MaxPreps 2013 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 4 Allen

There is a bounty of really, really good high school football teams in the state of Texas this year.

On the strength of its second state title in five seasons, Allen (Texas) gets the nod as the top team in the Lone Star State and as the No. 4 team in the country overall.

Following a three-point loss to Coppell in September, Allen went on a furious tear, claiming victories over Skyline, DeSoto and Lamar en route to the Class 5A-I crown.

Quarterback Kyler Murray, the nation's top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2015, is back to once again lead the team's offense. He took over during the season and provided a major spark to the Eagles' offense. One of Murray's top targets, Cole Carter, is back at receiver, as is the team's center, Tejan Koroma.



Defensively, Allen will be loaded, as head coach Tom Westerberg reports seven players who saw starting time last year are returning for 2013.

The experience is spread out across the defense, with a pair of returning starters on the defensive line, and more among the linebackers and in the secondary.

Tay Evans and Christian Sam, with the help of Zack Bishop, could make the team's linebacker unit among the best in the state. Chad Adams, who committed to Baylor last week, returns in the secondary.

See the entire Preseason Xcellent 25

If Westerberg can find replacements on the offensive line and develop a running back, Allen might be even more lethal in 2013. Keep in mind: last year's team returned only five starters -- on both sides of the ball combined.

Local outlook: "Only three offensive starters return for Allen, but one of them is quarterback phenom Kyler Murray. He passed for 2,004 yards and rushed for 25 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. As scary as the return of Murray is for opponents, Allen returns more starters on defense. The Eagles have six back, including the linebacker duo of Christian Sam and Tay Evans, who are both big-time recruits."
- Matt Wixon, Dallas Morning News
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Size: Class 5A


Enrollment: 4,143 (10-12)




2012 finish: 15-1, Class 5A-I state champion


Head coach: Tom Westerberg


Years at school: 12 (9 as head coach)


Career record: 102-16


Notable players coached:

OL J.D. Walton (Baylor, NFL)



QB Alec Morris (Alabama)

RB Jonathan Williams (Arkansas)
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No. of returning starters: 3 (offense), 7 (defense)

Key losses:

OL Brad North

DL Byron Bonds

RB Marcus Ward



Key returners:

QB Kyler Murray

WR Cole Carter

LB Tay Evans

LB Christian Sam

Key newcomers:

TE Bobby Evans



WR Will Rossy

RB Keon Williams
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Toughest game: Southlake Carroll. A year ago, Carroll was nationally ranked and had to go on the road to take on Allen. Allen won convincingly 24-0, so Carroll will look to return the favor in 2013.

Question mark: Will the team's offensive line be able to buy Murray enough time? He can more than hold his own on broken plays, when he's forced to use his legs. However, the more he's running, the more likely an injury becomes. A healthy Murray is vital for Allen.

Local outlook: Allen leads a deep group of Texas teams this fall. DeSoto and Coppell also appear in the preseason Top 25. In the mammoth Dallas-Fort Worth Area, Southlake Carroll, Cedar Hill and Arlington Bowie are other teams to watch.

Overall outlook: For as impressive as Allen was a year ago, it could potentially be even better this fall. Last year, Allen was superb, but it also seemed to catch the metaphorical ball bounce its way. To repeat as the state champion, it will need to navigate another challenging regular season as well as the gauntlet that is the Class 5A-I playoff bracket -- a tall task for any team.

Coach quote: "What we do is not talk about trying to defend anything. That group is gone. We're trying to go out and win one."
- Head coach Tom Westerberg
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