Orange County football top 25: OCVarsity’s 2017 preseason rankings

The start of the high school football season is just around the corner, so we’re ready to reveal the Orange County Preseason Top 25.

NO. 1 MATER DEI
2016: 13-1 overall, 5-0 league
The Monarchs, who won the Trinity League championship and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship game in 2016, have 10 of 11 starters returning on offense, including junior quarterback JT Daniels, who recently committed to USC. On defense, the linebacker corps looks terrific. The only concern, if there is one, would be the defensive backfield where all four starters are newcomers. The depth on the defensive line also is not the greatest, although the starters are formidable.

Catch highlights of the OCVarsity Top 10 teams below in this Jonathan Khamis video:

NO. 2 MISSION VIEJO
2016: 11-1, 4-0
Coach Bob Johnson kept saying “if we stay healthy” when talking about his team. If the Diablos do stay healthy, this could be another outstanding season for the defending South Coast League champions. They have an outstanding group of receivers, including All-County returnee Austin Osborne and Olaijah Griffin, who has committed to UCLA as a defensive back. Throwing to that group will likely be Joey Yellen, a junior who transferred from St. John Bosco. Yellen has little varsity experience, but he looked sharp enough during the summer. The defense features fast, hard-hitting linebacker Christian LaValle, who committed to Arizona State.

NO. 3 EDISON
2016: 13-2, 5-0
This will be the Chargers’ first season in more than 30 years without Dave White as head coach – and it should be a good season for them. Edison’s new coach, Jeff Grady, a former Edison quarterback, inherits a team with several returning standouts who helped win the CIF-SS Division 3 championship in 2016. Senior quarterback Griffin O’Connor was last season’s Sunset League MVP and is a UNLV commit. Three returning starters on defense, lineman Parker Thomas, linebacker Mateo Gallego and linebacker Luke Hoggard, were all-league first team in 2016. The Chargers are in Division 2 for the playoffs this season.

COMING THURSDAY: O.C. Hot 150

NO. 4 SANTA MARGARITA
2016: 7-5, 2-3
Eagles coach Rich Fisher joked that the Trinity League race Mater Dei, St. John Bosco … and then a separate four-team league. In that group of teams that seem to be a lap or so behind Bosco and Mater Dei, Santa Margarita might be the best of a very good bunch. The Eagles have a good corps of offensive skill players led by all-league running back Chad Magyar and receiver Malone Mataele. Mataele, who committed to Utah, also is a standout cornerback. There is a quarterback competition that includes Josiah Norwood, a transfer from Troy. The Eagles should be fine at linebacker and defensive tackle.

NO. 5 SAN CLEMENTE
2016: 13-3, 3-1
The Tritons, who were the CIF-SS and CIF State champions last year, have enjoyed a great run of offensive skill position players. That’s especially been so at quarterback, where Sam Darnold and then Jack Sears, now both at USC, drove the offense in recent seasons. San Clemente has returning All-South Coast League players at running back (Austin Whitsett), receiver (Keith Jones) and tight end (Chris Kane). Numerous holes on the offensive and defensive lines will be filled by players with little or no varsity experience. The Tritons, who are in Division 1 for the playoffs this season, also don’t have a sure-thing at quarterback for the first time in a few years.

NO. 6 ORANGE LUTHERAN
2016: 5-6, 2-3
The team’s new coach, JP Presley, has installed the spread offense. He thinks it will fully utilize the skills of the team’s quarterback, junior Ryan Hilinski, an All-Trinity League second-team pick last year, and a talented group of receivers that includes Kyle Ford, a transfer from Servite. The Lancers have six returning starters on defense, but many key positions on the unit will be filled by sophomores.

NO. 7 LOS ALAMITOS
2016: 9-4, 4-1
When asked about any potential weaknesses on his team, Griffins coach Ray Fenton said, “I’m not sure if we have a punter yet.” If that’s his largest concern, then Los Alamitos should be OK. Los Alamitos will be tough up front on both sides of the ball. The Griffins won a couple of linemen competitions during the offseason. Super-quick junior running back Keanu Norman was a Sunset League offensive back of the year in 2016. The deep linebacking unit is led by Arizona commit Issaiah Johnson.

NO. 8 SERVITE
2016: 4-7, 1-4
The Friars went backwards in recent years. This could be a revival season. Servite looked good in summer passing leagues, and more than held its own in the stacked Battle of the Beach 7-on-7 tournament. Coach Scott Meyer said Servite should be improved at offensive and defensive line, which is essential to compete in the Trinity League. Servite also underwent some coaching staff changes, bringing in former Centennial of Corona assistant Mike Bass to be the Friars’ offensive coordinator.

NO. 9 JSERRA
2016: 5-6, 1-4
Pat Harlow has been promoted from assistant coach to head coach to replace Jim Hartigan, who was fired. It is tough to win in the loaded Trinity League. If the Lions do win some games, Harlow figures defense and a top-gun quarterback will lead the charge. Abdul-Malik McClain, a UCLA commit who transferred from Santa Margarita after an all-league season in 2016, is quite the pass rusher coming off the edge. Senior quarterback Matt Robinson, who committed to Montana, was all-league last season and had a splendid summer.

NO.10 LA HABRA
2016: 8-5, 4-1
The Highlanders’ long run of Freeway League titles ended last season, but they look ready to take back the crown this season. The offensive line should be outstanding, bolstered by the addition of Tyler Casados, a transfer from La Mirada who has a scholarship offer from Colorado. We’ll learn how good La Habra is on Sept. 8 when the Highlanders play host to Mission Viejo.

11. VILLA PARK
2016: 9-2, 3-0
The perennial Crestview League champion again looks like one of the county’s better public school teams. Multi-position senior Hunter Ancich, son of Spartans coach Dusan Ancich, was all-league first team last season, as was senior offensive tackle Malik Banks, who also was All-CIF.

12. CAPISTRANO VALLEY
2016: 12-2, 4-0
The Cougars played in a CIF-SS championship game last year and can build on that momentum. Last season’s Sea View League MVP, quarterback Kevin Brown, graduated, but Capo might have a fine replacement in junior Nathan Manning.

13. CORONA DEL MAR
2016: 12-2, 5-0
The Sea Kings, by far the best team in the Pacific Coast League, have six returning starters on offense from a team that reached the 2016 CIF-SS Division 4 final. Among them are All-CIF running back J.T. Murphy and All-CIF receiver Tae Le.

14. YORBA LINDA
2016: 11-2, 2-1
The Mustangs, who won a CIF-SS title in ’16, have a strong list of returnees that includes CIF-SS Division 8 player of the year Jaydyn Webb at running back, all-league first-team quarterback Luke Wilson and All-CIF receiver/defensive back Ricky Lane.

15. EL TORO
2016: 4-7, 3-1
The Chargers should be stronger on defense and their offense, which averaged 30 points a game a year ago, will be led by all-league quarterback Cooper Jones. El Toro will be Capistrano Valley’s top challenger for the Sea View League title.

16. SAN JUAN HILLS
2016: 7-4, 2-2
The Stallions might finish last in the tough South Coast League, but they are probably good enough to win the championship of a few other Orange County leagues.

17. TESORO
2016: 5-6, 1-3
The Titans might be better in 2018 than ’17. If the young group finishes third in the South Coast League, that would be a significant accomplishment and set the table for bigger and better things in the near future.

18. NEWPORT HARBOR
2016: 5-5, 3-2
The Sailors won’t be as good as their Sunset League rivals Edison and Los Alamitos. But third place in the Sunset seems like the destination, as usual, for Newport Harbor. And third place in that league is not bad at all.

19. EL MODENA
2016: 11-2, 3-0
Senior all-league quarterback AJ Esperanza leads the Vanguards, who have played in the CIF-SS semifinals the past two years. El Modena is 19-7 over those two seasons after going 7-16 over 2013 and ’14.

20. TUSTIN
2016: 9-3, 4-1
It looks like the Tillers have the backfield needed to score their usual large number of points. But do they have the offensive line to make that happen – and the defense to keep the opponents from scoring as much?

21. CYPRESS
2016: 6-5, 2-3
Returning All-Empire League first-team quarterback Alex Ashcraft leads a team that will be among favorites for the league championship if last year’s underclassmen become this year’s senior leaders.

22. HUNTINGTON BEACH
2016: 4-7, 2-3
Edison and Los Alamitos clearly make up the top tier of the Sunset League. Huntington Beach can challenge Newport Harbor for the league’s third guaranteed playoff berth if the Oilers’ young, solid nucleus of 2016 kicks it into a higher gear for 2017.

23. GARDEN GROVE
2016: 9-3, 5-0
Everybody knows the Argonauts are the team to beat in the Garden Grove League. Team speed is plentiful, and defensive back Brandon Coleman might warrant All-County consideration. A young group of linemen must progress if Grove is to make a deep run in the Division 8 playoffs.

24. LAGUNA HILLS
2016: 6-5, 2-2
The Hawks probably are again the Sea View League’s third-best team, behind Capistrano Valley and El Toro. They lost to those two by 37 and 21 points, respectively, last season. Maybe they close that gap this season.

25. FOOTHILL
2016: 5-6, 0-3
The Knights’ record in the Crestview League has been 2-1 in 2014, 1-2 in 2015 and 0-3 in 2016. That’s not a good trend for them, and the league looks like it will be a good one again in 2017.

ON THE BUBBLE: These teams could pop into the top 25 this season – Aliso Niguel, Beckman, Brea Olinda, Dana Hills, El Dorado, Katella, Marina, St. Margaret’s, Santa Ana, Trabuco Hills.

Did you see this?
The O.C. Preseason All-County team