They lost all-everything

Antonio Cromartie, but return no fewer than eight Division I

recruits. And that doesn't even include junior WR Fred Rouse, who

some say is even better than Cromartie. QB

Joe Bauserman, an Ohio State commit, will lead what should be

a high-flying offense and defense that is the favorite to win Florida's

4A title.

9. Los Alamitos, Calif. (13-0-1)

The defending Southern Section Division I champs will get tested right

out of the gate at regionally-ranked Hart in the opening weekend. The

Griffins boast 10 Division I recruits, most of which man the offensive

or defensive lines. They also return DB

Randy Estes, who was the Division I player of the year as a

junior.

10. Rockhurst, Kansas City, Mo. (13-0)

It only seems like RB

Tony Temple has been at Rockhurst for 10 years, but this

really is his senior year. With a strong season, Temple could eclipse

6,000 career rushing yards. The Hawklets continue to play a strong

regional schedule, as they will travel to Louisiana to play No. 4

Evangel Christian. Rockhurst opens the season with Blue Springs and

regionally ranked Blue Springs South, two of the top Class 6 teams in

Missouri.

They return star QB

Brian Brohm, but lost a ton, including Brohm's favorite

targets TaShawn McBroom and Daniel Mudd as well as

RB DeQuese May. The big question in Louisville this year is

whether or not Trinity has enough to replace what has left. Trinity will

play St. Xavier out of Cincinnati and open the season at Montgomery Bell

Academy (Tenn.) in 2003, a season that should see the Shamrocks' biggest

tests come from out-of-state.

12. North Penn, Lansdale, Pa. (10-3)

A very strong sophomore and junior-laden team last season becomes an

even stronger junior and senior-laden team this season. North Penn lost

to eventual AAAA state champion Parkland last season in the state

semifinals, but lost only 17 players from last season's 72-player

roster, including last year's starting RB

Kevin Akins, who has already verballed to Boston College.

13. Elder, Cincinnati, Ohio (14-1)

Is it possible Elder could be better this year after winning the state

title in Ohio's rugged Division I? That is most certainly a possibility,

since Elder returns a lot of skill players, including QB Rob Florian,

RB Bradley Glatthaar and WR Kurt Gindling. The big

question mark will be the Panthers' offensive line, although it is led

by top recruit

Corey McKenna. If their line produces, Elder could be in for

another big season.

The offense loses current University of Florida freshman

Chris Leak, but returns junior WR

Mohamed Massaquoi. The defense returns LB

Jamar Buckley. The name of Joe Cox will be one to

remember, as he is the junior signal-caller given the task of trying to

extend the Patriots' 46-game winning streak.

15. Ennis, Texas (13-2)

The perennial class 4A powerhouse in Texas returns QB

Graham Harrell, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 53 TDs

as a junior. The highly-recruited signal-caller and WR

Anthony Jenkins should help make Ennis not only the team to

beat in 4A, but also one of the top teams all of Texas.

16. Edison, Miami, Fla. (9-2)

After a disappointing end to last season, Miami Edison looks to be a

challenger to the 5A throne.

Chad Simpson ran for nearly 1,000 yards last season as a

junior, and the linebacking trio of

Jarrell Guyton,

Jermaine Harris and

Brouce Mompremier may be as good as any in the nation. A

possible matchup down the road of Palm Bay and Edison could be as good

as the Palm Bay-Lincoln matchups from years past.

The Ironmen had a very impressive 2002 run to the Parochial, Group 1

championship. Even more impressive was that this team was considered a

year away from being a contender. A year away is now here and Rutgers

commit

Mike Teel, WRMarquis

Liverpool and five-star LB

Brian Toal look to lead Bosco to back-to-back unbeaten

seasons, a rarity in New Jersey.

18. Carmel, Mundelein, Ill. (13-1)

The Corsairs couldn't knock off rival Chicago Mt. Carmel twice in one

season, but they return almost their entire starting lineup on both

sides of the ball. QB

Mark Venegoni is a very good passing quarterback who also

loves to run the option. He ran for more than 800 yards while throwing

for over 1,700 yards last year. His favorite target was WR

Jack Simmons, another major D-I recruit. Carmel also returns

four-fifths of their starting offensive line from 2002.

19. Texas, Texarkana, Texas (14-1)

The Tigers won the 4A Division I title last year and return 13 starters.

That includes six potential Division I recruits, led by RB

Korey Sutton and QB

Chris Marshall. They also boast one of the top juniors in the

state in LB Chris Collins, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound monster who

could anchor the defense and lead Texarkana Texas High to a second

straight state title.

Chad Henne leads a Wilson team whose only loss last season

came to a Central Dauphin team that was a top five team in the nation at

the time. Henne is one of the top quarterbacks in the country and is

looking to lead Wilson to a AAAA state title this season but will have

to get through a very loaded eastern Pennsylvania.

21. St. Ignatius, Cleveland, Ohio (7-4)

It was a down year for in 2002 for St. Ignatius, who was knocked out in

the first round of Ohio's Division I playoffs by a touchdown to Warren

Harding. As always, a tough schedule awaits, including Ohio powers

Lakewood St. Edward's, Massillon Washington, Cincinnati St. Xavier, as

well as regional power Cathedral Prep of Erie, PA on the road. The

schedule should position QB

Brian Hoyer, and linemen

Michael Massey and

Steve Miller for a strong playoff run.

22. Mission Viejo, Calif. (14-0)

The two-time defending Southern Section Division II champions are now in

a reloading mode. QB/DB

Marty Tadman anchors both the offense and the defense. LB

Jed Collins is one of the top linebackers in southern

California. The Diablos will be tested this year with home contests

against regionally ranked foes Mater Dei and Long Beach Poly.

23. Summerville, S.C. (11-3)

The Green Wave advanced to the Big 16 semifinals in South Carolina last

season, losing to a strong defensive team in Irmo. They return a ton of

talent and added a transfer, Matt Vaughn, who is likely to step

in and start at quarterback. He just led Summerville to a state title in

baseball as a pitcher. RB Corey Smalls will be one of the top

backs in South Carolina after leading the Green Wave in rushing last

season.

QB

Jamar Bryant had more than 1,100 yards of total offense last

year and will help lead a very talented squad. RB

Marcus Rush ran for more than seven yards per carry, and more

than 1,200 yards on the season. A strong defense led by LB

Dannell Ellerbe could help lead the Raiders to another

stellar season.

25. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (14-0)

Junior RB Elan Lewis, who was second-team all-state as a

sophomore, leads the defending Division 5 champions out of Virginia.

Winners of 26 straight, Phoebus will look to continue their streak

behind a line led by all-district performer Anthony Robinson.

Teams to Watch: Bethlehem Catholic, Bethlehem, Pa.; Hackensack,

N.J.; Gonzaga, Washington, D.C.; Hoover, Ala.; The Woodlands, Texas;

Rockledge, Fla.; Wayne County, Waynesboro, Miss.; Warren Central,

Indianapolis, Ind.; Washington, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Creighton Prep,

Omaha, Neb.; Lindbergh, St. Louis, Mo.; Providence Catholic, New Lenox,

Ill.; Columbine, Littleton, Colo.; Hart, Newhall, Calif.; Kamiakin,

Kennewick, Wash.; Mountain View, Mesa, Ariz.; Centennial, Corona,

Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.

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