All-Area large schools football: Palm Beach Central's Lloyd Howard and Atlantic's Brisly Estime top lists

Saturday, January 05, 2013
by Matt Porter

LARGE SCHOOLS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LLOYD HOWARD, PALM BEACH CENTRAL, SR.

Palm Beach Central coach Rod Harris will miss having Lloyd Howard around.

"He's a happy kid and he brings so much energy to our team," Harris said. "It's been a pleasure to coach him and watch him mature."

Harris saw his 5-foot-7, 175-pound running back turn heads last season. But you needed to look hard to find Howard the year before, when he was suspended the first six games of his junior season following an altercation in a preseason game with Oakland Park-Northeast.

Palm Beach Central coach Rod Harris maintains Howard should have received a small suspension for his role in that bench-clearing altercation. The boisterous, bouncy Howard was humbled by the ruling.

"It made me a bigger person," he said. "I had to sit down and look at myself in the mirror and ask, 'What am I going to do with myself?' It's your junior year, your biggest year for recruiting, and you're watching your teammates from the sidelines every Friday. These are your brothers, the guys you practice with every day, and when they're out there playing, you're sitting in the stands like a fan. You feel so left out."

After serving the suspension, Howard returned for three games -- he missed one with an ankle injury -- and scored seven touchdowns.

"I had a lot to prove," he said. "It made me a lot more hungry."

As a senior, Howard had a large-schools-best 1,268 rushing yards along with eight touchdowns on 233 carries, lifting the Broncos to three program firsts: a district title, playoff win and berth in the regional semifinals. He was a finalist for the Lou Groza High School Player of the Year Award. He also gave a verbal commitment to Florida Atlantic.

But despite his success, there's still that ebullient streak in him. It'll always be there as long as he goes by his nickname, "Bam." That's the nickname his mother gave to him so as to not confuse him with his father, Lloyd Jr.

When "Bam" was old enough, his father told him what the nickname means. The first letter stands for 'Bad.' The last letter stands for 'Man.' The middle letter does not stand for attitude, but the word it represents connotes plenty of it.

Now, the young man who carries the nickname knows when to keep his own attitude in check.

"It made me a smarter player on the the field," Howard said. "I keep my mouth closed now and just play. I think I'm a better person now."

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LARGE SCHOOLS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BRISLY ESTIME, ATLANTIC, SR.

Most of the top players at Atlantic High get their starts at one of the surrounding area's well-established youth teams, like the Boca Jets and Delray Rocks.

Not Brisly Estime.

Born in Port Au Prince, Haiti, he moved to Delray Beach at age 5 and first put on cleats as a middle school soccer player. He first put on football pads as an Atlantic High freshman. By his senior year, Estime was considered by many to be the most dynamic player in the county.

A 5-foot-9, 185-pound dynamo with blazing speed, he intercepted four passes as a safety. As a receiver, he had 306 yards and four touchdowns. But he was most dangerous in the return game, where he ran back five kicks or punts for touchdowns.

"When they kick it to me, I just run it back," he said of the mentality he brings to the return game. "I think they're stupid for kicking to me. I have to make them pay."

Estime made several rivals wish they hadn't kicked to him, especially district opponents Dwyer and Royal Palm Beach. Estime had a receiving touchdown and a punt return score in Atlantic's road upset of Dwyer on Oct. 18. Ten days later, Estime's 95-yard kickoff return caused a momentum shift in the Eagles' win over Royal Palm. Both victories lifted Atlantic to its first district title since 2008.

It was a sweet second chance for Estime, who nearly didn't get to play his senior season. Estime won a preseason appeal to let him play past the state's age limit of 19 years, 9 months. Had he not won the appeal, Estime would have stopped playing after two games.

Now Estime, who has verbally committed to Iowa State and has interest from Purdue, Marshall and Cincinnati, has a college future ahead of him, and a trail of frustrated opponents in his wake. Not bad for someone who is still learning the game.

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FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Adam Johnson, John I. Leonard, Sr.

Electric talent despite his 5-10, 170-pound frame. Had 2,360 rushing and passing yards and 19 TDs.

RB: Silas Spearman, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

Hawks' go-to guy rushed for 1,258 yards and had 16 all-purpose touchdowns, plus two INTs as a cornerback.

RB: Diocemy St. Juste, Santaluces

Underrated back had 1,243 rushing yards (third in the county) and 16 touchdowns on 166 carries.

WR: Johnnie Dixon, Dwyer, Jr.

Offered by several of big-name programs, 5-11, 175-pound blazer put up 711 receiving yards and eight TDs on 39 catches.

WR: Tavares Martin, John I. Leonard, Soph.

Lanky 6-2, 170-pound youngster posted a county-best 860 receiving yards and had five TDs on 46 receptions.

WR: Frank Brown, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.

Big-play threat caught 34 passes for 706 yards and four touchdowns in a run-first offense.

OL: Kc McDermott, Palm Beach Central, Jr.

Nearly 6-7 and 300 pounds, left tackle graded at 94 percent as a junior. One of top tackle prospects nationally for 2014.

OL: Antonyo Woods, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

Six-three, 265-pound guard racked up a whopping 82 pancake blocks and earned a 90 percent grade.

OL: James Looney, Lake Worth, Sr.

Wake Forest commit was strong at guard and defensive tackle at 6-4, 270.

OL: Nickedel Pierre, Palm Beach Central, Sr.

Six-three, 310-pounder earned a 92 percent grade with 48 pancake blocks.

OL: James Cruise, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.

Six-five, 275-pound tackle graded out at 85 percent. Committed to South Alabama.

ATH: Qwad Martin, Park Vista, Jr.

Dual-threat quarterback recorded 1,337 rushing and passing yards and 17 touchdowns.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Kyle Shortridge, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

Louisville commit (6-2, 280) had 61 tackles (21 for loss) with five sacks and 20 quarterback hurries.

DL: Keith Bryant, Atlantic, Sr.

U.S. Army All-America (6-2, 300) had 60 tackles, 23 for loss, and eight sacks. Recruited by FSU, UM, South Carolina and others.

DL: Malik Brown, Dwyer, Sr.

Lightning-quick at 6-3, 230, Syracuse commit had 46 tackles, 14 for a loss, and seven sacks.

DL: Mark Kelly, Dwyer, Jr.

Bursting with speed and aggressiveness, 6-2, 210-pound defensive tackle had 33 tackles for loss and 24 sacks.

LB: Rayfield Dixon, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

West Virginia and Purdue among D-I programs chasing 6-3, 200-pounder, who had 89 tackles (16 for loss) and six sacks.

LB: Bruce Thomas, Atlantic, Sr.

Five-foot-10, 220-pound middle linebacker had 90 tackles with three sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

LB: Jarred Brown, Dwyer, Sr.

Rock-solid 5-11, 210-pounder had 86 tackles (17 for loss) and six sacks.

DB: Mike Almonte, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

Free safety was leader of Hawks' secondary and had 58 tackles, two interceptions.

DB: Omar Pierre-Louis, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

Bowling Green commit had 38 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. Was also a key offensive playmaker.

DB: Marques Gayot, Park Vista, Jr.

Big (6-2, 200), rangy, hard-hitting safety received plenty of D-I attention as a junior.

DB: Jimmy Moreland, Royal Palm Beach, Jr.

Dynamic 5-10, 180-pounder returned two of eight interceptions for touchdowns. Also had 600 yards of total offense and six TDs.

K/P: Cameron Golob, Palm Beach Central

Groza winner made 5-of-6 field goals, including school-record 50-yarder, and was 52-of-57 on touchbacks.

Coach of the Year

Matt Dickmann, Seminole Ridge: Discipline and weight lifting were two core values in eight seasons at Ridge. Before departing to take job at Harrison (Ga.) High, he led Hawks to Class 8A regional finals.

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SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Thomas Owens, Atlantic, Jr.

RB: Tevin Spells, Atlantic, Sr.

RB: Jermaine Carn, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.

WR: Ezra Saffold, Dwyer, Jr.

WR: Shaborn Marshall, Forest Hill, Sr.

WR: JoJo Williams, Royal Palm Beach, Sr.

OL: Matt Montgomery, Olympic Heights, Sr.

OL: Craig Smith, Royal Palm Beach, Sr.

OL: Roman Fernandez, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

OL: Charles Sprenkel, Atlantic, Sr.

OL/TE: Nick Telford, West Boca Raton

ATH: Clint Stephens, Dwyer, Jr.

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Da'Kwon De Polo, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.

DL: Ted Taylor, Dwyer, Sr.

DL: Jason Shepherd, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

DL: Todney Evans, Atlantic, Sr.

LB: Heath Koji, Park Vista, Sr.

LB: Shawn Boone, Dwyer, Jr.

LB: Anthony Williams, Dwyer, Sr.

DB: De'Andre Bozeman, Dwyer, Sr.

DB: Jonathan Moxey, Dwyer, Sr.

DB: De'Andre Simmons, Royal Palm Beach, Sr.

DB: Ray Wilson, Palm Beach Central, Sr.

K/P: Alec Frear, Park Vista, Sr.

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HONORABLE MENTION

QB: J.P. Caruso, Palm Beach Gardens; Kevin Anderson, Boca Raton; Ant McGrew, Royal Palm Beach; Sean Steele, Santaluces; Luis Peguero, Lake Worth; Zach DeCosta, Seminole Ridge.

RB: Elie Turene, Seminole Ridge; E.J. Elien, Seminole Ridge; Cortney Lowery, Dwyer; Alonso Smith, Dwyer; Demarcus Holloway, Royal Palm Beach; Eugene Bethea, West Boca Raton; Cecil Johnson, Boca Raton; John Cleristor, Olympic Heights; Tommy McDonald, Palm Beach Central; LeKraig Bens, Park Vista; Tommy Monday, Palm Beach Gardens;

WR: Adly Enoicy, Atlantic; Jermer Braswell, Lake Worth; Jerry Jones, John I. Leonard; Kenute Morris, John I. Leonard; Richard Seraphin, Lake Worth; Adrian Cerrato, Park Vista; Ricco Jean Louis, Santaluces; Daryl Langham, Santaluces; Pernal Rattray, Seminole Ridge.

OL: Chris Henes, Dwyer; Nick Hoffman, Palm Beach Gardens; Clay Meister, Dwyer; Corbin Finlayson, Palm Beach Gardens; Onterio Rouse, Dwyer; Walvenski Aime, Olympic Heights; Charles Strippoli, Boca Raton; Troy Artiles, Seminole Ridge.

DL: Josh Wilson, Royal Palm Beach; Darius Henry, Atlantic; Blake Cassandra, Palm Beach Central; Nick Cassandra, Palm Beach Central; Alberto Hidalgo, Seminole Ridge.

LB: Korey Wells, Palm Beach Gardens; Chris Ori, Park Vista; Ovenson Cledanord, John I. Leonard; Alon Sims, Royal Palm Beach; Harrison Rordomer, Boca Rato; WIlky Orelien, Palm Beach Central; Rod Theodore, Santaluces; Jake Wehrle, Royal Palm Beach; Charles Perry, Royal Palm Beach.

DB: Marcus Gaskin, Atlantic; Deago Sama, Olympic Heights; Tard McCoy, Boca Raton; Ced Bryant, Boca Raton; Kerolin Francois, Forest Hill; Terrence St. Hillaire, Palm Beach Gardens; Jesse Pourch, Royal Palm Beach; Bernard Eberhardt, Santaluces; Jalen Young, Seminole Ridge; Horace Odoms, Wellington; Shamar Jackson, Wellington; Emmanuel Smith, Park Vista.

K/P: Tyler Bugeja, Royal Palm Beach; Nick Privitera, Atlantic; Derek Falk, Seminole Ridge; Steven Olson, Palm Beach Gardens.