Preseason Top 25 high school football early contenders

No. 20 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) - Full preview
Strengths: Last year’s 15-1 Trinity squad gave Shamrock fans a sign of things to come. Its explosive offense, which posted nearly 700 points, was impressive. Most of the key pieces return, including quarterback Travis Wright, receiver James Quick, running back Dalyn Dawkins and several offensive linemen. The Shamrocks’ defense, which was equally overwhelming at times, returns eight starters.

Question marks: Expectations have never been higher for Trinity, and, as with other teams on this list, the Shamrocks will have to handle both the pressure and the spotlight that comes with those expectations. Although Trinity has a bounty of returning starters, it will be without last season’s leading rusher, Derek Bishop. The other big question mark is how Trinity will stack up against a schedule that features Montgomery Bell Academy and three big Cincinnati Catholic schools. In the past, Trinity has had otherwise flawless seasons ruined by out-of-state competition.

Outlook: This should be Trinity’s strongest team in the Bob Beatty era. It’s extremely well-rounded, gifted with high-level talent,and already has the experience of a 6A title under its belt. The 2011 Shamrocks will face a gauntlet of difficult teams, including St. Xavier, which handed Trinity its only loss last season but was beaten by five other teams.

No. 19 St. Xavier (Cincinnati) - Full preview
Strengths: The Bombers' offense returns more players this season than head coach Steve Specht is accustomed to. Quarterback Griffin Dolle is back, with running back Connor Hundley and wide receivers Trey Kilgore and Kevin Milligan also returning. Returning starters Brandyn Cook and Alex Breen lead an offensive line that should be very strong, as St. Xavier has plenty of returning size to fill in for graduating linemen. St. Xavier’s defense is almost always dependable, one of Specht's trademarks.

Question marks: Outside of defensive end Bryson Albright, St. X will have some work to do in rebuilding its defensive line. The linebackers suffered the biggest hit, losing Steven Daniels and Sean Duggan, who both signed with Boston College. Nate Gerbus returns; he’ll need to assume a leadership role on defense. As always, the Bombers’ schedule is grueling and could take its toll on the team’s health as the season wears on.

Outlook: St. Xavier is one of the largest all-boys high schools in the country. With well over 100 players on its varsity roster last season, there should be plenty of qualified candidates to fill in for vacant spots, a process that happens each year for the Bombers. That’s why the team’s eight returning starters on offense is an indicator that this St. Xavier squad could be significantly better than last year’s team, provided the defense develops as Specht would like.

No. 18 Warren Central (Indianapolis) - Full preview
Strengths: Warren Central has more talent than just about any team in the country. Twelve seniors have offers, led by defensive tackle Sheldon Day and transfer Tyrone Pearson, a defensive end. Running back Deionte Buckley, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year, has already committed to Cincinnati, along with defensive ends Jonathan Burt and Josh Posley. Defensive back Jordan Shine is bound for Purdue.

Question marks: Quarterback is certainly a question mark right now for Warren Central, but Kyle Faunce, a transfer from Arizona, could win the job. There’s the possibility that the recruiting process could begin to be a distraction, given the sheer number of players being courted by Division I schools. The team’s offensive line, with only one starter returning, is a concern. With all the expectations surrounding this year’s team, the Warriors will also need to avoid the type of letdown performance they exhibited in a 21-point home loss to Lawrence Central in the playoffs.

Outlook: This year’s rendition of Warren Central could be on par with the 2006 team, which averaged more than 48 points per game. The defense should be rock solid from the start, while the offense may need a little time to meld together. It could be the new faces and role players, like receiver Evan Faunce or offensive lineman Justin Sparks, that determine how high the Warriors’ ceiling is in 2011.

No. 17 Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) - Full preview
Strengths: Dwyer should have excellent receivers this season, which will be a bonus for quarterbacks Faton Bauta and Bobby Puyol, who are battling for the starting job. Bauta, a transfer from Poly Prep, is talented enough to find playing time at a number of positions. The offensive line will see some new faces, but returning tackle Patrick Miller, a major recruit, is a great returning piece to build on. The Panthers’ sophomore class, which features Clint Stephens, Johnnie Dixon, Shaun Boone and Eric Roginsky, has coach Jack Daniels excited for the future.

Question marks: With the departure of Jacoby Brissett, Curt Maggitt and Nick O’Leary, Dwyer will have to replace a tremendous amount of production on both sides of the ball. The Panthers received several key transfers who will be skilled yet inexperienced in Daniels’ system. The team looked commendable in its spring game, but it will need to play as a fully cohesive unit when it opens up the season with Glades Central.

Outlook: More than anything, last year’s 12-2 season proved that Dwyer is fully capable of reloading, as the Panthers excelled despite losing Matt Elam, Robert Clark and Gerald Christian from the 2009 squad. Transfers Bauta, Dixon, linebacker Gage Batten and defensive end Malik Brown will have Dwyer performing up to the level of expectations that Daniels sets for his program: state championship or bust.

No. 16 Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.) - Full preview
Strengths: Harrison has the potential to be the strongest team that the state of Michigan has seen in the last few years. They are fresh off a 14-0, Division 2 title-winning season that saw them outscore opponents 524 to 163 on the season. Many crucial pieces to that team, including receivers Aaron Burbridge and Gairus Coleman, and tight end Devin Funchess, are back for 2011. The defensive line, led my Mario Ojemudia, is another area Harrison should thrive.

Question Marks: Tommy Vento had a sterling senior season in 2010, so younger brother Jake Vento, who moves from wide receiver to quarterback, will have his work cut out for him in trying to replicate his brother’s success. The returning offensive linemen are small, but won’t need to buy Vento much time, as his receivers will be able to make plays after the catch. Sophomore Lorenzo Collins has a high ceiling, but will be asked to do a lot more this season.

Outlook: Head coach John Herrington is a legend, plain and simple. He’s guided Harrison to 13 state titles, so he will know how to get the most out of the boatload of talent he has returning. The state of Michigan should have several good teams in 2011, but unfortunately for Harrison, they don’t all play in the same division come playoff time. Still, dominating its schedule from start to finish, which is entirely possible, would likely cause Harrison to soar up in the rankings.

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