Heating Up: Dr. Krop Lightning

SFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

When he took over the head football job before the spring at Dr. Michael Krop High School, veteran Mike Farley didn't want to hear about the other schools that have a chance of winning the district this season.

What he was all about was the Lightning.

With a number of coaching stops along the way, including power Fort Pierce Central, Farley learned that if you take care of business at home, there is really no need to worry about the other programs. That he has talked about since taking the position.

What Farley does inherit from longtime head coach David Hudson are some top prospects. Perhaps enough to challenge North Miami Beach and North Miami for that elusive playoff spot, but Farley knows that the work ahead of this team will determine if they are playing past early November.

"When we took over this program, I told the players that we will work and learn," Farley said. "We told them that everyone out here has to step up and make a commitment to this program and each other."

While talk is always good at the start, the players responded to what Farley told them from the start. There was more focus on getting better and putting in the work.

The one prospect who may be the face of this new program is receiver Randall St. Felix. While there are other standouts - including junior running back Lawrence Papillon and senior quarterback/tight end standout Matthew Bethel (6-foot-2, 230 pounds), it was St. Felix who made the most of the offseason.

As most were quick to find the negatives of the "satellite camps", which took hold this past offseason, St. Felix became an instant fan when the University of South Florida held one of the events right next door to the school at Ives Park. The result from that two-hour showcase camp made this gifted receiver/safety very happy.

"They (USF) and Coach (Willie) Taggart offered me like an hour after the camp," St. Felix recalled. "That was the first offer and came directly from the satellite event."

In the coming weeks, St. Felix would visit USF, impress again and then make his commitment. Stories like that appear to be unfolding on a team that really has some impressive prospects.

Among the other veteran players who have a chance to help this program turn the corner include four-year starting lineman Jordany Bruny, junior outside linebacker Francky Jean Louis and junior safety Dovran Ellington, who have also turned heads.

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
2018 – Christopher Brown, DT
2019 – Steve Ferere, QB
2017 – Bryan Francois, OL
2017 – Andrew Fraser, CB
2018 – Christopher Fuzeme, DB
2019 – Eddie Gabriel, WR
2017 – Justin Korakakos, WR
2017 – Mark Lesperance, OL
2020 – Chris Manzini, OL
2018 – Dejaun Riley-Mosley, SS
2017 – Jeremy Polidor, OC
2017 – Pablo Salaverra, PK
2019 – Daniel Simon, DT
2019 – Emmanuel St. Germain, LB
2019 – Timothy Williams, FS
2017 – Javier Zamudio, LB