Countdown to kickoff: scouting report

A position-by-position look at the top football players and teams in the county. Today we break down receivers.

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published August 14, 2007

Starting today, the Times is taking a position-by-position look at Hillsborough County's top football players and the area's best units at that position. Rankings are based on our observations of past performances, chats with coaches and some educated guesswork. Today: Receivers.

Top five players (in no particular order)

Derek Winter
Sr., Plant

Coming off a 90-catch, 20-touchdown season, the area's most sure-handed receiver likely will be double-teamed ad nauseam, which simply will create more opportunities for ...

Cornelius Gallon
Sr., Plant

Winter's sick numbers in '07 overshadowed Gallon, who had 61 receptions for 932 yards and eight touchdowns. Perhaps his most memorable catch was on defense, when he picked off a pass in his own end zone in the waning seconds to preserve a 28-21 win at Hillsborough.

Anthony Williams
Jr., Jefferson

After catching 25 passes as a tight end last season, Williams moves to a split-end spot known in the Dragons playbook as the X position. At 6-foot-3, Williams provides a rangy target for new quarterback Zack Grossi.

Terrence Mitchell
So., Hillsborough

A nationally elite long jumper for his age, Mitchell had more than 30 catches as a freshman and leads what could be one of the Terriers' deepest receiving corps ever.

Fred Sykes
Sr., Chamberlain

Sykes, who already has received Division I offers, averaged 15 yards per catch last season. He might average more this year, considering Chamberlain's balance won't allow defenses to cheat on him.

Surprise star

We'll go with Jefferson senior transfer Darrell Young, who had more than 20 catches last season at Panhandle power Jefferson County. With Williams and fellow 6-foot-3 bookend Lester Lewis on the flanks, Young, reputed to have a 40-yard dash speed of 4.39 seconds, could flourish as a slot receiver.

Top five units

1. Plant. The top two receivers are back, and apparently have someone - hyped junior Aaron Murray - who can get them the ball.

2. Jefferson. The Dragons' receivers are fleet and rangy, and Grossi looks pretty darned promising.

3. Chamberlain. With senior Justin Bell complementing Sykes, not to mention players capable of catching passes out of the backfield, the Chiefs could inflict a lot of damage through the air.

4. Hillsborough. Veteran coach Earl Garcia calls his receiving corps the fastest he has ever had at the school.

5. Robinson. The Knights unit is a sleeper pick. Coach Mike DePue likes what he sees in wideouts Herb Hogan and Imani Wade, and quarterback Justin Le is one of the county's more underrated passers.

Did you know?

Two of the county's most promising young receivers in '07 - Tampa Catholic's Christian Green and Armwood's Mywan Jackson - now are their team's starting quarterbacks.

Joey Knight, Times staff writer

[Last modified August 14, 2007, 00:37:47]