High school football: Previewing the schools in Port St. Lucie for the 2023 season
TCPalm continues its high school football season previews looking at the four schools in Port St. Lucie that in recent years has been led by Treasure Coast.
The Titans last season had to tackle not only one of the toughest schedules in the state but perhaps the toughest in the history of the area.
Playing teams including St. Thomas Aquinas, Jesuit, Seminole and Osceola, Treasure Coast will again play all four of these teams in 2023 as well as Cocoa to go along with their District 12-4S foes.
Centennial is one of those teams in District 12-4S and the Eagles had a solid year and made the state playoffs but enter a new era under first-year head coach Jacob Turay.
At Port St. Lucie, another new coach takes over as Kimberry Lubin will try to pick up where the Jaguars have left off making the postseason in back-to-back seasons.
More: Kickoff Classics: See how Treasure Coast football teams performed in season tuneups
More: 11 breakout candidates for the Treasure Coast high school football season
Tradition Prep, the area's newest school, enters its second year of varsity football in the SSAA with high hopes and continuity within the program a big plus.
Treasure Coast
While the Titans did lose some key seniors to graduation, a ton of talent is back on both offense and defense particularly on the lines of scrimmage.
FIU commit Knajee Saffold and fellow Division I prospect Bootros Beaubrun lead the offensive line but names including seniors Ethan Hatton and Gabe Jacques, junior Samuel Chery all are among those who pave the way for the offense.
There may be a new wrinkle or two offensively throwing the ball as junior Ahmar Atwell comes over from Fort Pierce Central and his arm and legs will free up senior George Roberts to be used in a number of ways to get him touches. Junior Gabe Avin is another play-making threat in the passing game to know.
Senior Jamison Davis at running back is committed to Chowan and brings speed and experience to the table and Centennial transfer Demari Scott will add to the rotation in the backfield. Senior kicker Manuel German returns as one of the area's top specialists.
USF commit Jahari Grant anchors the defense in the trenches and surrounding him on the front seven are names including senior Omari Kinsler, junior Leland Beckford along with South Fork transfer Richard Kramer and Centennial transfers Zachery Josue and Nikko Lopez who all are seniors with plenty of experience.
Western Kentucky commit Shamir Sterlin will anchor the secondary and Centennial transfers Cameron Harris and Anthony Saget will be names in the mix at cornerback.
Schedule: Aug. 25 vs. Osceola, Sept. 1 vs. Jesuit, Sept. 8 vs. Seminole, Sept. 14 at Martin County, Sept. 22 at St. Thomas Aquinas, Sept. 29 at Cocoa, BYE, Oct. 13 vs. Fort Pierce Central, Oct. 20 at Centennial, Oct. 28 vs. Vero Beach, BYE
Centennial
A new era is in full flight for the Eagles as they have the area's youngest coach in Turay and with turnover on the coaching staff has come turnover on the roster.
Transfers hit Centennial harder than almost any area program meaning new faces will be called upon by necessity to slide into prominent roles.
One name that is back on offense is senior wide receiver Jacob Hovey, who brings experience and play-making ability to the table for a unit that will not have many with varsity experience.
Keep an eye on a pair of rising freshmen in Jermonty Kimbrough Jr., who will play on both sides of the ball, and Mikell Holloman also at wide receiver. Junior Paul Burris is another target that should expect to get opportunities to contribute.
Junior quarterback Alec Certosimo will get the nod under center and offensive linemen Xander Graham and Eddie Keyes will be building blocks up front for the Eagles.
Junior Brooks Williams is a name on the defensive line with potential and in the secondary, junior Amir Shabazz can be a playmaker who also sees time on offense.
Schedule: Aug. 24 vs. Sebring, Sept. 1 vs. DeLand, Sept. 8 at Heritage, Sept. 15 at Fort Pierce Central, Sept. 22 vs. Palm Beach Lakes, Sept. 29 vs. Martin County, BYE, Oct. 13 at Vero Beach, Oct. 21 vs. Treasure Coast, Oct. 27 vs. Lake Brantley, Nov. 2 at Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie
Lubin was very unsure of how prepared his team would be for the season with their lack of time on the practice field hampered by the weather but their preseason performance against Spanish River provided optimism.
Senior LJ Lane is one of the few returning players with experience and had two touchdown catches in the preseason and is likely to see time on both sides of the ball.
Junior Jordan Quillen is a promising quarterback with a strong arm and in the backfield, sophomore Jordan Tolbert is a speedster with play-making ability he showed scoring three touchdowns in the preseason.
Junior offensive lineman Jayden Gomez will be an anchor for the line of scrimmage and fellow junior Jordan Villalobos provides another big body that can throw his weight around inside.
Defensively, Lubin pointed out junior defensive back Brandon James as a standout from the spring to the preseason.
Keep an eye on senior Albertini Excellent, who will be all over the front seven in different roles and defensive lineman Jonathan Wilson on the Jaguar defense.
Schedule: Aug. 24 vs. St. John Paul II Academy, Aug. 31 at Palm Beach Lakes, Sept. 8 vs. Frostproof, Sept. 14 at West Boca Raton, Sept. 22 at Sebastian River, Sept. 29 vs. Jensen Beach, BYE, Oct. 13 vs. Okeechobee, Oct. 20 at South Fork, Oct. 27 at Fort Pierce Westwood, Nov. 3 vs. Centennial
Tradition Prep
Another year of offseason workouts and building familiarity from within has Pirate head coach Shawn McGrath keen on year two at the varsity level.
A host of skill position players are back for Tradition Prep that will include junior running back Anthony Camara, junior Jahzion Drummond and seniors Keishawn Rivers and Josh Volcin.
Sophomore quarterback Mason Brown showed promise in the second half of the season and on the offensive line, senior Chris Cintron will lead the unit.
Rising sophomore Jeremiah Michel in the secondary is a name to watch and fellow sophomore Miguel Thornhill at linebacker has emerged as a promising player.
Senior Trey Scayle will be a jack-of-all trades piece playing both sides of the ball like a number of the Pirates will in certain situations.
Junior Jaxon Bryant is hailed as one of the leaders of the defense who will play a number of positions where needed from the secondary to linebacker.
Schedule: Aug. 25 at Zephyrhills Christian, Aug. 31 vs. Jupiter Christian, Sept. 8 at Faith Christian, Sept. 15 vs. St. Edward's, Sept. 23 vs. Yulee, Sept. 28 vs. Lake Highland Prep, BYE, Oct. 13 at Gateway Charter, Oct. 19 vs. Coral Shores
Bryan Cooney is the high school sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at bcooney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Treasure Coast, Centennial, Port St. Lucie and Tradition Prep preview
