We tell you everything you need to know about the 2023 Miami Central football team, including roster changes and what fans can expect from the Rockets this season.
2022 Stats
- Overall Record: 14-0
- Points Scored: 566
- Points Allowed: 205
Key Losses
Miami Central loses several key members of the offense from last year’s state championship team, including their starting quarterback, Keyone Jenkins, who is headed to Auburn. The Rockets also graduate several RBs, including leading rusher Johnathan Harris, who rushed for 1,474 yards and 15 TDs over his four-year career at Central. Other graduated Rockets who saw considerable time running the ball are Ean Pope, Travon Miller, and Dylan Tulloch.
On defense, Miami Central loses All-American DE Rueben Bain, who racked up an unbelievable 58.5 sacks for the Rockets; he is now an Edge rusher with the hometown Miami Hurricanes. LB Stanquan Clark also left for the world of college football, with his new home being the Louisville Cardinals.
Who’s Back
The Rockets will be loaded again as they benefit from returning talent and a few transfers. Among the Rockets who were a part of last year’s state title team are receivers Sekou Smith, Lawayne McCoy and Anjuan Coleman. Miami Central also returns junior offensive linemen William Rothmiller, Luke Moise, and Teko Shoats.
Central has three transfer QBs coming in to fight for the starting job with: Four-star recruit Bekeem Kritza arrives from Santa Margarita Catholic in Los Angeles; JC Evans is from Brandes (TX) High; and Antonio Smith moves across town from Miami’s Killian High.
On the defensive side of the ball, Miami Central will field what could be south Florida’s best unit from top to bottom, especially with the addition of brothers T.A. and T.K. Cunningham, who transferred from Los Angeles’ Los Alamitos High. They both play DE, with T.A. being the oldest. He is a four-star rated senior, while T.K. is a freshman who, while not yet rated, already has more than a dozen D-1 offers. They’ll be joined by junior DL Armondo Blount, who transferred into Central from Dillard, and junior LB Ezekiel Marcelin.
What to Expect
This Miami Central team really added to its already talent-rich roster this offseason with the addition of transfers from Southern California and Texas, as well as a couple who came to the Rockets from area schools. The Cunningham brothers are super-talented defensive linemen who will certainly help soften the loss of monster DE Rueben Bain.
The position that head coach Gibudale Jube Joseph will have to let play out this offseason is quarterback, where three transfers have arrived to compete for the starting job. Kritza is the leading contender, but Evans and Smith will challenge for playing time. Whatever the case, Central should be the team to beat again in 2M this season.
Prediction
A Rockets Repeat: 14-0 and a fifth straight state title.
Game to Watch
September 1 at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.
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