2017 Early Contenders high school football preview: No. 16 De La Salle

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Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 16 De La Salle
Host Zack Poff details what makes the Spartans a solid pick to contend for a national title.

Head coach: Justin Alumbaugh

Last season: 11-2, lost in CIF Open Division title game to No. 6 St. John Bosco, 56-33

Last decade: 132-9, seven state titles

Famous alums/players: Former NBA slam dunk winner/current TV analyst Brent Barry, Broncos safety T.J. Ward, U.S. national soccer team member and MLS MVP Chris Wondolowski. PLAYERS TO WATCH

DL Tuli Letuligasenoa (6-2, 295, Sr.) — California's No. 17 recruit is committed to USC.

RB Kairee Robinson (5-8, 185, Sr.) — His stature and running style remind some of DLS alum Maurice Jones-Drew.

LB Henry To'oto'o (6-2, 210, Jr.) — He's ranked the 14th-best player at any position in the country from the Class of 2019.

TE-DL Isaiah Foskey (6-4, 215, Jr.) — He is ranked the 117th-best junior in the country.

RB Shamar Garrett (5-8, 170, So.) — De La Salle's next big thing was brought up to varsity as a freshman late, beyond rare for the perennial national power. KEY GAMES

Sept. 2 — vs. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)

Sept. 19 — at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) STORYLINES
* The numeral "56" has been the battle cry throughout the offseason, standing for the amount of points the Spartans gave up in any game since at least 1976. "We have that number hanging up several places," Alumbaugh said. "Yes, we'll use for a little motivation."

* To'oto'o was brought around quickly last season only because of an injury to a starter, but immediately jumped out on film as perhaps the team's best defender. A true playmaker, he's always around the ball. He and fellow linebacker Brenden Riso lead a defense that should be stout.

* Robinson (226 carries, 2,012 yards, 25 touchdowns) accounted for too much of De La Salle's offense last year. Look for the Spartans to split up the ball much more in 2017.

* Like last year, the quarterback spot is not solidified but will come down to either Andrew Jones (6-2, 180) or Erich Storti (5-11, 160), a pair of unproven juniors. Garrett has also taken snaps out of the shotgun.

* The younger siblings of two of the more successful recent De La Salle players — Devin Asiasi and Boss Tagaloa, both now at UCLA — should make their mark. Senior Angel Asiasi (6-1, 220) and junior Beau Tagaloa (6-0, 275) solidify the team's strength in the trenches.

* Everyone has the date circled at Gorman, but the players have been programed to treat it strictly as a "business trip." To reinforce that notion, the Sunday flight home following the Saturday night game is 8 a.m. "The wake-up call is 6 a.m.," Alumbaugh said with a laugh. "We're not messing around."