Florida preseason all-recruit, all-state football team (with a twist)

If you were putting together a dream high school football team using only the top seniors in Florida, who would be on your team?

Before you start rattling off names, think about this: Who would you pick if you could only take one player per school?

Starting to get a little trickier, huh?

We put together a team of 25 (11 offense, 11 defense, kicker, punter and one athlete) of the top recruits in the class of 2022 using two main criteria:

1. Only one player per school. That's pretty self-explanatory.

2. Positions matter. So if a player is an offensive tackle, we didn't bump them inside to guard or say "OL" just to make it easier.

Got it?

Ok. Here we go.

As a quick side note, four of the 25 players on last year’s team signed with Georgia. The Bulldogs are tied with Florida for the most committed players (three) on this year’s team.

Offense

QB: Marcus Stokes (Nease)

The past 12 months have been a whirlwind for Stokes. He helped Nease reach the regional final in 2021, balled out at the National Combine, flew up the recruiting rankings, committed to Penn State and finally flipped to Florida in July. He’s got a big arm, throws well on the run and isn’t afraid to take aim at tight windows.

More: A major flip: Nease's Marcus Stokes switches commitment to Florida from Penn State

RB: Cedric Baxter Jr. (Edgewater)

We’re only going with one running back, so we’ll take the most complete back in the state. Baxter, who committed to Texas last week, is a good enough athlete that he could play either running back or wide receiver at the next level. Last season, Baxter rushed for 1,651 yards and scored 24 total touchdowns.

OT: Francis Mauigoa (IMG)

IMG’s roster is loaded (duh!), but this was a pretty easy decision. Mauigoa arguably is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation. The Miami commit is big (6-foot-5, 330 pounds), powerful, physical and also surprisingly agile.

OG: Roderick Kearney (Orange Park)

Kearney plays tackle for Orange Park, but he’ll most likely play inside when he gets to Florida State. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder was a Times-Union All-First Coast pick last season. He’s a dominant run blocker and is solid in pass protection.

C: William Larkins (Chaminade-Madonna)

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Larkins primarily played center for the Lions’ Class 3A state championship team last fall and likely will play center or guard at the next level. The Indiana commit is very difficult to move and is strong in both the run and pass game.

OG: Bryce Lovett (Rockledge)

Lovett plays both guard and tackle for the Raiders and can was being recruited to play both positions in college. The Gators commit is 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, is a physical presence in the run game and has improved as a pass blocker.

More: 321preps Notebook: Rockledge's Bryce Lovett commits to Gators

OT: Lucas Simmons (Clearwater Academy International)

The Swedish-born Simmons is one of the most intriguing recruits in the class of 2023. The Florida State commit is athletic, stands 6-foot-8, 300 pounds and has an 82-inch wingspan. Simmons still is learning the position, but he’s constantly improving and we’re betting on his potential.

More: Florida State lands commitment from 2023 four-star offensive lineman Lucas Simmons

TE: Pearce Spurlin (South Walton)

Georgia has done a great job recruiting elite tight ends the past few years and Spurlin is next in line. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound target caught 74 passes for 1,404 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. He can line up outside, slot or as a traditional tight end. No matter where he is, he remains a matchup nightmare.

WR: Brandon Inniss (Plantation-American Heritage)

Inniss has been one of the state’s premier receivers for years, so it should come as no surprise that he’s on the list. The 6-foot, 190-pound Inniss, who is one of the jewels of Ohio State’s loaded wide receiver class, is the total package. He’s an elite route runner and competitor with great hands and does a good job of picking up yards after the catch.

WR: Jalen Brown (Gulliver Prep)

Brown is one of the fastest recruits in the nation and has no trouble stretching a defense. Brown caught 56 passes for 1,033 yards and 11 touchdowns as part of a talented and deep Gulliver offense in 2021. He could have an even bigger impact this fall.

WR: Nathaniel Joseph (Miami Edison)

Joseph certainly fits the mold of an explosive slot receiver with great ball skill who also doubles as one of the best returners in the state. The Miami commit caught 33 passes for 632 yards (19.2 yards per catch) and scored eight total touchdowns (five receiving, three special teams).

Defense

EDGE: Keon Keeley (Berkeley Prep)

The Notre Dame commit is the No. 1 edge rusher in the nation on three of the four major national recruiting ranking boards. Keeley is long (6-foot-6, 240 pounds, 7-foot wingspan) with a high motor and elite athleticism. He racked up 61 tackles, 16.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in 2021.

DL: John Walker (Osceola)

The highest-ranked UCF commit since 2000, Walker is the No. 1 rated defensive lineman in the state on the USA Today Florida Network top 100. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Walker had 77 tackles and 13 sacks in 2021 and helped the Kowboys reach the Class 8A championship game in 2020.

More: Football recruiting: Osceola four-star DL John Walker commits to UCF

DL: Jordan Hall (Westside)

Hall’s blend of size, strength and athleticism at 6-foot-4½, 300 pounds works in any defense, which is why he’s coveted by the top programs in the nation. The All-American had 34 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2021.

More: Recruiting: Top performers from the first two days of FBU Top Gun Showcase

EDGE: Damon Wilson (Venice)

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Wilson, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the top edge rushers in the nation. Wilson is the total package (fast, strong, athletic, relentless), which is why he 90 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and added an defensive touchdown in the Class 8A state championship game last fall.

More: Did Wilson score a TD vs. Apopka? Yes he did

LB: Raylen Wilson (Lincoln)

Wilson, a Georgia commit, had 139 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles in 2021 and earned All-Big Bend Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-2 Wilson is fast and instinctive, reads plays well, is a physical hitter and also has the athleticism to return kicks for the Trojans.

LB: Troy Bowles (Jesuit)

The son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, Troy is a complete linebacker who can come downhill against the run and is one of the nation’s premier linebackers when dropping into coverage. The Georgia commit has 271 career tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 10 passes defended in three varsity seasons.

LB: Lewis Carter (Tampa Catholic)

Carter is a jack-of-all-trades for Tampa Catholic, racking up 66 tackles and two sacks and rushing for 394 yards and five touchdowns last season. The 6-foot, 205-pound Oklahoma commit has good speed and can make plays all over the field.

CB: Cormani McClain (Lakeland)

McClain is No. 1 on the USA Today Florida Network top 100 and one of the premier recruits in the nation in the class of 2023. A two-time selection as the Lakeland Ledger’s Big School Defensive Player of the Year, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound McClain has 15 career interceptions.

More: Football: 9 early summer high school transfers that could impact the postseason

S: Makari Vickers (Munroe)

Vickers can do it all — and did as a two-way player at St. John Paul II last season. Vickers is a big safety (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) with elite athleticism and range. He had 69 tackles, two interceptions, defended eight passes and forced two fumbles.

More: 10 Big Bend football matchups you're not going to want to miss this fall

S: King Mack (St. Thomas Aquinas)

For a long time, it felt like the Penn State commit was going a bit under the radar but that’s not the case anymore. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Mack is an elite playmaker who always is around the ball, evidenced by his 2021 season when he had 54 tackles, four interceptions, three pass breakups, forced a fumble and recovered another.

CB: Dijon Johnson (Wharton)

Johnson, who recently decommitted from Ohio State, is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to play cornerback or safety at a high level. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder intercepted six passes in 2021 and returned four of them for touchdowns.

Special teams

K: Grant Reddick (Boone)

Reddick is the No. 3 ranked kicker in the nation by Kohl’s Kicking. The UCF commit had 51 touchbacks on 60 kickoffs in 2021. According to Kohl’s, Reddick consistently connected on field goal attempts from 60 yards during the Southern Showcase.

P: Joel McGrath (Victory Christian)

McGrath, who holds an offer from Grambling State, is a five-star and the No. 2 ranked punter in the nation according to National Kicker Ranking. McGrath averaged 34.4 yards per punt and dropped 25 percent of his punts (8 of 32) inside the 20-yard line.

ATH: Eugene Wilson III (Gaither)

Wilson gets the nod at athlete because of his ability to standout in all three phases. The 5-foot-11, 172-pound Florida commit caught 62 passes for 925 yards and seven touchdowns, had more than 400 return yards and added 23 tackles, four interceptions, five passes defended and forced a fumble in 2021.

More: High school football: Sanford-Seminole dominates, wins 7-on-7 state championship

2021 Preseason all-recruit team

More: High school football: A 2022 preseason all-recruit team using only one recruit per school

Offense

QB: Davin Wydner (Cocoa, signed with Ole Miss)

RB: Terrance Gibbs (Winter Park, Georgia State)

OT: Julian Armella (St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida State); Austin Firestone (Niceville, Northwestern)

OG: Tre’Quan Alexander (Jesuit, Rhode Island); Jeremiah Jackson (Kathleen, Eastern Michigan)

C: Chauncey Kamakea (Godby, Georgia State)

TE: Amari Niblack (Lakewood, Alabama)

WR: Jayden Gibson (West Orange, Oklahoma); WR: CJ Smith (Bishop Moore, Georgia); WR: Devaughn Mortimer (Dillard, Louisville)

Defense

EDGE: Shemar Stewart (Monsignor Pace, Texas A&M; Marvin Jones Jr. (American Heritage, Georgia)

DT: Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Lakeland, Texas A&M); Jordan Phillips (Ocoee, Tennessee)

LB: Wesley Bissainthe (Miami Central, Miami); Travious Lathan (Gulliver Prep, West Virginia); DeMario Tolan (Dr. Phillips, LSU)

CB: Jaheim Singletary (Riverside, Georgia); Cam Miller, Trinity Christian, Penn State)

S: Kamari Wilson (IMG, Florida); JaCorey Thomas (Boone, Georgia)

K: Robert Gunn III (Pinellas Park, Clemson)

P: Evan Crenshaw (Nease, Coastal Carolina)

ATH: Sam McCall (Lake Gibson, Florida State)

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Preseason Florida all-recruit, all-state football team (with a twist)