Back in mid-December, we took an initial way-too-early look at the upcoming 2024 Florida high school football season by offering our consensus Top 10 rankings for next fall. Let’s take a look at that list once again and update those rankings ahead of upcoming spring practices across the state, starting with No. 10.
10. Mandarin Mustangs
Making their way into the Top 10 are the Mandarin Mustangs, who went 11-4 a year ago to finish as the Class 4M state runner-up. The Mustangs bring back a talented senior class in 2024 headlined by the likes of Jaime Ffrench, Tramell Jones Jr., and Hylton Stubbs.
9. Homestead Broncos
Homestead fell just short of a state title a year ago, concluding the 2023 football season with a 12-2 overall record to finish as the Class 3M runner-up. Headlining the returning names for the Broncos is talented wide receiver Cortez Mills, who had over 1,000 yards last season.
8. Cocoa Tigers
A team that could very easily be higher on this list is Cocoa, who went 14-1 overall in 2023 to win the Class 2S state title and is set to return a big chunk of production at some key positions this upcoming fall. That group is headlined by the state’s top pass rusher in senior Javion Hilson, along with Jayvan Boggs and Jaquez Joiner on offense.
7. Lakeland Dreadnaughts
Lakeland finished the 2023 season at 12-3 overall to win the Class 4S state title and is set to be in championship contention once again in 2024. Headlining the returning names for Lakeland are the likes of Keon Young and Zander Smith, among others.
6. American Heritage Patriots
American Heritage is coming off a 10-2 campaign that concluded with a defeat in the Class 2M state semifinals. The Patriots will have enough talent returning in 2024 to hang with almost any team in Florida. They are still set to have Byron Louis, one of the state’s top senior running backs, on the roster, along with others such as Gregory Xavier Thomas and Dia Bell.
5. Norland Vikings
A notable non-state champion from last season is Norland, who went 14-1 a year ago with their lone defeat coming in the Class 2M title game. Alongside quarterback Ennio Yapoor, who accounted for 42 total touchdowns in 2023, the Vikings will return a talented roster in 2024 headlined by Darryll Desir, among others.
4. St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders
Although the Raiders drop down to No. 4 from their initial ranking of No. 2, it is no fault of their own, as St. Thomas Aquinas will undoubtedly be among Florida high school football’s elite once again in 2024.
The Raiders went 14-1 a year ago to win the Class 3M state title, and their 2024 roster will feature returning seniors such as Caleb Harris and Andrew Indorf, as well as one of Florida’s top juniors in Justice Fitzpatrick.
3. Miami Central Rockets
Miami Central is now the highest-ranked team on this list who was not a state champion in 2023, as the Rockets finished last season at 8-4 overall to fall in the Class 2M regional finals.
The Rockets are still set to return a talented defense led by seniors Amari Wallace and Ezekiel Marcelin. On offense, they have added wide receiver Naeshun Montgomery from Cardinal Newman and quarterback Bekkem Kritza from Fairview in Colorado.
2. Chaminade-Madonna Lions
The biggest riser in our updated way-too-early 2024 Florida high school football Top 10 rankings is Chaminade-Madonna, who went undefeated a year ago at 14-0 to win the Class 1M state title.
Tasked with replacing a large chunk of their production on offense, the Lions have added impact transfers such as Jabari Brady, Zac Katz, and Koby Howard to a roster that was already set to return the likes of Chris Ewald and Kyle Washington, among others.
1. IMG Academy Ascenders
Despite losing a prominent name in running back Anthony Rogers, IMG Academy still sits atop the state in our updated way-too-early Top 10.
The Ascenders went undefeated at 10-0 this past season and will return several Top-100-caliber prospects in 2024 such as Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Alex Graham, Keenyi Pope, and Zech Fort. The Ascenders have also added edge rusher London Merritt, a rising senior from Woodward Academy in Georgia, to their roster.
Honorable Mentions
- Miami Columbus Explorers
- Venice Indians
- Edgewater Eagles
- Mainland Buccaneers
- Buchholz Bobcats
- Berkeley Prep Buccaneers
