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Jesuit (FL) brings back talented, experienced group from the perfect season

Despite key losses to graduation, the Tigers will bring back stars Joquez Smith and Luke Knight from last year's 15-0 state championship team

TAMPA, FL – The perfect season, 15-0.

That’s the experience the Jesuit Tigers got from the 2021 campaign, as they ran the table and were able to defeat Pine Forest, 35-29, to win the Class 6A state championship. Winning their first state title in football since 1968 was quite the feat, but the goal isn’t to go one and done. It’s to do it all over again.

Who really can say they won’t be able to? Jesuit did lose some talented skill players like wide receivers Junior Vandeross, Jaydn Girard and safety Wade Woodaz, just to name a few. Throw in some offensive line losses like Tre’quan Alexander and Gozy Okeke, and the Tigers seem to be in trouble.

The spring game against Palmetto showed, however, that the Tigers didn’t miss a beat and they’ll have plenty to compete with some of the best teams in the state. Jesuit defeated Palmetto, 45-23, and had a big offensive performance by returning starting quarterback Luke Knight, who is coming off a strong sophomore season.

Knight ended the 2021 campaign completing 171-of-237 passes for 2,511 yards, 30 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. In the spring game versus Palmetto, Knight ended up throwing for two touchdowns before the game ended prematurely. Though he loses a couple of standout receivers, Knight will have plenty of help around him.

Junior quarterback Luke Knight is back to lead the Jesuit offense after throwing for more than 2,500 yards last fall.

Junior quarterback Luke Knight is back to lead the Jesuit offense after throwing for more than 2,500 yards last fall.

Temple commitment Joquez Smith is at running back after nearly rushing for 2,000 yards last season. Smith’s ability to keep front seven’s at their toes has Jesuit playing more of a balanced offense these days. Wide receiver Jarriet Buie (offers from Duke, Iowa, Bowling Green, Arkansas State) will be a key target for Knight after catching 32 passes for 402 yards last season. Another player that has been impressing many over the summer is running back Justin Thurman, who could see an expanded role in 2022.

Temple commit Joquez Smith is another huge offensive weapon back to fuel the Tigers.

Temple commit Joquez Smith is another huge offensive weapon back to fuel the Tigers.

The Jesuit defense is a unit that can rival mostly any throughout the Tampa Bay Area, led by linebacker Troy Bowles Jr., son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Todd Bowles. Bowles Jr. is coming off a strong junior campaign in which the outside linebacker racked up 103 tackles and three sacks. The four-star rated linebacker currently has offers from schools like Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Alabama.

Also joining Bowles on the defensive side of the ball is Drew Woodaz, younger brother of Wade Woodaz, who played safety for Jesuit last season and now is at Clemson. Woodaz projects as a linebacker on the next level and already has offers from Oklahoma, Louisville and Bowling Green to name a few. The team lost leading tackler AJ Cottrill due to graduation, but Bowles and Woodaz should be solid in the front seven for Jesuit.

The Tigers start off the preseason with Largo before facing off against Wharton on the road on August 26th. Jesuit then begins a brutal stretch in which they play Treasure Coast (Sep. 2), Columbus (Sep. 9) and then Armwood (Sep. 23). Matt Thompson’s crew will play out of Class 3A-Metro, District 5 with teams like Hillsborough, Gaither and Leto, but Jesuit projects to be the favorite to win the district.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.