Donnell Bennett has high hopes for Year 2

Year two of the Donnell Bennett era has begun for the Northeast football team.

The former Miami Hurricane and NFL running back finished 5-6 and earned a district playoff game in his first season in 2009. With a glut of talented and hungry players, the key word this spring is work.

"The discipline really lacked last year," said Bennett. "So we're really honing in on that now. We also need to focus on coaching them up."

The Hurricanes rode an aggressive defense to a 4-2 record to close last season, and defense is something they take pride in at Northeast. The core for this "black hole" unit will be in the secondary, with Noel Cesar and Aaron Stephens at safety and Timothy Green and Vovic Vosher at the corners. In the front seven linebacker Jaylan Jackson and defensive end Bryant Dubose should be problems for opposing offenses. Dubose, at 6-4, 240-lb, should have the greatest impact with his combination of size, speed and athleticism.

Depth will not be an issue for this group.

The offense is not quite as polished, but is also as deep.

"We need to match the defense's intensity on our offense this year," Bennett admits.

Sophomores Brandon Thompson and Keevis Jones will compete for the starting quarterback position, with the strong-armed Jones the likely candidate. Thompson is one of many impact players coming up from last season's junior-varsity team that went 6-3.

At wide receiver, Jeremy Glinton is the leading returner from last season's group with 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. What the group lacks in experience it makes up for with size and speed, with three possible starters all over six feet tall.

The rushing duties are expected to be split between Timonte Baker, Detron Wallace and Robert Jackson. Baker is the team's leading returning rusher from 2009, when he carried 73 times for 376 yards and three scores.

Execution of the fundamentals will be the key for Northeast to turn that corner this season, according to Bennett. "We'll see what happens when we get pads on," he said.

The Hurricanes coaching staff consists of Fred Flowers (defensive coordinator); Romanique Lewis (linebackers); Vinny Panetta (JV head coach and offensive line); Julio Martinez (quality control); Rich Peterson (defensive line); Chuck Wyche (quarterbacks) and Charles Williams (wide receivers/special teams).

Click here to order Donnell Bennett's proCane Rookie Card.



(sun-sentinel.com)