High School

Florida high school football: Winter Park releases 2025 spring practice schedule

The perennial power Wildcats open practice on April 28, conclude drills with a game against Dr. Phillips on May 15

Jeff Gardenour

Winter Park rising senior athlete EShawn Sutton, a Syracuse commit, will lead a deep and talented Wildcats team this fall. The squad begins spring practice on April 28.
Winter Park rising senior athlete EShawn Sutton, a Syracuse commit, will lead a deep and talented Wildcats team this fall. The squad begins spring practice on April 28. / EShawn Hutton

When it comes to Florida high school football, the Winter Park Wildcats annually tackle the game with ferocity and usually make a playoff run.

Expectations remain the same at the Central Florida school, which officially announced its 2025 spring practice schedule. After a five-day acclimation period from April 21-25, Winter Park kicks off practice on Monday, April 28.

The Wildcats will hold 12 practice sessions, running Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and  Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 2 to 4 p.m.

Winter Park will hold an intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, April 9, and then battle Dr. Phillips in a spring game on Thursday, April 15. The spring game will feature two 2024 state playoff teams.

Last fall, DP finished 12-2 and advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals before losing to Lake Mary, 24-13.

Winter Park finished 7-4, falling to University High of Orange City, 31-23, in a wild Class 7A regional quarterfinal.

The Wildcats will feature some of the top players in the area in rising senior athlete EShawn Sutton, a Syracuse commit, and four-star defensive back Ayden Pouncey, who recently visited LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame and Michigan, according to a report from On3Sports.

Winter Park also has rising senior running back Decorie Johnson, who has an offer from Eastern Michigan; three-star defensive back Jordan Jackson, who has multiple offers, including Mississippi State, Pitt and Syracuse.

The Wildcats also have one of the top kickers in the area in rising senior Austin LaBellman (6-foot-4, 195 pounds). He was ranked by KohlsKicking as a 4.5-star punter at the most recent ranking event in Texas.

Winter Park also has some superb rising talent in Smith Lessard, a rising junior tight end (6-7, 245) who is expected to cause serious matchup problems for defenses this fall; and KJ Davis (6-3, 260), a rising junior who will play defensive tackle, defensive end and tight end.

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Jeff Gardenour
JEFF GARDENOUR

Jeff Gardenour is a Florida native and long-time resident of the Sunshine State. He is a journalism veteran of more than four decades, having worked in a number of news divisions through the years for multiple media outlets, including Gannett and Tribune Company. A University of Florida journalism graduate, Jeff has covered every level of sports, including MLB, USFL, XFL, WNBA, NCAA, IMSA, high schools and more. He is a former award-winning sports editor of the Sebring News-Sun and current freelance writer for SBLive Sports, PrepVolleyball.com and The Orlando Sentinel. Jeff is married with two children and resides in Oviedo, FL. He can be reached at jgardenour1962@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JMarkG1962.

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