever you take at receiver.

Boyle: Zavier Mincey

(Mainland DB, Uncommitted)

Boyle: Schools tend to view him as a safety due to his size (6-3, 190), but Mincey has three years' worth of tape at boundary cornerback. Either way, the All-American, being courted by Nick Saban's Alabama among others, is simply too good to pass up.

Santucci: Myles Graham

(Buchholz LB, Florida commit)

Santucci: I don’t know if it’s great value to take a linebacker this high, but Graham is outstanding. He's a stud.

Boyle: Jason Zandamela

(Clearwater Academy International C, USC commit)

Santucci: I absolutely love this pick. I see what you're putting together, and I really don't like it.

Boyle: Bring me all the big, athletic people-movers.

Santucci: Adarius Hayes

(Largo LB, Florida commit)

Santucci: I'm just loading up on the position at this point. There are two linebackers in the state that are in a different tier, and I've got both of them. I feel very good about my defense up the middle with these two, Stone and Patterson.

Boyle: Gator commits Graham and Hayes are the top two guys at the position, and there's a perceived dropoff from there. However, there's a few guys I like that I can grab later now.

Boyle: Joshisa Trader

(Chaminade-Madonna WR, Miami commit)

Boyle: I’ll go ahead and lock in Trader now since you already reached your Chaminade-Madonna maximum. He's phenomenal.

Santucci: I knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when — especially since I can't take him. The catch he made in the Class 1M championship game was outstanding.

Santucci: Armondo Blount

(Miami Central EDGE/DL, FLorida State commit)

Santucci: I see what you're doing with your offensive line, so I'm going to load up my front seven. We'll figure out the position as we go, just get him on the field.

Boyle: Cai Bates

(Edgewater CB, Florida State commit)

Boyle: I want athleticism in my secondary, and Bates' film from last year's playoffs against Tampa Bay Tech is some of the best I've seen at the cornerback spot. With further experience and next-level coaching, he's a potential superstar.

Santucci: Colin Hurley

(Trinity Christian QB, LSU commit)

Santucci: I'm going to go ahead and grab the No. 1 quarterback on my board. It would be intriguing taking Cedrick Bailey to pair with Smith, but I already took two Chaminade players. Hurley is mature beyond his years and has the leadership skills you want under center.

Boyle: Booker Pickett

(Wharton EDGE, Miami commit)

Boyle: Few pass-rushers have been as productive at the high school level than Pickett, who is set to graduate from Wharton with 76 sacks and 61 TFLs in 42 games.

Santucci: Preston Watson

(Seminole DL, Duke commit)

Santucci: Look, I get that he may not have the height some teams want, which is the only reason he's not a four-star. But he was a game-changer every time I saw him this year. He may have been available later, but I didn't want to give you a chance. This also means I'm moving Blount to the edge.

Boyle: Eddy Pierre-Louis

(Tampa Catholic OL, Oklahoma commit)

Santucci: I really don't like you right now. Eddy is one of my favorite guys in the class and I love what you're doing with your offensive line.

Boyle: Continue to bring me all the big, athletic people-movers.

Santucci: Lawayne McCoy

(Central ATH, Florida State commit)

Santucci: In this exact moment, I don’t know where I want him to play. I just know I want him on my team. I'm comfortable with him on either side of the ball.

Boyle: TJ Moore

(Tampa Catholic WR, Clemson commit)

Boyle: At 6-3 and 190 pounds, Moore is one of the top outside receiver recruits in the country. The last two years for Tampa Catholic, he's caught 92 balls for 2,293 yards and 30 touchdowns. Not too shabby.

Santucci: Solomon Williams

(Carrollwood Day EDGE, Uncommitted)

Santucci: I really liked him when I saw him early in the season. He's going to be really tough to block at the next level and I think your elite offensive line is going to have their hands full.

Boyle: Jake Guarnera

(Ponte Vedra OL, Michigan commit)

Boyle: My interior offensive line now boasts EPL, Zandamela and Guarnera. Good luck getting through that. That’s a destructive, technically sound trio.

Santucci: Um. Yeah. That's a really impressive group. I thought I put together a really dominant group last year, but I really like what you're doing this year. Stop it.

Santucci: Isaac Brown

(Homestead RB, Lousiville commit)

Santucci: This was a tough call between Brown and Jordan Lyle. I just really like the versatility that Brown gives, and I think your linebackers are going to hate trying to cover him as a receiver.

Boyle: Sean Sevillano Jr.

(Clearwater Academy International DL, Notre Dame commit)

Boyle: Combining LJ McCray's physical tools and athleticism with Sevillano’s nastiness and alpha-dog mentality? That’s fun, unless you're blocking them, of course.

Santucci: Jonathan Daniels

(Pine Forest OL, Florida State commit)

Santucci: Okay. I've got to start building my offensive line and Daniels is a great starting point. He's got the size to play tackle or guard and he's an outstanding run blocker.

Boyle: Tye Hylton

(Oviedo OL, Florida State commit)

Boyle: Maybe it's a slight homer pick because it's my alma mater, but who cares? He’ll be my right tackle, and he can maul people in the run game.

Santucci: You get to be a homer.

Santucci: Deryc Plazz

(Mandarin OL, Miami commit)

Santucci: I'm going to keep building the offensive line with Plazz, who I feel comfortable as a tackle or guard. I saw him multiple times this year and I think Miami is getting a really good player.

Boyle: Cedrick Bailey

(Chaminade-Madonna QB, N.C. State commit)

Boyle: Obviously, no one in the nation had a better supporting cast of receivers, but I came away impressed with Bailey every time I saw him throw it live — including the Under Armour camp in Orlando back in March. He throws with accuracy, has a projectable frame with good arm talent and he's shined in many big games.

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Santucci: Joshua Raymond

(Lake Mary OL, Vanderbilt commit)

Santucci: Raymond is another really good lineman I got to see multiple times and is another player who brings some versatility on the offensive line.

Boyle: Jaylen Heyward

(Rockledge S, UCF commit)

Boyle: My secondary is basically positionless. Heyward can play safety, slot corner or outside. He's a threat to go the distance any time he gets his hands on the football, like he did on a blocked field goal against Mainland in the second round of the playoffs.

Santucci: Jamari Howard

(Norland DB, Florida State commit)

Santucci: Howard is a long defensive back who is strong in coverage but also can come downhill and is a very willing tackler in run support. I really like my secondary.

Boyle: Adam Kissayi

(Heritage EDGE, Clemson commit)

Boyle: The stats were more impressive during Kissayi's junior year (8½ sacks, 13 TFLs), but the 6-foot-7 frame and soccer background are extremely intriguing from an athletic standpoint — enough so for Clemson to pluck him away from Minnesota in July.

Santucci: Timothy Lawson

(Bishop Verot TE, North Carolina commit)

Santucci: I know he had the injury, but I've felt since the begining that Lawson was an underrated player. He's an athletic tight end. If he doesn’t get hurt, Verot’s offense would have been that much more impressive.

Boyle: Chance Robinson

(St. Thomas Aquinas WR, Miami commit)

Boyle: Robinson separates from defenders off the line, and stretches the field vertically. He's recorded 1,053 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns for the Fort Lauderdale powerhouse over the past two seasons.

Santucci: Ashton Hampton

(Florida High S, Clemson commit)

Santucci: I don’t know if he’s the highest-rated safety left on the board. I don't care. I really want him on my team. He's a game changer with his size and athleticism. He’ll make plays in the secondary for sure.

Boyle: Jayden Parrish

(Atlantic LB, Florida State commit)

Santucci. Oh, I love that pick so much. I've seen Parrish multiple times. He's legit.

Boyle: One quality I want in a linebacker: a pad-smacker when coming downhill. Go back and see this hit defending the run from Atlantic's kickoff classic.

Santucci: Joseph Ionata

(Calvary Christian OL, Alabama commit)

Santucci: He's got good size and ability. He has the pedigree. I know I waited on my offensive lineman, but this is a good group.

Boyle: Jon Mitchell

(Mandarin CB, Penn State commit)

Boyle: Do I have too many natural outside corners? Probably. Does that bother me? Not in the slightest.

Santucci: Tawaski Abrams

(Dunbar WR, Florida commit)

Santucci: He’s a really explosive player who you’re going to have a tough time covering. My receivers are a problem.

Boyle: Jordan Lyle

(St. Thomas Aquinas RB, Ohio State commit)

Boyle: Just like with Mark Fletcher a year ago, Miami is hot on the heels of a local running back committed to the Buckeyes. Not hard to see why with his elusiveness and breakaway speed, which resulted in 2,616 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in his Raiders career.

Santucci: Lyle has the best balance of any back I've seen in the last two years. That's a quality I really like. Great pick.

Santucci: Cameron Keys

(Mosley CB, Missouri commit)

Santucci: I really love what I’ve seen from him. Another long, athletic guy in the secondary who can cover and make life difficult for receivers.

Boyle: Benjamin Blackburn

(Columbus TE, Stanford commit)

Santucci: This is one of my favorite picks of yours. Blackburn was outstanding this year. He's going to be really good at the next level.

Boyle: I'm surprised Blackburn, friend of the podcast, wasn't your choice at tight end. He's a do-it-all player at tight end, fresh off a senior year in which he had 40 catches, 641 yards and eight TDs for the 4M state champion Explorers.

Santucci: Raynor Andrews

(Norland OL, Rutgers commit)

Santucci: If we’re picking a team for four years, I really like taking Andrews. I like the frame, attitude and upside. He's only been playing football for a couple years.

Boyle: Drew Woodaz

(Jesuit LB, Clemson commit)

Boyle: With Parrish coming downhill, and preferring longer corners across the field, Woodaz offers nice balance as a hybrid linebacker-safety with a nose for the football in coverage. He batted away 11 passes as a junior, and picked off three more as a senior for Jesuit. He added 175 tackles over those two campaigns, as well.

Final rosters

Team Santucci

Offense: QB: Colin Hurley (Trinity Christian), RB: Isaac Brown (Homestead), WR: Jeremiah Smith (Chaminade-Madonna), Lawayne McCoy (Central), Tawaksi Abrams (Dunbar), TE: Timothy Lawson (Bishop Verot), OL: Jonathan Daniels (Pine Forest), Deryc Plazz (Mandarin), Joshua Raymond (Lake Mary), Joseph Ionata (Calvary Christian), Raynor Andrews (Norland)

Defense: EDGE: Armondo Blount (Central), Solomon Williams (Carrollwood Day), DL: David Stone (IMG), Preston Watson (Seminole), LB: Myles Graham (Buchholz), Adarius Hayes (Largo), CB: Ellis Robinson (IMG), Jamari Howard (Norland), Cameron Keys (Mosley), S: Zaquan Patterson (Chaminade-Madonna), Ashton Hampton (Florida High)

Team Boyle

Offense: QB: Cedrick Bailey (Chaminade-Madonna), RB: Jordan Lyle (St. Thomas Aquinas), WR: Joshisa Trader (Chaminade-Madonna), TJ Moore (Tampa Catholic), Chance Robinson (St. Thomas Aquinas), TE: Benjamin Blackburn (Columbus), OL: Jordan Seaton (IMG), Jason Zandamela (Clearwater Academy International), Eddy Pierre-Louis (Tampa Catholic), Jake Guarnera (Ponte Vedra), Tye Hylton (Oviedo)

Defense: EDGE: Booker Pickett (Wharton), Adam Kissayi (Heritage), DL: LJ McCray (Mainland), Sean Sevillano Jr. (Clearwater Academy International), LB: Jayden Parrish (Atlantic), Drew Woodaz (Jesuit), CB: Charles Lester III (Venice), Cai Bates (Edgewater), Jon Mitchell (Mandarin), S: Zay Mincey (Mainland), Jaylen Heyward (Rockledge)

What do you like best about your team?

Boyle: The offensive line. In my opinion, I've got the four best blockers in the state of Florida.

Santucci: Can Jeremiah Smith be my answer? I've got the best player in the country. If it's position group, I love the front six.

Who are you most jealous of on the other team (not a top-three pick)?

Boyle: Myles Graham. He was in a different state this time last year, but Graham made an enormous impact at linebacker and running back for Buchholz.

Santucci: Eddy Pierre-Louis. He was high on my wish list. You got both Seaton and Eddy one pick before I got a chance to. That one hurt.

Who or what scares you most about the other team?

Boyle: Jeremiah Smith and the back seven. You have the two best linebackers in the state. Patterson is a premier safety. Robinson and Howard are really good corners.

Santucci: I think I’ve got the guys to handle it, but that offensive line you built is outstanding. I mean that's an elite group of blockers and they've all got the physicality and nastiness that is coveted at the position.

Who were the hardest guys to leave on the board?

Boyle: Cole Tabb from Choctawhtchee. I love the productivity, and he matches it with strength in the weight room and speed on track. Bradford's Chalil Cummings showed how dangerous he is on both sides of the ball in the 2S final against Cocoa. And both Nicholas Rodriguez (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Rodney Hill (Mainland) were unavailable for me at linebacker due to the two-per-team rule.

Santucci: There's a lot of guys I really like that aren't on the team, but the ones who really stand out are Rodriguez from Aquinas, Tavoy Feagin from Carrollwood Day and DayDay Farmer. Al of them were really productive high school players who are going to be really good at the next level.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida high school football: Drafting dream teams from top senior recruits