Take a minute and ask yourself this question: What makes an offense tough to stop? The answer is simple when considering some of Florida’s top teams entering the 2022 season. The following Florida high school football offenses are loaded with talent at the skill positions – quarterback, running back, and wide receiver – ensuring each one will confound opposing defenses in 2022.
1. IMG Academy
While there are maybe one or two teams that can come close to stacking up with the pure level of offensive talent at IMG Academy in 2022, the Ascenders are a step ahead of the rest.
Headlining the Ascenders’ offense will be quarterback Mason McHugh, who threw for 2,849 yards and 31 TDs last season, while five-star juniors Jerrick Gibson and Stacy Gage will join him in the backfield. Another top quarterback recruit, junior Jayden Bradford, could serve as the backup to McHugh, while the Ascenders’ deep receiving corps will feature Carnell Tate, Devin Hyatt, and Kobe Nakkai Mendez.
2. St. Thomas Aquinas
The Raiders lost a few key names on the offensive side of the ball, including Zion Turner and Anthony Hankerson, but the defending 7A state champions will reload in a big way.
Junior quarterback Tyler Aronson joins the Raiders after transferring from Benjamin, where he threw for 29 touchdowns a year ago, while Xavier Terrell returns after rushing for 597 yards and nine scores in 2021. As for Aronson’s wide receiver targets, you won’t find a deeper group among Florida high school football offenses than Isaiah Hardge, James Madison II, Chance Robinson, and Earl Kulp.
3. American Heritage
After an arguably down year for the Patriots a year ago, American Heritage will be a state title favorite in 2022, and a talented returning offense will lead the way.
Quarterback Blake Murphy returns after missing a majority of last season due to an injury. He’ll be joined in the backfield by one of the state’s top running backs in Mark Fletcher, who rushed for 13 touchdowns a year ago. Five-star Brandon Inniss returns to wide receiver after spending a majority of 2021 at quarterback, and he’s already rated the nation’s No. 1 prospect at the position. Santana Fleming also is a primary returning option at receiver.
4. Chaminade-Madonna
The defending Class 3A state champions lost a few key names on the defensive side of the ball, but will return almost all of their offensive production from a year ago.
Leading the Lions’ offense will be junior quarterback Cedrick Bailey, while one of the top rushers among Florida high school football offenses, Davion Gause, also returns after rushing for 1,844 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore a year ago. All three of Chaminade-Madonna’s receivers – Duane Thomas Jr, Jeremiah Smith, and Edwin Joseph – will return in 2022 as well.
5. Miami Northwestern
Despite losing two key receivers in Daverrick Jenkins and Adrian Harris, the Miami Northwestern Bulls’ offense has the potential to be electric in 2022.
The Bulls are led by dual-threat quarterback Taron Dickens, the state’s top passer a year ago. He finished the year with 3,743 yards passing and 42 touchdowns, while also adding nine more scores on the ground. Joining Dickens in the backfield will be running back Jamari Ford, who added 14 touchdowns a year ago, while Andy Jean and Rashad Davis will be the Bulls’ top receiving options.
While an excellent argument can be made for these five teams as the most talented high school football offenses in Florida, two more merit at least an honorable mention.
HM: Carrollwood Day
Do not sleep on the Carrollwood Day offense going into 2022; it has just as much talent at the skill positions as some of the other teams on this list. Quarterback Jackson Jensen will return for his junior season, alongside three Top 100 2024 recruits: running back Anthony Carrie (20 TDs in 2021) and wide receivers Bredell Richardson and Zycarl Lewis.
HM: Cardinal Gibbons
The defending 4A state champions, Cardinal Gibbons will return one of the state’s top backfields, led by quarterback Dylan Rizk and running back Kamari Moulton (1,075 rushing yards, 18 TDs). The Chiefs won’t lack for weapons at receiver either, with Jesse Anderson leading that group after hauling in 39 passes a year ago.
