2017 Early Contenders high school football preview: No. 10 Long Beach Poly

PREVIOUS: No. 9 Bergen CatholicNEXT: No. 11 Allen

Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 10 Long Beach Poly
Host Zack Poff takes a look at all the big-time transfers that have Poly fans thinking national title.

Head coach: Antonio Pierce

Last season: 7-4, lost in first round of CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs to Chaminade, 50-14

Last decade: 97-30, two state titles

Famous alumni/players: Rapper Snoop Dogg, MLB Hall-of-Famer and 15-time All Star Tony Gwynn, three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Desean Jackson, three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowl LB Willie McGinest, World Series champion and six-time All-Star Chase Utley PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Matt Corral (6-2, 195, Sr.) — The No. 2 pro style quarterback in the Class of 2018 is also the No. 3 player overall from California.



WR Jalen Hall (6-4, 190, Sr.) — The No. 3 wide receiver in the Class of 2018 is also the No. 2 player overall from California.

S Aashari Crosswell (6-1, 185, Sr.) — A Top 100 overall recruit, he's the No. 10 safety in the Class of 2018.

TE Camren Mcdonald (6-4, 205, Sr.) — He's committed to USC.

RB Michael Mauai (5-10, 175, Sr.) — Last year's leading rusher is back to produce even more. KEY GAMES

Sept. 1 — at Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.)

Sept. 15 — vs. Mission Viejo (Calif.)

Nov. 3 — at Serra (Gardena, Calif.) STORYLINES

* Pierce has one of the most talented teams in all of California for 2017 and a strong case could be made that it is the best Long Beach Poly team since the Desean Jackson days in the early 2000's.



* Corral transferred over from Oaks Christian and two stars from Hawkins (Los Angeles) both came to Long Beach Poly for their senior seasons - Hall and Crosswell. The biggest question mark with Poly in 2017 will be on the offensive line, but the talent at the skill positions along with Corral should help allow the chemistry develop among the offensive linemen in the early part of the 2017 season.

* There was a big question mark heading into the season if the Jackrabbits would still be participating in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 bracket in the playoffs. They are. It is arguably the toughest playoff bracket in all of high school football, where fans could potentially see Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, Centennial and Long Beach Poly all battling it out for the right to represent Southern California in the CIF Open Division championship game.