2016 Wisconsin Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Junior year - playoff highlights
See Kimberly's Danny Vandenboom in action last season


1. Kimberly
2015 record: 14-0, Division 1 state champion
Head coach: Steve Jones
Team Preview

The Papermakers have won 42 straight games and have captured three big-school state titles in a row. Who else is going to be the No. 1 team in the state? Kimberly, which has won five state championships in the last nine years and has a 119-9 record in the last decade, is a dynasty. Rebuilding is never an option - it's always about reloading. The Papermakers scored 46.4 points per game in 2015, and will certainly have to reload this year. All-state running back Blair Mulholland (47 touchdowns and 3,013 yards rushing in 2015) and all-state receiver Jordan Janssen (1,513 yards receiving and 18 scores last season) both graduated. Quarterback Danny Vandenboom returns after a fabulous junior campaign. Vandenboom, who will be a preferred walk-on at Wisconsin, threw for 2,499 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Papermakers will have to rely on running back Zach Miller, who rushed for 527 yards last season, and Tyler Verstegen had 212 yards receiving. Wisconsin commit Logan Bruss will lead the way on the offensive line. Charlie Biolo, Kyle Mayfield and Tyler Staerkel are a solid linebacking corps for an always well-rounded defense.

See last season's Wisconsin computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard



2. Oconomowoc
2015 record: 11-1
Head coach: Ryan McMillan
Team Preview

It was a record-setting last season for the Raccoons, as the team tallied 11 wins and advanced to the third round of the playoffs. Oconomowoc returns a big portion of its offense, led by all-state players quarterback Ben Nienhuis and wide receiver Zach Clayton. Nienhuis threw for 2,864 yards and 36 touchdowns and Clayton, an Oregon State commit for baseball, had 74 catches for 1,075 yards and 16 scores. The Raccoons' top running back Jacob Rams is also back after rushing for 1,081 yards on just 144 carries and 15 touchdowns. Defensively, Oconomowoc will have to replace its top four tacklers, including Cameron Wolf (110 tackles, 11 sacks). Defensive back Taishi Ikeda (70 tackles) is the only player back who had more than 50 tackles.

See the MaxPreps national football videos page

3. Homestead (Mequon)
2015 record: 12-2, Division 2 state champion
Head coach: Dave Keel
Team Preview

One of the two Homestead losses last season was to powerhouse Arrowhead. Despite losing by two touchdowns in the opening game of the season, the Highlanders proved they were a strong team, taking home the D-2 state title. Homestead, which has won four championships in the last 10 years, is poised again for a great season. Quarterback Eric Zoeller is coming off a solid year both throwing (1,139 yards, 18 touchdowns and just one interception) and running (second on the team with 554 yards and six scores). Zoeller will have to find a new top target, as all-state defensive back Jack Popp, who was also a big-time weapon through the air (520 yards and eight touchdowns), graduated. The Highlanders will have to find a new workhorse, as running back Matt Winters (1,609 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns) is gone. Michael Fehrenbach is the top returning running back with 207 yards and five touchdowns. Junior linebacker Mike Bruner (three sacks) leads the defense, which allowed just 12 points per game in 2015.

See the MaxPreps Wisconsin football photos page

4. Arrowhead (Hartland)
2015 record: 12-2, Division 1 state runner-up
Head coach: Fritz Rauch
Team Preview



The Warhawks, just like Kimberly, reload through their program and never rebuild. Arrowhead has played in the state title game the last four years, winning the first two and placing runner-up to Kimberly the last two years. Could this be the year that the Warhawks get over the hump? Possibly. However, the team has to replace a ton of talent along with its head coach Greg Mailing, who took a head coaching job at Coon Rapids (Minn.). The Warhawks will have to replace all-state offensive lineman Ben Bredeson, a Michigan signee; quarterback Johnny Duranso (1,806 yards passing, 20 touchdowns; 856 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns); running back Nick Bastien (978 yards rushing, 10 TDs), and wide receiver Justin Peret (795 yards, seven scores). Senior Stephen Gardner will get a shot at winning the quarterback job in early-season practices and running backs Carson Myers and Spencer Papandrea combined for 853 yards rushing and five touchdowns last season. Defensively, Collin Thiel, Noah Harvey, Matthew Anderson and Jacob Powell will be the leaders.

See MaxPreps Wisconsin high school football playoff brackets

5. Marquette University (Milwaukee)
2015 record: 9-4
Head coach: Jeffrey Mazurczak
Team Preview
For the second-straight season, the Hilltoppers advanced to the state semifinals before falling to eventual champion Kimberly. Marquette lost a lot of key pieces from its team. Freddy Poorman, who had just 14 pass attempts in 2015, steps in to replace quarterback Jack Dwyer (2,719 yards passing, 22 touchdowns). Two of the team's top four receivers – Michael Duffy (573 yards catching, three touchdowns) and Dan Reardon (418 yards, five TDs) – are back. Running backs Jared Lieungh and Jack Tarpey combined for 42 carries, 264 yards and one touchdown. Linebacker Noah Nordness (84 tackles, seven sacks) will be a big reason if the Hilltoppers have success.