The high school football season kicks off this week with kickoff classics. Every Monday, HSSportsFlorida will be revealing their Top 10 teams across all classifications.
- IMG Academy
The IMG Academy Ascenders are no doubt the top-ranked team in the state of Florida to start the season. The Ascenders have reloaded on both sides of the ball where they will be led by 4-star junior defensive lineman Elijah Golden and four-star linebacker Gavin Nix (Miami commit). They will also have a new quarterback this season whom they’ll likely turn to four-star quarterback Ty Hawkins (TCU commit).
Season Opener: 8/22 at Corner Canyon (UT)
2. Chaminade-Madonna
The Lions are coming off their second consecutive state title and have high expectations of a possible 3-peat. Keep an eye on junior wide receiver Jabari Brady who holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, and several others. Four-star wide receiver Koby Howard (Penn State commit) will line up on the other side offensively who can be explosive in the open field as well. Expect sophomore quarterback Zachary Katz to be the starter when the season opens up in two weeks as he came in from True North Classical Academy during the offseason.
Season Opener: 8/24 vs St. John Bosco (CA)
3. Cocoa
The Tigers are coming off winning the 2S Championship in 2023 knocking off Bradford, 20-6, and finishing with a 14-1 record. This year’s squad should be no different under Head Coach Ryan Schneider where they will be led by a pro-style quarterback Brady Hart (Michigan commit) and reigning all-state wide receiver Jayvan Boggs (UCF commit). On the defensive end, the Tigers will be led by four-star defensive end Javion Hilson (Florida State commit) who had 27 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a junior last season.
Season Opener: 8/23 vs Titusville
4. St. Thomas Aquinas
The Raiders are looking to extend their state record and win their sixth consecutive state championship and 16th overall. The Raiders are ranked No. 11 in the initial MaxPreps’ Top 25 Rankings for the 2024 season.
The Raiders are led by arguably the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026 four-star defensive back Justice Fitzpatrick who holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and several others.
Season Opener: 8/24 vs Bishop Gorman (NV)
5. Miami Central
The Rockets are looking to get back into state championship aspirations as came up short in 2023 losing in the Class 2M Regional Final to eventual state runner-up Miami Norland snapping their streak of four consecutive state titles.
The Rockets will look to turn to three-star senior wide receiver Kha’leal Sterling (Pittsburgh commit) who led the team in receiving yards as a junior last season. The team’s leading tackler on the defensive end returns as well featuring four-star linebacker Ezekiel “EJ” Marcelin (Miami commit).
Season Opener: 8/23 vs Lakeland
6. Berkeley Prep
The Buccaneers are coming off the program’s first state title in school history in 2023 and return most of their culprit from last season.
They will be led by four-star senior linebacker Dallas Golden (Notre Dame commit) who will likely be playing as a defensive back at the next level. They also have a dynamic running back in senior Joseph Troupe who rushed for over 1500 yards and had a team-high 21 touchdowns for the Buccaneers as a junior last season.
Season Opener: 8/23 at Clearwater Central Catholic
7. American Heritage (Plantation)
The Patriots finished the 2023 season with a 10-2 record losing in the Class 2M State Semifinal to Berkeley Prep, 17-14.
They have a dynamic offensive attack where they will be led by junior quarterback Dia Bell and junior wide receiver Malachi Toney. Also don’t sleep on junior running back Byron Louis who led the Patriots in rushing yards (1224) and touchdowns (18) last season as a sophomore. Defensively, the Patriots will return their leading tackler from last season in three-star senior linebacker Omarian Abraham (NC State commit).
Season Opener: 8/23 vs Milton (GA)
8. Mandarin
The Mustangs are coming off a state runner-up in 2023 and finished with an 11-4 record.
The Mustangs have a dangerous dynamic duo on the offensive end where they will turn back to senior quarterback Tramell Jones (Florida State commit) and five-star senior wide receiver Jamie Ffrench who is arguably the nation’s top uncommitted prospect in the class.
Season Opener: 8/23 vs Creekside
9. Venice
The Indians will have a new signal caller under center this season where they will turn to senior quarterback Jayce Nixon (Northern Iowa commit) who transferred from Gaither during the offseason. The Indians also have a dynamic wide receiver in senior Ryan Matulevich who had 652 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a junior last season.
The Indians will look to get back to the state championship game for a third consecutive year as they’ve split with Lakeland in the previous two.
Season Opener: 8/23 vs Tampa Bay Tech
10. Lakeland
The Dreadnaughts are coming off their second consecutive state title and have high expectations of a potential 3-peat which no Polk County team has done since the Dreadnaughts from 2004 to 2006.
The Dreadnaughts are led by their gun-slinging quarterback in senior Zander Smith (North Dakota State commit), senior wide receiver Jermichael Gillis (South Florida commit) and senior defensive back Keon Young (Ole Miss commit)
Season Opener: 8/23 at Miami Central
