The Plant City area has no shortage of football talent. In fact, many of the best position players in Hillsborough County over the years have come from this neck of the woods.
There were many players from our area’s schools who stood out from the pack in 2016 on offense, defense and special teams. We at the Plant City Times & Observer like to give credit when credit is due, so we’re bringing back last year’s “fantasy team” idea.
It’s like being the manager of a fantasy football team, except there’s no competition in the snake draft. If you were to put together a team full of Plant City-area players, I believe these are the guys you’d want to put at the top of your board in each position of need. Because there are so many good defensive players out here, I’m picking individual linebackers and defensive backs to go with one defensive line rather than take care of it all in one move with the traditional Defense/Special Teams designation in fantasy football. As I did last year, I’m picking four linebackers as if I’m trying to fill a 3-4 defense.
OFFENSE
QB: Carlton Potter
Scoop: In 2016, Carlton Potter proved to his coaches that trusting him as a sophomore in 2015 was the right call. Durant’s signal-caller played in 10 of the team’s 11 games and finished with 1,412 passing yards, 18 touchdowns against six picks and a 62% completion rate — the best passing stats of any quarterback in the Plant City area. Potter guided the Cougars to a playoff spot through a second-place district finish and was rock-steady under center.
RB1: Treshaun Ward
Scoop: Treshaun Ward’s sophomore season was as good as that of most running backs in Hillsborough County. The younger Ward brother gained 1,082 yards on the ground with 13 scores and a whopping 9.2 yards-per-carry average. When you’ve got a guy that can come that close to getting a first down on every play, your run game is looking fine. However, he has since transferred to Tampa Bay Tech.
RB2: Cameron Myers
Scoop: Cameron Myers had a breakout junior year after initially being Durant’s platoon’s second option. The younger Myers brother gained 743 rushing yards and 175 receiving yards through nine games, scoring 12 total touchdowns and leading the team with 918 all-purpose yards. His performances shot his name up on recruiting boards and he’s looking like 2017’s top offensive player to watch heading into the season.
WR1: Brandon Myers
Scoop: Like his younger brother, 2016 was a great year for Brandon Myers. The elder Myers brother was Carlton Potter’s favorite target, leading the team with 40 receptions for 599 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also returned kickoffs and punts for Durant, perhaps most notably scoring on a kickoff return in the Redman Cup game.
WR2: Jory Cole
Scoop: Losing tight end Steven Witchoskey for much of the 2016 season could have been bad for Durant’s offense if Jory Cole hadn’t stepped up. Cole hauled in 22 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns in his junior season. His coaches are counting on him to keep up the good work in 2017 as the Cougars try to get back into the playoff picture.
FLEX: Tydre Ward
Scoop: What would Plant City have done without Tydre Ward? The elder Ward brother had been the Raiders’ most versatile weapon when he stepped onto the field in his junior and senior years. Last year, he finished with 954 all-purpose yards, led the team with 336 receiving yards and three touchdown catches and served as the team’s primary return man and secondary running back option.
OL: Durant Cougars
Scoop: In a run-heavy offense, the only thing that needs to be as good or better than the running back group is the offensive line. Durant’s group paved the way for an area-leading 1,877 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, and also did a good job keeping Carlton Potter safe in the pocket.
K: Peyton Ledbetter
Scoop: Peyton Ledbetter didn’t lead the area in field goal percentage, but no area kicker scored more points for their team in 2016. Ledbetter did his best work after team scores, hitting 37 of 42 extra-point attempts, and also handled kickoff and punting duties for the Cougars.
DEFENSE
DL: Durant Cougars
Scoop: Anchored by N.C. State-bound Xavier Lyas and team sack leader Austin Lumley, Durant’s defensive line play stood out from the pack in 2016. The front four helped the Cougars total 781 tackles — almost 200 more than runner-up Plant City — and 21 sacks.
LB1: Jake Ross
Scoop: The only area linebacker with more than 100 total tackles (105), Jake Ross captained what turned out to be the Plant City area’s most effective stop unit in 2016. Durant’s coaches had nothing but high praise for the senior captain in 2016 and say the senior left some big shoes to fill on the defense.
LB2: James Gordon IV
Scoop: James Gordon IV was one half of Plant City’s 2016 sophomore wrecking crew at linebacker and made every play count. Gordon led the team with 74 total tackles, making 8.2 per game, and notched three sacks for a total loss of 25 yards. Gordon’s 2016 season tape, coupled with a strong offseason, has caught the eye of NCAA Division I programs. He may be the best defensive player in the area in 2017.
LB3: Ashton Mincey
Scoop: Ashton Mincey’s sophomore year was also great for Plant City, as the linebacker racked up 71 total tackles and became a key component to a unit that also featured one of 2015’s top players, Steven Ogletree. It may be an understatement, but the Raiders are glad to have Mincey and Gordon back for two more seasons.
LB4: Michael Acosta
Scoop: Strawberry Crest didn’t have the best season in 2016 in any area of play, but linebacker Michael Acosta was commended by his coaches for bringing a good attitude. Acosta parlayed his 2016 campaign into a spot on Baldwin Wallace College’s football roster in 2017.
DB1: Cody Cribbs
Scoop: There are two reasons why Plant City held a 17-14 lead over Armwood at halftime in 2016: Treshaun Ward and Cody Cribbs. Though Cribbs played well throughout the 2016 season, he was excellent against the Hawks — notably preventing three touchdowns with a handful of interceptions and staying one step ahead of the offense. You don’t want to put a ball near him in 2017.
DB2: Chris Gay
Scoop: Like Cody Cribbs against Armwood, Chris Gay played well throughout the season but really shined in one game. I don’t think Durant fans are going to forget Gay’s two interceptions in the Redman Cup game, which were crucial to the Cougars’ preservation of a 16-6 lead and reservation for the playoffs.
Fun fact: Gay would later go on to win the title of Mr. Cougar in the school’s annual bodybuilding competition.
DB3: Calvin Richardson
Scoop: Calvin Richardson’s four interceptions were good for second on the team but his 70 interception return yards led the defense. Though the Raiders’ secondary is still in fine shape, the group will probably miss having Richardson around.
DB4: Tyreke Harrison
Scoop: There are many reasons why Plant City’s coaching staff is high on Tyreke Harrison heading into his junior year and his play in 2016 — 46 total tackles, two picks for 62 yards — is one. He’s expected to be a key contributor to the unit in 2017 and, as you may know from our profile of him, he’s willing to put in the work.