Prep football: Star transfers Carter, Townsend raise expectations at Palmetto Ridge

Even if Palmetto Ridge hadn’t added two of the best high school  football players in the area during the offseason, this still would be a highly-anticipated spring for the Bears.

About 90 players took to the practice field behind Palmetto Ridge on Monday, the first day the FHSAA allows spring football practice. The two newest players – Lely transfer Jacquez Carter and Gulf Coast transfer DeMarcus Townsend – drew attention in the offseason.

However, the Bears need all 90 to work together to erase the disappointment of last year and re-bottle the lightning that coach Chris Toukonen brought in his first season in 2015.

“We’re all focused on doing work,” Townsend said. “(The returning players) have a lot of chemistry. Me and Jacq have a lot of chemistry. It will take a few days for us all to come together, but we’re working on that bond.”

Carter was the best player in Collier County last year, at least according to area coaches. The quarterback won the voting for the Daily News’ Broxson Trophy award after leading the county in passing (1,719 yards) and finishing fourth in rushing (1,019).

Townsend rushed for 729 yards at Gulf Coast last season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. In the offseason he picked up scholarship offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, UCLA and Arkansas.

Prep football: Lely star quarterback Carter appears to be transferring to Palmetto Ridge

The addition of Carter and Townsend, who expects to start at running back and defensive back, has the Bears energized. But Palmetto Ridge already had a chip on its shoulder after going 3-6 this past fall.

The losing record came after the Bears set a school record by going 8-3 in 2015, Toukonen’s first season as head coach after coming from state powerhouse Cocoa. Palmetto Ridge also made the playoffs that year for the second time in the school’s 13-year history.

“We’re pumped,” third-year starting linebacker Evan Gonzalez said about 2017. “We’re putting in the time and effort to have a good year. We have a much more experienced offense this year.”

Prep football: Standout running back DeMarcus Townsend transfers to Palmetto Ridge

Carter and Townsend have been enrolled at Palmetto Ridge for a few months. Townsend’s family moved near the school in early January. Carter started at the school in February but wouldn’t discuss his transfer with the media at the time.

At Monday’s practice, Carter said his transfer was about education as much as it was about athletics.

Carter said he was having trouble academically at Lely, and he felt Palmetto Ridge was a better fit. The deciding factor came when his dad, Allen Carter, was let go as Lely’s offensive coordinator in the offseason and hired for the same position at Palmetto Ridge.

“It’s a fresh start, which is always good,” Carter said between drills Monday. “It’s something new. I really want to build chemistry for this fall and just go out there and compete.”

Prep Football: Lely QB Jacquez Carter wins Broxson Trophy as area's best player

Carter and Townsend will add some punch to a team that lost its final six games last season.

The Bears threw for 1,124 yards and ran for 961 in nine games last season. Starting quarterback Ken Geiger graduated but leading rusher Cristian Torres (730 yards) will be a sophomore next season. Torres will be with the school’s baseball team for at least the next two weeks.

Palmetto Ridge returns five of its six starting offensive linemen (including tight end), which should benefit Townsend and Torres.

Toukonen is excited to add Carter and Townsend, but also Allen Carter as offensive coordinator. Last season the head coach had just one offensive assistant and called the plays himself.

Though he recognizes the potential of his new transfers, Toukonen said the additions won’t make the Bears any better unless everyone improves from last season.

“Football is a team sport,” Toukonen said. “One person doesn’t make that big of a difference. They’re going to have to blend into our team. They’re talented kids, but they need to buy in to our program.”

SPRING GAMES

Thursday, May 18

Miami-Carol City at Immokalee, 7 p.m.

Bishop Verot at St. John Neumann, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 19

South Fort Myers at Barron Collier, 7 p.m.

Estero at Golden Gate, 7 p.m.

Sarasota at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Palmetto Ridge, 7 p.m.

Naples at St. Petersburg, 7:30 p.m.

Lely at North Fort Myers, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 26

Village Academy at First Baptist, 7:30 p.m

(Marco Island Academy and Community School will not play spring games)