Florida/California Rosters & More

For the first time in seven years the Florida/California All-Star Game will be played in the Sunshine State. The game is Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Here are the rosters and some news and notes from yesterday.

MIAMI - Three days removed from temperatures that dipped into the 40s, South Florida returned to its warmer weather mixed with scattered showers on the first day of practice for the annual Florida-California game.

After six years on the west coast, the game moves to the fabled Orange Bowl this year as Team Florida, under the direction of Tallahassee Lincoln head coach David Wilson, dodged afternoon rain to get in two full practices on Wednesday as the team prepares for Sunday’s showdown with a talented California squad.

While most members of the Florida team have been out of action for well over a month, impact perfomers like running back Antone Smith (Pahokee), fullback Kalvin Bailey (Seffner Armwood), cornerback Demetrice Morley (Miami Killian) and defensive tackle Kendrick Stewart (Lakeland) were in rare form on day one.

The California/Florida game, which has annually produced some of that nation’s elite players, will be not exception this year. The Florida squad is loaded with athletes who have been coveted by colleges throughout the nation.

First day stars included linebacker Gerald Williams (Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson), defensive lineman Jeffrey Owens (Plantation) and a defensive secondary led by Morley, but also includes Randy Phillips (Glades Central), Guesly Dervil (Jacksonville Ed White), Clarence Ward (Pensacola), Avery Atkins (Daytona Beach Mainland) and Bruce Johnson (Live Oak Suwannee).

“This is a very impressive group of defensive backs,” said Pensacola head coach Mike Bennett, who will have the pleasure of handing out playing assignments for this talented group on Sunday. “You hear all year about some of these young men, but never really see what they can do until you have them on the field.”

Bennett was also bowled over by Smith, who many believe is one of the top running backs in the nation. Sought after by over 50 colleges, Smith’s speed and running instincts have made him a prize recruit all season. In the 2B state title game against Pensacola Catholic, he put on a show by going over 300 yards.

“Antone Smith is less than three years away from the NFL,” Bennett laughed. “This kid is some kind of special.”

Bennett and Wilson were also impressed by Morley, who covered the likes of Fred Rouse (Tallahassee Lincoln) during the first day of workouts. Rouse, considered by many as the top player in the nation, found out what major college life will be like when he went up against the talented defensive secondary on Wednesday.

Here are the expected rosters for the game:

FLORIDA OFFENSIVE ROSTER
QB: Harrison Beck - Clearwater Countryside (Nebraska)
QB: Jonathan Garner - Daytona Beach Mainland
FB: Kalvin Bailey - Armwood (Iowa)
RB: Antone Smith - Pahokee
RB: Conredge Collins - Miami Pace
WR: Cedric McGee - Plantation
WR: Mike Moore - North Broward Prep (Georgia)
WR: O.J. Murdock - Tampa Middleton
WR: Fred Rouse - Tallahassee Lincoln
WR: T.J. Williams - Tallahassee Leon (Clemson)
TE: Richard Gordon - Miami Norland
OL: Christopher Barney - Miami Northwestern
OL: Quinton Brown - Orlando Edgewater
OL: Chris DeArmas - Miami Southwest (USF)
OL: Cole Harvey - Tallahassee Lincoln (Alabama)
OL: Michael Johnson - Pensacola Pine Forest (Alabama)
OL: Gordon Steele - Tallahassee North Florida Christian
OL: Eddie Tabasky - Daytona Beach Mainland
OL: A.J. Trump - Clearwater Central Catholic (Miami)

DEFENSE
DE: Kerry Bonds - Tallahassee Lincoln
DE: Ricky Jean-Francois - Carol City
DE: Neefy Moffett - Palm Bay
DE: Vladimir Richard - Sunrise Piper (Florida)
DT: Letroy Guinn - Starke Bradford
DT: Jeff Owens - Plantation
DT: Kendrick Stewart - Lakeland
LB: Eugene Hayes - Madison County
LB: Elijah Hodge - Ft. Lauderdale Dillard (Wisconsin)
LB: Eric Houston - Coral Reef (Miami)
LB: Laphonso Ruffin - Miami Booker T. Washington
LB: Gerald Williams - Boyd Anderson (Florida)
CB: Avery Atkins - Daytona Beach Mainland
CB: Guesly Dervil - Edward White
CB: Bruce Johnson - Suwannee (Miami)
CB: Tyler Roberts - Edgewater
S: Demetrice Morley - Miami Killian (Tennessee)
S: Dorian Munroe - Coral Reef (FSU)
S: Randy Phillips - Glades Central (Miami)
S: Clarence Ward - Pensacola (Alabama)
K/P: Graham Gano - Tate (FSU)

CALIFORNIA OFFENSIVE ROSTER
QB: Mark Sanchez - Mission Viejo (USC)
QB: Derek Shaw - Oceanside (Miami)
FB: Jim Miller - Venice (Mississippi State)
RB: Jeremiah Johnson - Dorsey
RB: Chris Richards - Monroe (Michigan)
RB: Lydell Sargeant - Cabrillo (Penn State)
WR: Jeremy Childs - Los Alamitos (UCLA)
WR: Desean Jackson - Long Beach Poly
WR: Gavin Ketchum - Oak Park (UCLA)
WR: Austin Usher - Jefferson
TE: Erik Lorig - Peninsula
TE: Ryan Moya - Oak Ridge (UCLA)
OL: Thomas Altieri - Vista
OL: Kevin Bemoll - Mission Viejo (Ohio State)
OL: Eben Britton - John Burrough's (Arizona)
OL: Devin Head - Centennial (Colorado)
OL: Nick Howell - Bullard (USC)
OL: Aleksey Lanis - Crenshaw (UCLA)
OL: Rodney Picou - Canyon Springs (Nebraska)
OL: Tevita Stevens - Hemet

DEFENSE
DE: Matt Kopa - Elk Grove (Stanford)
DE: Michael Shelton - Dominguez (Arizona)
DE: Averell Spicer - Rancho Cucamonga (USC)
DT: Fevaea'i AhMu - Serra (Washington State)
DT: Russell Tialavea - Oceanside (BYU)
LB: Luther Brown - Lakewood
LB: Kevin Ellison - Redondo Union (USC)
LB: Zack Follett - Clovis (CAL)
LB: Prince Hall - Moreno Valley (Alabama)
LB: Rey Maualuga - Eureka
LB: Adrian McCovey - Lakewood
CB: Syd'Quan Thompson - Grant (CAL)
CB: Robert Peele - Edison, Fresno
CB: Gardner McKay - Crenshaw
CB: Aaron Ware - Oaks Christian (UCLA)
S: Will Harris - Charter Oak (USC)
S: Shawn Oatis - Chino (UCLA)
ATH: Brandis Dew - Hemet (UTEP)
ATH: Bret Lockett - Diamond Bar
K/P: Troy Van Blarcom - Orange Lutheran (USC)