Daquan Romero

Phoebus (Hampton, VA) once again features one of the top high school football teams in the state. The undefeated Phantoms, which will take on Stone Bridge in Saturday’s Group AAA, Division 5 final, boast a top defense guided by top juniors Daquan Romero and Caleb Taylor .

In terms of 2011 class prospects, Romero and Taylor are the best of Phoebus’ group.

“Those are the two big ones,” said Phoebus head coach Stan Sexton, whose defense has given up an average of 5.85 points per game this season. “The other guys are more 1-AA or Division 2 guys.”

A starter at defensive end and tight end, the 6-2 1/2, 215-pound Romero turned in a big-time junior year.

“Daquan was Defensive Player of the Year in the district this year,” Sexton said. “I don’t know where he is ranked defensively, but I haven’t seen too many guys that play like he does. He is probably by far one of the top defensive players I’ve seen. He has had nine sacks in the past three games. He finished the regular season with 19 sacks.”

Romero primarily plays with a hand on the ground, but he does standup at outside linebacker when Phoebus runs a 3-4 set. On the next level, Sexton believes the standout junior is very likely to play linebacker. No official offers have been extended to Romero, who is drawing ACC and Big East interest.

“I don’t have anything official, but there are verbal offers,” Sexton said. “I just haven’t gotten anything through writing. The verbal offers are Maryland and West Virginia. I think when tape gets out on him, the interest will pick up. He is not a defensive end kid in my opinion. I don’t think he’ll play against a 290-pound tackle, but he plays fast, he hits…that’s what you look for. He is a prototypical linebacker.”

Romero attended Virginia’s home football game against Virginia Tech this season. Certainly, the interest from Virginia remains to be seen with new head coach Mike London transitioning from Richmond, but Virginia Tech has expressed serious interest.

“They like him,” Sexton said, referring to Virginia Tech. “They are still evaluating tape on him. We’ll see what they do. That’s pretty much the case with both guys. I’m hoping to hear back from them in the next two or three weeks.”

After a big-time sophomore season, 6-2, 230-pound Caleb Taylor has missed most of the 2009 season due to a sprained MCL. The injury does not appear to have hindered his recruitment.

Caleb Taylor

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