Who is the best football player from Florida?
Let the debate begin.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
First we are going to take a look at athletes in their individual sports.
Here are the stars of the gridiron, including one Southwest Florida great. These are our selections for the football players who defined Florida. The 10 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before moving on to even greater heights at the collegiate and professional levels.
We even saved a spot for you to write-in a candidate that we may have overlooked or that you feel strongly about.
Derrick Brooks, defensive back, Booker T. Washington
Before becoming a superstar at Florida State and the NFL, Brooks was an all-everything defensive back at Washington High in Pensacola, where he helped his school reach the 5A state title game as a junior. Brooks was named the USA TODAY national defensive player of the year. He went on to help revolutionize the linebacker position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Lee Corso, quarterback/cornerback, Miami Jackson
Corso moved to Miami as a child and at Andrew Jackson High School, he became a star, mostly as a quarterback. An All-State performer in football and baseball, Corso weighed signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers out of high school or playing football at Florida State. He picked the latter, helping put FSU on the football map as the Sunshine Scooter. Later went on to coach college football and become a preeminent voice on ESPN.
Brian Dawkins, defensive back, Raines
Dawkins may have made more noise on the basketball court than the football field at Raines High School, where he helped the Vikings win a state basketball title. But the man eventually known as Weapon X did not let his otherwise undersized stature deter him. He worked his way to a scholarship at Clemson and then to the NFL, where he became a Hall of Fame safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Derrick Henry, running back, Yulee
Hard not to include the man to set the national high school rushing yards record at 12,124 yards. Henry is perhaps still the most feared running back in the NFL, so imagine trying to tackle him coming out of the backfield at Yulee High. Not many were able to, as Henry hit the end zone for 153 rushing TDs in his high school. The success kept coming for Henry, who went on to win the 2015 Heisman Trophy and two rushing titles in the NFL.
Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Boynton Beach
Speaking of Heisman Trophy winners, Jackson may have only played two years of high school football, but was already a viral sensation before he earned his diploma. In his time at Boynton Beach, he amassed 2,263 yards passing and 31 touchdowns, along with 1,624 yards rushing and 22 more scores. Since then, he’s one of nine men to win the Heisman Trophy (2016) and NFL MVP (2019, 2023).
Ray Lewis, linebacker, Kathleen
Known for his all-time high intensity and standard-bearing play at linebacker, Lewis’ career began as a football star and state-champion wrestler at Kathleen High in Lakeland. During his high school days, Lewis accumulated over 200 tackles to go with 10 sacks and eight interceptions, drawing the notice of the University of Miami, where he almost immediately impacted the Hurricanes. During his 17-year Pro Football Hall of Fame career, he was the heart and soul of two Baltimore Ravens championship teams.
Deion Sanders, quarterback/defensive back, North Fort Myers
As he did during his professional playing days, Sanders did it all at North Fort Myers, lettering in football, baseball, basketball and track and field. In a state of incredible athletes, Sanders may still be one of the all-time best. Though he wasn’t heavily recruited, he turned down a contract from the Kansas City Royals to join Florida State, where the world began to learn about Prime Time, who went on to play in a World Series, win two Super Bowls, reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame and now coach college football.
Warren Sapp, tight end/linebacker, Apopka
Before becoming one of the NFL’s greatest defensive tackles, Sapp was more than a handful at Apopka as a tight end, linebacker and punter (who had a 40-plus-yard average). A double-double machine in basketball, he had 14 touchdown catches and 52 solo tackles as a senior. He also lettered in track before joining Miami for college, where he switched positions en route to becoming a Hall of Fame defensive tackle.
Emmitt Smith, running back, Escambia
Before winning three Super Bowls as the focal point of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty, Smith was the star on his high school football team in Pensacola. He led Escambia to two state championships (1984, 1985) and rushed for 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns in his four seasons. As a senior, he was named the USA TODAY national player of the year. It was a bit of foreshadowing for the eventual NFL all-time leading rusher and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Tim Tebow, quarterback, Nease
Though he was homeschooled, Tebow put Nease High School on the map, winning Florida Player of the Year twice. While a broken leg ended his junior season early, he was still able to set the state record with 4,286 passing yards. As a senior, he helped Nease win the 4A state title, accounting for a then-record six touchdowns, and set state records for passing yards, total yards and total touchdowns in a high school career. That dual-threat success continued at Florida, where he helped the Gators win two national titles, winning the 2007 Heisman Trophy.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Who’s Florida’s all-time football player? VOTE for Sunshine State’s best
Reporting by Ed Reed, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
