There is an old saying be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Last year was just the appetizer, this year is the main course.
A young but skillful Ribault team finished 6-4 last season losing to Ponte Vedra 35-32 in the second round of the playoffs. Now veterans, the Trojans, coached by Kelvin Smith, are poised for a really huge year.
Offensively the Trojans are loaded at every skill position, try to stop one guy and they have an arsenal of weapons to choose from. Part time starter senior Jhamaal Marsh (62 of 108 for 1,037 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs) takes over the quarterback position after splitting time with departed Ryan Williams.
In the backfield, the Trojans return junior Javon Williams (566 yards, 5 TDs on 98 carries) and could get some help from a pair of freshmen Chris Johnson and Martranius Mack.
Marsh will have the best duo of receivers to work with, with the return of seniors Mike McCray (31 catches for 688 yards, 6 TDs) and Kenneth Channelle (28 catches for 655 yards, 6 TDs).
Defensively, the Trojans have to replace several holes to fill including both defensive ends, but return the top secondary led by seniors USF commit Devon Matthews, Nick Garner and Jabari Jaudon.
The schedule should have the Trojans well prepared for the playoffs with non-district games against potential playoff teams Sandalwood, four time consecutive state champion Trinity Christian, Baker County, Lee and Raines.
Ribault remains in District 3-5A with games against Paxon, Stanton, Suwannee and Yulee. Under the new playoff system, only the district champion is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, however the rest of the district is eligible for wild card berths based on the new points system.
Smith and the Trojans don’t want to have to worry about the new points system though, by taking care of business on the field and securing not only the district championship but one of the top four seeds. Playing at home would be a welcome sight come playoff time for once.
2017 Schedule
Aug 17 Atlantic Coast (Kickoff Classic)
Aug 25 at Sandalwood
Sept 1 Trinity
Sept 8 at Baker County
Sept 15 at Suwannee *
Sept 22 at First Coast
Sept 29 Paxon *
Oct 6 Lee
Oct 13 OPEN
Oct 20 Stanton *
Oct 27 at Yulee *
Nov 4 Raines (2 p.m.)
MAXPREPS Roster
| 1 | Javon Williams | RB | Sr. | 5-10 | 170 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Devon Matthews | SS, FS | Sr. | 6-2 | 190 | |
| 5 | Mike Mccray | WR | Sr. | 5-11 | 180 | |
| 6 | Jhamaal Marsh | QB, WR | Sr. | 6-0 | 180 | |
| 7 | Kenneth Channelle | WR, FS | Sr. | 5-11 | 160 | |
| 8 | Rio Nelson | WR | Sr. | 5-10 | 170 | |
| 9 | Joshua Whitehead | OLB, RB | Sr. | 6-0 | 185 | |
| 10 | Darnell Wilson | MLB | Fr. | 5-8 | 165 | |
| 10 | Dagoberto Norales | MLB, OLB | Sr. | 5-10 | 210 | |
| 11 | Jabari Jaudon | CB, FS | Sr. | 6-1 | 155 | |
| 15 | Christopher Johnson | T | Fr. | 6-1 | 185 | |
| 18 | Justin Mcwilliams | WR, CB | So. | 6-2 | 155 | |
| 18 | Devin Norman | WR | Jr. | 6-4 | 185 | |
| 19 | Corey Poole jr. | FS | Jr. | 5-11 | 170 | |
| 20 | Taaron Clayton jr | CB, FS | Sr. | 5-8 | 150 | |
| 21 | Nicholas Garner | CB | Sr. | 6-3 | 173 | |
| 22 | Josh Roberts | RB | Jr. | 5-8 | 170 | |
| 24 | Jeffrey Johnson jr | FS | Sr. | 6-2 | 184 | |
| 25 | Jalen Gaines | FS | 6-3 | 165 | ||
| 26 | Tayjoun Robinson | WR, SB | Sr. | 5-11 | 176 | |
| 32 | Pernell Gray | OLB | Sr. | 5-8 | 168 | |
| 38 | Caleb Kanu | RB, SB | Sr. | 5-7 | 170 | |
| 38 | Devonte Barnett | RB, FB | Jr. | 5-8 | 165 | |
| 41 | Quarnell Madison | DT | Fr. | 6-0 | 200 | |
| 42 | John Brown | DT | Sr. | 6-2 | 215 | |
| 43 | Elijah Cunningham | DE, TE | Sr. | 6-4 | 205 | |
| 44 | Jerald Bates | DT | Jr. | 5-9 | 180 | |
| 53 | Salik Mcrae | DT | Sr. | 6-3 | 260 | |
| 56 | Julian Clark | G, T | Sr. | 6-6 | 275 | |
| 75 | Frederic Pinkney | T | Jr. | 6-1 | 236 | |
| Anthony Green | 5-9 | 136 | ||||
| Armonde Luster | ||||||
| Cdarien Fedd | 5-8 | 152 | ||||
| Chris Caster | ||||||
| Christopher Sharpe jr | 5-9 | 245 | ||||
| Cortez Martinez | ||||||
| Damian Deleston | 5-10 | 190 | ||||
| Damien Fleming | QB | 6-3 | 225 | |||
| Eddie Burroughs | SS, FS | Jr. | 5-11 | 160 | ||
| Jahkari Smothers | ||||||
| Josh Jones | SB | Fr. | 5-8 | 165 | ||
| Kendo Williams | ||||||
| Keonta Jenkins | ||||||
| Nigel Buggs | G | Sr. | 6-2 | 181 | ||
| Quarnell Masison | ||||||
| Rashamel Byers | OLB, MLB | Jr. | 6-0 | 218 | ||
| Ronald Gibson | ||||||
| Shawn Townes | 5-10 | 190 | ||||
| Timothy Bryant | ||||||
| Vincent Bailey | Fr. | |||||
| Yomone Johnson | ||||||
| Zabian Wilson | CB | Jr. | 5-6 | 156 | ||
| Zemeko Isbell | Sr. |
