2017 Early Contenders high school football preview: No. 20 Cibolo Steele

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Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 20 Steele
Host Zack Poff breaks down why the Knights have one of the best teams in the country.

Head coach: David Saenz

Last season: 14-2, lost in the 6A-2 state championship game to DeSoto, 38-29

Last decade: 126-19, one state title

Famous alumni/players: Rams RB Malcolm Brown, former Nebraska QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. PLAYERS TO WATCH

S Caden Sterns (6-1, 192, Sr.) — The Texas commit is the fourth-ranked recruit in the state.

RB Brenden Brady (5-11, 190, Sr.) — The Rice commit rushed for 1,685 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

CB Jayveon Cardwell (6-0, 175, Sr.) — Committed to Oklahoma State, he had 54 tackles and seven interceptions in 2016.

S JT Woods (6-2, 175, Sr.) — He had 90 tackles last season and is committed to Baylor.

LB Juan Henry Jr. (6-3, 230, Sr.) — Posted 16 tackles for loss and 19 hurries in 2016. KEY GAMES

Sept. 8 — at Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)

Sept. 29 — at Judson (Converse, Texas)

Nov. 10 — at Clemens (Schertz, Texas)
STORYLINES

* New head coach Saenz has been in the program the last 10 years and was co-defensive coordinator last season. He takes over for Scott Lehnhoff, who resigned to take over the school district's athletic director job after going 53-7 in his four seasons. Both men are 37. "You're not going to find a better person. You're not going to find someone who cares more about the kids at Steele High School and the surrounding community," Lehnhoff told reporters when promoting Saenz. "He's a pretty great football mind as well."

* There's not much Stern can't do on the field, ranked the No. 31 player overall in the country by 247Sports composite and the third-best safety overall. In his two-year career, he's had 145 tackles and seven interceptions to go along with 18 catches and six touchdowns.

* Saenz's first job might be finding a new quarterback to replace three-year starter and current Texas Tech freshman Xavier Martin, who accounted for more than 5,800 yards and 63 touchdowns in his career.

* Whoever that quarterback is, he will not only have Brady at his disposal, but he'll also look for Bowling Green-bound receiver Onyx Smith (50 catches, 801 yards, eight touchdowns in 2016).

* The one team in its district that appears ready to pounce if Steele falters is Judson, which returns nine starters on defense and star quarterback Julon Williams.