He’s now in his second year leading the program. His mission: Return Manatee to prominence.
Last season was an anomaly for Manatee High, a program steeped in tradition and accustomed to deep postseason runs. The Hurricanes settled for a 5-4 record and a first-round playoff ouster, 44-16 at Kissimmee Osceola.
Making the playoffs could be labeled as somewhat miraculous considering the adversity the team faced in 2017. Head coach Yusuf Shakir was not hired until late in the spring, there were no 7-on-7 tournaments to allow skill players to come together and the team’s most dynamic player suffered a midseason injury.
“As a whole, it was really interesting,” downplayed Shakir, who in 2010 coached Tallahassee Lincoln to a state championship. “I didn’t have spring practice with them, then I had to build a whole new coaching staff.”
There is, however, no looking back for Shakir, the first African-American head coach at Lincoln (his alma mater) and Manatee. He took over a program that made the playoffs in three of former coach John Booth’s four seasons. Booth departed for a financial advisor position.
Shakir, who also led Lincoln to a state runner-up spot in 2012, has his sights set on what would be a sixth state title for Manatee.
Although that is not likely to happen with the current team, he did say that the program is headed in the right direction, noting that more than 90 players have come out compared to last season’s turnout of about 40 players.
“It feels very different,” he said of the positive vibes at this year’s preseason practices. “I know the kids a little bit more. We’re doing a whole lot more with the kids and putting them in position to win.”
As for a deep playoff run for the Hurricanes, Shakir surmised, “I think we have a good shot. We’ve got to stay healthy and we’re still very, very young. We started five freshmen last year. They got some experience, but they’re still young.”
That said, there are more than a dozen returning starters who surely will be counted on to lead Manatee to the playoffs, but deep into the postseason as well.
What to watch for in 2018
The optimistic outlook shared by Shakir, his assistants and the players hinges, in part, on how well two key transfers will fare now that they are donning the Hurricanes’ uniform.
Quarterback Anthony Squitieri, who last season played at Punta Gorda Charlotte, and edge rusher Ryan Ives, from Out-of-Door Academy, give Manatee potential game-breakers on both sides of the ball.
Squitieri, a senior drop-back passer who threw for 205 yards and five touchdowns while splitting time last season, could share some time as the signal-caller with dual-threat Keyon Fordham.
The senior made quite an impact last year by combining for 822 yards (rushing, passing and receiving) with nine touchdowns before suffering a dislocated elbow in the sixth game of the season.
“We’re going to play both of them to give defenses a different look,” the coach said. “They’ve got to get ready for two different-style quarterbacks.”
Ives, who at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds can line up on the end up front and at linebacker, had 13.5 sacks last season and can run a 4.8 40-yard dash.
What can go right
Squitieri settles in as the starting quarterback and is occasionally spelled by Fordham, who excels at wide receiver.
The Hurricanes have an explosive offense with numerous weapons that include wideout Wes Coleman, along with running backs Irone Jackson and Napoleon Harris.
“I’m looking forward to getting that connection with Keyon,” Squitieri said. “He’s a special athlete.”
On defense, Ives adds to a solid linebacking corps led by Brandon Dossey and Ethan Walz, who combined for 113 tackles in 2017.
What can go wrong
The backfield might be hard-pressed to replace numbers similar to 2018 graduate Joshua Booker’s 727 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
If Squitieri has trouble connecting with the backs and receivers, Fordham might have to move back to quarterback, which would take away some of the offense’s versatility.
The secondary of Frank Waiters and the Clermont twins, Malik and Malcolm, must be able to uphold their end as the last line of defense behind a formidable front seven.
Difference-makers
On offense, it’s the multiple weapons that will allow Shakir to drive defenses crazy with numerous looks.
The arrival of Squitieri is nice, but Fordham proved last season that he is the playmaker defenses fear the most.
Someone who could make the difference in close games is returning kicker Axel Lepvreau, a junior who contributed 41 points last season, a number that included two field goals with 35 being his longest. Look for those numbers to increase this year.
With Ives, along with Quintan Roux and Quinton Rome, clogging up running lanes and chasing quarterbacks, look for Dossey, Walz and fellow linebacker Justin Porter to rack up their share of tackles.
The last word
“It’s a great tradition, a great atmosphere. The energy here’s a lot different. Whatever it takes to win, I want to win.” — Squitieri
Manatee’s 2018 schedule
Aug. 24 at Lakeland, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 vs. Palmetto, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 at Braden River, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Lithia Newsome, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Lutz Steinbrenner, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. Tampa Alonso, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Palm Harbor University, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 vs. Sarasota Riverview, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Hillsborough Riverview, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Venice, 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published August 17, 2018 at 2:13 PM.