While the theme of our preseason special section is social networking, we couldn't put it to bed without paying homage to another current craze: lists, lists and more lists. We offer a few player lowdowns, big-time showdowns and personnel breakdowns.
Times preseason Super Seven
1. Plant
Solid offensive line, tested quarterback, and athletes galore.
2. Armwood
Brawny and athletic as ever, just not as experienced.
3. Hillsborough
One of the best assemblages of talent in Earl Garcia's 17 seasons
4. TBT
Armwood is the lone team to defeat the Titans since 2007.
5. Tampa Cath.
All the tools are in place for a 2B state title run
6. Jefferson
On paper, might be one of the county's most gifted teams.
7. Alonso
Weekly Friday night shootouts will again be fun to watch
Did you know?
• The last time Alonso senior quarterback C.J. Bennett took a snap from under center was his sophomore year against Gaither on a sneak. "I fumbled at the goal line," Bennett said.
• Since his youth football days, Brandon's Sean Watson has worn practice pants under his game pants. "I was always told to play the way you practice, so…" he said.
• Carrollwood Day senior tailback Darius Bing is an accomplished sketch artists whose dad, Tony Lorenz, is an illustrator for Marvel Comics.
• As a sophomore, King two-way senior John Marley played trumpet in the marching band at halftime — in his football uniform.
• Plant City senior nose guard Durrel Lowe is the twin brother of former Raiders standout and Wake Forest signee Duran Lowe (Durrel was retained in the fourth grade). Durrel, 5 inches shorter and 15 minutes younger than Duran, acknowledges, "We don't look nothing alike."
Unheralded players you'll know about by November
Jamar Burns, QB, Spoto. Spoto's second-leading rusher last season takes over reins of Spartans offense
Ben Gutowski, WR, Jesuit. We project him to emerge as Bobby Eveld's No. 1 target
Chris Moore, WR, Jefferson. Dragons are big on this sophomore, already tabbing him as best route runner in a talented receiving corps.
Jordan Prestwood, TE, Plant City. Endowed with physical upside (6-6, 255) and versatility. Notre Dame, among others, has taken notice.
Micah Leon, WR, Leto. Impressed at USF SuperBull camp — that after not playing at Gaither. He will be Leto's top receiving threat.
All-name team
Schyler Myles, LB/TE, Berkeley Prep. We've got the perfect nickname for you, kid — "Sky Myles"
Alex Rodriguez, OL, Gaither. If he can't block, we bet he can hit for power and play the hot corner
Chioke Marshall, OL/DL, King. If he's whistled for holding, can we refer to it as a Chioke hold?
Mak Djulbegovic, T/LB, Carrollwood Day. We boldly predict we'll never misspell his first name
Magic Conrad, LB, Jesuit. We wonder if he can make running lanes vanish in thin air.
Storm Cooper, LB, Wharton. We like it for its similarity to "storm trooper."
John Kennedy, RB, Freedom. Ask not what your offensive line can do for you …
Shadow Williams, LB, Freedom. With a name like that, he ought to be a cover corner
Dazmond Patterson, RB/DB, Plant City. One of the coolest first names we've encountered
Coach Al Davis, King. We don't see him wearing a white jumpsuit and uttering, "Just win, baby."
Five games we're dying to see
Tampa Bay Tech at Plant, Sept. 4 And the Panthers thought they caught a break by not having to open with Armwood
Plant at Armwood, Oct. 2 We're wondering if the Hawks still will be running the spread by this game
Hillsborough at Armwood, Oct. 23 Two days after KISS plays in Tampa, these teams provide some proverbial pyrotechnics of their own
Alonso at Plant, Oct. 23 Want to see the top two passing attacks in the county? Don't miss this one.
Tampa Catholic at Jesuit, Nov. 13 If the Crusaders can't beat the Tigers this year…
And you thought the NFL had turnover
Nearly 20 percent of Hillsborough County's football programs underwent coaching changes in the offseason. Here's a look at the latest spin of the carousel:
School new coach former coach
Chamberlain Joe Severino John Colbert*
Bloomingdale John Booth Jason Stokes
Middleton Jason Stokes Harry Hubbard
Blake Harry Hubbard Sean Washington
Cambridge Chr. Bob Dare John Kelly
Freedom James Harrell Marquel Blackwell
*Colbert resigned after spring practice without ever coaching a game
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