Video: Early Contenders presented by Shock DoctorWe set the tone for 2018 by taking a look at high school football's elite.
Head coach: Henry Russell
Last season: 13-0, No. 5 national ranking, won every game by at least 15 points.
Last decade: 60-49
Famous alumni/players: Eyabi Anoma, No. 4 overall recruit from Class of 2018, defensive end at Alabama, Jaelyn Duncan, offensive tackle at Maryland, and Randy Fields, wide receiver at West Virginia.
Star power (According to 247Sports): 5-star recruits — 2; 4-star recruits — 5; 3-star recruits — 4
Head coach Henry Russell
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— The Alabama commit is the No. 4 inside linebacker in the Class of 2019.
DE Chris Braswell (6-3, 210, Jr.) — Top rated weak-side defensive end in the Class of 2020.
OG Darrian Dalcourt (6-3, 290, Sr.) — The 4-star offensive guard has offers from Alabama, Ohio State and a handful of other big-time programs.
RB Joachim Bangda (5-10, 230, Sr.) — One of the top running backs in the DMV area, he's landed offers from Alabama, Ohio State among other programs.
DE Demon Clowney (6-4, 225, Jr.) — Jadeveon Clowney's cousin is emerging as one of the best players from the Class of 2020.
Linebacker Shane Lee
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Aug. 24 vs. Doral Academy (Fla.)
Aug. 31 vs. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
Defensive end Chris Braswell
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• Since coming from Gilman (Baltimore), Russell and Biff Poggi have transformed St. Frances Academy into one of the most successful programs over the last two years. They turned a 2-10 team into a 10-2 squad in their first season and went 13-0 last year with a No. 5 national ranking.
• The Panthers are loaded with talent, but the big question mark is at quarterback after Jalon Jones transferred back to Henrico (Richmond, Va.). The running game added one of the best players from the Class of 2020 with
Blake Corum transferring from Pallotti (Laurel, Md.). Corum, Bangda and
Osman Savage give the Panthers a big-time trio in the backfield.
• The defense will be among the best in the country even with the loss of 5-star
Eyabi Anoma, now at Alabama. Lee, Braswell and Clowney will give the Panthers one of the top front sevens in the country.
St. Francis Academy posses a wealth of outstanding skilled players.
Photo by Catalina Fragoso
