Back in the 1960s and 70s, some of the best football talent in Broward County found its way to one of the top programs around - Fort Lauderdale High.

While the population grew and many new schools started to pop up away from the city, the Flying Ls struggled to stay in the football spotlight.

Even though the program still managed to turn out prospects and field competitive teams, the community school that helped to shape the City of Fort Lauderdale for so many decades found itself on the outside, looking in when it came to the playoffs and the spotlight.

When Richard Dunbar took over the program last year, he vowed to bring this program back to where it once was. While the optimistic talk was greeted with skepticism from around Broward County, the core group of athletes who had put in hours and hours at practices, workouts and camps and combines started to buy into what Dunbar wand his staff were trying to do.

One of the players who has the ability to help turn the program around, receiver Kolby Gray (5-11, 170), was one of the first to echo what Dunbar said about the program. The gifted athlete understood that if everyone on the team worked hard, positive results would follow.

“The prestige of playing for one of the most historic programs in this city is an honor that I believe people have taken for granted for too long,” Gray explained. “I’m sure that people will start to find out that we have some quality athletes and outstanding coaches.”

The coaching staff have devoted the time and effort in teaching and exposing the athletes Fort Lauderdale has. Not just Gray, but some promising football players who have proven that they are ready to make those sacrifices needed to improve.

In addition to Gray, rising senior expected to make an impression in 2011 includes talented three-year performer Kemry Nelson. The two-way lineman has the size (6-2, 245) and the talent to help lead the Flying Ls.

The rising senior class also boasts Jordan Clarke (WR, 6-2, 188), Emmanuel Smith (LB/OC, 5-11, 216), Jarvis Butler (SS, 5-10, 170) and Randolph Black (RB/LB, 5-11, 200).

If the senior class is going to lay down the groundwork for the future, the underclassmen are also going to be vital in the process.

Class of 2013 prospect Adrian Baker (WR, 6-1, 155), Rashawn Pascal (WR, 5-11, 145), Jarrid Boggan (6-1, 155), Kenja James (RB, 5-9, 165), Herbert White (DB, 5-7, 173), Jeron Portl (LB, 6-0, 190) and Derrick Warren (WR, 5-11, 175) have also been quality football players.

Even incoming freshman (Class of 2015) Darrell Beard (OL/DL, 6-0, 264) is also in the plans for the future.

“We have a number of kids who continue to get better and improve,” Dunbar said. “It’s all about willing to make sacrifices to get better.”

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at Floridakids1@hotmail.com. Blustein is the co-host of the High School Gridiron Show each Wednesday night from 9-10 on WQAM (560 AM) or www.wqam.com.

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