Football previews, 3M/4M: Prospect-packed Mandarin gallops after FHSAA championship
Near the southern edge of Jacksonville, a team that didn't even finish with a winning record in 2022 is dreaming of lifting a trophy in 2023.
Impossible? Mandarin doesn't think so.
That's why, under the sweltering sun of an orange-hot August, they've spent a summer building a team that they hope can keep racing to the doorstep of winter.
"We're pushing each other with hard work, mentally, off the field, on the field, just doing anything to get our brotherhood stronger and tighter and better," quarterback Tramell Jones said.
Reigning champion of District 1-4M, the Mustangs are sprinting into the 2023 high school football season with ambitions that fly well beyond the Duval County line.
It wouldn't be the first time. In 2018, the Mustangs made one giant gallop, from near the cellar for Jacksonville public schools (2-8 in 2017) to a first-ever Florida High School Athletic Association championship. Why not another?
Under the lights: In-depth guide to Northeast Florida high school football for 2023 season
On Greenland Road, the future college talent is shining bright, maybe brighter than ever. It's a rare year when a school can field three Times-Union Super 11 selections — cornerbacks A.J. Belgrave-Shorter and Jon Mitchell, plus offensive tackle Deryc Plazz — in addition to a host of elite junior prospects like quarterback Tramell Jones (Florida State), wide receiver Jaime Ffrench (Alabama) and uncommitted safety Hylton Stubbs.
Head coach Toby Bullock, an assistant on the 2018 state championship squad, has seen what it takes to win it all. And he knows that whatever the talent, his team must keep its focus fixed on the present.
"I think that's the biggest challenge for any team, whether you're really talented or not, I think keeping the kids interested, keeping the kids on the day-to-day grind," Bullock said. "We spend 87 percent of your time in practice in football, and only 12 or 13 percent of the time actually playing a game, and that's tough."
A MACHINE ON OFFENSE
Florida's high school football scene might not include a more coveted quarterback-receiver pair than Jones and Ffrench. One is headed for Tallahassee and one plans on Tuscaloosa, and together, they dished out major trouble to opposing secondaries.
Ffrench caught 44 passes for 671 yards and five scores, displaying the athletic gifts to grab passes in traffic and accelerate to the end zone. Jones, meanwhile, improved on an already-promising freshman year. He hit 58 percent of his passes (161 of 277) for 2,310 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
"The game has definitely slowed down for me a lot, and I feel like it's going to be a good year," Jones said.
The best news for Mustangs fans? Those two are far from alone on what should be an all-around devastating offense.
Running back Tiant Wyche might be among the area's most complete players in the backfield, gaining 816 yards rushing last year as well as 354 receiving. Mandarin also picks up a valuable transfer in Carlos Witherup, who filled a combination running back/receiver role at Oakleaf last year.
SUPER SECONDARY
Stepping into the Corral means a ticket direct to the No-Fly Zone.
With Super 11 corners Belgrave-Shorter and Mitchell locking down the outside at the Corral on their path to Penn State, Mandarin should be among the hardest teams in Northeast Florida to pass against.
Add the cohesion that comes with another year of playing together, and it's no wonder that the Mustangs' defense is looking up.
"We're way better this year," Mitchell said. "I think we lost some key players from last year, but I think we're going to get through."
It's a matter of time before Stubbs joins Mitchell and Belgrave-Shorter in the college ranks. The hard-hitting safety, a transfer from Oakleaf, holds offers from most of the nation's powers ahead of national signing day for 2025.
While the front seven hasn't yet attracted the same recruiting spotlight, Mandarin returns several of its leaders, including Grant Pettigrew (five sacks) at defensive line and Jackson Copeland (77 tackles, 9 1/2 sacks) at linebacker.
THE MISSING PIECE?
So with all of that talent, why didn't Mandarin top the .500 mark or advance beyond the first round in 2022? Consistency.
Close games often didn't bounce Mandarin's way. After an opening-week 27-20 win over Fletcher, the Mustangs dropped one-score contests against Bolles (27-20), Fleming Island (35-28) and in the playoffs against No. 1 seed Sanford Seminole (30-28).
Different things went wrong along the journey. Mandarin allowed 272 rushing yards to Sanford Seminole and more than 300 to Fleming Island. Turnovers, four of them, spoiled the regular season finale against Bartram Trail, when they outgained the Bears 445-227 but lost 42-20. And they were scorched on special teams (263 return yards, two touchdowns) in a 37-27 loss against Creekside.
There's no automatic solution, but more strength on the offensive line could always help, and Mandarin picked up a significant addition when Miami-committed Plazz transferred from District 1-2M champion Jackson. For Bullock, a former college lineman at Marshall, both lines now rank among the Mustangs' strengths.
"I'm hoping how well the O-line and D-line play [will surprise people]," Bullock said. "It was our focus in the offseason and it's what we tried to prepare for all year."
In the three-team District 1-4M, the Mustangs punch a playoff ticket if they win their district matchups with Atlantic Coast (Sept. 15) and at Sandalwood (Oct. 26). Beyond that would loom the FHSAA regionals and a new set of foes, including giants like Apopka and Sanford Seminole.
"A district title is great, but we're not really striving for that. We're striving for more than that this year," Jones said. "We want a state title."
DISTRICT 1-4M
ATLANTIC COAST
Head coach: Step Durham, first year; second year overall (5-5).
Last year: 0-10.
Key returners: Camden Hardy (LB, Sr., 6-3, 225); Carter Ladd (TE, Sr., 6-4, 230); Gary Rhett (LB, Sr., 5-10, 205); Sean Speed (QB, Sr., 6-2, 177).
Outlook: Former Stingray Super 11 defensive back Durham returns to change the direction of an AC squad that's lost its last 14 games (counting two forfeits) since October 2021. There's still a lot of work ahead, but the Stingrays can count on energy in the pass rush from Wake Forest-committed linebacker Hardy, and will also return a multi-talented athlete in Ladd.
MANDARIN
Head coach: Toby Bullock, second year (5-5); fifth year overall (7-32).
Last year: 5-5; lost 30-28 to Sanford Seminole in Region 1-4M quarterfinals.
Key returners: A.J. Belgrave-Shorter (CB, Sr., 6-0, 175); Jackson Copeland (LB, Sr., 6-1, 215); Jaime Ffrench (WR, Jr., 6-2, 175); Tramell Jones (QB, Jr., 6-1, 190); Jon Mitchell (CB, Sr., 6-1, 175); Grant Pettigrew (DE, Sr., 6-4, 220);Tiant Wyche (RB, Sr., 5-8, 172).
Key newcomers: Deryc Plazz (OT, Sr., 6-5, 290); Hylton Stubbs (S, Jr., 6-2, 190).
Outlook: Five years after capping an unforgettable title run with victory under the lights of Orlando's Camping World Stadium, Mandarin is dreaming big again. The ingredients are in place: an FSU-bound quarterback in Jones, a future Alabama receiver in Ffrench, a secondary packed with power-conference athletes and now a punishing blocker in Miami commit Plazz after his transfer from Jackson.
SANDALWOOD
Head coach: Adam Geis, 21st year (125-83); 23rd year overall (132-96)
Last year: 5-5.
Key returners: C.J. Allen (LB, Sr., 5-11, 205); Sherode Benton (DT, Sr., 6-2, 350); Josiah Favors (C, Sr., 6-3, 268); Tim Holcombe (OT, Sr., 6-2, 260); Brody Jennings (CB, So., 6-1, 165); Kameron Mills (ATH, So., 6-0, 195).
Key newcomers: Cory Mathews (ATH, Fr., 6-1, 185).
Outlook: The Saints hung around in the district race until Week 10 last year but now must replace a multitude of graduated or transferred starters, including two-time 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Bean. The defense includes several promising prospects and a tackles machine in Georgia Southern-committed Allen, who racked up 84 tackles with 12 behind the line in his junior year.
DISTRICT 1-3M
ENGLEWOOD
Head coach: Kevin Johnson, first year.
Last year: 4-6.
Key returners: Anthony Brown Jr. (QB/DB, Sr., 6-0, 170); Keith Forbes (OL/DL, Jr., 6-7, 285); Malik Neely (RB/LB, Sr., 5-10, 215); Benjamin Preyer (OL/DL, Sr., 5-10, 270); Kevon Roulhac (TE/DE, Sr., 6-4, 225); Jalen Scarver (DB, Sr., 6-4, 190); Tayshaun Solomon (RB/CB, Sr., 5-10, 175).
Key newcomers: Nathan Mack (OL/DL, Sr., 6-3, 270).
Outlook: A three-sport Englewood star at the turn of the millennium, Johnson emphasizes consistency and self-discipline as the Rams pursue their first winning season since 2006. They came close last year, opening 3-1 before an October slump. The secondary stands out as a strength, particularly Scarver, who picked off six passes and has drawn interest from multiple colleges.
FIRST COAST
Head coach: Marty Lee, 27th year (158-114).
Last year: 6-4; lost 57-6 to Edgewater in Region 1-3M quarterfinals.
Key returners: Jordan Anderson (WR, Sr., 6-3, 195); Mark Colbert (DB, Sr., 5-11, 180); Auston Harris (RB, Sr., 5-8, 190); Thomas Jackson (WR, Sr., 5-11, 170); Israel Lucas (DT, Sr., 6-3, 295); Darrod Smith (LB, Jr., 6-0, 215); Michael Thomas (WR, Sr., 5-10, 170); Rodney Tisdale Jr. (QB, Sr., 6-3, 180).
Outlook: Can the Bucs build on last year's playoff visit, the team's first for eight years? This team returns a near-complete set of ball-handlers, including Tisdale (146 of 230, 1,873 yards, 18 TD), Harris (803 rushing yards) and receivers Anderson, Jackson and Thomas, with more than 1,200 combined receiving yards.
FLETCHER
Head coach: Ciatrick Fason, third year (13-9).
Last year: 8-3; lost 34-3 to Tampa Bay Tech in Region 1-3M quarterfinals.
Key returners: Kai Torrealba-Reyes (DB, Sr., 5-11, 180); Marcelis Tate (QB, Sr., 6-4, 190); Anthony Vaglienti (WR, Sr., 6-2, 170); Brayden Wallace (OL, Sr., 6-5, 285).
Key newcomers: Troy Hillman (WR, Sr., 5-11, 190); Davarius Lee (DB, Sr., 5-11, 180); Owen Manuel (LB, Jr., 5-11, 223); Diondre Smith (WR, So., 5-11, 165).
Outlook: The steady Senators have won at least five games in 16 straight years. The Tate-Vaglienti tandem is among the most productive passer-receiver combinations in the Gateway Conference, linking up for 738 yards last year for the reigning district champions. For Fason, the defense could be this year's surprise factor, with Mercer-committed Torrealba-Reyes leading from the secondary.
PARKER
Head coach: Mike Holloway, first year.
Last year: 3-7.
Key returners: Jeffrey Brown (ATH, Sr., 5-9, 170); Frank German (DB, Sr., 6-0, 180); Reggie Gordon (OL, Sr., 5-10, 250); Shyhiem Gordon (OL, Sr., 5-10, 250); Tony Kennedy (QB, So., 6-0, 180); Makijah Latiker (DT, So., 6-4, 240); David Smith (LB, Sr., 6-0, 185); Greg Thomas (DT, Sr., 6-2, 245).
Key newcomers: Malik Flood (WR, Sr., 5-10, 175); Sidonie Lymhouse (WR, So., 6-0, 160).
Outlook: Former assistant Holloway steps up on short notice for the Braves, leading a team that returns several key pieces on the defensive side of the ball and could be particularly solid in the secondary. The offense is still taking shape, although Kennedy showed flashes as a dual threat behind center in his freshman year and has the potential to break out in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football 2023: Mandarin, First Coast, Fletcher previews
