2016 Missouri Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Kaleb Allen junior highlights
See the star athlete in action last season


1. Christian Brothers (St. Louis)
Head coach: Scott Pingel
2015 record: 13-1
Team preview

The dream season of 2015 ended on a sour note, losing in the Class 6 state title game to Blue Springs South, 37-28. The Cadets were a scoring machine with 698 points, topping the 60-mark four times and more than 40 11 times.

Though Christian Brothers graduated numerous talented players, it returns enough to finish off what it couldn't quite get done in 2015.

The Cadets are led by running back Kaleb Allen (750 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns) and a pair of talented receivers in junior Kamryn Babb (39 catches, 832 yards, eight touchdowns) and senior Benji Gormley (20.4 yards per catch). All eyes will be on sophomore quarterback Brett Gabbert (20 of 28, 211 yards last season), who is the youngest brother of 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Brandon Zmuda, Gavon Burks and Brent Bledsoe combined on more than 180 tackles last season.

See last season's Missouri computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Park Hill (Kansas City)
Head coach: Josh Hood
2015 record: 11-2
Team preview

Hood has helped turn around a struggling program with 23 wins and just three losses the last two seasons, including a Class 5 quadrant 4 finals appearance. The Trojans outscored opponents 402-186 and averaged more than 400 yards per game, almost evenly distributed between running (217 yards) and passing (195).

Much of Park Hill's hopes for 2016 rest on the shoulders of quarterback Bill Maples, who completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,231 yards and 19 touchdowns (just four interceptions) last year as a sophomore. Another sophomore Dorian Clayton rushed for 857 yards and 10 scores and junior receiver Quinton Harris had 48 catches for 766 yards.

The Trojans also return one of the state's leading tacklers in 6-foot, 215-pound middle linebacker Seven Wilson (165 tackles, 28 for loss), along with 6-5, 230-pound defensive end Chester Graves, who had 122 tackles, 13 sacks and a whopping 42 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

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3. Chaminade (St. Louis)
Head coach: Anthony Torrey
2015 finish: 12-2
Team preview The Red Devils won the Class 5 Quadrant 1 title with a 14-7 win over Rockwood Summit before winning a 43-19 semifinal game over Carthage and then losing in the state finals to Fort Osage, 63-28. Chaminade scored 542 points, tallying more than 40 points eight times.

It was a landmark season for Chaminade, which returns almost all of its skill players, including four leading rushers Darius Daies, Bryce Johnson, Damon Bonds and Jakobi Buchanan. The superb passing combination of Michael McGovern to Reggie Crawford Jr is also back.

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4. Webb City
Head coach: John Roderique
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview

Another brilliant season ended with a bitter defeat, as this time Webb City dropped a 17-14 game to Kearney after 14 straight victories in 2015 and 42 games overall dating back to the second game in 2014.

The Cardinals, winners of 162 games against just six defeats since 2004 and state champions 12 times overall, should be led by senior running back Hunter Vanlue (705 yards, 13 touchdowns last season) and senior linebacker Trey Gibson, who led the team with 164 tackles.

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5. Staley (Kansas City)
Head coach: Phil Lite
2015 record: 9-2
Team preview

Behind a rugged defense that allowed only 95 points, the Falcons reached the Class 5 quadrant 4 semifinals before losing to Park Hill, 27-16. First-year head coach Lite will attempt to win the school's second state title and first since 2011, when it went 14-0.

Leading rusher Julian Ross (976 yards, 15 touchdowns) returns to lead the offense. The defense returns its top two tacklers in Eli Ross (134 tackles) and Hunter Heyne (96).