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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Our fourth annual countdown of the top 100 football players in Tampa Bay — consisting of athletes who attend a public or private school in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco or Hernando counties. Past performances — spanning the fall, spring and summer — and promise of big things to come are all taken into consideration.

By the numbers:

1,475 - All-purpose yards as a junior (941 rushing, 241 receiving, 293 kick returns)

84 - Total points scored

13 - Touchdowns as a junior

11.8 - Yards per carry

6 - Games with more than 100 yards rushing

3 - Categories in which he led the team in 2014 (total points, touchdowns, yards per carry)

Why we ranked him:

Taylor started five games at defensive tackle as a sophomore before being moved to the offensive

line, where he has become an anchor for the Mustangs the past two seasons. Now Taylor will pull double duty in the trenches. He’ll even see some time as an outside linebacker. In the spring, Taylor made his presence known on defense with a sack, a forced fumble

and recovery for a touchdown on the same play in a 62-0 win over Fivay. Taylor’s ability to play on both sides of the ball has given him more college options. He as an offer from Florida A&M as an offensive lineman and an offer from Florida International to play defense.

How has it been so far at Plant (he recently moved from Oxford, Miss.)?

“It’s been really good. They’ve been great. They brought me in and absolutely have been like brothers to me. It’s been so much fun.”

Is it exciting to join a team that’s been successful lately?

“It’s been great. They have a good reputation, and I want to be a part of it.”

If you could play a different position, what would it be?

“Probably wide receiver. Because everybody loves wide receiver. I’ve played a little tight end, but never wide receiver.”

What is something your teammates would be surprised to know about you?

“I love to read. I love the Percy Jackson series.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“I want to be a coach. Follow in my dad’s footsteps (Tom Allen is the defensive coordinator at USF). Wherever that leads me.”

Do you have a personal goal for the season?

“I want to win a state championship here and do whatever I can to help them do that.”

Why we ranked him:

With big names like Byron Cowart and Jordan Griffin headlining the Armwood defense the past couple seasons, it’s been easy to overlook Manning, who will be a three-year starter for the Hawks come August. Overlooking the brute force in the middle, however, would be a mistake for any Armwood opponent. Manning was second on the team in tackles last season behind Griffin with 111 (12 for loss), and coach Sean Callahan said he’s the strongest guy on the team. He didn’t have an interception last season, but Callahan said he wouldn’t be surprised if Manning led the Hawks in picks this time out. “His trademark is his physicality,” Callahan said. “Justin’s going to have to pick it up more to make up for all the work Jordan did.”

Five things to know about Lincoln:

1. Lincoln started his varsity career as a reserve nose guard his freshman and sophomore seasons. It wasn’t until last season, when new coach Chris Sands moved him to left tackle, that Lincoln earned a starting position. Now he plays on the offensive line exclusively. “I like it out there. I like being on the line and hitting people,” he said.

2. Lincoln went from being just another player his first two years to one college coaches are starting to notice. He has been invited to several summer camps, most recently at Southeastern University. He said he has five offers so far: Pittsburgh, Coastal Carolina, Richmond, Georgia State and Samford. “It’s crazy. I’ve been getting pulled out of class by Coach Sands because a (college) coach was here to see me. I never really thought that would happen.”

3. Lincoln has big goals for his senior season. “I would like to be an All-American but I know that’s hard to do for a lineman,” he said. “It’s not like we have stats or anything. I would also like to get some more offers from Division I schools.’’

4. In his three years at Central, the Bears have won a total of four games. They have been moved into Class 5A with new districts foes Citrus, Crystal River, Hernando, Lecanto, Nature Coast and Weeki Wachee. Lincoln hopes the switch will mean more wins for his senior year. “We have a good team, we just don’t have a lot of players,” he said.

5. Lincoln has added nearly 25 pounds since the end of his junior year and could get over the 300-pound mark by the fall. “I’ve been working hard every day this summer,” he said.

Why we ranked him:

After racking up 371 all-purpose yards and 31 tackles as a freshman kick returner and defensive back for the Crusaders, Sanders’ role was expected to get even bigger last season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Then, in Tampa Catholic’s preseason game, Sanders tore his posterior cruciate ligament, sidelining him for the rest of the year. Coach Mike Gregory is still excited about what Sanders can do on a Crusader offense that promises to be explosive, so we’re expecting a breakout season for the rising junior. “He’s as anxious as anyone out there to get ready to go,” Gregory said.

How are you liking Sickles (he transferred from Alonso in April)?

“I feel like I’m more comfortable at Sickles. I like Coach (Brian) Turner a lot. We have good leadership. I mean, the whole team bonding. We just have fun. We just feel like one big family at Sickles. That’s my favorite part.”

What is your favorite position to play on the field?

“Running back is my favorite. I feel like if I get the ball, I can do a lot of things. ...if I get the ball in my hands, I just feel like I can do a lot of stuff with it in the backfield.”

What’s your plan for after graduation?

“I’m playing in college. I’m looking at Louisville. That’s my biggest interest right now.”

What are you looking for in a college program?

“I want to major in sports medicine. So colleges, school wise, and football. (A place where) everyone wants to buy in and do big things for the program.”

What NFL player do you think you play like?

“(Pittsburgh Steelers running back) Le’Veon Bell. I tell everybody that all the time. He’s a balanced running back. He’s quick on the ball. He runs real hard. He’s fast. He’s elusive.”

What do you hope to accomplish in your last season?

“Being more of a threat on defense.”

Why we ranked him:

Bryant is 1-11 as a starter the past two seasons, but that record is deceiving. Two years ago, the Tornadoes were winless while going through a massive rebuilding stage. Last year, he helped Clearwater beat Palm Harbor University to snap the Tornadoes’ 13-game losing streak. The following week Bryant broke his collarbone and was sidelined the rest of the season. In the three games Bryant played, he threw for 642 yards, including 346 in a season-opening loss to Tarpon Springs. Now healthy, Bryant should put up big numbers with an experienced offense that returns the top two receivers, Jacquez Jones and Zach Lehman.

Scott is starting to get noticed by college coaches, and if he has the kind of junior season he expects, even more coaches will beat a path to Pinellas Park.

“I want to set the school record for sacks, which is 21,” Scott said. “And then I want to set the (Pinellas) County record for sacks, whatever that is.”

Is that even possible?

“Well, I had five sacks in the spring game (against Largo),” Scott said.

In order to have a chance, Scott feels he needs to get down to about 305 pounds. He said he has worked every day this summer, either in the weight room or on the field with his teammates, to get in better shape. He already has offers from Florida Atlantic, Navy and Southeast Missouri State.

“(Football) is all I think about right now,” said Scott, who has a 3.8 grade-point average. “I try to be the first one at workouts and the last one to leave.”

Coach Kenny Crawford has a high opinion of Scott.

“He’s the best lineman in the county, no doubt,” Crawford said. “He’s 350 pounds and he can move.”

Why we ranked him:

King’s passing game has been a bit shaky the past two seasons, but the run game has remained steady. And Williams has been a big reason for that. As a sophomore in 2013, he rushed for 599 yards and three touchdowns while adding 143 yards and another score through the air. Last season, he increased his production by 50 percent, rushing for 900 yards and seven touchdowns. If Williams keeps up the good work, we won’t be surprised if he joins the 1,000-yard club this fall.

All photos: Times files