MaxPreps 2013 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 25 Bishop Gorman

Losing a four-year starting quarterback to Division 1 college football and a highly regarded running back recruit to dismissal would spell demise to most programs' chances of being featured among the nation's Top 25.

But if there's ever a place in America where you can bounce right back after losing big, it's Las Vegas.

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) is banking on its depth and a talented junior class to offset the loss of quarterback Anu Solomon (University of Arizona) and running back Nathan Starks (dismissal). Also gone is Isaiah Nacua, a BYU commit who moved to Utah. An experienced defensive front seven will lead the way, along with a very good offensive line, and the names filling the skill positions are hardly inconspicuous. When you have six Division I recruits, you're certainly not too worried about talent.

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Senior Randall Cunnigham Jr. should slide into the quarterback spot and provide a more-than serviceable replacement, and senior Daniel Stewart will take over at running back toting offers from New Mexico State and Sacramento State. Junior tight end Alize Jones reportedly has a Notre Dame offer as well. They are part of the new order, one that will bring somewhat new names, but plenty of talent, know-how and experience.

Offensive lineman Nick Gates (6-foot-5, 295 pounds) is a stud recruit and Zack Singer (6-4, 300) is another hot name in the trenches when it comes to college interest.

Expectations are always high at the Nevada powerhouse, which has been untouchable against in-state competition and a formidable force on the national scene. Coach Tony Sanchez will once again embark upon an ambitious nonleague schedule in preparation for a run to a fifth-straight Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association title. The Gaels will battle Mountain Pointe of Phoenix (a state finalist last year), Florida juggernaut Washington of Miami (No. 9 in the preseason Xcellent 25), a trip to face Bergen Catholic (New Jersey state finalist that beat Gorman last year) and California powers Servite of Anaheim (2010 state finalist), Santa Margarita (2011 state champion) and Crespi (46-20 since 2005).

The trenches are solid in Sin City. And the skill players aren't expected to struggle much (if at all) as the Gaels embark upon another season behind luxurious facilities, top-notch coaching and talented players. What will determine whether the No. 1 football dynasty in Nevada stays in the national rankings is its performance in the first six games of the season.

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Local look: "Gorman is no stranger to offseason drama, but this is the first time the Gaels have had to negotiate a few speed bumps with Sanchez at the helm. Starks' dismissal leaves Gorman very inexperienced at the offensive skill positions and means even more attention will fall on Cunningham. He's been working hard on his accuracy and release, and Jones gives him an elite target. More importantly, though, the offensive line is once again loaded with FBS recruits. If the Gaels can overcome all the turmoil from this spring and show well in several early-season tests, it will solidify their reputation as a rising power out West."
- David Schoen, Sports writer at the Las Vegas Review-Journal (@DavidSchoenLVRJ){PAGEBREAK} Size: NIAA Division I


Enrollment: 1,325 (approx.)




2012 finish: 13-1 (NIAA Division I champions)


Head coach: Tony Sanchez


Years at school: 5


Career record: 91-25 (56-4 at Gorman)


Notable players coached:
Anu Solomon (Arizona)

Shaquille Powell (Duke)



Jalen Grimble (Miami){PAGEBREAK} No. of returning starters: 4 (offense), 3 (defense)


Key losses:
QB Anu Solomon

RB Nathan Starks

DE Isaiah Nacua


Key returners:
QB Randall Cunningham Jr.

RB Daniel Stewart



TE Alize Jones

OL Nick Gates

OL Zack Singer


Key newcomers:
CB Jabari Butler (transfer)

DT Noah Tialavea{PAGEBREAK} Toughest games: Gorman will head to New Jersey to take on Bergen Catholic for a Saturday 1 p.m. game, which means 10 a.m. Nevada time. That's not an easy sell. Then after a week off, Booker T. Washington of Miami comes to town and brings a ton of skill players and 14 returning starters.

Question mark: Can the skill players just fall in and continue the machine's motion? Will it take a game (or two, or three) for them to get on the same page? Also, this team has six great opponents in a row to begin. Will that take a toll?



Local outlook: Nobody in Nevada really comes close. The last league loss for this program came in 2006 and the last time it lost to a Nevada opponent was in the 2008 state final. If a team were to challenge the Gaels in the Silver State, it could be Green Valley (Henderson) or Reed (Sparks), but Gorman is definitely the favorite.

Overall outlook: The Gaels' strengths in their good areas will more than make up for the fact that new starters are in many spots. Those new starters are not newbies and played significant roles last year. This team should compete in all of its nonleague games, though with such a tough grind, a loss or two isn't out of the question. Still, Bishop Gorman is Nevada's crown jewel and should repeat once again.

Coach quote: "We have an elite strength and conditioning coach and our boys create a competitive atmosphere year-round preparing for the grind of the season. I always believed that if your boys are going to work this hard and if you’re going to ask them to be committed to excellence then you owe it to them to create a schedule that allows them to compete at the highest level. We are not trying to protect our record here, we are trying to compete with the best and let the record fall is it may."
- Head coach Tony Sanchez{PAGEBREAK}