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

Video: Highlights of Vista Murrieta quarterback Karson Greeley
See the star run the show for the top-ranked Broncos

* Editor's note: Mater Dei (Santa Ana), St. John Bosco (Bellflower), Centennial (Corona) and Mission Viejo are in the California overall Fab 5, so are not featured in this article.

1. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)
Head coach: David Olson
2015 record: 12-2
Team preview



Even with a new coach, the Broncos should put up big numbers with returning quarterback Karson Greeley, leading rusher Cole Dubots and 4-star tackle Chuck Filiaga (6-6, 315).

Vista Murrieta returns nine starters, five on offense, and should be bolstered by a 10-0 junior varsity team. Other top returning players are junior receiver Khalil Shakir (5-11, 170), sophomore defensive end Keyon Ware-Hudson (6-1, 240) and junior wide receiver-defensive back Elisha Guidry (5-11, 190).

See the Southern Section computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Calabasas
Head coach: Casey Clausen
2015 record: 13-2
Team preview

The Coyotes had a landmark year, winning the Southern Section Western Division crown with ease, a 42-3 win over a very good Palos Verdes team.

They return one of the nation's most prolific quarterbacks in Tristan Gebbia, who threw the ball a whopping 442 times, completing 278 for 4,435 yards and 45 touchdowns. He'll have one of the most dynamic receiving duos in seniors Keyshawn Johnson Jr. (68 catches, 944 yards, 6 scores) and Darnay Holmes (55-886-10). The team lost 5-star junior receiver Brian Hightower, who transferred to IMG Academy. He had 71 catches for 1,344 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore.



Holmes is the 10th-ranked senior recruit in the country by 247Sports and No. 2 at cornerback. He'll be joined in the defensive backfield by four-star junior Brendan Radley-Hiles, who transferred from Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). Wyatt Forline figures to get most of the carries.

See the MaxPreps national football videos page

3. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
Head coach: Jim Benkert
2015 record: 11-1
Team preview The Lions may start up to eight sophomores in 2016, but don't think they're rebuilding.

Blessed with one of the state's top quarterbacks in junior Matt Corral, the nation's top-ranked tight end in Stanford-bound Colby Parkinson and highly recruited junior linebacker Bo Calvert, Oaks Christian is primed for another state bowl run.

Corral completed 168 of 247 passes last season for 3,283 yards and 36 touchdowns (just six interceptions), 24 for 489 of those went to Parkinson (6-7, 235), who figures to be an even greater weapon this season. Look for senior wideout Michael Owusu and sophomores Mycah Pittman and Connor Beautrow to also be big threats.

Corral is also a running threat, with 414 rushing yards (including sacks) and five scores. Defensively, senior linebacker Brandon LaBrie (5-10, 200) had 69 tackles last year and Reese Silofau, a 6-2, 295-pound sophomore defensive tackle, had 55 tackles, six sacks and nine QB hurries as a freshman all-American.

See the MaxPreps Southern Section football photos page



4. Serra (Gardena)
Head coach: Scott Altenberg
2015 record: 9-3
Team preview

The Cavaliers have nine starters returning, including some of the most coveted underclassmen in the country, led by junior linebacker and tight end Merlin Neenee Robertson, junior cornerback and wide receiver Max Williams and junior receiver Kobe Smith.

Robertson was a MaxPreps sophomore all-American last season and Williams a freshman all-American. Add in 3-star senior recruits Tysyn Parker and defensive end Jimmy Ma'aele-Langford and Altenberg has another potential juggernaut. He returns nine lettermen overall and will pluck top talent off a 9-1 JV team. He likes his offensive line, linebackers and overall athleticism, but warns about the overall lack of experience.

The Cavs will need to get going in a hurry. They open at the nation's No. 25 team, Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

See the MaxPreps California high school football playoff brackets

5. Loyola (Los Angeles)
Head coach: Marvin Sanders
2015 record: 9-3
Team preview



The Cubs return just nine starters from last year's superb squad, but one of them is senior quarterback Sean O'Malley (6-2, 190), a national recruit. O'Malley threw for 1,773 yards, 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

Winston Anawalt, a 6-1, 220-pound linebacker, leads the defense. He led the team in tackles last season with 98. Besides individuals, Sanders likes the strength and cohesion of both his offensive and defensive lines.

The Cubs suffered a big blow last week when 3-star running back Drake Beasley (1,647 yards, 17 touchdowns last year), enrolled at La Canada.