Dade County Greats: Jacory Harris & Kenny Phillips
For the past 80 years, Miami-Dade County has produced some of the best high school football talent in Florida and in the nation. Today's college and NFL rosters are littered with athletes from The 305 including Chad Johnson (Miami Beach High) and Santana Moss (Carol City). Past greats inlcude hall of famer Larry Little (Booker T. Washington) and the late Derrick Thomas (South Miami).
But today, I've decided to make a list of the 100 greatest high school football players to ever come out of Dade. The list is based strictly on a player's high school career and accomplishments. College and pro careers do not factor in the decision making. So while Chad Johnson, Santana Moss and Derrick Thomas were great NFL players, their high school careers weren't quite good enough to make this list. There are so many great players, it's almost impossible to narrow it down to 100.
The list consists of athletes who've competed and dominated Dade football for the past eight decades. Each and every player was a great player in his respective era. Some have gone on to great college or pro careers while others have disappeared completely. To qualify, a player must make the Miami Herald's first team All-County or All-City squads. Just about every player was first team All-State and most were prep All Americans. The players are listed in alphabetical order with their school and graduation year. So, here you have it.
Dade County's 100 Greatest High School Football Players:
Tyrone Ashley - Hialeah 1988
Rudy Barber - Carol City 1989
Micheal Barrow - Homestead 1988
Mitch Berger - Coral Gables 1970
Dwayne Bowe - Norland 2003
Joe Brodsky - Jackson 1953
Eddie Brown - Miami High 1981
Lomas Brown - Miami Springs 1981
John Browning - North Miami 1992
Devin Bush - Hialeah-Miami Lakes 1991
Joe Caldwell - Miami High 1956
Vernon Carey - Northwestern 1999
Keith Carter - South Miami 1985
Jesse Causey - Central 1968
James Colzie - South Miami 1993
Neal Colzie - Coral Gables 1971
Markeith Cooper - Palmetto 1996
Darrell Cox - Edison 1960
Larry Crawford - Palmetto 1977
Craig Curry - Coral Gables 1968
Michael Dames - Miami Beach 1984
Rohan Davey - Hialeah-Miami Lakes 1997
Darren Davis - Southridge 1996
Troy Davis - Southridge 1994
Steve Diamond - Miami High 1963
Jim Dooley - Miami High 1948
Antwain Easterling - Northwestern 2007
Steve Everitt - Southridge 1988
Danyell Ferguson - Columbus 1992
Keith Ferguson - Edison 1977
Rufus Ferguson - Killian 1969
Ricky Jean Francois - Carol City 2005
Fred Frink - Miami High 1930
Derrick Gibson - Killian 1997
Max Jean-Gilles - North Miami Beach 2002
Frank Gore - Coral Gables 2001
Lamont Green - Southridge 1994
Ben Hanks - Miami High 1991
Brandon Harris - Booker T. Washington 2008
Jacory Harris - Northwestern 2008
John Harris - Jackson 1974
Mike Harrison - Coral Gables 1957
Ted Hendricks - Hialeah 1965
Alonzo Highsmith - Columbus 1983
Randal Hill - Killian 1987
Orlando Iglesias - Coral Park 1997
Lindy Infante - Miami High 1959
Sedrick Irvin - Miami High 1996
Aldarius Johnson - Northwestern 2008
Andre Johnson - Miami High 1999
Greg Jones - Edison 1986
Herman Jones - South Dade 1974
Marvin Jones - Northwestern 1990
Willie Jones - South Dade 1975
Willie Jones Jr. - Carol City 2001
William Joseph - Edison 1998
Larry Libertore - Edison 1958
David Little - Jackson 1977
Earl Little - North Miami 1992
Dieter Matthes - Norland 1967
Dennis McKinnon - South Miami 1979
Freddie Miles - Miami Springs 1980
Marvin "Snoop" Minnis - Northwestern 1996
Warner Mizell - Miami High 1926
Demetrice Morley - Killian 2005
Ralph Ortega - Coral Gables 1971
Elvis Peacock - Central 1974
Willis Peguese - Southridge 1986
Brett Perriman - Northwestern 1984
Chris Pettaway - American 1985
Kenny Phillips - Carol City 2005
Dick Plasman - Miami High 1933
Larry Rentz - Coral Gables 1965
Fuad Reveiz - Sunset 1981
Willie Roberts - Southridge 2000
George "Buster" Rhymes - Northwestern 1980
Wilmore Ritchie - Edison 1971
Antrel Rolle - South Dade 2001
Omar Rolle - Norland 1994
Samari Rolle - Miami Beach 1994
Ethenic Sands - Carol City 1998
Ted Saussele - Coral Gables 1959
Mike Shula - Columbus 1983
Jackie Simpson - Edison 1953
Barry Smith - Coral Park 1969
Bruce Smith - Miami High 1943
Tony Smith - Southridge 1981
Steve Tannen - Southwest 1966
Sean Taylor - Gulliver 2001
Michael Timpson - Hialeah-Miami Lakes 1985
Arnold Tucker - Miami High 1943
Joey Veargis - South Miami 1990
Elliot Walker - Jackson 1974
Bobby Washington - Killian 2004
Nate Webster - Northwestern 1996
Doug Wiggins - North Miami Beach 2007
Lester Williams - Carol City 1978
Pete Williams - Miami High 1945
Willie Williams - Carol City 2004
Billy Williamson - Coral Gables 1958
I deman a correction dear sir! A correction I say! Where is the Fawzy Zablah? Where is tha legend of Palmetto Sr. High School! THAT GREAT PANTHER!
ReplyDeleteThis is blasphemy my dear sir! BLASPHEMY I SAY! I declare shenanigans in this pole!
ReplyDeleteaww man thats neat. Keith Carter is my pops. Im Keith Carter II, u can check out my offensive highlight at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nclaynationvideo.com/website/Keith_Carter_Player_Page_.html
Derrick Smith of Miami Sr. High , who still holds the longest touchdown in the Orange Bowl . It was a 98 yard touch down catch and run in the a semi-state finals football game against Sarasota Riverview.Besides that, he's one of the best running back ever that came out of Miami High.He deserve much props and he's a legend.
ReplyDeleteHow do u leave off Dolphin Great and Edison grad Nat Moore!
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteAlso Cory Baker, Miami Edison
Deletei being coaching football in miami-dade county for about 18 years and you forgot some great players such as darren mickell from miami high, travaris robinson from cp, pete gonzalez from cp,fred nixon from carol city, barry robinson from jackson
ReplyDeleteI totally agree
DeleteI totally agree
DeleteI totally agree
DeleteI totally agree
DeleteMiami beach sr high class of 97 defense was rank # 2 in dade county. U for got them
DeleteWht about Mitch green
DeleteWhat about Superstar Defensive lineman Greg Sheffield from North Miami High, 1985. A dominating football player, who was first team ALL-State for the pioneers, Dades most feared defender he registerd over 100 tackles as a Defensive end, Tackle and Noseguard,North Miami had to move him around so that teams couldnt just game plan to run away from him.His coach, Larry Ball a former Miami Dolphin who played on the 1972 Superbowl Championship team called him "The most Dominant player that I have ever coached on this level" at North Miami.He signed with the University of Cincinnati won a starting job as a freshman and then severly blew out a knee. He was a player of national prominance.
ReplyDeleteI remember my old team mate Greg, he was a dominant player, good times. I played running back the same year.
DeleteHow do you leave out the great Jermaine Mays Miami Dade County's All-Time single season and career record holder for yardage???? Huh No Nat Moore? No Jaquay Nunnally? The reciever and Quarter back tandom from Coral Gables That broke Jermaine Mays' record and Rohan Davey's record? Tico Brown Not Just Dade County But Florida's Single Season Record Holder for Intereceptions and Magi Benton You Do Not Know Your History!!
ReplyDeleteTbrown out of Miami Carol City
DeleteHow do you leave out the great Jermaine Mays Miami Dade County's All-Time single season and career record holder for yardage???? Huh No Nat Moore? No Jaquay Nunnally? The reciever and Quarter back tandom from Coral Gables That broke Jermaine Mays' record and Rohan Davey's record? Tico Brown Not Just Dade County But Florida's Single Season Record Holder for Intereceptions and Magi Benton You Do Not Know Your History!!
ReplyDeleteHow do you leave out the great Jermaine Mays Miami Dade County's All-Time single season and career record holder for yardage???? Huh No Nat Moore? No Jaquay Nunnally? The reciever and Quarter back tandom from Coral Gables That broke Jermaine Mays' record and Rohan Davey's record? Tico Brown Not Just Dade County But Florida's Single Season Record Holder for Intereceptions and Magic Benton and many record holders that were missed Then You said Santana Moss H.S. career wasn't enough, ARE YOU SERIOUS? Maybe you didn't live in Miami I saw Santana Moss Play and he did pure destruction @ Miami Carol City leading them to a State Title. And this is Coming from a Person Who hates MCC but I give props where they're do, and What about Lawrence Wright North Miami SMH You Do Not Know Your Miami-Dade County High School Football History!!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!!!! PREACH
DeleteI hate to keep beating a dead horse on an old subject but what about the great Brian Grease- Columbus and Nahjai Davenport-Miami Central
ReplyDeleteTrelle
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. A list like this is almost impossible to put together. This is no insult to Jermaine Mays. He was great. I know about him and remember him.
Santana Moss only played one year for Carol City. He was great. But he was more of a track standout. Brian Griese wasn't even a first team All Dade QB. He was beaten out by Darryl Heidelberg who is now the head coach at Norland.
Everybody has an opinion and I respect yours. But if you're unhappy with the list, why don't you make your own. Let's see how it turns out.
LOL Mine probably would be great. I didn't mean to come off as disrespecting your list I was just baffled at first because It was missing some record holders. I do realize that some eras stick out to others differently. No disrepect.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Mitch Green from Maimi Springs or Ricardo Preston from Hialeah... If college and Pro careers didn't factor in why is Santana Moss on the list not to knock him but he made third team all dade his Sr. yr at Carol City which barely threw the ball anyway.. Ijs atleast the players should be first team all dade to make the list
ReplyDeleteJEAMILLIO LEWIS, MIAMI JACKSON 1995
ReplyDeleteMARVIN "SNOOP" MINNIS, MNW, 1996
LEE CORSO, MIAMI JACKSON
EUGENE HUNTER, MIAMI BEACH, 1970'S
LARRY HUNTER, MIAMI BEACH, 1970'S
SEAN KEY, MIAMI AMERICAN 1994
TEAKO BROWN, CAROL CITY, 1995
TAVARES CAPERS, MIAMI JACKSON
TYRONE BUTTERFIELD, MIAMI CENTRAL
DEVONTA FREEMAN, MIAMI CENTRAL
What about Rashad Armstrong from Hialeah Miami Lakes c/o 98. Kept teams from playing pass coverage on Rohan Davey. Clearly one of the best QB and RB duo.
ReplyDeleteDude, what about southridge standouts Roman Nelson, Harvey Reid, Jammeel Cook etc. SouthRidge in the 80's and 90's could make up a quarter of that list. Oh Sedric Irving among others.
ReplyDeletewhat about elvis dumerville miami jackson and darren mickell miami high....wow
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be all nfl big names
Deletewhat about elvis dumerville miami jackson and darren mickell miami high....wow
ReplyDeletealso tutu atwell mmiami high
ReplyDeleteHe went to Northwestern but yeah he should be on the list for sure
DeleteWhat about Robert Strap Iron Sanford or Jerry Seymour and Gleen sharpe
ReplyDeleteWhat about Robert Strap Iron Sanford or Jerry Seymour and Gleen sharpe
ReplyDeleteHerb Rich of Miami Beach High in the 1940's was one of the greatest ever. He was an all SEC tailback at Vanderbilt and later became a two-time All-Pro for the Los Angeles Rams. He was one of the best kick and punt returners of his era, and his rookie NFL punt return record of 23.0 per return might still stand. It was being threatened by Patrick Peterson. I don't know if Peterson broke it. For those with under 75 punt returns, Rich's record might still be the NFL's best.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Miami Edison class of 89' Jocelyn Borgella FS All dade in football LEAD county in INT (8) and Won State 4*100 relay track. First Haitian to be drafted 6 Round in the 1994 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions. I am Jocelyn Borgella and i think am Dade County's 100 Greatest HS player of all time.
ReplyDeleteYour right hometeam you should have made this list!!!
DeleteI played against ur team. Steacy Moore3 & KevinBennet18 should of made the top 100
DeleteWhat about roell preston from hialeah high?
ReplyDeleteRoc Preston
DeleteChad Johnson Miami Beach high. 1996
ReplyDeleteWhat about Randy Mccray, Antron Wright,Terrence Carter.
ReplyDeleteLorenzo Johnson #5 American High School was the hardest hitting DB IN 1996.
ReplyDeleteKelvin Johnson, homestead high c/o 2002, 1st all state and all dade, as well as the grier twins! Give homestead some love
ReplyDeletePeter Athas Miami Edison all city, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, defensive back.
ReplyDeleteRobert Marsh Northwestern High, Detroit Lions.
Larry Rentz Coral Gables quarterback national champions.
Defensive back Atlanta Falcons.
uh, Reggie Kinlaw, Miami Springs?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMelvin Bratton, Derrick Thomas!
ReplyDeleteYou put Dieter Matthes, Norland 1967 and left out the guy who threw to him, Jackie Holmes? C'mon get serious.
ReplyDeleteDo you know where Dieter and Jackie went to college? I knew them back in the day.
DeleteDieter went to Miami.
DeleteALFONZO MORGAN CAROL CITY ALL-DADE 2years straight OL-DL-PUNTER. 1994
ReplyDeleteFREEMAN BROWN CAROL CITY 1993 #1LINEMAN IN THE COUNTRY
TEAKO BROWN CAROL CITY 1994 safety
RICARDO PRESTON HIALEHA 1993 RB
What happened to the great Robert Williams from South Dade high! Look him up!
ReplyDeleteIf It's The Same Robert Williams ( Basketball Player) He Went To South Miami..We Called Him Cheese or Rob Lee..
DeleteNo Rohan Marley or Godfrey Myles? I guess you don't appreciate good LB play.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tim Paulk, Darrin Smith
DeleteWally Piper - Miami High class 1950
ReplyDelete#2 antonio brown duece miami central should be here
ReplyDelete#2 antonio DUECE brown should be here
ReplyDeleteantonio brown should be #1 widereciever from dade county kick/return and punt return tripple tripple threat
ReplyDeleteOne notable omission; Marcus Forston. He was the best player on that 2007 Northwestern team. Most talented for sure.
ReplyDeleteDnt forget about Northwestern Torrie Cox, Jermell & Jerrell Weaver and tht boy Lynden Trail frm Booker T. Washington
ReplyDeleteWhat? Not one player from the 1965 Miami High mythical National Champs. Beat Larry Rentz and Coral Gables in front of about 53,000 people in the Orange Bowl that still has to be an attendance record for a High School game
ReplyDeleteI one the great I use to watch coming up that I wanted to be like was dt Derrick Thomas south miami
ReplyDeleteJerome Brown, Michael Irvin.
ReplyDeleteJerome Brown, Michael Irvin.
ReplyDeleteMike Morris Miami Beach high school
ReplyDeleteNeal Stayton MHS 1986 for sure
ReplyDeleteNeal Stayton MHS 1986 for sure
ReplyDeleteDontrell Taylor 1997......first to 2000 yards Miami Jackson, I see Mays and capers up here. No love for the qb?????
ReplyDeleteDontrell Taylor 1997......first to 2000 yards Miami Jackson, I see Mays and capers up here. No love for the qb?????
ReplyDeleteDontrell Taylor 1997......first to 2000 yards Miami Jackson, I see Mays and capers up here. No love for the qb?????
ReplyDeleteWHO CAME UP WITH THIS LIST? YA'LL MUST NOT HAVE BEEN COVERING BLACK HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE LATE 50'S AND 60'S. EUGENE WHITE, "WHITEY". AN OUTSTANDING RUNNING BACK...ALSO PLAYED ON COACH JAKE GAITHER'S (FAMU) TEAM= 57-61??
ReplyDeleteWhat about Neal Walk, Miami Beach HS, Lewis Pytel, Columbus and Jay McCoy Southwest....
ReplyDeleteDarrin Smith from Norland. Play both ways never came out the game. Offenselineman and linebacker. Also, Tim Paulk and Godfery Miles. The best tandem linebackers in high school from Carol City.
ReplyDeleteKary Baker QB At Edison On That Locally Iconic Undefeated State Championship Team Of 1970.Wilmore Ritchie And Nat Moore Were Also On That 1970 Team. Kary Baker & Wilmore Ritchie Went On To Play At The University Of Miami, While Nat Moore Went To Junior Colloge And Later The Gators - Dolphins
ReplyDeleteJerome Brown is not from Dade.
ReplyDeleteNeil Walk did not play football.
Dieter went to UM.
ReplyDeleteProbably should be broken down every five years (much like popular music should!). Prior to
ReplyDeletethe advent of You Tube and other video sources, it's almost impossible to really get a good
look at the magnificent talent that came from Dade County (I will never refer to it as Miami-
Dade County Ha!!). Statistics obviously tell a good story, but, you really don't know how
tough (as a whole) the competition was for each given season. Remember, this is a team sport,
and some players may not have dominated without the crew around them...
last comment by Jim Sweeney. My four older bros all attended Norland from 1966 to 1976. in 1971, they had a tremendous team (losing to Ft Pierce Central)in the playoffs. A lot off good players, but a GREAT team !!
ReplyDeleteStacy Moore....Kevin Bennett...Edison
ReplyDeleteI see that some of the private school guys didn’t receive any love. Tony Hall (Pace 1993 QB/Safety/punt returner)and Antwain (Dade Christian 1993 RB) and Alvin Slaughter (Pace WR 1993) are some names to think about!
ReplyDelete������ TONY HALL FIREMAN #BLAZE
ReplyDeleteScott Park legend...i like that..spent many summer days running around that park '70-'74..good conversation everybody here..so many great athletes...lots of pride for their homeboys..good job
ReplyDeleteJeff Taylor Miami Northwestern class of 93 was one of the best to ever play in Dade. Hands down!!..
ReplyDeleteROSCOE PARRISH didn’t make the list? That’s like Allen Iverson not making the hof.
ReplyDeleteMichael Frederick hands down at QB for Miami Killian c/o 81 & that '81 team was #1 in state of Florida, had the #1 offense & #1 Defense with Michael Frederick ending up as Player Of The Year in the state of Florida !!!
ReplyDeleteAll that sounds great but what about the Legend Theodist Grimes from Edison high WR 1983 football & track all dade all American WEDR athlete of the year 2nd best WR in dade statistically.
ReplyDeleteThere are players like John Neilson who should be on this list from Miami Senior High and more. The football teams of the 1960’s were National Champions and State Champions a number of times.I don’t see how players like Larry LaPoint were overlooked.Who ever made the list need to go back and do some more research.
ReplyDeleteYou all must of forgot about REGGIE SUTTON best all around athlete
ReplyDeleteHave you forgotten Frank Bouffard, the great fullback for the unbeaten Edison team in '57/'58 season? Went on to star at UM! Many other greats on that team= Larry Libitore, Dale Sanders, Wayne Coleman,Larry Travis, just to mention a few. One of the greatest teams in Florida HS history!
ReplyDeleteGreg Collier from Palmetto
ReplyDeleteBrock Marion from Miami Lakes
Former wideout for The U Of L opposite Carl Williams hand down Theo Grimes should be here so much talent.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Bryan Griese from Columbus, Duke Johnson from Norland,Tutu Atwell from Miami High, Cainon Lamb from Norland, Magic Benton from Northwestern, Nathaniel Brooks from North Miami, Robert Sanford from Carol City, Sean Key from American High, Amari Cooper from Northwestern, Antonio Bryant from Northwestern, Dalvin Cook from Central, Devonta Freeman from Central... c'mon son!
ReplyDeleteDerrick Thomas KC NFL ALL Star..!! HOF NOT on The LIST- He Went to SOUTh MIami
ReplyDelete