Unveiling the first 4 members of the Emerald Coast's Dandy Dozen

The Dandy Dozen is a lauded fraternity exclusive to the best football players produced on the Emerald Coast.

Just turn on HBO's "Hard Knocks" and you'll recognize running back Michael Carter, whose talents at Navarre earned him a football tab cover and a Dandy Dozen nod before going on star at UNC and now the New York Jets.

Speaking of NFL talent, we all knew Richie Grant was going places, and fittingly you can tune into Atlanta Falcons games to catch the former Dandy Dozen making plays in the secondary. So, too, is Juanyeh Thomas, a former Niceville playmaker who in the first two preseason games for the Dallas Cowboys has picked off Trevor Lawrence and produced a team-best seven tackles and pass breakup against Seattle.

His little bro and fellow Dandy Dozen alum Azareyeh Thomas is someone to watch on Saturdays at FSU, and the same can be said for Dandy Dozen former teammates Pearce Spurlin III at Georgia and Cade Roberts at South Florida. We haven't had a local Heisman winner since Danny Wuerffel, another Dandy Dozen guy, so maybe it's time?

This year the Dandy Dozen, running the positional gamut of lineman, quarterbacks, tailbacks, receivers, linebackers and defensive backs, will look to carry on that tradition.

Here are the first four selections.

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Jesse Winslette, Choctaw QB

2022 stats: 1,973 passing yards, 22 TDs, 7 INT, 57% completion; 607 rushing yards, 107 carries, 11 TDs

Story time. It's the offseason and Jesse Winslette is still on the gridiron. Only on this April night, the 6-foot-6 quarterback is watching the Choctaw flag football team win a district championship. At halftime he even lends his scouting report to fellow QB Diaris Morales.

This is Winslette. Always repping Choctaw from head to toe. Always invested in the program. Always a true leader.

Last year we witnessed the breakout campaign after Choctaw bounced back from a 1-4 start, upset top-ranked Pine Forest and was an overtime loss to Columbia away from advancing to the Final Four. Winslette was at the center of it all, posting 10 touchdowns in the playoffs. Now he returns for his swan song with title and offers in mind.

The man can run the rock, as seen by his 607 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He can spin it on the run or in the pocket, as shown by his nearly 2,000 passing yards and 22:7 TD:INT ratio. With Cole Tabb in the backfield and receivers Issac Thomas, Isaiah Johnson, Justin Whidbee and Aaron Rowell at his disposal, it's not a matter of if Winslette will be build on 2022's numbers, but by how much. Paired with his innate projectability, the premier offers should flood in.

Kevin Downing, Niceville DT

2022 stats: 13 tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss

The play was a designed screen pass.

Niceville senior Kevin Downing, already two sacks to his name in the kickoff classic against Bay, broke through the left side unabated to the quarterback, who lofted the pass 7 yards downfield. Downing, redirecting his pursuit as Jeremiah Banks fought off a tackle and turned upfield, pounced from behind, securing the tackle all while stripping the ball with his left arm. The loose ball flew directly into the hands of DJ Shorts, who scored from 15 yards out.

Yes, y'all, Downing is a problem. To quarterbacks. To running backs. To anyone standing between the 6-4, 275-pound grown man and making a play.

Sideline to sideline, end zone to end zone, Downing doesn't quit. He has more lives than Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees combined. Friday's kickoff classic showcased that speed, size and footwork that'll soon have DI offers rolling in, and at the very least will force offensive line coaches into scheming double teams.

Jaden Robinson, South Walton WR

2022 stats: 30 receptions for 462 yards, five touchdowns; 11 carries for 86 yards, one touchdown

A three-sport star, Robinson drips athleticism.

And now, coming off a breakout junior campaign, Robinson is the main option in the most vertical offense in the Panhandle. As most teams have committed to the run, we've seen 1,000-yard receiver after 1,000-yard receiver come out of South Walton. Robinson has the ceiling to be just that.

Breakaway speed. Hops. Great hands. The combo matches the 6-foot-3, 188-pound frame, which shines on the hardwood and track as well. Expect Robinson to win a lot of 50-50 balls and get behind a lot of secondaries. He and Carson Hawk are sure to create some must-see magic.

Eddie love, Jr., FWB RB

2022 Stats: 1,244 rushing yards (124.4 ypg), 10 TDs, 7.2 ypc, six 100-yard games; six receptions, 85 yards, two TDs

We all know Love likes Steve Riggs Stadium. After all, almost a year ago to the day Love rushed 19 times for 130 yards and a touchdown in Navarre's 47-7 running-clock win over the Vikings.

Love will be back to making highlight reel runs at Steve Riggs, only this time he'll be in navy blue, red and white. He enters at the perfect time, the Vikings scoring just 42 points in a winless campaign. For perspective, Love scored 78 points by himself last season.

There's a concern about the pieces around Love, specifically the offensive line. And those concerns weren't quashed in a scoreless Kickoff Classic, but there's no questioning Love's talent. Just a junior, Love has it all: big-play ability, speed, elusiveness and the ability to be a safety valve for Orr and the passing offense.

The schedule sets up well for the Vikings, as winnable games like Arnold, Bay, Rutherford and Booker T. Washington dot the schedule. Expect Mr. 1K to be just that again and more for the Vikings.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Northwest Florida Daily News unveils High school football Dandy Dozen