2017 Early Contenders high school football preview: No. 1 Mater Dei

NEXT: No. 2 Bishop Gorman

Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 1 Mater Dei
Host Zack Poff breaks down the No. 1 team in our Top 25 Early Contenders.

Head coach: Bruce Rollinson

Last season: 13-1, No. 9 national ranking, lost to St. John Bosco in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game, 42-28

Last decade: 89-35



Famous alumni/players: NFL QB Matt Barkley, 1960 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, NBA forward Stanley Johnson, 1997 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (Arizona) Miles Simon PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB JT Daniels (6-2, 205, Jr.) — He's the No. 1 pro style quarterback in the Class of 2019.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (5-11, 190, Sr.) — The No. 2 wide receiver in the Class of 2018 is the son of a former Mr. Universe.

OT Tommy Brown (6-6, 315, Sr.) — He's the No. 12 offensive tackle in the Class of 2018.

ILB Solomon Tuliaupupu (6-2, 220, Sr.) — Uncommitted, he's the No. 3 inside linebacker in the Class of 2018.

ATH Bru McCoy (6-3, 215, Jr.) — The junior is the No. 1 athlete in the Class of 2019. KEY GAMES

Sept. 1 — vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)



Sept. 16 — vs. No. 9 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), to be played at Mission Viejo (Calif.)

Sept. 23 — at St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)

Oct. 13 — vs. No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

STORYLINES

* This could be the year Mater Dei finally makes its first CIF State Bowl Game. Since the CIF started the bowl games back in 2006, the Monarchs have been close, including last year, but have fallen short every time.

* Daniels is arguably the best gunslinger in high school football regardless of class and through his first two seasons he has already thrown for more passing yards and touchdowns than any other quarterback from the Orange County area. Some notable names he has already passed include Matt Barkley, Matt Leinart, Sam Darnold, Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez and Steve Beuerlein. Daniels was the 2016 MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year and was the only non-senior to make the All-American Team.



* One of the major reasons for Daniels' success is all the talent at the skill positions. St. Brown hauled in 21 of his 67 touchdowns in 2016. McCoy is one of the best all-around players in the country. Four-star wide receiver Nikko Remigio, 3-star wide receiver C.J. Parks and the team's leading rusher from last season, Shakobe Harper, are all back this year.

* Brown, Chris Murray and Andrew Faoliu will help lead one of the top offensive lines in the country.

* Claremont transfer Tuliaupupu was a 2016 MaxPreps first team Junior All-American after racking up 126 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. Expect a big-time senior season from the 4-star linebacker.

* The Monarchs will be tested this season, so they will have to prove they deserve the No. 1 spot in high school football. They have three games lined up against Top 25 teams and play in arguably the toughest league in the country - the Trinity League.