The American High Patriots look good on both sides of the ball on paper but the new season will tell whether the football team can experience another successful regular season, and also erase the disappointing early round playoff exit.
American won the district championship four consecutive years but their seasons ended in disappointment, as they were eliminated in the first round of the postseason under former coach Corey Bell and new coach Anthony White.
With a talented roster, including four heavily recruited seniors, and depth at quarterback, American is picked to take the next step and advance in the playoffs in White’s second year with the team.
The defense this year is solid on paper as well.
Led by defensive end Jamal Smith, who is 6-3 and 235 pounds, defensive back Antione Webster (6-0 and 185 pounds), cornerback Dawun Hylton (6-0 and 175 pounds) and cornerback Roy Baker who stands 6-2 at 170 pounds.
The foursome are heavily recruited in the nation according to 247 Sports, an affiliation with CBS Sports.
Webster has verbally committed to Florida Atlantic University but says he is planning to visit West Virginia in the near future.
Hylton, who hasn’t made a decision, is being recruited by Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Fordham, Illinois, Indiana and Jacksonville State, Southern Illinois, South Florida, Texas and Wake Forest.
Baker has chosen the University of Buffalo over North Carolina State.
“Buffalo showed me a lot of love,” Baker said. “I was on the top of their list in recruitment. Plus I feel that I have the best opportunity to showcase my talents there. They also play on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, which caught my eye, too.”
Smith, Webster, Hylton and Baker all made The Miami Herald’s All-Dade Team on defense last season.
College recruiters depicted Baker as fairly raw as a defensive back but possesses great length, size and potential heading into his senior year.
Webster should be exceptionally good this year following a stellar 2014 season.
He transferred to American that year from Champagne Catholic and helped improve the defense. Also, Webster has an added incentive on the football field. He's learning from one of the top safeties in the NFL, his older brother Kayvon Webster, who plays for the Denver Broncos.
Hylton is described as an aggressive defensive back with top-notch speed. The Patriots are counting on him to defend the deep pass.
Also playing on the starting defense are linebackers Netron Culpepper and Joshua Dinson.
White said the starting quarterback position is still up for grabs.
Competing for the job are senior Steve Hollingsworth, junior Tyree Bibby and sophomore Legend Moore. White said the three are in a fierce battle to determine the starting quarterback.
Senior Sinque Sweeten was picked as the starting running back and with his size, speed and experience, the Patriots are banking on him to rack up big yards.
Albeit he’s a sophomore, junior Craig Cooper is also key to the running game.
American’s top receivers for the new season are junior Anthony White Jr., the coach’s son, and sophomores Marques Jackson and DeAndre Coley.
White said he’s looking to build upon the success the team had last year.
“We’re looking to build on what we started last year,” he said. “Overall, our team looks good for the season. On paper, we should be better than we were last year.”
American faces Miramar on Saturday, August 22 in a preseason classic game and opens up the regular season against Northwestern on Friday, August 28.