It may be the fiercest debate in the history of our great land: Who is the best football player from Florida? USA TODAY Sports is celebrating the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time to honor the United States' 250th anniversary. Over the next few months, the USA TODAY Network will also 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, highlighting the trailblazers and trendsetters whose influence reaches beyond championships and statistics.This week, we're honoring stars from the football field.
As you can imagine, it was an immense task to narrow this list down to 10 players with so many legendary players hailing from the Sunshine State.These players, listed in alphabetical order, were all standouts in high school football before moving on to greater achievements in college football and the NFL.Who’s the greatest Florida high school football player of all-time?Glades Central or Pahokee? A deep dive into the Muck Bowl rivalry's all-time resultsHere are our selections for the football players who have defined the state of Florida:Derrick Brooks, defensive back, Booker T. WashingtonBefore 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 JacksonCorso 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, RainesDawkins 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, YuleeHard 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 BeachSpeaking 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, KathleenKnown 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 MyersAs 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, ApopkaBefore 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, whe