IMG ACADEMY ASCENDERS
Playing a national schedule gives IMG Academy the chance to see more different styles than most teams in the country.
So the onus is on the defense to grapple with the various offensive styles they’ll see this fall if the Ascenders are to have another dominant season that gives them a chance at the coveted, mythical national title.
And despite graduating some top-tier defenders like two-year starting defensive back Saivion Smith (LSU), IMG has reloaded with some stout talent across the defense.
Linebacker Dylan Moses is the No. 2 consensus prospect in the country for every position, while safety Isaiah Pryor and cornerback Marcus Williamson are Ohio State commits. There’s also returning defensive end Josh Kaindoh, a Maryland commit that has his pick of college suitors, and impact newcomer Taron Vincent.
Head coach Kevin Wright said they have seven new starters on defense this season, and it’s that unit that they’ll need consistency from.
“The biggest challenge is, one, to get guys to play disciplined football,” Wright said. “Play within the system ... and I think the chemistry part is coming. I think we’ve had a great offseason and actually being a boarding school, the chemistry part usually is not one of those things that you have an issue with.”
DB to watch
Isaiah Pryor, Sr.
The safety is committed to Ohio State. One of the nation’s top defensive backs, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is a consensus 4-star recruit and is ranked in the top 50 among all Class of 2017 recruits in 247sports.com’s composite rankings. Head coach Kevin Wright said Pryor is smart and has a chance to lead.
Impact newcomer
Taron Vincent, Jr., DT
The son of former NFL player Troy Vincent, the pedigree is there for Vincent as is the talent. “You need somebody that can disrupt offensive schemes and force double-teams, and I think Taron is that guy,” Wright said. Vincent is 6-3, 295. He packs a punch coming off the ball.
At a glance
Herald’s forecast: 11-1
A daunting schedule awaits the Ascenders, who are ranked No. 4 in MaxPreps’ preseason rankings. Quarterback Kellen Mond (Texas A&M) operates an offense with sublime skill players around. The offensive line’s average weight is more than any SEC program. Playmakers are everywhere on defense.
Deep at: Offensive line
Thin at: WR experience
Head coach: Kevin Wright
Career: Second season at IMG Academy, 9-0; 13th overall (197-63).
2016 schedule
A27 | at Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) |
S3 | at Centennial*** (Corona, Calif.) |
S10 | at Washington** (Tulsa, Okla.) |
S17 | St. John’s (Wash. D.C.) |
S23 | Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson |
O7 | Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) |
O13 | at West Palm Beach Oxbridge |
O21 | at Jacksonville Trinity Christian # |
O28 | at Long Beach Poly*** |
N5 | at Chaminade- Madonna% |
N12 | St. Frances^ (Baltimore) |
N19 | at Bishop Sullivan^ (Virginia Beach, Va.) |
Games start at 7 p.m. unless noted
% 1 p.m.
# — 7:30 p.m.
** — 8 p.m. in Shreveport, La.,
*** — 10:30 p.m.
^ Bowl
2015 results
Miramar W, 38-14 |
at Desoto (Texas) W, 47-29 |
Cocoa W, 49-7 |
at Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) W, 59-47 |
St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) W, 24-12 |
Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, LA.) W, 42-0 |
Paramus (N.J.) Catholic W, 28-20 |
Eastern Christian (Elkton, MD) W, 50-16 |
Triple-A (Dallas) W, 2-0* |
* Forfeit |
This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "IMG ACADEMY ASCENDERS."